“We’re not sure how these things normally work,” Heath said. “We’ve got a limited budget for the project, but we can kick in some money to cover your accommodation costs for the week, if you think that would be enough time for you to pull something more detailed together.”
“So, a full week, or a working week?” Eva asked, even though she was prepared to work around the clock if it was the latter.
“A full week. We’d like to see sketches, an artist’s statement, and any other details you can provide,” Heath said.
“Of course. Absolutely,” Eva said, nodding to let him know she was on board with everything he was saying.
Andie smiled then, her pretty face lighting up. “You probably guessed, we weren’t expecting to be this torn. We thought we knew which direction we wanted to go in, but your presentation was really impressive. Scratch that—you were really impressive.”
The praise was so unexpected it brought the burn of tears to the back of Eva’s eyes. Embarrassed, she blinked rapidly and focused on her lap.
“Sorry,” she said, aware of hot color flooding into her face.
Andie’s hand landed on her shoulder, warm and reassuring. “It’s fine.”
Eva shook her head, only looking up when she was confident she wouldn’t cry. “You snuck up on me with the niceness. I wasn’t expecting it,” she said. “And it’s been kind of a tense few months.”
Andie smile sympathetically. “I get it. We’ve had our fair share of those lately, getting this development off the ground.”
Heath parked his butt on the edge of the desk and took a mouthful of his own coffee, apparently unfazed by shows of female emotion.
“Let us know if you need help finding somewhere to stay. I know there’s an agricultural show happening in Livingston and most places around here are booked up,” he said.
Eva frowned. She hadn’t thought about accommodations. She was reasonably confident Sierra would be happy for her to stay on in the trailer, but she couldn’t help wondering what Casey would make of her extending her stay. Neither of them had fallen into bed last night anticipating Eva would be sticking around.
Worry about it later, on your own time.
Right. She was chewing up Heath and Andie’s work day.
“I think I’ll probably be fine, but if I hit a snag I’ll let you know,” Eva said. Then she stood, slipping her sketches back inside the pages of the pad for protection. “Thanks for hearing me out, and for giving me a chance to flesh out my proposal. I’m really excited by the opportunity.”
“We’re happy to be in a position to have two amazing artists to choose from,” Heath said.
“Jane will be in touch to talk about contributing to your accommodation expenses, okay?” Andie said.
“All right. Great, thank you.”
Andie walked her out, and Eva waved goodbye to the other woman before walking across to the van. Aware of Andie and Heath standing talking in the doorway to the site office, she started the engine and drove out of the development. Only when she was safely parked in front of the grain elevator, well away from any witnesses, did she let out a whoop of triumph. Grabbing her phone, she rang her sister in LA, only remembering it was still very early there when Syd’s sleep-muffled voice answered the phone.
“Ev. What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
“Sorry. I forgot the time difference. Do you want me to call back?” Eva asked, ready to button off.
“I’m awake now. What’s up? I assume this is not a life or death situation?”
Eva winced. Syd was not a morning person at the best of times.
“I really am sorry. I was ringing to let you know I’m in the running for the commission. The committee couldn’t make a decision, so they’re giving Dane and me a week to flesh out our proposals with more detail.”
“What? That’s freaking fantastic,” Syd said, her voice high-pitched with excitement. “I’m so proud of you for going in to bat for yourself, babe. I knew it would pay off.”
“It hasn’t paid off yet, don’t get too excited. But it’s a good start. They admitted they really only spoke to me out of politeness, but I convinced them with the thoroughness of my proposal.”
“Of course you did, because you’re awesome.”
Eva laughed and let her head drop back against the seat. Her sister had always been her biggest cheerleader.
“I’m so relieved,” she admitted.
“I know. This is going to happen for you, Ev. I feel it in my waters.”
“Your bladder is predicting the future now? That’s impressive,” Eva said.
“I mean it. I have a good feeling about this project. I think this is going to be your launching pad.”
Eva squeezed her eyes shut tight. She wanted to believe her sister, because she needed and wanted this so badly, but she knew that she was still the underdog in this competition.
“Talk to me, Ev,” Syd said when the silence stretched too long.
“I saw Dane last night, at a bar in town. He told me I wasn’t really an artist. That the reason I didn’t have a profile was because I’d been content to ride on his coattails and didn’t have the urge to create my own art.” She hadn’t meant to tell her sister what Dane had said. Hadn’t ever wanted to think about it again, because she was terrified there was some truth in his words.
“What a piece of excrement,” Syd said hotly. “He wouldn’t have a career if it wasn’t for you, and he dares to try and tear you down? I swear to you, if I ever see him again, he’s going to be wearing his testicles as earrings.”
The quivering, fervent outrage in her sister’s voice went a long way toward making Eva feel better.
“I may have thrown a glass of water in his face, along with a basket full of pretzels,” Eva confessed.
“That’s my girl. Imagine how furious he must be that you’re in serious contention for this commission. Imagine how afraid he must be, deep inside, where he knows you were the secret to his success.”
