Rules of Harte (Harte Series #1)

by Harris, Brooke

  ‘Yes, Eva, research. I just had to check it out. You know when you find someone who is sweeter than sugar, but you just know deep down they’ve acid inside?’ Was he talking office politics, or did Mia know about Julian too? No, she couldn’t possibly. She’d never have been able to sit on gossip that juicy.

  Silence fell over them as the waiter placed two tumbler glasses of burgundy coloured liquid splashed over large, cubed ice in front of them. Eva shocked herself as she reached for the glass and poured the fiery Whisky down her throat in one large swallow. She gasped as the alcohol scorched on its path to her stomach.

  ‘Thirsty?’ Nathan asked, his eyebrows raised for effect.

  ‘No.’

  The heat of her alcohol breath over her lips felt like betrayal to her own resolutions.

  ‘She’ll have another.’

  ‘No.’

  The waiter was about to walk away but Nathan caught his arm. ‘Well, I will. I need it. Actually maybe just bring us the bottle.’

  The waiter turned to Eva for confirmation, but Nathan’s eyes were just as quickly upon her. There was a burning sadness in his expression and she couldn’t deny him his request. Maybe he was finding it as hard to tell her as she was finding preparing to hear it. Her lips twitched and she let her chin fall to her chest just once. The waiter left.

  ‘Making things complicated should be your middle name.’ Nathan laughed.

  Eva closed her eyes. His words rang true and she lacked the energy to argue.

  ‘Don’t worry, Eva. I know how it feels. I’m not exactly Mr Popular in that place.’

  Nathan pointed out the window as if their office was next door to the restaurant.

  ‘You’re new. Don’t be so hard on yourself. It takes a while to settle in.’

  ‘Have you settled in?’

  Eva suspected that was a rhetorical question so she drained her glass and waited for his next line.

  ‘I know I upset you the other day talking about the ball. I’m sorry. My mouth can be the biggest part of me sometimes.’

  Another correct observation but this hurt less.

  Eva shook her head. ‘It wasn’t you. Honestly. Just me being an idiot. Nothing new there.’

  Anyone who worked in Ignite Technologies for longer than five minutes knew Eva liked to keep to herself. But Nathan was actually making an effort to draw her out of her shell, it was sweet, if not slightly uncomfortable.

  ‘It’s not okay. I feel awful. Even Mia came over after you left to check if you were okay.’

  Eva’s face turned as if she’d bitten a lemon and her voice came out an octave higher than usual. ’Mia did?’

  ‘Yeah. I didn’t know you were friends. She just wanted to check where you had gone and if you were upset.’

  Eva felt like a wrestler had just grabbed her in a headlock. This was the last thing she needed.

  ‘And what did you tell her?’

  ‘Just that you were upset about the ball and you left.’

  Eva dropped her head back and her neck creaked. Damn it. That little nugget of information must have made Mia’s day. Jesus, Nathan was a pro at putting his foot in his mouth.

  ‘Have I said something wrong again?’ Nathan asked softly.

  ‘No, it’s me. It’s just Mia and I aren’t really friends, you know?’

  Nathan’s face reddened. ‘Shit sorry…I didn’t know.’

  ‘It’s just that, well, actually she hates me. I don’t fit in there.’

  ‘You do.’ Nathan’s tone was so jumpy he was almost singing, rendering his argument beyond unconvincing.

  ‘It’s okay. I’m not sure I even want to. All the other girls go on the piss every weekend, and fuck their way around corners. It’s pathetic.’

  Eva cast her eyes towards the back of the busy restaurant to find the bathroom door for any sign of Shelly. She felt bad as soon as the words passed her lips. Shelly fitted in but she definitely wasn’t pathetic. Eva hadn’t meant it like that. She’d never say stuff like that about Shelly and definitely not behind her back. She crossed her fingers that Nathan wouldn’t pick up on it.

  ‘Shelly,’ Nathan said suddenly.

  ‘No. Jesus. No, not Shelly. Shelly’s great. I really like her.’

  Nathan laughed softly and threw his eyes over Eva’s shoulder. ‘No, I mean Shelly’s on her way back.’

  What was that Eva was saying about Nathan and his foot in his mouth? She really wasn’t one to talk, she thought, blushing as bright as a Cherry tomato.

  ‘So did you ask her?’ Shelly said, sitting down and pulling her seat closer to the table.

  ‘Ask me what?’ Eva’s heart pounded. This was it. This was the moment it was all going to come out.

  ‘I didn’t get a chance,’ Nathan mumbled sheepishly.

  Shelly flicked her eyes to the ceiling playfully. ‘So I just spent twenty minutes talking to an old lady in the bathroom, about knitting, all for nothing? Bloody hell, you two. Right, before we all die of old age I’m just going to say it.’

  Eva dropped her head, grabbed onto the corner of the table to stop herself from sliding off the edge of her chair and waited for the explosion.

