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10:03 a.m. Come on, Eva! I’ve decided to go wait on the front terrace for her and I’m stalking towards the door when I collide with Bells. “Whoa!” My hands go to her shoulders to steady her, but my attention goes to Eva. Her jaw is tense and her glare could laser my hands to dust before she looks away. Yes! “Helen,” I greet her, waving my arm towards a seating area in invitation as my attention moves back to Eva. I can’t help my smile. The way Eva was looking at us then made me want to whoop with joy. She really didn’t like me touching Bells. That’s always a good thing.
Her name falls from my lips as I move towards her, her eyes wide, her body tense. It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. She jumps when my hand brushes her bare skin.
But my mind wanders, and before I know it, I’m gazing at her lips as they part, and then her turquoise pools of fire as they ignite. Oh, baby. “I want to kiss you again,” I whisper. Again, and again and again. When she gasps quietly, fidgeting on the spot, I know she wants me too. I can’t keep my hands off her. I drop my palm to her mid back and guide her to the seating area, and all I can think is, she’s here.
“Can I offer you ladies a drink before we get started?”
“Americano, please,” she mutters, reaching into her bag and extracting her notepad. Fuck me, the way she moves! Bending and stretching. Her T-shirt riding up, exposing a few inches of that skin I know is satin-soft to touch, without yet having had the pleasure. Her hair falling in her face...
“Helen?” I croak. She follows my gaze to Eva flicking through the pad.
“Cappuccino, please, Will.” Bells smiles. She definitely caught me looking. Fuck it. Who wouldn’t? That woman is a fucking goddess.
––––––––
I shuffle the tray of coffee onto the table and peek at Eva. Her eyes are on the notepad, her long legs encased in light denim, and crossed at the ankle, as she chews on her lip. “Helen, can I show you the kitchens first?”
“Lead on.” Her smile says she knows I’m getting rid of her and is happy to give us some space.
“Just a sec, Eva,” I tell her, smiling my thanks at Bells and leading the way.
“Wow!” she exclaims. “This reminds me so much of my mum’s kitchen.” Bells’s eyes sweep over the exposed brickwork and the original windows, a bittersweet smile on her face.
“Oh?”
“She had a restaurant. That’s where we learned to cook.” She smiles wider at my confused face. “Eva can cook just as well as I can,” she clarifies. She can? Wow.
“She made me look bad. Asked Mum to teach her to make a certain dessert one day, and Mum decided I should learn too. I hated Eva for about five minutes, but I got over it pretty fast. We made mountains of meringue.” She laughs and pushes her hair behind her ear. “Then we made more, just so we could eat them. We were nine years old. Been inseparable ever since.” She shrugs her shoulders, smiling fondly to herself. I can imagine Eva as a kid. I bet she was a handful. “Hey. Y’know, if you’re up for letting me crash in your kitchen, I could help with service.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” I tell her slowly. Good chefs are hard to come by. If their Easter event was any kind of clue, Bells is a culinary whiz. And if Bells is here, Eva won’t be far...“Crash away.” I wink as I make for the door. For Eva.
She’s exactly where I left her. Fidgeting. She’s nervous? Butterflies take flight in my stomach and I realise I am too. So, that’s what it feels like. Huh.
“Shall we?” I offer her my arm, trying to control my nerves. Her hand wraps around my elbow and I’m on fire. I don’t stand a chance of keeping my hands off her today. I want her too, too much.
My palm moves to her elbow and I skate it down to hers, tugging until she stops walking.
“I’ve missed you, baby,” I murmur as I pull her closer. Her eyes close briefly.
“I’ve missed you too,” she says, but she’s hesitant. I test the waters with a soft kiss. Her fingers tighten on mine and a frown flashes across her brow. She’s thinking again.
“Don’t overthink this, Eva. I want you. I know you want me too.” I really fucking hope you do.
“It doesn’t bother you? That I’m married?” I’ve thought about it a lot, but...
“Are you going home to a loving husband tonight? A happy family?” Her mouth twists in an ironic smile. “Do you still love him?” I have to ask, but I’m not sure I want to hear the answer. I hold my breath and wait.
“No,” she breathes, as though admitting it to herself for the first time. Thank fuck!
“Then why did you bail on breakfast?”
“I...I didn’t think you’d show.”
I’m taking her mouth before I can think better of it, but she’s not hesitating now. Her fingers are in my hair, twisting and tugging, kissing me back just as wildly. She wants this as much as I do. And I want to enjoy every single second. I tighten my arms around her waist to lift her off the ground and move towards the coffee bar.