Eva pulled a face. “Yeah, I’m not sure there’s any part of Dane that’s ready to admit I’m a threat to him. His ego is pretty much titanium-plated.”
“I’m so glad you’re not with him anymore, Ev. So glad.”
Eva sighed. “Me, too. Even though it sucks having to start from scratch, at least I know I’m working for a good cause this time—me.”
She talked for a few more minutes, then let her sister go so she could prepare for her day. The van seemed very quiet as she ended the call. She took a moment to simply breathe and get her thoughts in order.
She needed to refine her ideas, work up some art that she could mock up into a digital model for the committee. And she needed to start seriously considering what she’d need, and how long it would take if she actually won this thing.
But first she needed to check with Sierra to see if she and the rest of the Carmodys would be okay with Eva staying in the trailer for the week. She was pretty sure she knew what the answer was, but it never paid to take anything or anyone for granted.
Her thoughts flashed to Casey, to the way he’d made her feel last night, the things she’d said to him, the things he’d done to her.
If she’d known she was going to be sticking around, there was no way she would have complicated her living situation by jumping him the way she had.
And yet the truth was, she didn’t have it in her to regret what had happened between them. He’d made her mindless with intense, breath-stealing pleasure, and she’d needed the release he’d provided last night. It had been very good between them. Insanely good.
Don’t even think about it.
Because only a crazy woman would even consider going back for more when she had so much on her plate.
And Eva wasn’t crazy, no matter what her ex had told the patrons of Grey’s Saloon last night. No way was she going to let herself get derailed and distracted by a beautiful cowboy.
No way.
She punctuated the mental declaration by throwing the van door open and appro
aching the grain elevator. When she was close enough, she reached out and laid a hand on the roughened wood, tilting her head back to contemplate the structure’s epic scale.
For a few seconds, she let herself imagine that her sister’s prediction was true, that this really was going to be the springboard she needed to launch her career.
It could happen. It really could. She could feel how close she was.
All she’d ever asked for was a chance. Now she just had to make it count.
Chapter Six
Casey spent all day thinking about Eva King. He’d hoped to have an opportunity to say goodbye this morning, but when he’d stepped outside after breakfast, her battered black van was already gone.
Obviously she’d decided to get a head start on the long drive back to LA.
To say he was disappointed was an understatement. He’d felt…gutted. Which was dumb, because saying goodbye wouldn’t have changed anything between them. It wasn’t like they were suddenly going to start a hot and heavy long-distance relationship. Despite how much fun they’d had last night, how good it had been between them, they barely knew each other, and she was clearly very focused on her work. He had only to remember her preoccupation last night to understand that.
None of that stopped him from thinking about her and the way she’d made him feel. The truth was, she’d blown his mind with her boldness and honesty and hotness—and he was never going to see her again.
He had to make a run into town for parts for one of the automatic waterers late in the afternoon, and it was nearly six by the time he was pulling into the yard. A familiar black van was parked in front of the barn and he tapped the brake in surprise, sending up a spurt of gravel.
So she hadn’t gone back to LA. She was still here.
The surge of triumph that rocketed through him was more than a little disturbing.
Chill, dude. She probably got held up or something and decided to start out tomorrow instead. This is not about you.
He knew it wasn’t, and to prove it, he made a point of carrying the parts for the waterer into the barn before heading inside to see if Sierra knew what was going on with their guest.
The sound of feminine laughter from the kitchen alerted him to the fact that his sister wasn’t alone as he entered the house, and he took a moment to take off his hat and check his hair in the mirror next to the coat rack at the front door.
Sure enough, he had hat hair, and he finger-combed it a few times before deciding he looked presentable. There was dirt and dust on his jeans and boots, and he needed a shower, but the need to see Eva again was stronger.
Doing his best to seem casual, he strode toward the kitchen. Both women looked up when he entered. They were standing at the counter, a pile of sliced and diced vegetables in front of them, along with an open bottle of wine and two half-full glasses. Eva was wearing a black tank top and a pair of jeans cut off at the knee, and she looked hotter than any person had a right to in such androgynous clothing.
“Perfect timing,” Sierra said. “I was just about to fire up the grill but now you can do it.”
Casey was too busy locking eyes with Eva to pay much attention to what his sister had said. A hundred sense memories from last night bombarded him as he met her blue gaze. Suddenly she was in his lap again, her mouth on his, her small breasts pressed to his chest.
Then he blinked, and she looked away, and he realized his sister was at the fridge, pulling out steaks for him to grill.
“…might as well get them started while I make the potato salad,” she said.
He accepted the plate, then glanced at Eva again. She was dusting off the counter with her hand, collecting stray bits of bell pepper and carrot.
“Thought you’d be halfway to LA by now,” he said.
“Eva’s staying with us for another week,” Sierra said, and Casey shot his sister a frustrated look.
Eva was the one he wanted to hear from.
“Does that mean you got the commission?” he asked, his gaze on Eva again.
