WindSwept Narrows: #6 Eve Hastings

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  Zach chewed the mouthful of pasta he had taken, swallowed and frowned at her. “You want this to be done with a handshake?” He repeated in amazement, wondering just how much more bizarre his month could become.

  “If I didn’t believe you to be a man of honor and integrity, Mr. Covington, believe me, we would not be having this conversation,” Eve told him firmly.

  “I’m supposed to trust you,” he said slowly. “I want that property, Dr. Hastings. I don’t want to get in the middle of the project and have you revoke…”

  “I’m sure you’ve spoken to people about me, Mr. Covington,” Eve said easily. “Have they given you any indication that I would be less than trustworthy? That my word wasn’t as important to me as yours is to you. Yes, I’m asking that you trust me, and I am giving you my trust as well.”

  “I’ve spoken to a few people about you,” he admitted, returning to his pasta. It was very flavorful. He didn’t want to like it, damn it. “You’re a good cook.” Zach looked over at her carefully. Grudgingly he admitted that she was willing to put a great deal of trust in him and his behaviors, inviting him into her bed.

  “Thank you,” she acknowledged with a small smile. “I assure you, I won’t let you starve. Sam told me you had called her,” Eve said in-between bites.

  “You’ve been friends a long time. No indication of…” Zach searched for a delicate word and then decided against it. “Instability.” His gaze caught on the light, soft laughter.

  “Is that why you spoke to my friends, Mr. Covington? To find out if I were sane? Women chose to become a single parent daily. Some are genuine choices, others foisted upon them when an ‘oops’ happens. Why is this any different?”

  “Because it’s involving me,” he ground out, draining the wine in his glass and pouring more. “Why the hell not just pick up some stranger in a bar?”

  “Because I want to know my child’s father,” Eve said without anger at his comment. “Because when my child asks about their father, I want to be able to tell them he was good and kind and decent. That he was ethical and honest in his business dealings and friendships.”

  Zach swore softly and continued eating, glaring across the table at the violet eyes and high cheeks of the woman watching him. “And I’m not the kind of man who would just abandon his child. I’m a hands-on kind of guy. I suggest you alter your pronoun to be our child, Dr. Hastings.”

  “I…admit I neglected to consider that point, I’m sorry,” Eve said sincerely, munching on her salad, their hands meeting across the table when they both reached for the grated cheese. Eve swallowed and pulled her hand back. “I promise you, I would never keep you from your child. I think you would make a wonderful father. You have a great deal inside you to share with a child, helping them navigate the world. Please…there’s more if you’re still hungry.”

  “Yes, I am,” Zach watched her take the almost empty plate, adding more pasta with the rich red meat sauce over the top. He shook out the freshly grated cheese over the top, studying her closely. “Thank you.”

  Zach pulled the paper to him, drawing a line through the divorce text and signed his name on the bottom, sliding the pen toward Eve with the paper.

  “I want access to that property tomorrow, Evelyn,” he said firmly, dark eyes intent on the delicately etched features. Her words about him being a father rolled around inside him. Warmly inside him. He didn’t want that feeling, either, damn it.

  She lifted the pen, ignoring the shiver that raced through her and signed her name beneath his.

  “Done. It’s yours, Zach,” she said, following his lead and using his first name. “If you need something signed, you know where I am during the day. Just send a courier with it and I’ll sign it immediately.”

  “Nothing to be signed. We’ve made an agreement,” he told her with a simple, emotionless grimace. “Considering what you’re willing to trust me with, my taking your word about the property is simple.” He saw a tint of pink infused into her cheeks.

  Eve nodded and began clearing their meal, empty plates rinsed and loaded into the dishwasher. She looked up when she heard him behind her, offering the plates he had emptied.

  “Thank you. Please…relax. This won’t take a few minutes. I’ll get an extra key for you,” Eve knew she was rambling and was grateful when he wandered into the living area, sinking to the sofa and watching her. She hummed to the soft music she had playing from the computer, vaguely thinking of food and music soothing the savage beast.

  Mostly she didn’t want to think about what she’d just agreed to. She looked over from the kitchen, anxiety fading as she watched his head fall to the side, a shank of brown hair falling over his forehead as his body slowly leaned.

  Eve lowered the lights and went in search of an extra quilt, covering him and lowering the volume of the music just a little. He’d gradually eased onto the arm of the sofa, his legs stretched out over the length and breathing steady.

  She wondered if she was responsible for him not sleeping at night. She found an extra key to the main entrance, laying it on the table near the front door. She made certain all was locked before disappearing into her bedroom, pajamas put on and a yawn breaking free. She knew she hadn’t been sleeping, but she was getting used to it.

  She perched on the window seat and stared into the dark nothing outside the window for a long time before drifting off to sleep

  Chapter Five

  Zach shoved his bare feet over the side of the sofa when the scent of toast began eating at the first solid sleep he’d had in weeks. Sometime in the middle of the night, he had gotten up and found the bathroom next to the kitchen. He should have left. But instead, he kicked off his shoes and sunk back into the warmth of the wide sofa and two quilts she’d thrown over him.

