Chapter 10
Joshua
Eve strolled toward us, slightly pink and clasping a handbag to her side. Her dress, another cotton summer number, clung to her breasts and curves. Two seconds she’d been locked into my sights, and my heart already beat a drum against the inside of my rib cage. It wanted out. It wanted Eve.
I’d only come to the bar because an old friend, Roger, had come to town from New York and he’d insisted we find something fun to do that didn’t include cooking in my ranch kitchen or passing the time in front of the TV.
Eve reached us, or rather, she reached her friend Cassidy, and readjusted her grip on her handbag to accept the glass of vodka lime. “Thanks,” she said.
“Look who I found,” Cassidy trilled, just above the music, then poked me in the upper arm. “Joshua. Joshua Jackson.”
“I think she knows who I am,” I replied and grinned at the pair of them. “Hi. How are you?”
“Hi,” Eve replied, and the blush still hadn’t drained from her cheeks. “I’m good. How are you?”
“Good, fine,” I said. Missing you. Shit, no pressure. Why was this so awkward? We’d ended up sleeping together in the most romantic and spontaneous moment of my life but the feelings I had about it would only scare her off.
She wasn’t ready for anything. I was past ready.
Cassidy cleared her throat. The rock song that pumped through the speakers at the other end of the bar covered the awkward moment. Eve took a sip of her drink and looked around as if she found the Hope Bar infinitely fascinating.
“So, what are you doing here, Joshua?” Cassidy asked. “You don’t normally come into the bar.”
“I’m waiting for a friend.”
Eve’s head snapped up. “A friend?”
“Yeah, Roger. He’s an old buddy from college and he’s in town for the night. Should be here any minute, actually.” I checked my watch.
Eve visibly relaxed again, and it struck me – had she been jealous? She’d assumed my friend would be female. Holy shit, was I in with a chance here?
“In fact, why don’t we all sit together? Unless I’m interrupting your girls’ night, of course.”
“You’re not interrupting,” Cassidy said.
Eve shook her head, and I couldn’t make out whether she liked the idea of me joining their little group or disapproved of it.
I opened my mouth to doublecheck but a hand clamped down on my shoulder. “Hey, there. Looks like I’m just in time for the fun.” Roger stepped forward and we hugged.
“Good to see you, man. How was the drive down?”
“You know, the usual. Wheels on tarmac, lights, and other idiots in the way,” Roger replied, then nodded to the two ladies. “Care to introduce me to your friends?”
“Yeah, how rude of me,” I said, “Roger, this is Eve, and this is Cassidy.”
Roger ran his fingers through his styled blond hair, then straightened his suit jacket and shook each of their hands. He lingered on Cassidy. “Nice to meet you both. I’ve heard about Eve but not about Cassidy. There must be something in the water here.”
Cassidy bit her bottom lip and a tiny giggle escaped her. Roger had that effect on women, always had, but he didn’t use it to take advantage – part of the reason I was friends with him.
“Man, I’m out of place,” Rog said, gesturing to his suit. He stripped off his jacket and dumped it on a barstool. “I’d better grab a beer and catch up. Anyone need anything?”
We all shook our heads like school kids to a teacher, and Rog bustled off toward the bar.
“He’s gorgeous,” Cassidy said, a little too loudly, just when the music lulled. Her voice traveled through the bar, and Roger glanced back at her. She pressed her glass to her forehead and shrank inward.
Eve burst out laughing and slung an arm around her friend’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I think he feels the same way about you. Come on, let’s go sit down.”
We trooped to the far corner and took up residence at one of the tables. Rog joined us a couple minutes later, carrying a tray of four shot glasses and a glass of beer. “Jager time!”
“Oh, god,” Cassidy said, “I don’t think I’ll be able to work tomorrow if I do that.”
“It’s just one,” Rog replied. “I promise I won’t buy anymore.”
“Live a little.” A prompt from Eve. She picked up one of the shot glasses, and we all followed her lead.
“What’s the toast?” I asked.
“To romance in a small town,” Roger said, winking at Cassidy. We all tossed the Jägermeister back and Cassidy choked on the fumes.
“Too strong,” she said.
“I’ll get you a glass of water.” Roger bustled off again, gazes chasing him across the dance floor. The women of Hope Creek had found a target. Fresh meat.
“He’s such a gentleman,” Cassie said, between shuddering gasps. “Where did you find him?”
“He found me at Harvard,” I replied, and left it at that because Rog probably wouldn’t appreciate me telling the story. He’d become my roommate after his engagement fell through – his fiancée had slept with his supposed best friend at the time. It’d taken a while for him to open up to me as a result.
Roger returned with the water and scooted around to Cassidy’s side of the table. The two immediately engaged in conversation, just beneath the level of the music. Roger’s arm touched Cassidy’s, and she leaned upward to whisper into his ear.
It was good to see her happy – in all the years I’d known her, she hadn’t had anyone. Not since that ass Greg had left her with nothing but a pregnant belly to show for their relationship.
