"I promise."
Chapter Forty-Nine
Ian
"Hey." Eve knocks on my office door. "Addie and I are going out for coffee. We'll be a little while."
I turn off the monitor. "Come in."
She turns the handle. Steps inside.
Gorgeous in a simple black top and shorts. Her hair is touched up. A deep vibrant teal. As dramatic as her eye makeup, her lipstick, her combat boots.
She catches me looking at her shoes. Smiles. "You're obsessed."
"You wear them to torture me."
"Maybe." She motions to my suit. "And this? You're working in your office. At home."
"I'm working."
"By yourself. You can wear pajamas."
"I can't concentrate in pajamas."
She presses the door closed. Moves closer. To the desk.
I stand. Motion for her to come here.
She does.
I wrap my arms around her. Pull her into a soft, slow kiss.
Fuck, she tastes good. Like Eve.
She breaks our kiss with a sigh. "You're distracting me."
"I came in here showing off my gorgeous legs?"
Her eyes flit to my trousers. "Mmm… it's true. Not a lot of leg. But what about this?" Her fingers trace the line of my lapel. Then my fuchsia tie. "It's a lot."
"To complement your hair." I lean in to whisper. "The next time I tie you up."
Her fingers curl into my chest. Over my shirt. It's not enough. I need her hand on my bare skin. "You're the one teasing now."
"You started it."
"Mature." She looks up at me with a smile. Pure affection. But there's something in her eyes. Something she isn't saying.
I bring my hand to her cheek. "Are you okay?"
She nods. "Just a talk with Addie… it's good though. We're good."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Good. Just… a lot."
Whatever it is, she doesn't want to tell me. It's fair. There are plenty of things I haven't told her.
I'm not about to spill Ty's secrets.
I can't ask for her sister's. I don't need to. Not right now.
I trust her. To tell me when she's ready.
"And she… uh, she had a fight with her girlfriend. The ex showed up. She got jealous…" Eve takes a step backward. "They'll be okay. But there's a lot to discuss."
No place for my advice. "There's nothing close. I'll call a car."
"Fifteen-minute walk. It's a nice day." She taps her heels together. "I have comfortable shoes."
"You don't need anything?"
"Hmm… well, if I had time, I'd ask for all sorts of things." She smiles. "But they'll have to wait. Do you?" Her eyes meet mine. "Need anything?"
"Just this done." I motion to my computer.
She nods. "I can bring something back. From the coffee shop."
"Tea from an American coffee shop?"
She laughs. "We're pretty good with iced tea."
"No thanks."
"So polite as you insult my country." Her fingers skim my tie.
"You'll see. If we go to London."
"I hope I do." She smiles. "Are you sure?"
My face twists.
Her laugh gets louder. "Give it a chance. You might like it."
I lean down to kiss her. "Go. Before I have my way with you."
"Will you really?"
"You have sixty seconds."
She smiles. Makes a show of counting one, two, three. Rises to her tiptoes for one more kiss. Then she releases me, steps backward, turns to the door. "Until then." She disappears into the hallway.
I sit at my desk. Let the quiet flood my ears. Let the room fill.
Already, I miss her. Want her here. Want her to claim a place in my home, my space, my life.
Eve's frock flutters as she steps out of the house. The wind catches the chiffon. Blows it over her long legs.
She looks like a model. An alternative model, maybe, but still beautiful, poised, statuesque.
She nods something to her sister. Approaches the bar. Stands next to Ty.
He's living by his when in Rome credo in linen pants and a blue t-shirt.
Eve laughs at something he says.
He whispers in her ear.
She laughs again. A little louder. She leans over the bar, ordering drinks for both of them.
Two cans of hard seltzer.
She's teasing me. Teasing him.
She's here. With me.
Here.
Mine.
I want it just as badly with her dressed.
No. I want it more. More than I've wanted anything in a long, long time.
"Ian, I have to be honest. Most of your conquests… are rather dull. But Eve… I think I want her for my birthday." He holds up his drink. "What do you say? Cheers?"
"You'd like me to toast to you—"
"I don't want to fuck her. No offense, Eve," he says.
"None taken," she says.
"None?" I ask.
"I don't want to fuck you either, Ty," she says.
He presses his hand to his heart. "Eve… that hurts."
"Sorry… but I'm just not feeling it," she says.
He laughs. "It's not