“I JUST NEED A LITTLE ADVICE,” Charlie said. “I thought I’d start with the appliances.”
They stood in the kitchen of the Garden Gate, Charlie sitting on the edge of the prep table and Eve moving easily around the kitchen.
After their night in the wild, Charlie had noticed a subtle change in Eve. She was a bit more distant, more introverted. The sex was still incredible, but he felt as though she were pulling away.
He could guess what she was worried about. The more time they spent together, the more it became apparent that he and Eve belonged together. But convincing her to see the possibilities would be difficult. He had a lousy track record with women. And it wasn’t something he was proud of. But a guy could change…if he really wanted to.
“That’s not how you design a new kitchen,” Eve said. “First you figure out the layout and outline the work areas. Then you pick out cabinetry and countertops and flooring. And then, you decide on the appliances.”
Charlie flipped through the catalog. “This is why I need help.” In truth, it was important that Eve like his kitchen. He was renovating it for her. If things continued to go well between them, then she’d be spending all her time at his place. He wanted her to feel at home there.
“Maybe if you told me what you want out of your kitchen, I could give you better advice. Do you plan to do a lot of gourmet cooking or are you more of a thirty-minute meal kind of guy? Are you looking for something that looks fancy or do you want functional?”
“Yes,” he said.
“Yes to what?”
“All of it. I want to make it something a professional, like yourself, would enjoy working in. Why don’t you come home with me and we can discuss all of these points in greater detail?”
She regarded him suspiciously. “I know what you’re doing,” she said, waving a wire whisk at him. “This isn’t about your kitchen. This is about your…” She pointed to his crotch. “Utensil. I have work to do. I’m doing a cooking segment on a morning news show next week and I have to be ready.”
“You’re going to be on television?” he asked, grabbing a peeled carrot from a nearby bowl. He took a bite, then chewed slowly. “Cool. Are you going to wear that hat? ’Cause it doesn’t do you any favors.”
She snatched off the toque and tossed it aside. “In fact, I might have my own cooking show. I’ve had a couple of offers, one from PBS and another from the Food Channel.”
When he’d first met Eve, she’d been a hired chef at the Garden Gate. Now, she owned the place, had written a vegetarian cookbook and was considering television offers. She’d become a different person in five years, at least on the outside. She had people depending upon her and important things to do. And all he cared about was luring her back into bed.
“We can talk about this later,” he said, closing the appliance brochure and pushing it aside. “I’ll let you get back to work. I’ll see you when you get home.” He turned for the door, but she reached out to stop him.
“I was just going to walk down to the farmer’s market. Do you want to come with me?”
“You want me to come vegetable shopping with you?” Charlie asked. “Wow, I’ve had some thrills in my life, but I’m not sure I can handle something that intense. Are we just going to be buying green vegetables, or will there be other colors, too?”
Eve groaned, shaking her head. “They sell more than veggies there. There’s a really great Mexican food stand at the market and they make the best corn tamales. We could have lunch.” She paused. “And then, I suppose I might want to take a nap afterward.”
“I could use a nap.” Nap. That had become their euphemism for sex in the middle of the day. They’d spent most of yesterday afternoon “napping,” after they returned from camping.
Though he needed to start going over his notes for the lectures he’d be giving tomorrow night, Charlie was more than happy to be distracted by her naked body in his bed.
Eve slipped out of her white chef’s jacket, then grabbed her sweater from the desk in the corner of the kitchen. “Grab those bags,” she said. “I’ve got the list.”
When they stepped out onto the street, the midmorning sun was warm and the breeze gentle. Springtime in Boulder was his favorite time of the year. And he was glad he’d chosen to spend it with Eve. He grabbed her hand and when she looked over at him, he smiled. “Do you have a problem with this?” he said.
“A public display of affection usually requires an explanation.”
“Do you really think we’ll need one?”
She shrugged. “I know a lot of people in this town. I haven’t been dating. Someone is surely going to be curious. What am I supposed to tell them?”
“Tell them I’m your boyfriend,” he said.
“Charlie, I—”
He turned and grabbed her face in his hands, then kissed her, lingering over her mouth for much longer than he should have, his tongue teasing at her lips provocatively. If she was worried about public displays of affection, she needn’t bother. He’d just given the crowd a public display of naked lust. “I’m your boyfriend, Eve. That’s all there is to it. We have a romantic relationship. I don’t know where the hell it’s going, but that doesn’t matter. Now, just say it.”
