by Helen Lacey
* * *
Scott was neck deep in trouble. He’d been determined not to get involved with Evie. And now he felt so involved he could hardly think straight. Evie was like...she was like the skin growing over his bones, the air in his lungs. Like no other woman he’d ever met.
Maybe it’s just because last night I had the best sex I’ve had in my life.
Sex could do that, right? Especially incredible, mind-blowing sex. It could warp a man’s reality; it could make him think things, feel things, wish for things.
But wishes were for fools. He was leaving in two weeks. He knew better than to start something. Two weeks and he couldn’t keep his fly zipped. Scott wondered if she’d want to make love again. He wondered how he’d react if she did...or didn’t.
As he bought toys for the kids, she kept her distance. Even as they headed for the gift-wrapping booth, she remained quiet. The regret she clearly felt seemed like a force field over her skin. He followed her to the music store and agreed with her suggestion of a gift for Callie’s teenage step daughter, Lily. Once the kids were sorted, Scott headed for a jewelry store to purchase something for his mother.
“What about this?” he asked Evie, ignoring the pushy salesclerk who batted her eyelashes at him as he dangled a gold chain from his fingertips.
She shrugged and then nodded. “You know what your mother likes.”
“I’m asking if you like it.”
He got her attention back and she slid sideways, bumping her hip against the counter. “It’s pretty.”
Scott got a quick image in his head of Evie wearing the necklace around her beautiful neck and nothing else. He shook the thought off and looked briefly at the clerk. “Bracelets.”
Minutes later he’d made a selection and the item was wrapped and paid for and they headed from the store. She declined coffee, cake and everything else he suggested. He wasn’t sure what he wanted. Being around her messed with his concentration and determination to stay focused on getting through Christmas and the wedding before heading back to L.A. where his job was waiting. The job he was determined he could do without distraction. But not being around Evie didn’t appeal, either. So he was screwed either way.
There was an uneasy tension between them and he didn’t like it one bit.
Scott drove her home and she didn’t wait for the keys or for him to haul his shopping bags from the rear seat. Back in his room he could hear her moving around the house, heard the telephone ring, heard the sound of low voices downstairs and imagined her explaining her absence to the ever-curious and relentless Manning sisters. With a brisk shake he decided to stop hiding in his room. He took off immediately and headed downstairs. The sisters passed him in the hallway, all smiles, and made their way out the front door. He waited until they were out of sight and headed for the front living room.
Evie was near the huge Christmas tree, fiddling with ornaments. She still wore her jeans and the tight tank shirt that had been tantalizing him all morning. He’d barely touched her while they were out, only taking her hand once or twice. Casual, that’s what he’d thought. But looking at her shapely bottom, he didn’t feel at all casual. He was aroused just by the sight of her.
“Callie called,” she said, and didn’t turn around. He wondered how she’d sensed he was there. “She said to remind you about your mother arriving tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I know.”
She straightened her shoulders, still fiddling, still with her back to him. “You can put the gifts for the kids under the tree if you like. Unless...unless you’re still moving out.”
Moving out? That’s right. That’s what he’d said. That’s what he’d decided to do the day before. Move out and away from temptation. And complication. Too little too late.
“Is that what you want?”
She shrugged and continued her attention on the already perfect tree. “It’s not up to me.”
Scott took a step toward her. “Evie?”
“I don’t know what I want,” she said, and turned. Her green eyes shone brightly. “I’m not completely naive—I know a situation like this is different for a man than it is for a woman. Turns out I’m a whole lot more emotional about having a physical relationship with someone than I thought. We agreed it would be just sex, but I’m not really made that way. So I think it would be better if we went back to how things used to be.”
Scott stared at her. I’m off the hook. Only, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to be.
She turned back to the tree. “I’m going to be in the studio for the next few hours. Please help yourself to anything you want.”
Just not me...
Scott got the message. He lingered in the living room for about three seconds before he turned on his heel and left.
Chapter Nine
While she was having her fitting for her bridesmaid dress on Monday afternoon, Evie did her best to appear as much her usual self as possible. Her friend Fiona wasn’t fooled, though, and asked her straight-out what was going on with her. Evie shrugged off the question and avoided making eye contact with Callie.
But Fiona didn’t give up. “You’re distracted.”
Evie stood in the dressing cubicle and unzipped the pale gold satin gown and allowed the strapless bodice to hang on one hip. “I’m fine,” she replied.
In truth, she was so far from being fine, and her head hurt thinking about it.
“You know,” Fiona said with a laugh, “that new teacher at school asked about you again.”
The third time in as many months. Maybe she should go out with him. At least it might take her mind off Scott. “So set me up.”
Her friend’s eyes popped wide. “You want a date?”
Evie shrugged. “Don’t look so shocked.”
“I am shocked,” Fiona replied.
“Me, too,” Callie said, tapping on the door.
“Well, don’t be,” Evie said sharply, and pushed at the cubicle doors. “So, can you wrangle it?”
Fiona nodded. “For sure. I just can’t believe you’re actually going to go on a date with him.”
“Why not?”
