by Lacey Wolfe
Eastside.
Ten minutes later, he parked his truck and headed for the entrance of the hospital. What was her grandmother’s name? He’d met her a few times when she was visiting Eve. It started with an M. Marilyn, Margaret, Mary. Mary, that was it. He went to the information desk. “What room is Mary Parker in?”
“Are you family?” the attendant asked.
A little white lie wouldn’t hurt, would it? “I’m her nephew.”
The lady nodded and clicked away at the computer. “Room 482.”
“Thank you.” He went toward the elevators.
Once he was on the fourth floor, he followed the signs until he made it to Mary’s room. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen when he went inside. Would Eve be happy to see him, or pissed? Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open to find out.
“Brad, what are you doing here?” Eve stood, her beach glow replaced by dark circles under her eyes as she held her grandmother’s hand.
“I wanted to see if you were okay.”
“Me? I’m not the one…” She sat back down, next to the sleeping woman. Her grandmother lay in the bed, eyes closed, and oxygen cords running to her nose.
“Is she okay?”
Eve stood again, kissed her grandmother’s forehead then whispered, “I’ll be in the hallway if you need me.”
The sleeping woman didn’t say anything, but he assumed it gave Eve comfort to tell her where she was.
In the hallway, Eve leaned against the wall. Seeing her so torn up, Brad’s chest ached. He clenched his fists by his side to keep from grabbing a hold of her. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. She was fine last time I saw her. Tired, but fine. She caught a cold they said. At her age, it escalated quickly, and now she has pneumonia.”
He raked his hands through his hair. “Will she be all right?” Please say yes. Eve couldn’t handle another loss in her life. She’d crumble and he might not ever get let into her heart.
She shrugged. “They think so. But at her age they are keeping her to watch. She’s just been sleeping. Which they said is what she needs, to rest so her body will fight. It’s just…it’s hard.” Her voice cracked as tears formed in her eyes. “She’s al-l—”
Brad couldn’t resist comforting her any longer. He reached out and tugged her into his arms, whether Eve wanted it or not. At first, she jerked back, but his grip was tight. Then she softened in his arms, and he pressed his lips to the top of her head. “You’re not alone. Ever. You have me.”
As she let go of her tears, his shirt dampened. He held her tightly, trying to ease her pain. He hated this, seeing her so upset. The woman who’d raised her was lying in there sick and Eve had no one else. Or so she thought. Brad wasn’t letting her go. He’d do whatever it took to prove to her they were right for one another. All these years, they’d been just under each other’s noses.
Eve pulled away, rubbing her fingers over her eyes. “I need to get back in there.”
He took her hand, and eyes moist, she stared at him. “Let me sit with you.”
She nodded, and he was grateful she was letting him. Back inside the room, they found her grandmother awake.
“Eve, honey, you’re here.” The old woman sat up in bed with sleepy eyes, but she still grinned at the sight of her granddaughter.
Eve pulled away from Brad and went to her grandmother, then embraced her. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here when you needed me. Are you upset with me?”
Mary rubbed her granddaughter’s back. “Don’t be silly. Of course I’m not.” She stared at Brad over Eve’s shoulder. “You must be the young man my lovely granddaughter has told me about.”
He nodded, hoping that was the case and Eve hadn’t been telling her grandmother about Rick.
“What happened? Why didn’t you take better care of yourself?” Eve pestered on.
“As the doc says, I’m not getting any younger. I thought I could treat the cold myself, but I guess I couldn’t.”
“Grams, why didn’t you tell me you were ill? I wouldn’t have left the country.”
“And keep you from living your life? Never.” Mary eyed him. “I can’t keep you from your future.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eve asked.
Brad knew, and it no longer scared him. He’d been hurt once by a woman that wasn’t right for him. But now that he’d found the right one, he wasn’t going to let her go.
“You’ll figure it out soon.” Mary yawned. “I don’t know why I’m so tired. I just woke up, and yet I feel like I could go right back to sleep.”