“Say what?” she asked breathlessly.
“Say, ‘Charlie, you are my boyfriend.’”
“Charlie, you are my boyfriend.”
“There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
She shook her head. “I guess not.”
“So, now we can hold hands. We’re officially going together.”
“This sounds like high school,” Eve commented wryly.
“Maybe that’s where we should start.”
“I think we’ve gotten a little ahead ourselves. What we’ve been doing wasn’t even a possibility in high school. I was a very naive girl. I didn’t even know that tongues were involved in kissing until I was a junior in high school.” She paused. “But then, I suppose you were quite the Casanova.”
Charlie shook his head. “Actually, no. I didn’t lose my virginity until I was a sophomore in college. I didn’t spend a lot of time with girls in high school. I was too busy climbing rocks and kayaking down rivers. Girls really didn’t like to do that stuff, so until I had my first sexual experience, I didn’t have much use for them.”
“And then?”
“And then I realized how much fun they were,” Charlie said.
“And then you had a lot of sex,” she said.
“And then, I realized that a lot of sex wasn’t necessarily a good thing. When I came back to Boulder, I realized there’s a lot more to like about a woman than what you experience in the bedroom.”
“And what do you like about me?” Eve asked, turning to face him.
He slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “I like that you want me to eat better. And that you fold up my clothes when I throw them on the floor. I like how you look when you wear my T-shirt, and only my T-shirt, to make us breakfast. And I love the way you smell when you come out of the shower.”
She seemed taken aback by his rhapsodizing. A pretty blush stained her cheeks and she turned away to stare into a shop window. When she turned back to him, she smiled. “I’m hungry. Are you?”
Maybe he had been a bit too open about his feelings for her, but Charlie was sick of playing games. He liked Eve, a lot more than he’d ever liked any woman before. Hell, he might even love her, though he wasn’t sure he’d recognize the feeling if he did. There was absolutely nothing wrong with telling her what was on his mind.
“Eve!”
A man’s voice brought them both to a stop at the entrance to the farmer’s market. He heard Eve’s voice catch in her throat and she cursed softly.
“What?” Charlie said.
“It’s Dave,” she said. “My ex.”
“Matt,” Charlie corrected.
“Dave, Matt, it doesn’t make a difference what I call him. He’s coming over here right now. I really don’t want to talk to him.”
“Then don’t,” Charlie said.
Charlie had never formally met Matt, though he’d seen him once, five years ago, chatting with Eve in front of her restaurant. The guy looked like an accountant, all buttoned-up and business-like, his hair trimmed short and his shirt pressed perfectly. Charlie didn’t like him for a myriad of reasons, the primary one being that he’d swooped in and married Eve when she’d been most vulnerable. Charlie cursed inwardly. But then, whose fault was that?
“Hello, Eve,” Matt said.
“Hi.” She forced a smile.
“I’m glad we ran into each other. I just wanted to let you know that I met with my lawyer yesterday. I’ve decided to move ahead with what we discussed.”
“Discussed?” Charlie said, glancing between the two of them. “What did you discuss?”
“Nothing,” Eve said.
Matt sent Charlie a dismissive glance. “Who is your friend?”
“I’m not her friend,” Charlie said. “I’m her boyfriend. Charlie Templeton.” He didn’t bother holding out his hand in greeting. He was afraid to move his arm, afraid he might just deck the guy right in the middle of a crowd of onlookers.
“You didn’t mention you were involved, Eve,” Matt said, an uneasy look on his face.
“It’s none of your business,” Eve said. “If you’ll excuse us, we’re going to lunch.” She grabbed Charlie’s arm and pulled him along the sidewalk. “Ugh, he just makes me so angry.”
“What was that thing about his lawyer?”
“He wants to renegotiate our divorce settlement. I bought him out of his share of the restaurant. Now that the restaurant is making money and I’ve got some other things going on, he thinks he was cheated. He thinks he deserves more.”
“Would you like me to go punch him in the face?” Charlie asked, hoping she’d agree.
“No. Don’t bother. He’s not worth it.”
“There is one good thing I can say for the guy,” Charlie murmured. “He was too stupid to realize what he had when he married you. If it wasn’t for that, you two might still be married. And I wouldn’t have a girlfriend.”
