‘Please, if you would, take down that hideous monstrosity in the foyer and replace it with this painting. I don’t care how famous Innerworkings of a Creative Soul is. None of you really have a clue what it’s about and it is outdated. Replace it with this painting, for it is a much more current reflection of me. Sincerely, Traevyn Whitelaw.’”
Evie tried not to grin, but it was practically impossible.
“Show us the painting!” someone shouted.
Professor Roth chuckled and went to the canvas on an easel toward the far wall. He pulled the cover off to reveal the painting Traevyn had done before the gallery opening in Sedona.
Evie’s heart stopped and the entire room went silent. She fought a groan and put her head in her hand.
“Is that… Is that you, Evie?” a girl sitting next to her asked.
“Is that him?” someone else asked. “Is that what he looks like? Holy crap, he’s gorgeous!”
Evie covered her face with both of her hands and sank lower into her chair, trying to disappear. Wasn’t there a hole somewhere that she could crawl into?
“Professor Roth, there’s something on the back of the letter,” someone pointed out.
Professor Roth frowned and turned the paper over. “Oh, there’s a p.s.” He cleared his throat. “‘And to all the men in the room who never bothered to glance Evie’s direction, what is the matter with you? She is gorgeous! You are the ones who miss out. She is a fantastic kisser.’”
Evie’s face burned and she squeezed her eyes shut. She could see him in her mind. She could see him writing that horrible letter, grinning like a devil. Ohhhh, she was going to kill him. She was going to kill him twice.
Whistles and laughter sounded around the room, along with several crude remarks. Even Professor Roth looked flushed.
Evie shook her head. Yeah, he was dead. Definitely. He was evil. Evil with a capital E. However, in the deepest part of her, under the layers of extreme humiliation she was currently feeling, her heart smiled.
Chapter Twenty-Five
May
All was chaos at Jeff deBoer’s as Evie and Meg walked in decked out in cap and gown. Somebody cued Pomp and Circumstance to play as they walked in the door, and everyone cheered. Evie’s family was there right along with everyone else and she laughed joyfully.
She hadn’t been given a choice as to how to spend her graduation. Jeff had taken over and had informed both Evie and her family that they would be present at the gigantic party that he was throwing for Meg and Evie at his house. Evie felt good to be included like she was part of the family. It meant more to her than she could express.
She could hardly believe that she was a college graduate. She was more than positive that the only reason she had survived the year was because of Traevyn. They had talked every night for hours and she had read his beautiful lyrics and poems every week, as instructed. They had really gotten her through all the stress. He’d given her the lyrics to many love songs that he thought applied to them or how he felt for her. But he had figured perfectly when her mid-terms and finals would be and had given her poems of encouragement, or something humorous to lighten her mood. There were excerpts from Wuthering Heights, Great Expectations, The Phantom of the Opera, Shakespeare, all of their favorites. There were poems from contemporary poets as well as the greats and some more of his own thrown in the mix.
Evie hadn’t cheated, hadn’t read ahead. She’d kept true to her word, but she had almost worn the cover off by going back and re-reading all of the passages she had gone through already.
The original plan had been for Traevyn to come and see her on winter break, but by that time, Evie had been so sick of school and life that she’d needed a vacation. So she had gone to see him and they’d visited Talis in Sedona again. They spent some time in Phoenix as well, touring some of the better art museums and experiencing the culture. It had been a wonderful trip full of love, laughter, and heated kissing sessions. If possible, it had left Evie feeling even closer to Traevyn than she already did.
He had come to visit her for several days on her spring break, but her family had been out of town. Meg had been, as well, so he remained a mystery to everyone but Seth. Her parents constantly teased and nagged her about the strange artist who had managed to steal their daughter’s heart. She knew they didn’t completely understand why she couldn’t go for someone “normal,” but Evie didn’t need to explain herself to them.
They’d never really understood her creativity so she didn’t expect them to understand Traevyn’s either. Only Seth understood. Which was one of the biggest surprises.