“She needs her rest. Maybe we should go,” Brad said.
“Leave her?” Eve turned to glare at him. “No. I’m staying right here until they make me leave.”
Brad wasn’t about to argue. “Would you like me to go get you something? A coffee maybe.”
“Go with him to the cafeteria,” Mary said, lying back into the pillows.
She patted Mary’s hand. “No. I’m staying right here, but a coffee would be nice.”
“I’ll be right back.” Brad left the room and headed for the elevators. Eve was a stubborn woman, but he was a stubborn man as well. Hopefully soon, he could show her just what he felt for her. He’d fallen in love with her, and it didn’t matter how much they disagreed, he’d always forgive.
***
Eve sank into the chair next to Grams’ bed. Her grandmother dozed again and Eve sipped on the now lukewarm coffee Brad had brought her almost an hour ago. The moment he’d brought the beverage, she’d sent him home. She couldn’t bear dealing with the way he made her swoon when her grandmother needed her. It was because of her running off with him that she wasn’t here when she needed to be.
Grams had insisted she leave with Brad as well. It was like they were working together. But Eve refused. Visiting hours would be over soon, and she’d be forced to leave then.
The door opened and a nurse in green scrubs walked in. “Good evening.” She lightly jostled Grams. “Ms. Mary, I’ve got some meds for you to take.”
“Are any of those her regular ones?” Eve asked.
“Yes, and a few others so we can get her better soon.” The nurse rubbed on her grandmother’s arm a little more to wake her.
Grams groaned and blinked a few times. “I was having a good dream. You people don’t let me sleep.”
Eve suppressed the giggle that begged to release. “How much longer will she be here?”
The nurse made a note on her chart. “I’m not the doctor, just the nurse on duty for the evening shift. You’ll have to discuss it with him tomorrow.”
Eve nodded. Once her grandmother could leave, she planned to bring her home with her. No more assisted living, not with winter right around the corner. The thought of losing Grams—well, it was too much for her to even fathom. When her grandmother was gone, who would Eve have?
“I hate taking these things.” Grams sat up, taking the cup.
“If you want to get out of here anytime soon, you’ll need them.” The nurse smiled.
Grams took the pills and rinsed them down with water. The nurse then checked her vitals and left a few minutes later.
Her grandmother cleared her throat and straightened her covers. “You need to go home.”
“Not until they kick me out.” Eve crossed her legs.
“You’re being silly. Go home, especially to that hunk of a man. Why you’re here with me, I have no idea.”
Eve rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’m not running home to that hunk of man. We can’t get along. He’s so…so…I don’t even know.”
Grams’ face brightened. “You love him.”
Love? Ha! “Oh, no. You’re mistaken.”
She grabbed the side railing and pulled herself up. “I am not. You light up around him, and he can’t take his eyes off of you.”
“I think you’re mixing lust up with love.” Love, Eve hadn’t even let her mind go there yet when it came to Brad.
“No, I’m not. In
my eighty-something years I’ve learned a thing or two. He loves you.”
Brad did not love her. Her grandmother was beginning to lose her mind, but Eve wasn’t about to tell her that.
“You broke his heart making him leave here, you know?” Grams said as she rubbed her neck then rested back into the pillows.
Doubtful. He was probably happy to get out of a place like this. “How?”
“He came all this way to comfort you, and you tossed him and his feelings away like he was last year’s handbag.”
She had not…had she?
Eve thought back to when Brad had returned with the coffee. He’d come in the room and handed it to her. He’d walked toward the empty chair next to her, and then she’d told him thanks and she’d see him later. The look on his face flashed through her mind. Sadness had been in his eyes.
He’d driven here. Never had she asked him to. But instead, he showed up here on his own to make sure she and her grandmother were okay.
No, no. Her thoughts could not go down that road. Time after time she’d told herself Brad could never be the one. There was no way her soul mate had been living right next to her all this time.