“And there is the fact that he thought the restaurant would fail without his considerable skills as a businessman. He thought he was getting the better end of the deal when we settled.” She pointed to a small stand. “There it is. Come on. You’ll love this place. The food is healthy and your insides will thank you.”
Charlie wanted to question her more about her ex, but he could see how eager she was to change the subject. There would be plenty of time to learn all the details later. And if the guy got too pushy, Charlie would just have to invite him out for a beer and a little talk.
He smiled to himself as he listened to Eve order the corn tamales. There was a certain pleasure in watching over her, in protecting her. Though Eve could certainly take care of herself, he wanted to be there, to give support when she needed it.
After all, that’s what a boyfriend did. And he was now, officially, Eve Keller’s boyfriend.
“HEY, CHARLIE!”
Charlie glanced up from his notes to see Kevin Martin strolling down the aisle of the lecture hall. He’d just finished the first of his talks and it had gone better than he’d expected, considering he hadn’t spent a lot of time preparing. The lecture hall had been full and the crowd enthusiastic.
Kevin was a friend he’d met on his climb of Mount Vinson in Antarctica. Now he ran a sports marketing firm and had been booking Charlie’s speaking engagements and media appearances for the past two years.
“Kevin. What are you doing here?”
“I’ve got the family over at Breckinridge for some spring skiing and I thought I’d drive over and see your presentation. And, I’m bringing some good news.”
Charlie gathered up his laptop and his notes and tucked them under his arm. “What kind of news?”
“I got a call a few days ago from National Geographic. I sent them a reel of some of your appearances and they want you to host a special. About the ecological impact of climbing expeditions on Everest. It’s all part of a yearlong push they’re doing on the environment. They’re funding the whole thing. You’ll prep with the production company in Boston starting next week and then spend a month on site filming in May.”
“Why so soon? How are they going to put it all together that quickly?” Charlie paused, then nodded. “I’m not their first choice, am I?”
Kevin shook his head. “No. They had Dirk Phillips but he had to back out at the last minute. He broke his leg mountain biking and hasn’t fully recovered. Your climbing permit is still good, so you made an attractive substitute.”
“I don’t know,” Charlie said. “I just got back from Everest. I’m still recovering from jet lag. Two climbs in one season is crazy.”
“You’ll have a huge support staff. And they don’t expect you to summit. You’ll film around base camp and advance base camp, interview the Sherpas, the local government officials, the climbing guides. You’ll do most of that in Katmandu as they come off the mountain.”
Charlie knew this was an incredible opportunity. National Geographic was the pinnacle of the industry. Their expeditions were perfectly run, with personnel who knew exactly what they were doing. And if he took this job, there might be others in the future.
As much as he wanted to stay with Eve, he had to find a way to make a living. He couldn’t depend upon her to pay the bills. And this was only for a month. “Do I have some time to think about it?”
Kevin held out a piece of paper. “Take a look at this. It’s the compensation package they’re offering. I don’t think you need to think. This kind of salary puts you in a whole different ballpark.”
“Why me?”
“Look at yourself, Charlie. Guys want to be your best friend and women want to sleep with you. You have a face made for television. I’m just surprised no one has noticed before.”
“Okay,” Charlie said. “I’ll think about it. I’ll call you in a few days.”
“They need to know by Tuesday or they’ll push everything back to next season. And then Dirk will be available,” Kevin said. He smiled. “Nice job on the speech. Television is going to love you.”
Charlie wandered back to the area they’d designated as his dressing room. It wasn’t more than an empty office with an adjacent bathroom. He sat down on the edge of a table. The offer was too good to pass up. Even he could see that.
But was he ready to walk out on Eve? Things were just starting to go well. If was really committed to changing his life, then there shouldn’t be any second thoughts. He ought to want to stay in Boulder.
Yet there it was, that old familiar pull. That anticipation, that curiosity, that undeniable need to see what was waiting for him around the next corner. The urge to wander wasn’t nearly as strong, but it was still there.
Charlie cursed softly. He couldn’t continue to do this for the rest of his life. Sooner or later, he’d realize that he didn’t have a life. He rubbed his face with his hands, trying to clear his head and make sense of all these feelings.
“Charlie Templeton?”
Charlie opened his eyes to find a beautiful woman standing at the door. Great. This was all he needed. He waited for the attraction to hit, but to his surprise, he felt nothing. She was exactly the kind of woman he had always been attracted to—blonde and willowy. “That’s me,” he said. “What can I do for you?”