  “Good morning,” Eve walked past him, setting her jacket by the front door.

  “Any chance of coffee?” Zach asked, clearing his throat and standing up with a long groan.

  “Sorry. I don’t even have instant. Or tea. I’m pretty much a water or milk…I have orange juice,” she looked over to see resignation on his face and poured him a tall glass, taking it to him before finishing her toast. “I put an extra key on the table by the door for you. Feel free to rummage in the kitchen,” she tipped her wrist over and drained the glass in her hands. “I have to go,” she told him, shoving her hands into her jacket. “Master bath through there, look around, you’ll find things you need, I’m sure,” she said, pointing to the back. “Have a great day! Bye…”

  Zach stared after the woman, his head shaking, wondering exactly when he’d fallen down the rabbit hole. He carried the juice with him through the large house.

  Master bath and bedroom on one end of the house. Three other bedrooms and two more baths on the other side, above and behind the kitchen. He stood before the mirror in the master bath, absently knotting his tie and opened the medicine cabinet. No prescriptions. No medications other than generic pain reliever. She was relatively neat. Not a collector of anything, with the exception of books. She had a corner of the main area set up with a frame and patchwork quilt; a desk with a sewing machine and a couple plastic containers with cloth inside.

  Zach stood gazing around the large master bedroom. One entire wall was thick, double paned windows that presented a view of the grey, choppy Sound. A small, thin vial sat on the nightstand next to the clock radio, several CD’s resting on their side.

  Environmental, classical…a strong sleep medication. He tipped the small tablets into his palm, checking the count on the front and the date. None of them were missing. He replaced them and stood for a long time staring through the locked patio door, vaguely aware of the rain spattering over the redwood tinted deck.

  He slipped the spare key onto his key ring, making certain things were locked before he went in search of coffee and his office. He quickly changed clothes and headed for the construction site, standing with the guys who eyed him skeptically.

  “I said tear it down,” Zach re
peated brusquely, looking from one to the other.

  “How’d we get permission?” Came the reluctant question. Everyone on the team knew the boss’s frustration with getting that large corner of the project.

  “I’m marrying her,” Zach answered flatly, shoving his sleeves up and throwing himself into pulling down the chain link fence, ignoring the stares from the crew around him.

  Zach returned to his office shortly before four. He’d loaded some things into the SUV and decided he’d shower and change at Eve’s. His gaze vaguely landed on the large vase of red roses sitting on his secretary’s desk. His hand was on the door knob to his office when she cleared her throat, loudly, making him stop and turn around.

  “These…belong to you,” Dora told him, one pale eyebrow arched curiously. She slid the bifocals forward slightly, watching the younger man closely.

  “Mine?” Zach took a cautious step forward, lifting the card. “I’m guessing you already…”

  “I’m a very good, highly discreet secretary…” She said with a grin. “Oh…and this…” she ran her fingers delicately over the frosted, raised etchings of full blooming roses around the upper half of the tall crystal vase. “This…is a two hundred dollar vase. It’s not one of your common florist vases. And a dozen long stemmed red roses…wow…”

  “My girl has taste,” was all he said, opening the small envelope and recognizing the printing immediately. “Zach, I’m sorry for what I said. Eve.”

  “You have a girl?” Dora choked on the swallow of tea, alert blue eyes going over the man she’d worked for since he began the company eight years ago. “Since when do you have a girl?”

  Zach just sighed and carried the vase into his office, leaving the door ajar.

  “Secretaries need to know important details,” Dora announced loudly with a slight huff.

  “Secretaries are supposed to…secretary,” Zach declared with a laugh, his head shaking. “And mark that piece of property we’ve been after as acquired.”

  “Who do I cut a check to?” She had her notebook out, ready to write.

  “No one. It’s a gift,” Zach gathering his briefcase and shut the lights off. “See you tomorrow.”

  “A…gift? Someone just gave you a valuable piece of downtown property? And you got a girl?” Dora frowned at the soft laughter she heard. Very odd. “Whoever she is, I need to send her a thank you note…”

  ****

  Eve tilted her head and critically appraised the pie dish filled with vegetables, gravy and tender chicken. She nodded in approval and carefully fit the top crust over the mixture, crimping the edges before making a slice in the top for the steam and sliding it into the oven. She jumped slightly when the sound of a grating key caught her unawares.

  Zach saw the momentary fear in her eyes when the door was pushed wide and logged that as something to be investigated. “Just me, Eve…”

  “I…is there something I can help with?” She frowned and moved toward the door, quickly holding it open and blocking it, the wind sweeping in made her shiver and reach for her sweater.

  “I’ll manage it…” Zach told her, carrying the arm load of clothing toward the master closet.

  Eve frowned and went outside, carrying things into the house.

  “I said…”

  “Two people move things faster than one, stop being so stubborn,” she ordered, ignoring him and continuing to carrying things inside. “It’s too cold to be macho,” she took the coffee maker into the kitchen, gazing around at her counters before rearranging things and fitting it next to the sink.

  “I got the rest…it’s freezing out there,” Zach kicked the small brick she’d placed at the bottom of the door, long legs continuing to the back.