Soul mate?
Eve stood, flinging the chair back to thud against the wall.
“Are you okay? Got a spider on your leg or something?” Grams chuckled.
“Yeah, maybe. I don’t know why I did that.”
Grams smiled. “Go home. I’m tired and all I’m going to do is doze until the next time a nurse comes in here to poke at me. Really. If I need you, I’ll call.”
Eve took Grams’ frail hand into hers. “Again, I’m really sorry I wasn’t here.”
“Stop apologizing. Forgive yourself.” Her grandmother smiled. “I’m glad you weren’t at my beck and call. You need to live your life. And now that you’ve got all the money, what are you waiting for?”
That damn money. “Yeah, well, that money is causing problems.”
Grams raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? What kind?”
Eve sighed. Where to begin? “I’ve lied to Brad several times about it. He’s had his suspicions, and each time I’ve made up some excuse.”
“Are you worried he’ll just want you for the money?” She pulled her blanket up to her chest. “I don’t get that vibe from him.”
Eve shook her head. Quite the opposite. She was worried he wouldn’t want her once he learned she had money and a lot of it. “He’s so hung up on money. I guess his ex—which reminds me to share a crazy story with you—left him high and dry. She was money hungry.”
“You’re not, though.”
Eve chuckled slightly. “Yeah, because thanks to you, I’m loaded.”
Grams yawned. “Hopefully it’s more money than you can spend in your lifetime. I want to know my great-grandkids will be well taken care of.”
“If I ever find the right man, they will be.”
“You’ve found him.”
Eve nodded, knowing that she had. Brad was more than a neighbor, more than someone to have sex with, he’d become someone she relied on—needed. “Maybe.”
Chapter Fifteen
The next few days, Eve spent most of her time at the hospital with her grandmother. Grams was beginning to get her strength back and would be returning to the assisted living community. Of course the stubborn lady had refused Eve’s offer to come live with her. As though Eve had expected any less. But she made Grams promise, if this happened again, she would come live with Eve.
Exhausted, Eve pulled up to her house, so ready for the comforts only it could provide. Tonight she needed a hot bath with a glass of wine. Tomorrow morning she’d get up and finally finish unpacking from her trip.
She hadn’t seen Brad. He’d texted her a few times to see how she was, to which she’d given quick responses. She wasn’t ready to face him. Not with all these new emotions clouding her head. She liked him, possibly more. Okay, it was much more than like. He’d been inserted in her life, and now she couldn’t imagine him not with her on a day-to-day basis.
Eve climbed out of her car and a piece of paper on the ground near the pathway to her porch caught her attention. She walked toward the garage. Food and paper were scattered all around, next to the fallen over trashcan. Balling her hands in fists, she screamed her frustration. She’d been leaving the darn thing in the garage, but while away on vacation another neighbor had watched her home and left the garbage can out front after trash day. With everything going on, she had only put one small bag of trash in there. And now, now it was everywhere. Fast food wrappers, cups, straws, all over her driveway.
“Are you okay? I heard you scream.” Brad appeared in the side yard.
“No, I’m not okay.” She glared at him.
“Crap. Bo got out for a few minutes. I’ll get this cleaned up.” He stared at her with a sincere expression, but dark circles formed around his eyes. He hadn’t been sleeping, like her.
Anger rolled through her veins and tears begged to release. “If you’d just get a freaking fence for your dog and care for him the way you’re supposed to, he wouldn’t be in other people’s yards all the damn time!”
“Whoa.” Brad held his hand up. “You okay?”
“I just told you I wasn’t okay. Get your hearing checked.” Sure, she was being a bit of a bitch, but she’d had enough.
He closed the space between them. “Why don’t you go inside? I’ll take care of this.”
She huffed and crossed her arms. “I’m really tired of this. A person shouldn’t have to leave their trash can in a garage just to keep dogs out of it.”