Perfect height. I lift her slightly higher, sitting her on the edge, and nudge her knees wide. My fingertips move across her back, tracing her shape, her curves, up to her shoulders, and slowly return to her waist, my body pressing closer to hers. That little voice telling me not to push her too far is getting louder, demanding attention. I’m about to break away when her hands move to my arse, encouraging me closer.
Yes! Fuck yes!
My hands glide down her thighs, under her knees, pulling her closer as my hips press into hers as though they belong there. Fitting perfectly.
I break away from her mouth, intoxicated and ready for more as I kiss my way down her long neck, her throat, and nip my way back to her mouth, sucking lightly. Christ. She’s out of this world.
Her fingers twist in my hair as she moves my head back to hers, her mouth taking mine now, and my hands have a mind of their own as they slip under her T-shirt. Fuck! Her skin is just as soft as I’d imagined. Better. I want to taste it. My fingers curl around the hem, just starting to tug upwards when Bells’s voice invades my senses, bringing me back to Earth like a bucket of cold water.
“There you are. I just wanted to...” I glance over my shoulder. She’s taking in the scene, gobsmacked.
“Oh! I’m sorry. I’ll...err...just go. I’ll see you later, Eva. You stay. Enjoy yourself.” A wide smile takes my face hostage. When I turn back to Eva, she’s flushed with embarrassment. Oh, baby. Another minute and it would have been much worse.
“Bye,” Eva squeaks, her eyes wide.
Just one more kiss. I pull her all the way forward and step back once, sliding her down my body, until she’s standing in my arms and gazing up at me.
“Damsons,” she murmurs.
“Sorry?”
“Your eyes. They’re like damsons.” Oh, baby. You are so sweet. We need to get moving before I change my mind and take her upstairs.
“Come. I want to show you everything.” Eva’s cough is more of a groan as I bring her hand to my lips. Her gaze is hot enough to make me sweat as I lead her onward.
“Do you mind showing me around again?”
“Not at all.”
“Thanks.” She gives me a small smile, her cheeks pink. “I might be able to concentrate better this time.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.”
Christ, why does she have to be so desirable? And effortlessly so. It’s really not fair to the male of the species. She’s stopped a few steps from the doorway, her head turning slowly as her eyes, those gorgeous eyes, sweep the ballroom.
I might get her to organise one of those next. I bet she’d look sensational in a ballgown. I could teach her to dance. I smile and then catch myself fast.
Dancing and I parted ways long ago. But I can’t deny the idea of Eva in my arms, her body close to mine... swaying and moving to the music... Yeah. That would be amazing.
I move in close behind her, not able to stay away for another second, and pull her tight against my body. “Ballroom,” I say quietly, taking her earlobe between my teeth and then kissing the hollow below. I can’t stop myself. The hand that isn’t holding her delectable body to mine moves her hair aside, her fragrance filling up my senses like a sunrise. She smells so fucking good. Like home. My lips ghost across her skin from her ear to her shoulder. I’m almost desperate to remove the material barring their way.
“Will,” she breathes, her eyes closed and her lips parted.
“Mm?”
“We need to take this slow.” I know. I’ve got you.
“I can do slow, Eva.”
“You know what I mean.” I turn her around in my arms, keeping her close and scanning her face.
“I can do slow. As slow as you want. Whatever you need.” She gazes into my eyes, a corner of her mouth twitching up, and my phone starts ringing. I silence it without even removing it from my pocket and kiss her again.
I silence a call for the second time, scowling in frustration. Fuck. Off. But when it rings a third time, I rip it from my pocket and connect the call. “Yes?” I grate. I don’t want distractions today, so this had better be fucking urgent or someone’s going to be sorry they called.
“What the fuck, man?”
“Just a sec,” I tell him, pecking Eva’s lips. “Sorry, baby. Excuse me a minute.”
“Sure.” She smiles, and I jog out of the room, eager to get this over with.
“What do you want, Jack?”
“Well, it’s good to speak to you too, arsehole,” he huffs. “I was going to tell you I’m coming home sooner than expected. For a freelance job for a new agency. A big thing by all accounts.”
“And?” I grate.
“I was just checking if you’re okay with that.”
“Sure. And since I’ve got you, did Brad get hold of you about the leak?”
“Yeah. I’ve been through it with him a few times now, but we’re none the wiser.” Then he adds, “It wasn’t me, Will. I didn’t—”
“Of course you didn’t. That’s not what I was asking. Just keep me posted. I gotta go.”
“Oooh? Is the mystery lady there by any chance?”
“Goodbye, Jack.” I cut the call and pocket it, ignoring the buzz of a notification. I need to get back to Eva.
I walk over to where I left her, but she’s not there. “Eva?” I call out. She doesn’t respond. I race along the corridor, glancing in to each room in turn. Fucking hell! Where is she? “Eva!” I yell, getting more and more desperate as panic threatens to choke me.