Seth… He had been accepted to Cal Poly, much to everyone’s surprise since he hadn’t even told anyone that he’d taken the SAT’s. He would graduate high school in a few weeks and Evie was planning a huge party. They had remained close after their summer of bonding in Traevyn’s Gothic mansion, and they hung out at least three days out of the week. Evie was happy that they had grown to be such good friends. She no longer viewed him as her delinquent little brother. She cherished his friendship and had come to realize that he was a lot smarter than she had ever given him credit for.
As she made her way around to everyone, giving out hugs and thanks, she marveled over how her life seemed to have come full circle. One year ago she had been here, at Maxim’s party, aching and lonely. Now here she was, back at Jeff’s with the same people, and she had everything she’d ever wanted. A beautiful man to love her, a close group of family and friends, and now a degree in art. She could think of nothing that would dampen her spirits.
“Congratulations, Evelina.”
Except maybe that. Her elation came to a screeching halt and she came down off of her high very quickly. Barrett. She grimaced. Fantastic. She turned to see him standing behind her, smirking.
“Barrett, so help me!” Alyx deBoer’s voice came. “If you piss her off again I will not think twice about kicking you in the balls!”
Maxim nodded at his brother in warning. “She’ll do it too.”
Evie grinned, touched at the fact that they were sticking up for her.
Barrett ignored them and took Evie’s elbow, guiding her away from a group of Meg’s friends who were all laughing loudly. “So, where’s your famous boyfriend?” he mocked.
“He’s coming tomorrow. He had a show he had to be at.”
He folded his arms, looking unconvinced. “Right. Kind of strange how I’ve never seen him.”
She frowned. “That’s not my problem. Last time I checked I didn’t need you to give me clearance before I dated someone.”
He tapped his finger against his chin. “Come to think of it, has anybody seen him? Meg hasn’t.”
She rolled her eyes. “Meg’s seen pictures. Besides, Seth’s seen him.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Evie, please. You expect me to believe that some famous artist would go after you when you couldn’t even get a boyfriend in your own town?”
She stared at him for a moment, wondering if being a jerk was just in his DNA. “Barrett, what are you suggesting?”
He smirked, as if he had a secret he desperately wanted to tell. “I don’t think he exists.”
She shook her head. “Barrett, get over yourself. You need to back off right now.”
“Yes, I agree,” a silky voice came from behind her.
All the color drained from Evie’s face and she whirled. Her heart stopped for a few beats as her eyes fell upon Traevyn’s radiant visage. He smiled down at her.
Throwing any kind of refinement she may have possessed to the wind, she squealed and jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. She heard the fabric of her gown tear, but she didn’t care. It wasn’t like she was ever going to wear it again.
Traevyn chuckled and held her up as he kissed her. “How I have missed that perfect mouth,” he whispered.
Her face grew warm and she grinned. “You said you weren’t coming till tomorrow!”
“I lied,” he laughed. “I wanted to s
urprise you.”
She tangled her fingers in his hair and studied his gorgeous face with a contented sigh. She leaned in to claim his lips again, and he made a slow, deliberate exploration of her mouth, both of them not caring about the snickers and stares they were receiving.
“Dude! Get a room!” Seth finally shouted.
Evie blushed and climbed down off of Traevyn, remembering that her parents were watching. She glanced at them to see them both shaking their heads, but smiling. Seth was grinning. Meg, her friends, and even Alyx seemed to be staring at Traevyn in a dazed awe. Barrett just looked unamused.
Evie grinned and took Traevyn’s hand. “Barrett, meet Traevyn.”
Traevyn fixed Barrett with a piercing stare.
Barrett lowered his eyes and walked away, saying nothing.
Traevyn grinned and wrapped his arm around Evie’s shoulders. “So, where is this famous Maxim?” he queried.
Evie giggled and pointed to where Maxim and Jeff were laughing in the kitchen.
“That guy?” He snorted arrogantly. “I’m much better looking than him.”