She held out her hand. “My name is Angela Weatherby. I was wondering if you’d have time for an interview?”
“I’m kind of in a—”
“It won’t take long. I just have a few questions.”
What was the harm? He felt no attraction at all. And professionally, he ought to spend more time getting his name out. “Sure,” he said, shaking her hand. There it was again. No reaction to touching her. He grabbed a chair and pulled it out for her. “Sit. So, who do you work for?”
She forced a smile. “Actually, I work for myself. I have a blog and a Web site. But my questions are for a book I’m writing.”
“About climbing?” She didn’t exactly look like she spent a lot of time outdoors. Her nails were too well manicured and her skin was pale and unlined.
“Not exactly.”
“So, what would you like to ask?”
“First, I want to assure you that your interview will be strictly anonymous. Protecting your real identity will be my first priority. I want you to speak freely.”
He frowned. Why would he want to do an anonymous interview? He didn’t have any secrets. “I don’t understand. What is this about?”
“When did you first notice girls?” Angela asked, her digital recorder poised to capture his answer.
“What?”
“I’m interested in understanding the process. How does one go from ordinary kid to ladies’ man? Exactly who taught you how to seduce women? Was it something you just picked up by trial and error or did you have a mentor?”
“What is this? A joke? I think you have me confused with someone else,” he said, getting to his feet.
“I run a Web site called SmoothOperators.com and you have a very large profile with us. You’ve dated a lot of women and fifteen of them have written comments about you. I’d like to talk to you about that, about your relationships with women.”
Charlie stared at her for a long moment. “I’m on a Web site?”
“Yes,” she said. “SmoothOperators.com.”
He grabbed his laptop and turned it on, then waited for a wireless connection. When he found one, he handed the laptop to Angela. “Show me.”
She typed in the Web address, then flipped through a few links. When she was finished, she handed him the computer. To Charlie’s shock, he saw a photo of himself and an entire list of posts from women he’d slept with. “Shit,” he murmured. “Can anyone see this?”
She nodded. “Yes. If they know where to look. Your profile doesn’t come up on a search, though. You have to enter our site first.”
“And this is legal?”
“Oh, yes.”
Charlie read through some of the comments, wincing as he came across passages he recognized. He glanced up at the first post. “VeggieLuv,” he murmured. It certainly didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Slowly, a memory crystallized in his mind.
That first night in the restaurant, Eve had mentioned something about a Web site, then quickly changed the subject. Was this what she’d been talking about? Is that why she thought he’d returned, to exact some punishment for posting the profile?
Eve’s post was long and detailed and horribly unflattering. This is what she really thought of him, Charlie mused. No wonder she was so wary about starting a relationship. He was exactly the kind of man she wanted to avoid. “So, I’ve dated a lot of women. I’m a single guy. There’s no law against that.”
“No, there isn’t. And I’m not interested in admonishing you for your skills in seducing women. I’m interested in finding out why and how you got this way. I want to explain to women what makes a drifter, like you, tick.”
“A drifter?”
“Yes. That’s your archetype. You move from place to place, never settling down. You lead women to believe they may just have what it takes to make you commit. And when you get bored, you move on.”
“Back up a second, here. I never made any promises.”
“Exactly!” Angela said. “That’s exactly what I expected you to say. But how do you think that makes women feel?”
He stood up, shaking his head. “I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry if I acted like an ass. Write that on your Web site or in your book. I’m doing my best to make some changes in my life. And now, I really have to go.”
With that, he grabbed his jacket and his computer and walked out of the room. Angela hurried after him. “I really would like to speak to you in more detail,” she called. “Could I phone you?”
Charlie strode down the hall, then shoved open the door and stepped out into the cool spring night. Maybe he’d been fooling himself all along. Perhaps Angela Weatherby knew him better than he knew himself. And Eve knew him best of all.
“THE RASPBERRY AND RADISH salad was huge tonight,” Lily said, flipping through the dinner tickets. “The mushroom and leek tartlet went well, too. And that lavender ice cream with a pear crumble was incredible. You have to put those recipes in the new book.”
“I haven’t had a chance to even think about the new book.”
“You have been a bit distracted,” Lily said. “So, how are things going with the new man? Or would he be the new old man?”