“Because you don’t date,” Fiona replied. “Ever.”
She experienced a weird dip in her stomach. “Maybe I’m tired of being predictable.”
“Ha...not likely. Anyway, he’s nice enough. He’s a little...”
“A little what?” Callie prompted.
Fiona made a clucking sound. “Dull,” she said finally.
Well, what’s wrong with being dull? At least he’s my own age, lives in the same town and isn’t likely to go running into burning buildings any time soon. “Dull suits me just fine. I like dull.”
Fiona snorted and Callie laughed and when Evie finally emerged from the dressing cubicle, both her friends were staring at her with lifted brows.
“You don’t actually believe that?” Callie asked, and took the dress from Evie’s hands.
“Sure I do,” she said, and stepped out to allow Fiona inside to try her gown on. “Dull isn’t as bad as it sounds. Dull is...” Safe, reliable, not likely to break my heart. “Besides, I’ve met him several times when I’ve dropped the twins to school and he seemed friendly and pleasant and—”
“Pleasant?” Callie groaned. “Now I know you must be joking.”
Evie stood her ground. “Not everyone gets fireworks,” she said, holding her ground. “Or wants them.”
“What about plain old he-makes-me-weak-at-the-knees lust?” Fiona piped in from behind the door. “That’s gotta count.”
“Overrated,” Evie replied, and tried not to have a flashback about making love with Scott.
“I used to think so,” Callie said with a dreamy grin. “I don’t think I ever believed in all that romantic stuff before I met Noah—I was always practical and levelh
eaded when it came to romance. And then I met your brother and whoosh...all my practicalities went out the window.”
Evie made a face. “Have you been reading Fiona’s bodice ripper novels again?”
“You can scorn all you like,” Callie said. “But when it happens...watch out.”
“I believe in it,” Fiona said as she opened the door and stuck out her head and looked directly at Evie. “And however much you deny it, so do you.”
“Just ask him, will you?” she said flatly.
Neither woman said anything else.
* * *
When she arrived home, Trevor was in the upstairs kitchen making a snack. Evie plonked her bag on the table and took the half ham-and-cheese sandwich he offered. The school term was over, and once the wedding and Christmas were done, her son would be taking his annual trip north to spend a few weeks with Gordon’s parents. She always missed him terribly but knew how much her in-laws loved seeing their only grandson. They still invited Evie every year. In the early years after Gordon’s death, she’d made the trip several times. But the Dunns’ grief was still inconsolable and each year it became harder to face. So she took the coward’s way and used the B and B as an excuse to stay behind. She knew they adored having Trevor for those few weeks and wanted her son to have a strong relationship with both sets of grandparents.
“How’s the hoop shooting going?” she asked, and took a bite of sandwich.
“Scott reckons I’m a natural,” he boasted with a broad grin. “Tryouts are on soon.”
“You guys seem to be getting along okay.”
Trevor shrugged. “Sure. He’s really cool. He knows about computers, too. And mechanics.”
The hero worship in her son’s voice was glaringly obvious. And she couldn’t blame Trevor for feeling like that. Other than her own father and Noah, her son had spent years without having a man’s regular influence in his life. “I’m glad you get along.”
“Yeah...it’s too bad he’s leaving soon.”
Too bad. Evie couldn’t stop her heart tightening up. “Well, Callie lives here now, so the chances are he’ll come back to visit his sister.”
Even as she said it Evie didn’t believe it. Maybe she didn’t want to believe it. She’d put the stops on their relationship. She was the one who couldn’t do casual. Now the idea of Scott returning to Crystal Point in the future wasn’t something she wanted to face. Especially if he didn’t come alone. That would be the inevitable future, right? He’d go home, meet someone suitable, eventually fall in love and discard all his protestations about the job and relationships not working for him.
And I’ll still be alone.
“I hope so,” Trevor said cheerfully.
Evie took a deep breath. “So, how about helping me wrap some gifts?” she suggested, eager to do anything to dislodge the heavy pain inside. “I picked up a few things before my dress fitting today. I could use a hand getting them done.”
“Sure,” her son said. “But I’m heading to Cody’s tonight if that’s okay. His dad got him this new computer game for Christmas.”
Cody’s father was a soldier on tour in Afghanistan. She knew her son’s best friend would rather have had his dad home for Christmas than a game for his computer, and was glad her son could be there for his friend.
Evie didn’t see Scott that evening. By the time she heard his motorcycle in the driveway, it was well past ten o’clock. She knew he’d been at Callie and Noah’s. His mother had arrived from L.A. and it wasn’t hard to figure they would want to spend some time together as a family. Evie knew her parents were there, too, which didn’t help the tiny stab of exclusion she experienced every time she thought about it.
As it got closer to Christmas Eve she had her routine down. She saw Scott briefly each morning, though they rarely met for breakfast. He spent some time with Trevor and disappeared most days and evenings. So she got exactly what she wanted. They spent a week barely exchanging words, passing each other in the stairway or kitchen. And Evie had also spent the week pulling mistletoe down from around the house. The Manning sisters were clearly the culprits. Evie tossed the stuff in the garbage every time she got her hands on it, much to Flora’s and Amelia’s amusement.