Evie rolled her eyes and elbowed him playfully in the side. “Come on, I want you to meet everyone,” she said. “That way no one else thinks I made you up.”
He smiled and followed her as they made the ceremonial trip around the room.
Traevyn was more than willing to meet all of the people Evie had spoken so much about, but after awhile he began to hate the fact that there were so many people he had to make small talk with when all he wanted was Evie. He had missed her so much. His home seemed so cold and empty without her, as did his heart.
Before Evie, he had relished his dismal, empty house. It had resembled his dismal, empty heart. He had enjoyed the solitude, the quiet sounds of the sea, and the wind in the trees. But Evie and Seth had changed all that. They’d brought life and light back into his home and he swore that his house had seemed more like a tomb without them there.
“Evie?”
She looked up at him just as they’d finished talking to Alyx and her brother.
“Can we go outside for a moment?” he asked. “I want to give you your present now.”
She smiled shyly and nodded, leading him out to Jeff’s backyard.
Traevyn took a deep breath and sighed as she closed the sliding glass door, shutting out the festivities inside. Peace and quiet filled the air, and the late afternoon sun made everything seem tranquil in the spacious, lush yard. “Oh yes, this is much better,” he said.
She grinned as they both sat down on the porch swing located on the deck. “You can take the man out of his reclusiveness, but you can’t take the recluse out of the man.” She giggled and leaned her head against his shoulder. He slipped his arm around her and she snuggled close, relishing the warmth of his body.
“So how does it feel to be a college graduate?” he asked.
She smiled. “Liberating.”
“What are your plans now?”
“I have no idea. Just try and sell my work, I guess.”
“Well, I have a theory.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”
He nodded. “I think all artists, upon their graduation, should go on a trip to the place that inspires them the most.”
She giggled. “Sounds good to me.”
He grinned and reached inside the folds of the jacket he was wearing, pulling out an envelope. “In that case,” he handed it to her, “your present.”
She frowned and peeked inside the envelope. “Is this a gift certificate?” she asked. “This had so better be a gift certificate.”
Traevyn smiled and waited.
Evie pulled the paper out and blinked at it for a moment, trying to figure out what it was. Her eyes widened as recognition dawned on her. It was a plane ticket… With her name on it…To Italy. She couldn’t breathe. “Oh my gosh,” she whispered. “Traevyn…” She couldn’t speak. She just stared at it. Her eyes roamed over the date. The reservations were six months away and… Her eyes bulged. “A month!” she cried. “Traevyn, I can’t be out of the country for a month! I don’t have the money! I’d have to quit my job! I’d lose my apartment! The only reason I was able to stay the summer with you was because of my parents.”
He smiled. “Don’t worry about it, Evie. Although, you do have a decision to make.”
She looked up at him in confusion.
“I have another ticket,” he stated. “You may take whoever you choose. Remember when you said you had no man to take on a romantic adventure with you? Well, I want you to have that. Maybe take that charming Barrett fellow.”
She all but gagged.
He chuckled. “Or, if you’d like, you could take me. I may not be a deBoer, but I think I might be a decent Plan B. Besides, I’ve always wanted to go to Italy for a honeymoon.”
She grinned as her mind filled with fantastic images of being in Italy with Traevyn. Wine tasting and the gorgeous countryside and— She frowned suddenly. “Wait, what? Honeymoon?” She pulled her eyes away from the ticket and looked up at him only to find herself staring straight at a black box with the most beautiful hunk of diamond she had ever seen. She screamed. She couldn’t help it.
Traevyn retreated slightly at the volume of her scream and chuckled.
Evie started to shake and she put her face in her hands. The tears were coming. She could feel them already. “Traevyn,” she murmured. “Oh my gosh.”
“You are my soul mate, Evie,” he whispered. “I was deceived once, but I know better now. I was supposed to wait for you. This last year has been torture. I can’t be without you. You are everything to me. You are my greatest inspiration and my greatest gift. I want to give you everything. A nighttime wedding with candles and Japanese lanterns, a tour of Italy, a home, a life… My heart, body and soul. Please, spend your life with me, Evie. Be my wife.”