“It means they want more information before they make a decision. But I’m in with a chance,” Eva said, her mouth quirking up in a brief smile that disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
Maybe it was his imagination, but she seemed uncomfortable—and it wasn’t a huge stretch to think it was because of him. Because of what had happened between them last night.
Which knocked him off his stride. He’d been thinking about her all day, and here she was, struggling to make eye contact with him.
As though she was embarrassed about what had happened between them. As though she regretted it.
It was a bucket of cold water, and he took a physical step backward.
“Congratulations,” he said.
Then he headed for the back door, escaping to the porch. He set the plate of steaks on the bench seat beside the barbecue and took a moment to sort through his thoughts and feelings.
He’d had a great time last night. But apparently the feeling was far from mutual. Apparently Eva had been done with him the moment her skin had cooled.
He busied himself pulling the vinyl cover off the barbecue, annoyed with himself for giving a shit. He’d had a good time—that was all he should be worried about. And no promises had been made—he’d stepped into the trailer last night believing she was going the next day, which was pretty much the definition of a one-night stand. He had no right to feel wounded or rejected. It made no sense. Any other guy would be high-fiving himself for scoring big time with no strings attached.
It was too good to be a one-off. We fit too well together.
Casey shook his head as he lit the grill, wishing he could shake the thought loose. The problem was, he hadn’t liked a woman as much as he liked Eva for a long time. She was bold, unpredictable, a bit dangerous. She was also smart, and driven, and she knew how to laugh at the world and herself.
And being inside her had been insanely good.
He fired up the burners, then automatically went through the process of scraping down the cast-iron grill before throwing the steaks on. He very deliberately didn’t let himself think about anything except the task at hand, and after a few minutes he felt his shoulders relax.
He knew where he stood now. That was the takeaway from the little scene that had just played out in the kitchen. They’d both had a good time, but it had meant nothing, and even though she was staying another week, it wasn’t going to happen again.
He was a grown-up; he could deal with that.
The sound of the kitchen door opening made him look over his shoulder. It was Jed, two beer bottles dangling from the fingers of one hand and a plate in the other.
“For the meat when it’s done,” Jed said, handing the plate over before offering Casey one of the beers.
Casey took it gratefully, taking a long pull from the bottle and welcoming the cold as it hit the back of his throat.
“All good out here? Anything I can help with?” Jed asked.
“Nope. These’ll probably only need a few more minutes,” Casey said.
“Did you hear we’re going to have a tenant for another week?”
Casey was conscious of his brother shooting him an assessing look but Casey kept his expression neutral. At least, he hoped he did.
“Yeah. Good timing—the extra rent money will just about cover the parts for the automatic waterer,” he said.
Jed seemed to be waiting for him to say more but Casey kept his focus on the grill, lifting one of the steaks to see if it was done yet.
“That all you’ve got to say?” Jed asked.
“What did you want to hear?”
“Ask her out for dinner or something. Not every day you meet someone who does it for you.”
Casey was momentarily speechless. Apart from a single, incredibly awkward five-minute conversation to confirm Casey understood the ins and outs of procreation and contraception before his senior prom, he and Jed had never had a conversation about their private lives. Not that ther
e had ever been much to talk about—his brother pretty much lived like a monk, as far as Casey could tell, devoting all his energy to the ranch, and Casey hadn’t had a girlfriend for a couple of years now.
“Not much point when she’s going to leave in a week’s time,” Casey said.
“Don’t miss out on something good just because it might be complicated,” Jed said, and there was a weight—a heaviness—behind the words that made Casey turn to study his brother’s face.
“You all right?” he asked.
“Sure. How much longer on those steaks?” Jed asked.
“Not long.”
“I’ll tell Sierra.”
Jed let himself back into the house and Casey resumed his station in front of the barbecue.
Not for a second did he believe his brother when he said nothing was up, but the man was like Fort Knox when it came to talking about his feelings.
The steaks were done, and he loaded them onto the clean plate before turning the gas off and heading inside.
Sierra was just placing the salads in the middle of the table as he entered, and both Jed and Eva were already seated. Casey handed the meat over to his sister before washing his hands at the kitchen sink.
His shoulders were tight again, and he rolled them before reaching for the dish towel to dry his hands. He wasn’t looking forward to sitting down to eat with Eva and pretending nothing had happened between them.
The irony wasn’t lost on him—he’d spent most of the day regretting the fact he’d never see her again, and now he’d gotten his wish and didn’t want it.
“Steaks look great, Case,” Sierra said, taking the seat next to Eva.
Which left Casey sitting opposite her.
Awesome.
He flicked her a quick look as he sat and was just in time to catch her glancing at him, too, before focusing on the plate in front of her. So he wasn’t the only one feeling uncomfortable. He wasn’t sure if that made him feel better or worse.
“Help yourself, Eva,” Sierra said, offering their guest first pass at the salads and steaks.
“Everything looks amazing,” Eva said as she forked a steak onto her plate and reached for the salad servers.
The Rebel and the Cowboy (The Carmody Brothers Book 2) Page 8