She had a last-minute panicked phone call from the wedding caterers, but everything else associated with her brother’s Christmas Eve wedding went to plan and Evie was convinced that the ceremony would go off without a hitch. Until the day before the wedding. And it wasn’t exactly a hitch...just a minor catastrophe. One of the groomsmen broke his foot in a boating accident and Callie insisted Scott fill in the role, as well as giving the bride away. Which meant she would be partnered with him all evening...at the ceremony, at the reception...and on the dance floor.
The bride and maids were all dressing at Dunn Inn, and the ceremony and reception were being held at the local country club under a huge white silk marquee. Beneath the marquee were hundreds of tiny lights, tables, chairs, a dance floor and a team of smartly attired wait staff.
At the house, Grace was on hand, helping the attendants with hair and makeup. Evie’s dress fit like a glove and as Grace fussed with her hair Evie stood compliant and silent. But her sister wasn’t fooled.
“Why do you look like you want to be somewhere else?” Grace remarked in a soft voice close to her ear. “Trouble in paradise?”
With Callie on the other side of the room, looking perfectly beautiful in her pale ivory organza gown, Evie knew it wasn’t the time for a heart-to-heart with her sister. Fiona and Lily were fiddling with Callie’s veil, and Noah’s youngest daughter, Hayley, stood by the armoire in the corner twirling on her gold slippers.
There was a short rap on the door, and Grace invited whoever it was to open up. The door swung back and Scott stood beneath the threshold. Evie’s skin warmed instantly. He looked incredible in the dark suit, shirt and pale gold tie, and his gaze traveled over her in that way she’d become accustomed to. It had been days since they’d shared such a look, and the silence that overtook the room was suddenly deafening. Everyone noticed. How could they not?
Grace said something and Evie quickly scrambled her wits together. “Yes...we’re all ready,” she said, and ushered Hayley from the corner.
Callie came forward and took his arm. “You look amazing,” Scott said to his sister as he kissed her cheek.
“Noah’s a lucky man.”
Eve’s throat tightened. She knew how much Noah and Callie loved each other. She’d watched their relationship blossom barely months ago and couldn’t be happier for her brother and soon-to-be bride.
And that thought only made her yearn, suddenly, for happiness of her own.
* * *
Watching his sister get married, Scott experienced varying degrees of emotion. As he gave the bride away and stepped aside to stand next to Evie, tightness uncurled in his chest. They were close and he couldn’t push away the need to touch her. So he rested the back of his hand against her arm and traced a little path up and down. She shivered but didn’t move, didn’t do anything that might distract from the bride and groom exchanging their vows.
Once the vows were over, the bridal party disappeared for an hour with the photographer. They were ferried away in golf carts to a spot in the grounds of the country club where they could get the best shots. When they returned to the marquee, most of the guests were already seated.
After dinner there were speeches, the traditional cutting of the cake and then dancing. His sister and new husband took to the floor before the rest of the bridal party followed. To have Evie in his arms felt good.
“I have two left feet,” Evie warned, moving to the dance floor with him.
Scott grinned when she began to move in an awkward way. Okay, so Evie couldn’t dance. She had other talents. She could cook. And paint. And she was a great kisser.
“You’re
smiling,” she said, and tightened her grip on his shoulder. “Am I that bad?”
“Yep.” He chuckled. “Follow my lead and no one will notice. Besides, the bride and groom get all the attention.”
She looked across the dance floor to where Noah and Callie swayed together. “Yes, I suppose they do.”
He heard a break in her voice. “Evie,” he said softly. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Just tired, I guess.”
He wondered if she was thinking about her own wedding. That was normal, right? She looked lost and a little sad. She was probably thinking about her husband. The one man she’d loved. The urge to make it better for her drummed through Scott’s blood. Not that he knew how. He didn’t know much of anything when it came to Evie. The last week had been hell. Living with her but barely speaking, walking into rooms that held the lingering scent of her fragrance, working out ways to avoid being alone with her...the whole damn thing had become exhausting.
The truth was he missed her.
And hadn’t a clue what to do about it. Another week and he’d be gone. Back to his life and his job and he could forget all about Evie Dunn. He could forget how she felt in his arms and the taste of her kiss. Every ounce of good sense he possessed warned him away from Evie. But the pull back toward her was intense and impossible to ignore.
They danced for a while longer, not speaking, only moving together. At one point he switched partners with Cameron, the best man, and ended up dancing with a bubbly redhead whose name he didn’t quite recall. Later he tried to get Evie alone again. Instead, his sister cornered him by the drinks table.
“Is something going on you’re not telling me?” she asked suspiciously.
Scott shrugged and took an imported beer from the bar attendant. “Not a thing.”
“You always were a terrible liar.”
“Nothing to tell,” he assured his sister. “Wanna dance?”
Callie gripped his arm. “I just don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”
Neither do I. “No one’s getting hurt,” he said, and took Callie’s arm. “Promise.”
