Chapter 11
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“Bishop.” Evan stood in the reception area of Pine Auto Shop and raised his voice several decibels when he saw the elderly woman’s wrinkled face scrunch as she turned her head so that her ear was facing him. “Evan Bishop. I’m here to pick up my truck.”
“Eh?” The woman made an indistinguishable sound as her slender, fragile looking arms rested on the glass countertop and she leaned across it.
“I got a message that my truck is ready. The Ford F150. I’m Evan Bishop.” He was basically screaming now.
“Speak up,” she instructed harshly. “Stop mumbling.”
This wasn’t getting him anywhere. He was picking up a pen to write his information down when one of the brother’s that owned the shop walked in from the garage, wiping his hands with a cloth.
“Hey man,” Josh greeted Evan before sliding behind the counter and pointing to his ear as he over exaggerated his mouth to the woman beside him. “Your hearing aid, Nonna. Turn up your hearing aid.”
She muttered beneath her breath as she lifted her hand up to her ear and started fiddling with the mechanism she had in it.
“Can you hear me?” Josh asked after she lowered her arm.
“Of course I can hear you.” Her accent was thick and sounded Greek. “I can hear just fine. Some people just mumble.”
The comment was aimed directly at Evan.
Josh ignored her observation and introduced, or tried to introduce, her. “Evan this is my grandmother—”
“Just call me Nonna, everyone calls me Nonna,” she interrupted her grandson.
He smiled. “It’s nice to meet you.”
This tiny, frail-appearing woman who looked to be in her nineties, radiated what his grandfather called chutzpa. Because of his size and resting “death stare” face, many people were intimidated by him, but not her. She had no issue reprimanding him for a perceived shortcoming. Evan loved it.
“I’ve got this, Nonna,” Josh said as he began typing on the computer. “Thanks for covering the front.”
“I gotta keep busy, you know that.”
“Yes. I do.” Josh’s answer had Evan thinking that her keeping busy might keep him busy as well.
She patted her grandson’s hand. “I’ll check on the rags I put in the dryer. Nice meeting you, Evan.”
“You too, ma’am.” He dipped his head.
As she shuffled to the back Josh mouthed sorry while the invoice began printing out. “I bet you’re happy to finally get your truck back.”
“Yeah.”
He was, but he had to admit that he was going to miss his little blue hatchback.
It was uncomfortable and borderline dangerous to drive, but it held memories. The only time that he and Shayne had spent alone, they’d spent in that car.
It had been nine days since they’d gone on their hike. He’d seen Shayne every day since, but none of the time they’d spent together had been one-on-one. They’d had lunch and dinner together several times, but they were two in a large group. There were always so many people around.
Besides a little small talk and a few epic eye locks, they’d had no interaction. Yet, when she was in a room, he couldn’t concentrate on anything else. His awareness of her was on a molecular level. And his acute observation hadn’t done him any favors.
Evan had seen how kind and generous she was with her assistant and everyone working on the production. He’d seen how hard she worked behind the scenes in her role as a producer, which he hadn’t even known she was until Kyle told him. He’d seen how genuine and real she was with her fans. He’d seen how much she demanded of herself and how she worked tirelessly to solve any problem that arose. No matter what issue she was presented with, she handled it with grace and charm.
What had started for Evan as a strange, unexplainable attraction had developed into something more. Something that he didn’t dare think about or name. Something that he feared had the power to unravel him. He did everything he could to fight it but it seemed he was helpless to stop it.
“Here you go.” Josh handed Evan the printout.
Evan skimmed the sheet detailing all of the parts ordered and repairs completed. Josh had kept him up to date on all the work being done so none of it was a surprise. He picked up the pen to sign it when he heard the bell that hung above the door to the reception area ding.
“Hi.” The timid voice was barely audible over the soft rock that was playing in the small space.
Evan’s lips turned up, thinking about what Nonna would have to say about the volume of the new customer’s voice when he noticed that it was Audrey. She stepped up next to him holding a white paper bag with the Brewed Awakenings logo on it. The café was just across the street.
“Hey,” both men greeted her.
A slight blush rose on her cheeks as she smiled at the two men. He’d only known the sister duo for a month but it was obvious the two women couldn’t be more different both physically and in personality. Everything about Vivien was bold, from her vibrant red hair and electric blue eyes to her quick wit and no filter communication style. Audrey was much more subdued. From her chestnut brown hair, golden amber eyes to her soft-spoken, borderline shy demeanor.
She handed the bag she was holding to Josh. “Here you go.”
“Thanks. What’s this?” Josh reached across the counter and took the bag from her. The paper crinkled as he opened it and inhaled deeply. “Smells delicious.”
“They’re chocolate croissants,” she explained.
“Oh, my favorite,” Josh enthused as his head fell back. “You guys were out when I came by this morning.”
“I know.” She shrugged her left shoulder as the pigment on her cheeks darkened to a deeper shade of crimson. “That’s why I made another batch.”