“Eve, I told you I was sorry. I’m dealing with it.” He lightly rubbed her arms, hoping to calm her.
It was his trick. One little touch and she’d forget, but not this time.
“Go inside before you say something you’ll regret.”
She jerked away from his touch. This was too much. She couldn’t deal with this. “I’m calling the fencing company tomorrow.”
He groaned as he lifted the garbage can.
“I can afford the fence, and I’m having one installed for you.”
He didn’t say anything. Usually he argued, but instead he kept his mouth shut as he picked up the garbage and put it in the can.
“What, you have nothing to say?” Why was she egging him on? Did she get some weird thrill out of getting a rise out of him?
“No, I don’t. I’m trying to show you we can be around each other and not argue.” He glanced at her and smirked. “You’re making it hard.”
“I thought that’s what you liked,” she pressed on. “The fighting and making up.”
Brad put the last piece of garbage in the can and walked over, stopping just inches in front of her. She inhaled his aftershave and desire stirred in her. At the slight moistening of her panties, she found her anger melting away. He leaned forward and pressed a small peck to her cheek. “Please, go inside and do whatever it is you need to do for yourself.” He turned on his heels then headed home.
Damn it. That man made no sense. Eve stomped up her wooden stairs and unlocked the door. She went straight for the bottle of wine in the fridge. After pulling out the cork, she pressed the glass rim to her lips. Screw the cup. She planned on finishing this bottle. No reason to add one more dish to her already full sink.
***
Brad parked his truck and stole a glance toward Eve’s, the way he did each time he came home. His life seemed to now revolve around her. He thought about her at all hours, wondering what she was doing, was she thinking of him? Sometimes as he trained a woman, he’d catch a fragrance that would remind him of Eve. He was distracted at work, home, it didn’t matter.
Since returning from Mexico, she was hardly home, though her car sat in the driveway today. He couldn’t blame her, really. If his grandmother was in the hospital fighting pneumonia, he’d be there as well. But this hit deeper with Eve, since Mary was all the family she currently had.
As Brad climbed the steps to his home, the cr
unch of gravel and squeaking brakes sounded. He hadn’t invited anyone. After turning, he made out the word fence on the side of the truck. Damn it, she was on that kick again.
“Hey, are you Brad Turner?” the man asked as he approached.
“Yup.”
“I’ve got a work order to come out and measure your yard for fencing and go over the different options with you.”
“It’s not really a good ti—”
“Hi, I’m the one who called.” Eve appeared from the side yard, as though she’d been watching for the van.
“Yes, hi.” The guy looked delighted to see her. Brad was sick and tired of men making eyes at Eve with him standing there. Didn’t they know she was more than just his neighbor? Didn’t she know it?
“If you follow me, I’ll show you what I was thinking.” She motioned the man to follow her.
Brad followed too. Not on his watch was she going to be alone with that guy. Hell, she’d insisted Rick was Mr. Right. Whoever this guy was, she’d probably be married to him by dinner.
“We have a little problem with this tree.” Eve pointed.
Damn tree.
“Brad has kindly pointed out many times that there is no sense in cutting down a perfectly good tree.” She looked at him, a sadness in her eyes he hadn’t seen before. “I’m gifting him my part of the land that the branches fall over. So start the fence here.” She pointed with her foot, her gaze still locked on his.
“Wait. You’re doing what?” Brad asked, not believing his ears.
“We’ll discuss this later.” She glanced away. “And while I have you here, I’d like to have my yard enclosed as well. I have plans of my own to get a dog, and I really don’t want my pet being a pest to the neighbors.”
She had not just gone there? This was the woman he’d fallen in love with?
He stared at her. A snarky grin spread across her face. She was taunting him. Maybe this was her way of getting him to comfort her. Anytime they fought, he touched, kissed, or did something physical. It would be nice if she just asked for it instead of always pushing his buttons. He should be pissed, but instead he smirked and balled his hands in fists to keep from grabbing her and having his way.
