Chapter 9
Eve
“You have to tell me what happened,” Cassidy said, shifting the beer bottle on its coaster. “Please! I need to enjoy this vicariously. It’s not every day I get to discuss the romantic prowess of a man like Joshua Jackson.”
This was hardly the place to discuss anything. The Hope Bar was just down the road from the Cowboys n’ Cuts and attracted plenty of locals on a good night. On a bad night, it was half-empty and filled with truck drivers and the odd biker with an array of tattoos.
Tonight was one of the ‘good’ nights, which meant most of Hope Creek was in the bar. Sure, they probably couldn’t hear our conversation over the AC/DC pumping through the speakers on either side of the somewhat grimy dancefloor but I wasn’t all that keen on talking about Joshua anyway.
“Come on, everyone in the town is talking about it. He did ask you out at the fair, after all. I mean, we all know you had a date,” Cassie whispered, then raised her palms. “Fine, you don’t have to tell me.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, I just respect his privacy and my own, and also –” I struggled for the words to describe how I felt about Joshua and what’d happened two nights ago.
“Also what?”
“Also, I’m not sure I’m even going to see him again.”
Cassidy’s mouth dropped open and she shook her head in disbelief, strangely in time with the thump of the base beneath their bar stools. We’d chosen a corner table but it wasn’t inconspicuous enough. Women, in particular, kept shooting glances in our direction.
This was what I got for going on a date with the most eligible bachelor in town.
“Are you telling me that I asked Ma to stay in and watch Charlie only to come out and be told that my wildest fantasy of living vicariously through you is about to be ruined?” Cassidy asked, her wild red hair bobbing from her enthusiasm. “Please tell me you’re kidding around.”
“It’s not set in stone,” I replied. “It’s just complicated.”
“Why?”
This was hardly the place to talk about it. I cast a glance back over my shoulder, then scanned the interior of the bar. “Look,” I said, “I came to Hope Creek to get away from everything. To get away from emotional attachments and sadness.”
“And now you’re here and an amazingly gorgeous man, who just happens to be rich, has popped out of the woodwork.”
“I don’t care about the rich thing,” I said, and it was true. Money had never bought me happiness with Bryan. He’d been pretty well off after opening a chain of successful restaurants – I’d never cooked in any of them. I’d never wanted for anything, except love. Except real affection. Except a loyal spouse.
“Sure, but it doesn’t hurt to know that the man who’s after you is loaded.”
“Really, I don’t care either way. And I’m not sure what to do about the situation.” I lowered my voice and leaned closer. “He’s called me at least five times in the last two days and I haven’t answered any of the calls.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not ready. I told him I’m not ready.”
“Kind of piggish of him to keep trying then, isn’t it?” Cassie asked, rolling her eyes at the general piggishness of men.
“It would be if I hadn’t gone ahead and given him the wrong idea, again,” I said. “He’s just so irresistible.” If I’d been a superhero, Joshua would’ve been the one thing that could bring me down.
“You slept with him, didn’t you?” Cassidy’s eyes lit up again. “Oh, my gosh, you did!”
“Shush, shush, keep your voice down,” I hissed. “And I’m not the type of person who does that and talks about it afterward.” Possibly because talking about it would bring back all those feelings, the pressure in my core, the absolute need, not a want but a need to have him inside me. To feel this person who’d done nothing to deserve my distance.
“I can’t help thinking that he’s just another Bryan,” I said.
“Who’s Bryan?”
I’d never shared my past with Cassidy. I told her quickly, cutting across the painful bits and distilling what’d happened into concise pieces of information. Married right out of culinary school, fine at first, then he’d betrayed me, again and again, eventually found out he’d badmouthed me to my boss. That was it, in summary.
“Oh, my god, he sounds like a dick.”
“He was. I lost myself for a while and that’s what I’m trying to do here. Get myself back,” I said. “Except now, all I can think about is Joshua.” And his eyes, and warm hands, and the look on his face when he’d said that he’d started falling for me.
“I don’t blame you,” Cassidy said. “He’s a hunk.” She gave a wistful sigh. “I wish I could meet a hunk.”