“I have no idea what or who he is,” Eve said. “Sometimes, I really wish I could go back to the way things were before he showed up for lunch. My life was so simple. I could focus on my cooking.” She closed her eyes and groaned. “I am so confused.” She looked at Lily. “Do I really want a man in my life right now?”
“Of course you do,” Lily said. “Especially that man.” She reached out and rubbed Eve’s shoulder. “Eve, you need to relax and let things unfold naturally. I know you like to plan, but a relationship is not like a recipe. No matter how hard you try to control the ingredients, it’s never going to come out perfect in the end. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be delicious.”
A shiver skittered down Eve’s spine. It was delicious already. Every moment she spent with Charlie was suffused with desire. No matter what they were doing, all she had to do was reach out and touch him and she was reminded of what they shared in the bedroom.
She’d never been with a man who’d made her feel so sexual. And when she was with him, she felt energized, alive, like she could conquer the world. And yet, she felt that same nervous energy that she had when her marriage was falling apart—the need to control every facet of the relationship.
If only she could follow Lily’s advice—to just let go and allow her emotions to lead her. She recalled a comment that one of her mentors at culinary school had given her. Unless she invested her heart and soul in her cooking, there would always be something missing from her plate.
“Chef?”
Sarah stood in the kitchen door. “What’s up?” Eve asked.
“Charlie is out front. He wants to talk to you.”
“Tell him to come in,” Eve said.
“He said he needed to talk to you outside.”
Eve frowned. “All right.” No doubt, he wanted her alone for a few minutes. Although, why he couldn’t wait an hour until she got home, Eve didn’t know. She walked through the main dining room and then into the bar. His silhouette was visible through the plate glass window at the front of the restaurant.
She paused for a moment, noting the tense set of his shoulders. He was pacing back and forth from the door to the street. Drawing a deep breath, she pulled the bandanna off her head and set it on the bar.
As Eve stepped out into the cool night, she ruffled her short-cropped hair. “I thought we were going to meet at your place after your speech,” Eve said.
He turned to face her. Eve’s breath caught in her throat. It was clear he was angry. But beyond that, she saw something else in his eyes. Hurt? Indecision? Regret? What was it?
“You’re VeggieLuv, aren’t you?” he asked, walking toward her.
Eve heard a gasp slip from her lips and she quickly scrambled for an explanation. Though the Web site was easy to access, what were the chances that he’d stumble upon it by himself? Someone must have told him. But who?
“Are you?” Charlie asked. He held up his hand, silencing her reply. “Never mind. You don’t need to tell me. It’s good to know how you really feel about me.”
“How I felt,” Eve said. “Past tense. I wrote that a year ago. After my divorce. And after a very large bottle of wine and a big dose of self-pity.”
“You know what? You’re right. You were right about it all. I can’t commit. I can’t bring myself to consider the possibility that there might be just one woman out there for me. One woman who I’ll spend the rest of my life loving.”
“I never asked you for a commitment,” Eve said. “Just the opposite. You are who you are, and I’ve accepted that.”
“Don’t,” he said. “Because the guy I used to be was a first-rate ass.” He raked his hands through his hair. “But it’s really good to know how you feel about me.”
“That was then,” Eve said. “My feelings have changed…considerably.”
“How considerably?” he demanded.
“A lot,” she said. “I understand now why you had to leave and I don’t blame you. It was my fault. I wanted a commitment and you weren’t ready for that. I knew that going in but I thought I could change you. That’s what every woman thinks. But I was wrong.”
“So you wanted to make me a better man?”
“Yes,” she said. Eve sighed. “No. Just my version of a good man. But don’t you see, we’re both in the same place now? That’s good, right?”
“And what place is that?”
“Neither one of us is looking for anything permanent. We’re just going to enjoy ourselves for as long as you stay and when it’s time to say goodbye, there will be no regrets.”
Charlie stared at her for a long moment, then cursed softly. “I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later.” He turned and strode down the sidewalk, not bothering to look back.
“Come on, Charlie,” Eve called. “Don’t be angry. It was a stupid thing for me to do. I’m sorry.”
He disappeared around a corner and Eve groaned softly. In all the time they’d spent together, they’d never fought. There were so many better ways to occupy their time. What did this mean? People fought when they actually had a relationship. All his talk about boyfriend and girlfriend was just teasing…wasn’t it?