Wife. The word lingered in her mind. The sound of it on his lips… She looked into his eyes and she knew she would love him for all eternity. She had been waiting for him, too. “Yes,” she whispered. “Please, yes.”
He smiled and pulled the ring out of the box, slipping it gently onto her finger. He pressed a delicate kiss to her jaw. “My fiancée,” he murmured.
Her heart flipped and she stared down at the ring on her finger. Tremendous joy welled up inside of her, pushing out the shock she was feeling. She grinned and squealed again, unable to contain her happiness. She flung her arms around him and kissed him passionately. “I love you.”
“I love you too, angel,” he whispered.
She pulled away with a quizzical frown. “Seth knows, doesn’t he?”
Traevyn nodded with a chuckle.
Evie rolled her eyes. “He has been smiling like an idiot at me all day. You two are bad for each other.”
He grinned and tucked her hair behind her ear. She had taken her cap off a little while ago and he now had free reign.
“No tux,” she stated.
He shook his head.
“And your hair needs to be down.”
He met her eyes. “Yes, sir.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself up onto his lap. “And wherever we go for our wedding night, you had better make love to me until I can’t walk.”
His eyes smoldered as he held her, his hands caressing her back. “Oh I plan on it,” he purred.
Delicious shivers worked through her body at his sensual voice, and she leaned in to kiss him. Her blood burned and she ached to touch his skin, to explore every part of him. It had been agony to wait all this time. She couldn’t count how many times she had cursed her virginity. She was amazed at her own self control. “I think we should get married as soon as possible,” she murmured.
He held her face in one hand as he kissed along her jaw line. “I can change the plane reservations.”
She grinned. “I’m liking this plan.”
He pulled away to look at her. “Whatever you want, my love.”
She slipped her h
ands inside his jacket and ran them up his chest. “I want you.”
“I wonder how long the Justice of the Peace is open,” he teased.
She giggled.
He sighed. “We should go inside. Your friends will want to hear the news.” He flashed her a devious grin.
She smiled and shook her head. “My parents are gonna flip. Barrett will crap his pants.”
He smirked. “Good.”
They stood and headed back inside, their fingers entwined in the same way their hearts were.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Crater Lake Lodge, two months later
Evie awoke slowly, sore and exhausted, but happier than she’d been in her whole life. She felt Traevyn’s body against hers and she opened her eyes. His back was toward her and she snuggled against it, pushing his hair aside so that she could feel his warm skin against hers. She sighed and let her mind replay the last twenty-four hours, savoring every fantastic detail.
They had been married at Lithia Park in Ashland, at dusk. Everybody, and she did mean everybody, had shown up. Traevyn had asked Seth to be his best man, much to the dismay of his own brothers. Traevyn claimed that he had Seth to thank for opening his eyes and thought it was only fair that he should stand at his side on his wedding day. This, of course, made Seth feel very important.
Evie had met Traevyn’s parents and his brother Julian earlier in the week. She had been absolutely awestruck with how much Traevyn resembled his Native American father. She figured, if Traevyn looked that good when he got to be his father’s age, she certainly wasn’t going to complain.
Julian had been gentle and soft-spoken, but just as beautiful as Traevyn and Talis, only with golden blond hair instead of black. He had the same dignified, refined air that both of his brothers possessed, and she had enjoyed his company. He had been extremely helpful and mannerly.
Traevyn had worn all black with a black jacket that still made Evie drool to think about. The long sleeves had come down to his knuckles and had several silver buttons up the cuffs. In slight diagonal rows across the front were eight strips of narrow, black velvet with three lines of small, silver buttons in downward rows. It had been tailored to hug his lean body perfectly, and it had looked better than any tux. His hair had been down, flowing free, and his gorgeous eyes had held hers the entire time she’d walked down the aisle, shining with more love than she’d ever thought someone would show her.
Dark Masterpiece (Serendipity Series 3) Page 24