As she spoke, Josh was already lifting the pastry out. He took a bite then moaned as he declared, “Mmm, so good.”
Out of the corner of his eye Evan could see Audrey inhale a shaky breath.
Josh and Audrey’s conversation was innocent enough, however, the energy between them was not. He felt like he was a spectator in a flirting match. The only reason he hadn’t excused himself yet was because he still needed to pay and get the keys to his truck.
After finishing the bite Josh reached in his pocket and pulled out his wallet. “Thanks so much for this. How much do I owe you?”
“Oh, no. Nothing.” Audrey shook her head and lifted her hands in protest before waving one at both men. “I better get back. Bye.”
“See you later.” There was a wistfulness in Josh’s goodbye.
“Bye,” Evan said, feeling very much like a third wheel in that exchange.
The bell chimed as Audrey pulled the door open and rushed out into the morning like she was making a break for freedom.
Evan looked back and was not at all surprised when he saw the same look on Josh’s face that he’d seen many times before. He was a goner.
“I heard the bell.” Nonna announced as she came around the corner.
“It was Audrey. She dropped off chocolate croissants.” Josh lifted one out of the bag and handed it to her.
She took it from him as she shook her head. “When are you going to ask her out already?”
“Nonna.” Josh’s voice held an unmistakable warning tone.
One that Nonna didn’t heed.
“There’s only one reason that girl is bringing you goodies.” Nonna pointed a crooked finger toward her grandson. “And you’re too pig-headed to do anything about it.”
Evan held back a grin as he slid the paperwork across countertop along with his credit card. It was nice not being the person on the receiving end of familial meddling.
“What about you?” She pivoted and her finger was now pointed in Evan’s direction. “Are you as clueless as this one?”
His reprieve was apparently short-lived. Evan figured he’d take some of the heat off of Josh. “According to my mom, I am.”
“What is wrong with young people these days?!” Her arms flew up in the air and she waved them as she spoke. “Always looking on your computer and on your telephones. Look up! Love’s right in front of you!”
She ended her exclamation by pinching Josh’s cheek. Evan had a feeling that if he’d been in reaching distance his cheek would’ve been next.
Josh didn’t seem at all phased by her outburst or at all surprised by it. He simply leaned down and kissed his grandmother’s forehead. “You’re the only girl I need in my life, Nonna.”
“Awww.” She sighed as he straightened back up. When he was back at full height she patted the cheek she’d just tweaked. “You’re a good boy.”
Josh smiled down at her before he reached behind him and handed Evan the keys. “Let me know if you have any other issues.”
“Will do.”
As Evan headed out of the shop he heard Josh and his grandmother talking about how good the chocolate croissant was and Evan’s stomach grumbled. Glancing down at his watch he saw that he had thirty minutes before he was due to meet Kyle so he decided to pop by the café for a caffeine and chocolate croissant fix.
Evan had been cutting down on his caffeine, since his schedule was so much less demanding now that he was a technical advisor. But after a Shayne-filled night of tossing, turning, and dreaming, he’d woken up this morning more exhausted than when he’d gone to bed.
During the short walk across the street, Nonna’s advice for the younger generation was hanging in the air. “Look up. Love’s right in front of you.”
The moment she’d said those words Evan’s mind had flashed back to the first time he’d laid eyes on Shayne. It was like he’d looked up and love was right in front of him. Love.
That wasn’t something that he took lightly or that he’d ever taken lightly. He wasn’t one of those people that threw that word around.
It all stemmed from the time he told his Grandpa Doug that he had a girlfriend and that it was serious. His grandfather sat him down and had a talk with him he’d never forget. He’d told him that people think love is something you fall in and out of. He said they treat it like something that can fade, like an old photo. But he said that wasn’t real love. He told Evan that true love was a responsibility. A promise. It was something that should be respected. He said that once you love someone, truly love someone, it’s a life sentence.
Evan was barely thirteen at the time, but it had stuck with him.
So, other than his family, he’d expressed that sentiment to only one person. Noelle. And he meant it. He meant it so much that he was going to be at her wedding in a month.
Which was why it was so disconcerting to him that he’d pictured Shayne when Josh’s grandmother had mentioned love. He was feeling about as balanced as the time Noelle had talked him into roller skating drunk. That night had ended with stitches and a trip to the emergency room, and he didn’t see this ending any better.
Evan tried his best to put all thoughts of Shayne out of his mind as he stepped inside the coffee shop and got in line. He did his best to think about other things. He took out his phone and answered a few texts from Marco and Oliver.
By the time he put his phone back in his pocket he’d successfully distracted himself and was not obsessing about Shayne. Then he made the mistake of looking to his left and saw a portrait of her hanging on the wall. He blinked and realized it was Marilyn Monroe. For a split second his mind had tricked him and he’d truly believed it was Shayne. He hadn’t been back to Brewed Awakenings since he’d met Noelle here. He was struck by the uncanny resemblance.
