He made a face. “I could be blindfolded and drunk and I’d still cook better than Seth.”
She giggled.
* * * *
Evie knocked softly on Seth’s door.
“Dude, go away!” he shouted. “I am so friggin’ pissed at you right now!”
“Seth,” she called. “Come on, open the door.”
He huffed. “It’s unlocked. I can’t keep you out, but I don’t have to sit here and listen to your lame excuses either.”
She rolled her eyes and opened the door. “Seth,” she called in an enticing tone, “I made you breakfast.”
“Woo friggin’ hoo,” he grumbled, changing the television station.
“Oh come on, I made you apology pancakes.”
“I made pancakes a couple nights ago,” he stated.
She wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, but they were awful.”
He gave a mighty sigh and fixed her with a scowl. “I did it to help you out at the time, but I’ll be sure never to do that again.” He angrily stabbed at the channel button on the remote again.
Evie sat down on the bed. “Come on, Seth. I said I was sorry. What more do you want?”
He flicked off the TV and sat up with a frustrated noise. “Evie, listen,” he said, looking like he was trying to figure out exactly what it was he wanted to say. “You and I have never really been all that close. We have nothing in common and, since you’re four years older than me, that kind of killed us ever running in the same circles. I’ve never understood you and I did not want to come on this trip with you, but I did and here I am.” He huffed again. “Evie, for one whole week we were stuck here in this dungeon with no one but each other. Even after you started making nice with Traevyn, I still only had you. After you went away to college I felt like I didn’t know you anymore because you were never around, just like Mom and Dad were never around, and I hated you for it. At least when you were living at home you were there. I may not have understood you, but I had you.” He shook his head, as if trying to centralize all his thoughts into one main point. “What I’m trying to say is that being stuck here with you has forced me to get to know you again and, for the first time in my life, I feel like you’re actually my friend instead of just my sister.”
Evie stared at him, dumbstruck.
“You know when I knocked Traevyn’s picture albums down—”
“And you conveniently disappeared?” she interjected. “Yes.”
“Well, I heard him yelling at you. I heard him talk about how broken he was because of losing his family. When you didn’t call me last night and I thought something could have happened to you, all I could think of were his words.” He looked up at her. “Evie, you’re my only sister. You told Traevyn that no one should have to be alone. If something happened to you, that’s what I would be.” He looked down for a second, then snorted and waved it away. “Aw, never mind.”
She smiled. “No, Seth, listen to me.” She put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. Traevyn was having this soul outpouring and I didn’t think. I was selfish. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again…okay?”
He glanced up at her, stared at her in sour silence for several moments, then huffed. “Whatever, dude. Just don’t do it again. I’m giving you a warning.”
She arched an eyebrow and raised two fingers to her forehead in mock salute. “Aye, aye, Captain!”
He pursed his lips and hunched his shoulders, continuing to look disgruntled, but she could have sworn it was somewhat forced. She grinned. “And I love you too.” She grasped him around the neck and noogied him.
“Ugh! Get off!” he shouted, shoving at her.
She giggled and sat back. She couldn’t deny that Seth’s words surprised her. She had never thought she actually meant anything to him at all.
“So did you guys do the wild monkey dance?” he asked.
She frowned. “Huh?”
“You and Traevyn. You were stuck together all night. You had to have done something. Did you at least make out?”
Evie felt her face flame and she grabbed Seth’s pillow, bludgeoning him with it.
He laughed and jumped off the bed, bolting out the door. She followed.
* * * *
Traevyn was eating at the table when Seth tore in, laughing. Evie followed, crashing after him. She chased him around the table, then back out again. Traevyn blinked, then chuckled as he heard Seth laugh then make an ooof sound, which was promptly followed by, “Dang, Evie! You just took out my kidney!”
As much as he had come to relish his solitude, he thought that it was nice to have life back in his home.
Chapter Thirteen
Life went on rather uneventful for the next week or so. It was now late June and Evie had been in Traevyn’s home for a little over a month. Since the night they had spent stranded on the side of the road, Evie and Traevyn had been more friendly with one another. Traevyn ate dinner with her and Seth every night and joined them sometimes in watching TV or a movie afterward. Many nights he and Evie still sat and read, or painted.
Traevyn remembered the day after the night they had spent in the car. After Evie and Seth had finished wrestling in the living room, she had disappeared into the art studio for most of the day. Traevyn had left her alone with her creativity, knowing that sometimes the best work was done in solitude.
When he had gone into the studio later that evening, he’d almost stopped breathing. There, sitting on his easel, was the oil pastel he had been working on at the beach. Only she had finished it. The once blank fourth of the canvas now had the silhouette of a woman mirroring that of the solitary man. Her shadow was stretching out in a contrasting angle, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that her shadow was shaped like two hands reaching out to hold the broken heart that his shadow portrayed.
He’d stared at it for what seemed like an eternity, filled with such emotion over her astute symbolism and her selflessness. He could say with all honesty that he had never met a person as kind as Evie. Her compassion was enough to cradle the world.