  “And tomorrow it’s supposed to be seventy…go figure,” Eve murmured, returning to the kitchen and adding another place at the table.

  “Do you cook every night?” Zach came into the living area, meeting the wide eyes that lifted from the table.

  “I usually cook…I don’t always eat, but I like cooking,” she answered, ignoring the unasked question in his gaze, turning and going into the kitchen. She peered into the box of food he’d brought in, opening the fridge and working to get things situated. It gave her an idea of things he liked to eat.

  “I’m going to shower and change.”

  “You tore down the fence today,” she said quietly, meeting his gaze, taking in the dust covered tee shirt and tight, dirty jeans he wore, a pair of thick sturdy boots on his feet. “Leave those things…in the laundry room.”

  “Yes, the fence is down,” he answered simply, turning and heading into the master bedroom.

  Eve felt her knees shaking and went to sit in the thick cushions of the old chair she had by the window. It had seemed abstract when she decided along the path.

  It seemed unattainable. She pulled her feet up onto the cushion, the sweater hugged tightly to her, her arms wrapped around her knees. If she lost her nerve, if the panic was too great for her to get over, the property was still his, she decided firmly. It meant nothing to her and the apartment complex he had designed to accompany the resort was too important to not happen.

  Zach added his personal things to the counters in the master bathroom, looking into the steamed mirror and just staring. Dora wasn’t the only one stunned by his actions.

  He had agreed to sleep with a woman in exchange for a piece of property. For the first time all day he thought about what he’d done. He thought about how important the project was to him that he’d go this far for it.

  He dropped his dirty laundry into the basket beside the washer, striding barefoot into the living area to see her peering out into the falling rain.

  “Whatever you’re cooking smells good,” Zach brought his brief case to the desk, sitting behind it and pulling his laptop out. “You’ve managed to shock my secretary,” he said into the silence. “Guys don’t usually get flowers. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” she answered. “I shouldn’t have said what I did…about the stud thing…it was wrong and I’m sorry.”

  “You wanted me angry,” Zach said carefully.

  “I…I don’t know. I’ve thought about it all day. Sometimes my mouth…” she sighed. “Sometimes words come out before I realize how they’ll sound. A conceptual plan is much easier to face than one based in reality,” Eve answered quietly, shaking her head and pushing out of the chair to check the oven. “This is a recipe I got from Mia…she’s the chef with the resort and has some incredible recipes. Sophie and I convinced her to start putting them on the web site. It’s a simple one, but it’s the choice of spices that make it interesting.”

  “What do you usually do with your evenings?” Zach asked when she announced it was time for dinner, the fresh steaming rolls making his eyes widen. “How do you get this stuff done and work all day?”

  “Girls have magic,” Eve said before she caught herself, laughing softly. “Scarlet is the little blond girl in my group the other day. She’s going to be Mia’s step-daughter and her daddy has convinced her that girls are full of all kinds of magic to make things work smooth.”

  “Sounds like a smart daddy,” Zach commented, finding himself watching her more and more as they were together. The anger seemed to evaporate when he was helping pull the chain link fence down and drawing up diagrams for where to start the removal of all the ground clutter. “You didn’t answer my question…” he met the dark eyes when they rose from the food she was barely touching. He reached for a roll, split it open and spread the margarine on the steamy inside. “About how you spend your evenings. I noticed you don’t have much in the other bedrooms. The one facing the Sound would make a good office.”

  “You can make it into your office,” she answered with a shrug. “I mostly kept them closed off. No relatives to visit.”

  “Which one will you make into a nursery?” Zach almost felt the anxiety erupt.

  “I…I’m not going to think about that until…unless…there’s n
o hurry,” she finished in a shaky whisper, quickly pulling herself together and answering his question. “I have pretty quiet evenings. I sew or game…sometimes to music or now and then a movie. I read a lot…create several soft curriculums for the various age groups we have at the play care center. I take classes now and then to keep things fresh and up-to-date. Boredom loses you more kids than anything else. We’re fortunate with the computers, we have the ability to grow into a preschool for the kids of our employees.” She stopped suddenly until she realized he was smiling and listening.

  “You like your job,” Zach commented, the enthusiasm in her voice bringing a light into her eyes he hadn’t seen there often.

  “Don’t you? I think when you do, it’s difficult to keep it from being a very big part of you,” Eve ate slowly. “I’m going to guess exploring and mapping out a plan for the apartment complex was very exciting.”

  “You know the very best thing about being the boss?” Zach got up and went to the kitchen, filling his plate and returning, taking his glass in and filling it with ice. “Refill?”

  “No, thank you,” Eve bit into a carrot, watching him take his seat. “The boss thing…the best thing…being able to crawl around on the floor with three year olds if I chose to…that’s my best thing.”

  Zach laughed, his head shaking. “I guess that’s a good answer. Pretty much the same as mine…you can dress in old clothes and tear down fences. It’s a good feeling to know your project is progressing.”

  “What do you fill your evenings with?” Eve carried her plate to the sink, found a small container and putting the remainder of her chicken pie into it for a snack.