“What are you doing out here?”
Eve turned to find Lily standing in the door of the restaurant. “Nothing.”
Lily glanced up and down the street. “Where is Charlie?”
“He left.”
“Left? Like, gone? Gone for good?”
Eve shrugged, tears pressing at the corners of her eyes. She brushed them away in frustration. This was crazy. What was she crying over? “I don’t know. He’s mad about that profile I posted on SmoothOperators.com. Or maybe not. He just yelled some stuff and then stormed off.”
“Are you crying?” Lily asked, hurrying to her side. “Oh, Eve, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” she said through her tears. A giggle burst from her lips. “I’m fine. Really. I kept my heart out of this. I don’t love him.”
But that wasn’t exactly the truth, Eve thought to herself. She did have feelings for him, feelings she was afraid to admit to herself. He was everything she’d ever wanted in a man. He was sweet and funny and made her feel special, as if she were the only person in the world he ever wanted.
But how much of that was just an illusion, a practiced facade that he’d used on other women? Even through her infatuation, Eve knew that there was a chance she was just fooling herself. Men didn’t change. It was an axiom that had held true for ages. A woman could either accept a man, flaws and all, or move on.
She’d already made enough concessions in her marriage to Matt. Putting up with his behavior had been enough to sour her optimism about love and fidelity. Why even attempt to redeem her faith in the opposite sex? She’d only get her heart broken all over again.
“For someone who isn’t in love, you sure look miserable,” Lily teased. “Come on inside. We’ll sit down and have a glass of wine.”
Eve shook her head. “Can you finish up? I’m going to take a walk and clear my head. I’ll be back to close up.”
“I can come with you,” Lily offered. “We can take our wine in a to-go cup.”
“No, I’ll be fine.” She gave Lily’s arm a squeeze. “Really, I’m great. I have everything under control.”
Eve started off down the street at a brisk pace. The evening was cool and quiet, a welcome respite from the noise and heat in the kitchen. She glanced up at the sky and noticed the stars twinkling through the light from the city. Her mind wandered back to the night she and Charlie had spent camping.
Everything was so easy between them when they rid themselves of all expectations. In truth, Eve could see the allure of living a rootless life, never knowing exactly where you were going to be from day to day, always surprised by what was around the next corner.
Maybe that’s what was needed to keep passion alive between two people—that niggling doubt that tomorrow it might all be over. She didn’t want to settle in to a relationship, she wanted to live and breathe her desires. She wanted a man who never stopped surprising her.
By the time Eve had exhausted herself, she realized that she was just a block from Charlie’s house. Standing on the street corner, the wind rustling the trees above her head, Eve weighed her options. She could walk back to the restaurant and keep her pride intact. Or she could go to Charlie, apologize for ratting him out online and see what she could do the fix the mess she’d made.
There was a third option. She could let herself in, take off all her clothes and wait in his bed. If he just remembered how good it was between them, then he’d have to see how misplaced his anger was.
Eve leaned up against the tree, wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the chill in the air. There would come a point when sex couldn’t fix every problem they had. Maybe they were at that point now. Maybe it was just best to let it go, before either of them invested too much.
Still, no matter what happened in the future, Eve wanted to set things straight in the present. She stepped back out on the sidewalk and headed in the direction of Charlie’s house. Now that he’d had a chance to calm down, maybe he’d listen to her side of the story.
The house was dark as she walked up the front steps to the porch. There was always a key hidden on a string behind the mailbox, but Eve decided to knock. She held her arm out, then hesitated, knowing she ought to decide what to say first. The sight of Charlie usually rendered her unable to think clearly.
“Tell him you’re sorry,” she murmured. “And that it was a long time ago, before you really knew him.”
She reached out again, but then another thought occurred to her. She really shouldn’t have to apologize. After all, Charlie had admitted he had behaved like an ass. And nothing she’d written on the Web site was untrue.
Gathering her resolve, Eve rapped on the door, then waited. She listened for sounds inside, but heard nothing. Pressing her hands to the glass in the door, she peered into the darkness. Maybe he’d already gone to bed. Or maybe he hadn’t come home at all.
She grabbed the key from its spot and unlocked the door, then slowly pushed it open. Her eyes adjusted to the light and she walked into the living room. Eve’s breath caught as she saw him, sitting on the floor, his back against the leather sofa.
“You didn’t answer,” she murmured.