“Maybe you will.”
“Ha, good one. The only hunk I’m going to get my hands on is a hunk of meat from the butcher’s. Budget cuts. I have to keep tabs on our spending now that Mom isn’t working anymore.”
Man, I was an idiot. Here I was complaining about a billionaire lover and Cassidy couldn’t catch a break. Selfish. “Let’s forget about all that,” I said. “I’m really happy we could come out together. I know I was a bit weird in the beginning but –”
“Forget about it,” Cas said, and flapped her hands at me. “At least, we’re friends now and you’ve brought a butt load of interesting gossip to the table. Spice up my life.”
I exhaled, then drew my wallet out of my purse. “Here, could you get us another round? My treat. I’ve got to run to the ladies’ room.”
“Sure,” Cassidy replied, and downed the rest of her beer. “Let’s try something different, though. What about a vodka lime?”
“Surprise me.” I scooted off the barstool and made for the entrance to the bathrooms at the far end of the bar. I had to cross the dance floor and dodge between enthusiastic dancers and head bangers – apparently, AC/DC was fair game for both.
I slipped into the tiny passage that led past the men’s room, then pushed open the ladies’ room and entered the dingy tiled bathroom. Two stalls sat against one wall, across from a bank of sinks and mirrors – both cracked. The first stall had an out of order sign taped to its door, the other was occupied.
I surveyed my appearance and grimaced. I didn’t look terrible but the dark circles under my eyes said it all. I’d come to Hope Creek for peace and quiet, and ended up smack dab in the middle of trouble.
I’d done this to myself, though. I’d said yes to a date with Joshua, and he seemed like such a fantastic guy. I needed to relax and figure this out. That was what tonight was all about. Relaxing with my friend and mulling over what to do about Joshua.
I sighed and brushed my hair back, checked my makeup – just a dab of mascara and some lip gloss.
The stall door slapped open behind me. “Well, isn’t this an unpleasant surprise.” Faith Stone stood behind me, arms folded across her tiny chest. “Look at you, all done up. You come out to catch another man?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked. The urge to leave Faith in my tracks overwhelmed me. Clearly, I’d angered her by dating Joshua but what did I care? She was just a spoiled brat.
“Oh, come on, everyone in town already knows what a hussy you are. There’s no need to pretend with me. Isn’t it true you spent the night at Joshua’s place?”
Images of him on top of me, kissing me, plunging deep inside, hard and fast, satisfying my fucking soul, streamed through my mind. I blanked out Faith and focused on my breathing.
“You’re such a slut. Did you really think that he wanted you for anything other than your body?”
“Oh, fuck off,” I said because I’d grown tired of this. There was only so much bitchiness I could take before I snapped – this was the type of attitude I’d never have accepted in my kitchen back in New York. I’d made my sous chef burst into tears once because she pulled this kind of thing with me. She hadn’t called me a slut, though.
“What did you just say to me?”
“I told you to fuck off,” I replied, coolly. “I don’t have time for your bullshit. Listen, if Joshua wanted you, don’t you think he would have asked you out by now? But he doesn’t, right? So why hang around waiting for him and acting pathetic? Move on with your life. Bang another farmer.” I shrugged and walked toward the exit. Forget freshening up, anything to get away from this crazy cow.
“You’ll regret that,” Faith yelled at me. “I’m going to make you regret that. Mark my words, bitch. I’ll make you –”
I exited the bathroom and let the door swing shut behind me. Faith’s screams cut out and I made my way back down the short passage and out into the bar proper. I scanned for Cassidy and spotted her over by the bartender, gripping a tall glass in either hand.
I smiled and walked to her but stopped in my tracks again.
Cassidy wasn’t alone.
Josh stood right beside her, wearing a warm smile of his own that made my stomach flip-flop like a fish out of water.
“Hi,” he mouthed.
I went to meet him, ignoring the strange hissing noise behind me, followed by a cuss or two. Apparently, Faith had followed me out and was none too happy about Joshua’s presence at the bar.