Calm down! I order myself, forcing oxygen through my nose and exhaling through my mouth in a gust. You’re not a child. If she left, she’ll be back. I pull my phone from my pocket again, ready to dial her number, when an open door catches my eye. Every possible reason for the open door tortures me. No! She went outside—that’s all. Go find her. Now.
I try not to yell her name as I jog through the grounds, all the way to the back. There’s a small woodland down there. I run towards it, taking the stone steps in a single bound, and call out again. “Eva?”
“Oh! Um, yes?” My head snaps to the right. Under the willow tree? I reach out and brush the long, thin branches aside. Thank fuck!
She’s flushed and breathing fast as I calm the panic coursing through my system. She watches my every step. I smile as I sit beside her on the grass, my back against the thick trunk, my knees raised.
“What have you been thinking about?”
“You.” Oh, baby. Let me show you why the real thing is better.
***
Eva and I are having an amazing day. But my bloody phone won’t stop! I kick the fridge shut and place the two bottles of water on the bar.
Brad: I’m coming up empty with the leak. The only thing I can figure is CCTV??
Me: In a hotel bedroom? Not likely, not to mention, illegal. No point asking them. They wouldn’t admit it if there were. Go check it out.
Jack: The case just got bigger. There’s a bonus on landing this one. You want in?
Me: No. Thanks though.
––––––––
Must be a big fish. Political, more than likely. The shit those arseholes pull for their own advancement is sickening. It could even be a member of the Royal Family. It wouldn’t be the first time. But I’m still not interested
Bells: I have my fingers crossed for you. And plyers. Just in case.
Ha! I like her.
De Luca’s guy: Update?
I ignore that one and shift the phone to silent mode, eager to get back to my girl. I snatch up the bottles and head outside through the French windows.
My girl?
Christ, I hope so. The phone vibrates in my hand before I slip it away. I glance at the screen. Gary Lucas is calling me.
“Gary,” I greet him. I stop walking and turn around again.
“Hunter.” He clears his throat. This guy really doesn’t like me. That’s not so surprising, given the revelation in the bar the other night. “You want to do a paternity test?”
“No.” I pause for a reaction, but he doesn’t speak. “Eva’s here with me today.”
“Is she,” he snarls.
I ignore his tone and continue, “She told me that her daughter doesn’t see her father, and since Eva sees you fairly regularly, I’m guessing she, at least, doesn’t think you’re the child’s father.”
“No, I don’t suppose she does. Given we’ve never had sex ‘n’ all.”
“Never?” I have to check. For myself. Not De Luca.
“No. Listen, Will, I don’t know what Dan’s told you, but you are dealing with a maniac. If he wants Eva—”
“He doesn’t.”
“Sorry?”
“I’m absolutely certain that it’s you he wants, Gary. Not Eva.” There’s a thump on the other end of the phone. “Gary?”
“Yeah. I heard ya...” he croaks. “We need to talk. I need to know what the hell is going on here. That is the only reason I haven’t spoken to Eva about this yet.”
“Sure. But not today. Eva’s—” He gasps.
“She’s staying?”
“If she wants to,” I say carefully.
“What are you doing, Hunter?” I let out a little huh. What am I doing? I thought it was obvious.
“Falling.” I hear his sharp breath, but I don’t give him the chance to respond before I hang up. Then I text Mary, my mouth stretching wider as I type... and plan.
Can you keep Mae with you overnight, please?
––––––––
Tonight will go down in history. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen... Tonight, Will Hunter is going to do romance. Champagne at sunset, candles, music... dancing? I wait for the sharp stab of pain but the image of Eva in my arms is all I see. And all I feel is... happy.
Today, Eva as good as told me that Gary is not Summer’s father. Of course, she didn’t know that’s what she said. She said Summer has never met her father, meaning that Gary can’t be him. Gary has only confirmed it. And she’s named this place. It’s absolutely perfect: Escape.
I’m grinning as I pull an ice bucket off a shelf and fill it with ice cubes. I wander along behind the bar to the bank of refrigerators, returning the water and selecting a bottle of champagne.
I lodge the bottle in the ice and make my way to the stock cupboard in the restaurant area for the candles.
When I have everything I need, I load it onto a trolley before dashing into another huge cupboard for a blanket. She might get chilly. And I wheel it all out to the top lawn for the best view.
Twenty minutes later, I’m grinning again as I take in my handiwork, but I need to get back to Eva. She’ll be wondering where I’ve gone. So, I push the trolley back inside and go in search of Eva Adams, ready for romance. To show her I want her in a way I’ve never wanted anyone before.