He hadn’t said anything to her about the painting because he couldn’t find the proper words. He knew that probably unsettled her, made her wonder if he liked it at all, but a simple thank you just seemed too bland. He wanted to do something for her in return, something to show her he cared, that he could give back kindness instead of just taking it from her. He just hadn’t figured out how yet.
It was now a rather boring Thursday and Traevyn sat in the living room reading while Seth played an acoustic guitar and Evie cleaned. She was finishing up his wing of the house and he wanted to stay out of her way. She looked mean with that duster and mop and he didn’t want her yelling at him if he accidentally walked across her wet floor or something.
He glanced up at Seth and smiled. “How long have you been playing?” he asked.
Seth looked up at him. “A little over two years. I still kinda suck.”
Traevyn shook his head. “You sound fine to me, but then again, I know nothing about music. I remember when my brother Talis was learning to play I thought the scales sounded good.”
Seth smiled. “Your brother plays guitar?”
He nodded.
“Acoustic or electric?”
“Acoustic mostly. He plays for the belly dancers at renaissance fairs.”
Seth raised an eyebrow. “Hey, that’s a sweet way to make a living. I have my acoustic with me because Evie didn’t think it would be good to bring my amp and electric, but I prefer electric. I would love to be in a band.”
Traevyn smiled. “You look like a rocker.”
Seth grinned. “I love Bleeding Passion. Do you know who they are?”
Traevyn chuckled and shook his head. “Sorry.”
“Well, they’re my favorite band. They rock the universe. Van Marshall is the front man and an awesome guitar player. I’ve seen them in concert three times. He’s a genius.”
Evie came down the stairs out of breath and frazzled-looking. “Done,�
� she stated. “By the way, I’ll be gone tomorrow.”
Seth frowned. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to Cambria for the day. I was looking at it on the internet, and I’m going to go have a nice day to myself.”
“And you’re not taking me with you?” Seth cried.
She frowned. “Since when do you like antique shops and art galleries?”
He snorted. “Hello! Van Marshall lives there!”
“Who’s Van Marshall?”
“The front man for Bleeding Passion,” Traevyn supplied.
Evie looked at him in bewildered surprise, but shook her head and turned her attention back to Seth. “I am not stalking rock stars, Seth. Tomorrow is my day.” With that, she went into the kitchen.
Traevyn frowned. “What was that all about?”
Seth rolled his eyes. “Oh, tomorrow marks the sixth year anniversary of when Evie did her first real painting. She celebrates it by herself every year for who knows why. To celebrate the birth of her creativity, or something like that.”
Traevyn pondered that for a moment and closed the book he was reading. “She celebrates it every year alone?”
Seth looked up at him and shrugged. “Yeah. No one else understands it.”
Traevyn smiled. “I do.”
“Yeah, well, you’re just as much of a nut job as she is.”
He grinned. “Seth, since you’re stuck with me tomorrow, do you think I could enlist your help?”
Seth gave Traevyn a suspicious look. “With what?”
“I want to surprise Evie with something. I want to celebrate with her.”
Seth blinked as if Traevyn’s words had surprised him. “Really?”
He nodded.
Seth shrugged. “All right. That’d be cool. She deserves a nice surprise. She’s always doing things for everyone else.”
“Precisely.”
Evie walked back into the room, carrying a bottle of water. She glanced at the two men and frowned. “What are you two doing out here anyway?”
“Male bonding,” Seth replied.
She raised her eyebrows. “That horrifies me.”
Seth grinned and Traevyn chuckled. “Evie, do you think you could be home by six tomorrow?” Traevyn asked. “I’d like to work on something with you.”
She shrugged. “Yeah, sure.”
He nodded. “Good.”
She continued on her way up the stairs and Seth and Traevyn exchanged a conspiratorial smile
* * * *
By six o’clock Evie was tired, but pleasantly so. She had spent the entire day strolling leisurely through the small town of Cambria shopping, drawing, relaxing.
Every year she stopped to reflect on the day she had first started considering herself an artist. She thought of how far she had come, what she had accomplished, and what her goals for the future were. It was her day.
She sighed as she walked up to Traevyn’s door, wondering how he had fared with Seth all day. She was just reaching for the knob when the door swung open, and Traevyn stood before her in a black suit with a loose, black neck tie. It wasn’t a formal tie, just one of those ones that resembled a modern day cravat. He looked stunning. Stunning in a way that made her make sure her mouth was closed for fear she might drool all over herself. “Geez,” she breathed. “Where are you going?”
He smiled devilishly and offered her his arm. “Come with me.”
She frowned, but obeyed and allowed him to lead her inside. She let out a little shout of surprise. Most of the furniture had been cleared out of the living room, and the dining room table had been brought in and set in the center of the room. The lights were dim and there was a candle in an amber holder on the table, which was set for two. A white tablecloth covered the top, and wine glasses were turned upside down next to cloth napkins held together with elegant napkin rings. The dark, medieval tapestries were gone from the walls and several Mediterranean paintings hung in their place. Italian music played softly in the background.
“What’s this?” Evie murmured.