“Hey there, handsome!” Vivien exclaimed. “Long time no see. Do you want your regular?”
He nodded. “And two chocolate croissants.”
A twinkle lit in Vivien’s eyes and she spoke louder. “Do you mean the Josh Bianchi special?”
Audrey, who was a few feet away, whipped her head around toward her sister, looking mortified. Evan didn’t look over but he caught the movement in his peripheral vision.
“He’s a regular and those are his favorite,” Vivien explained matter-of-factly. “So, I figured we should name them after him.” It was obvious that she’d made the comment for her sister’s benefit, but he didn’t think that she truly wanted to embarrass her.
“Did you know that Josh is single?” Again, it was apparent that the question was not meant for him.
“No. I didn’t.” Evan answered honestly.
“What about you? Are you still single?” The redhead asked as she picked up tongs and placed a pastry in a white bag.
“Yes.” Evan responded to the same question she asked every time she saw him as he looked down at his wallet and pulled out a ten-dollar bill.
“So, nothing’s going on with that hot brunette that was in here with you last week?”
“She’s an old friend.”
“Old friend, huh?” Vivien’s brows lifted as she handed him the bag. “That’s it?”
“She’s an ex.” He had no idea why he’d made that admission. Vivien had a way of getting him to talk about things that normally he’d keep to himself.
“You two looked pretty cute together. Pretty cozy. It looked like you guys were lost in your own world and barely noticed anyone else here.”
Evan was still getting used to how nosy everyone was in this town.
He’d grown up in the capital of California. There were hundreds of thousands of people that lived in Sacramento. Same for Southern California.
Living in Hope Falls was opening his eyes to the pros and cons of living in a small town. No traffic: pro. Everyone in your business: con.
He figured he’d head off another con, which was that gossip spread like a bad computer virus, and set the record straight.
“She was here to tell me that she’s engaged.”
“Oh.” Vivien looked surprised as she handed him his coffee. “So, you’re single-single.”
He wasn’t sure what the difference between single and single-single was, but he nodded anyway.
“I know a few ladies in town that will be very happy to hear that news.”
This conversation was like a broken record. “I told you, I’m not interested.”
Her eyes widened. “I didn’t even tell you who they—”
“It doesn’t matter,” he cut her off before reiterating, “I’m not interested.”
Her brows furrowed as she challenged, “Why would a guy like you not be interested in meeting someone?”
Because one woman I loved is pregnant and engaged to someone else, and the woman I think I might love is an unattainable movie star.
“I don’t have the best track record.”
“Haven’t you heard of getting back on the horse?”
His brows rose slightly. “You do realize in your analogy a woman is the horse?”
“See!” Vivien chuckled. “You’re hot, employed, and witty. It’s unfair of you to keep that kind of prime real estate off the market.”
“Vivien,” he spoke her name quietly, so she would lean in. It worked. She even bit her bottom lip in anticipation. “I’m single. End of story.”
She narrowed her eyes in challenge but then saluted him. “Yes, sir.”
As she handed him his coffee she leaned in, and the same twinkle that had been in her eye when she’d teased her sister was back as she whispered, “You do know that being unavailable only makes you sexier, right?” After a quick wink, she turned her attention to the next customer in line.
Vivien was another one with chutzpa. If she and Nonna ever teamed up, the world had better watch out.
He turned from the counter and came face to face with Ruby standing directly behind him. Without checking with his brain his eyes automatically searched for the actress that haunted his thoughts.
“She’s not here.”
“What?” His eyes returned to Ruby.
“Shayne.” A knowing smile crossed her face. “She’s doing phone interviews before rehearsal.”
“Oh, I was,” he began to defend himself, but thought better of it. “How are you feeling?”
“Huge.” She looked down at her protruding belly and ran her hands over it. “But good.”
“Hi, Ruby.” Audrey greeted her from behind the counter. “Your order’s not ready yet. Sorry. Give us about ten minutes.”
“No worries,” Ruby assured her. “I know it’s a big one.”
“Do you need me to stay and help?” Evan knew that pregnant women were not invalids but he didn’t like the idea of Ruby trying to carry out a big order.
“Oh, no.” Ruby waved him off and pointed to two young guys, looking down at their phones, standing in the back of the café. “That’s what PAs are for. I brought back up.”
“Will I see you over there, then?” He normally didn’t fish for information, but he wasn’t sure if Shayne was going to be at rehearsal since he’d heard yesterday that she had an interview and a photo shoot today and he wanted to know. He didn’t care if he was being slick about it or not.
Ruby’s grin told him that he wasn’t. “Yep. We’ll see you there.”
On his way out of the shop, Evan glanced once more at the iconic photo hanging on the wall. Just like his eyes always drifted to the real Shayne, like she was a homing beacon. He didn’t plan to. He had no control over it.
Having no control was something he was getting used to when it came to anything that had to do with Shayne Fox.