I looked over at Eve and she quickly averted her gaze. The music rocked on and I drank beer – anything to keep my hands busy and my thoughts away from Eve and how amazing it’d been to touch her the other night.
I set down my beer just as the music slowed. “Tougher Than the Rest” by Bruce Springsteen.
I swallowed. “Do you wanna dance?”
Eve chewed her bottom lip, checked on Cassidy and Rog, who were lost in conversation.
The lyrics were too close to the bone – were we tough enough for love or not? I pushed my stool back and walked around to her, held out my hand.
She hesitated, then took it. I led her onto the dance floor, where folks had already split off into couples and wound around together.
I took up a position in the center of the floor and drew her to my chest, the music vibrating through the floor and our bodies. I placed one arm around her waist, held her hand, and swayed with her.
We circled slowly, and Eve’s chest rose and fell against mine, her light touch on my shoulder was everything I needed. I tuned out everything but the music and her in my arms. How could one person be this beautiful?
She wouldn’t meet my gaze but scanned the other couples on the dance floor continuously, eyes flicking from side-to-side.
“Hey,” I said, and my voice rumbled in my chest. “Look at me.”
Eve finally looked up and chewed her lip again.
I’d have given anything to kiss her now, to slide my fingers through her hair, and just inhale her. But I didn’t. I couldn’t because it wasn’t what she wanted right now. It would sound ludicrous if I said it out loud but I was more than happy to wait for her. Hopefully, she’d be ready someday.
“It’s okay,” I said. “Everything’s okay, Eve.”
Her shoulders relaxed a little. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to ruin your evening.”
“You couldn’t if you tried. You’re beautiful, you know that? More beautiful than any woman I’ve laid eyes on,” I said, so much for taking it easy. The words kept coming, popping out of my fucking soul. “But I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“It’s not you,” she said, “it’s me. I’m making everything awkward because I don’t know how to handle… this.”
“This?” We circled past another couple and I shifted my weight, ran my hand up her back and down again.
“Yes, whatever this is,” Eve breathed, just above the music that thrummed through the space. She traced a line up my neck and around to the back of it, leaving a trail of goosebumps. “I feel like I did the wrong thing the other night.”
“I tried calling you,” I said, “and it wasn’t because I wanted to pressure you for another date. I wanted to check you were okay. I wanted to apologize.”
“For what?”
Her breasts against my chest, heart beating hard, it was a miracle I could concentrate on this moment.
“For what happened. I was worried you felt obligated to –”
“No,” Eve said, and shook her head, her long hair bobbing gently with the motion. “I did that because I wanted to. I’m not ready, I still haven’t figured out who I am but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m drawn to you. I – it was wrong of me to lead you on. I promised I wouldn’t do that.”
“You didn’t lead me on,” I said.
Eve looked off to the side of the dance floor and grimaced.
“What is it?”
“It’s Faith,” she said.
I followed her line of sight and spotted Faith Stone on the bar side of the dance floor, clutching a fruity pink drink, eyes narrowed at us. I gave her a cheery wave, then slid my hand up Eve’s back and drew her close again.
She didn’t push back but relaxed in my arms and smiled up at me. “I don’t know what to think of you, Joshua. Running out at moving vehicles, saving goats, and winning teddy bears for little girls. Who are you?”
I’m yours, that’s who I am. “Just a regular guy,” I said. The song ended and I led her back to our seats. I helped her onto her stool and reluctantly let go of her hand, then circled to my spot at the table.
“Nice out there?” Roger asked, looking up from his in-depth conversation with Cassidy. “Looked like you two had fun.”
“I haven’t danced in ages,” Cassidy said.
“Let’s remedy that, shall we?” Roger swept her off the stool and out to the dance floor. The slow song was gone but they kicked up their heels to a faster beat, Cassie laughing hysterically at Roger’s expressions and moves.
“I haven’t seen her this happy before,” Eve yelled. “She deserves a break. Is Roger staying with you tonight?”
“No, he checked into a motel for his first night. He’s coming over tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay,” Eve said, then shrugged and shook her head.
“Why do you ask?”
“No reason,” she replied, “just figured you must get lonely out on the ranch at times. I know I would.”
“You would or you do?”
Eve blushed and I mentally kicked herself. Way to go, jackass. I scooted my chair closer to hers. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that as an insult.”
“No, I get it. I moved here and put everything in the past. Actually, the day I ran you over I was on my way to Heather’s Forge to get a puppy. Or a kitten. Haven’t decided which yet.”
“Why didn’t you?” I asked.
“You needed my help,” she replied. “It would’ve been pretty dickish of me to go pet shopping when your car was broken down on the side of the road.”
I placed my hand on her thigh. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“What are friends for?” She shifted and my hand dropped away.
Ouch. Put in my place. The attraction between us wouldn’t dissolve any time soon but I had to remember that Eve didn’t want anything with me.
I watched Roger and Cassidy on the dance floor, laughing and fooling around, and pretended I didn’t ache for Eve on every level.