“Italy,” Traevyn replied, “or the next best thing.” He guided her over to the table and pulled a chair out for her. “I figured that, until I have the time to show you the real thing, this will have to do.” He pushed the chair in as she sat and leaned over her. “Happy anniversary, Evie,” he whispered in her ear.
She shivered at the feeling of his warm breath against her skin and stared at him in wonderment. “How did you know about that?”
He grinned and sat down across the table from her. “Seth told me.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “I didn’t even know he knew about that.” She looked around again, dumbstruck. No one had ever given her such a thoughtful surprise. “This is incredible. Where’s all the furniture?”
“In the kitchen and dining room.”
“I feel so underdressed.” She glanced down at her teal, hippie-style skirt and black tank top. She’d dressed for a casual day in an artsy, coastal town. She had even used a matching teal scarf as a headband. Sure, she imagined she looked okay, cute even, but Traevyn was dressed so upscale. She definitely didn’t want to feel “cute” in the midst of all the splendor he had created.
Traevyn’s gaze traveled over her and he smiled. “You look perfect, Evie.”
She met his eyes, then looked down shyly. “Why did you do this?”
“An artist should always celebrate the birth of their creativity.”
She turned her eyes back up to him and grinned.
Just then, Seth walked in from the kitchen wearing a white dress shirt, black slacks and a black bow tie with a white apron around his waist. His usually spiked blonde hair was slicked back and he had a bottle of white wine nestled in the crook of his elbow like he was carrying a child. In the crook of his other elbow, he held a bottle of red. “Good evening,” he greeted.
Evie took once glance at him and burst out laughing. She covered her mouth and dissolved into giggles.
Seth kept a straight face. “Could I interest you in a glass of wine? We have our finest—” he looked down at the bottle of white “—Pe-nut griggio.”
Evie had to bite down on her lip to keep from guffawing.
Seth looked at the bottle of red. “Or we have…” He glanced at the label and let out a little huff. “Shy—razz.”
Traevyn winced. “Give the lady a glass of white and me a glass of red, please,” he instructed.
Seth filled both Evie and Traevyn’s glasses. “I will be back shortly to take your order,” he said suavely before sauntering back into the kitchen.
Evie glanced at Traevyn, who watched her with a smile on his lips. “That is fantastic,” she said. “How did you get him to do that?”
“His idea,” he replied.
She just stared at him. “Are you serious?”
He nodded and his lips turned up in a wry smile. “Guess I should have told him how to pronounce wine titles before I gave him the job.”
She laughed. “Yeah, I’ve got to say, I’ve never heard of Peanut Griggio before.”
Traevyn chuckled.
Evie shook her head. Despite his lack of finesse, her brother was really surprising her lately. She looked up as he came back into the room with a basket of bread and a dish of olive oil.
“Olive oil with garlic and rosemary,” he announced.
Evie grinned so wide that she thought her face might split in half.
“All right, may I take your orders please? We have some excellent choices for you this evening. We have chicken marsala, chicken marsala, or may I suggest my favorite, the chicken marsala?”
Evie had to fight not to laugh in a very undignified manner. She resorted to a giggle instead. “Hmmm,” she teased. “I think I’ll take the chicken marsala.”
“Excellent choice. And for you, sir?”
Traevyn was grinning more than Evie had ever seen as he nodded at Seth and replied that he wanted the same.
Seth nodded. “I’ll bring that out shortly.”
Traevyn glanced over at Evie as Seth disappeared again. “I think he’s enjoying this.”
She nodded. “It’s scaring me a little. Please tell me he didn’t do the cooking.”
He made a face. “Lord, no. I wasn’t looking to kill you tonight.”
She giggled and met his eyes across the table. She sobered and shook her head slowly. “This is very overwhelming.”
“Enjoy it, Evie. Seth told me you celebrated this every year alone because no one else understood. I understand. I wanted to celebrate with you.”
She averted her eyes, fighting sudden tears. No one had ever validated her passion except for the deBoers, and, even then, they only supported her and believed in her. Traevyn truly understood her.
He stood as a slow, Italian melody started to play and he offered her his hand. “Would you care to dance?”
Her breath hitched at the seductive note his voice carried. She knew he hadn’t done it on purpose. His voice resonated sensuality all on its own, but that almost made her reaction to it even more powerful. She braved a look up at him and her mouth went dry. He was so amazingly elegant, even more so than usual. Traevyn Whitelaw was the most beautiful man she had ever seen.
She reached out slowly and placed her small hand in his, remembering the warmth of it from the night in the car. He smiled and led her out to an empty space on the floor, pulling her into his arms so that Evie had to close her eyes and remember how to breathe. She had tried to forget almost everything about the night they had been stranded. How she had kissed him on instinct; how having him sleep so close to her felt so right; how his touch made her heart beat in strange and erratic patterns. She had tried to write off all those things as being caught up in such an emotional moment, but they came flooding back to her at the warm contact of his body against hers.
“I wanted to thank you for the painting,” Traevyn murmured.
She frowned in question.
“The one of mine that you finished.”
Dark Masterpiece (Serendipity Series 3) Page 12