  ‘Nathan has a feeling Mr Hot has something to hide and he’s not good for you,’ Shelly blurted, almost laughing and bit into a Prawn Cracker.

  What? That was it? Eva wondered, almost forgetting to breathe. That was Nathan’s extensive research? A feeling. She looked at the glass of spicy liquid in her hand but she didn’t drink it. The feeling of relief washing through her body was fabulous and she didn’t want any more alcohol to hinder that. But this was close. Too close for comfort.

  Nathan rested his elbows on the table and covered his face with his hands jokingly.

  ‘There. Was it that hard to say?’ Shelly grabbed the bottle of Whisky that Eva hadn’t noticed the waiter bring to the table.

  ‘Oh, yum. Don’t mind if I do,’ Shelly said, pouring some into her empty wine glass. ‘Top up?’ She asked, pointing towards Eva’s glass. Eva nodded instinctively, trying to reset her rapid breathing back to normal.

  Eva watched as Nathan and Shelly chatted and laughed. It was an unlikely friendship that she definitely didn’t see coming, but she liked it. And she liked that she was part of it. But with friends comes questions. It was only a matter of time before questions about Julian were unavoidable. She just had a taste of how it could be if news of Julian broke and she knew she wasn’t strong enough. No amount of Whisky could help her then. She knew what she had to do.

  I’m sorry. I can’t do this anymore.

  Eva hit send on the text and instantly regretted it.

  ‘And there’s more,’ Shelly said drawing Eva’s attention away from her phone.

  Eva held her breath. More?

  Shelly nodded, beaming. ‘He’d like to know if you’d like to accompany him to the ball. Wouldn’t you, Nate?’ Shelly knocked her shoulder against Nathan’s like a giddy schoolgirl.

  Eva watched as Nathan scrunched his face with his hands. His whole body screamed nervous wreck. If she wasn’t mid emotional-roller-coaster, she probably would have found it adorably funny.

  Eva nodded her reply gently. She was past words.

  Nathan took his hands down from his face and smiled. Eva smiled back and tried hard not to giggle at the reddened impressions of his fingers across his forehead. Shelly topped up his glass and teased him for not having the balls to ask himself.

  ‘Fucking finally.’ Shelly raised her almost empty again glass. ‘Cheers.’

  Eva followed Nathan’s lead and raised her glass and tapped it against Shelly’s making a large clinking sound. ‘Cheers.’

  ‘Now that that’s sorted, let’s see where the hell the desert is. I don’t know about you, but I want cake.’

  Chapter 22

  Dun Laoghaire Harbour was surprisingly quiet for a summer’s evening. A chilly wind had descended suddenly and most tourists had retreated to the warmth of wine bars and restaurants off the promenade. Julian re
lished the silence as his luxury yacht swayed from side to side on the soft waves, like a baby’s rocking cot. He loved the sea, but not even the clear view of the horizon could settle his uneasy feeling this evening.

  He paced the lower deck and re-read the text on his phone. He wasn’t angry or upset by its concise message, merely bemused. Eva was learning. She was finally playing the game. But she was using the Coward’s Rulebook. He tucked himself behind the small oval table and tutted. The breeze from the overhead window danced across the top of his dark hair. He dropped his elbows onto the edge of the table, clasped his hands and rested his chin on his knuckles. ‘Evangeline Andrews,’ he said, enjoying how her name sounded brushing past his lips as it broke the stillness of the room. ‘I know you can do better than that.’

  ***

  The quaint cobble-stoned, side-street, in Dublin city centre suddenly felt enormous and lonely as Eva wandered aimlessly. Less than an hour before, she’d slugged one last mouthful of Scotch and made a hasty exit, pretending something had suddenly come up. She had to act while there was fire in her belly or she might chicken out. But by the time she’d reached the restaurant door the fire was nothing more than smouldering ashes. She’d been wandering in circles since.

  It was cold now, and tiny goose-bumps dotted across her exposed shoulders. Her phone vibrated in her bag and Eva was reluctant to check it. She’d had endless texts and missed calls from Shelly, begging her to go clubbing. They’d all left to go home but Shelly and Nathan appeared to have gotten distracted along the way, and they were now drinking cocktails named after body parts.

  Eva finally decided to answer the call. She prepared to spin something about already being home tucked up in bed and hope Shelly would buy it. She rummaged in her bag but was surprised to see Julian’s number waiting on her screen. Her fingers shook as she scrolled down to read his text. She tucked herself against the drawn shutter of a hat boutique and closed her eyes. She took several deep breaths before opening them again to read.

  Dun Laoghaire Pier @ 9.30PM

  Eva pressed the heel of her hand just above her nose, easing some of the pressure from her burning headache. She was angry…no, frustrated …no, upset. She didn’t know what the hell she was feeling but whatever it was, it was possibly alcohol related, and it was bloody horrendous. She was furious with Julian for not respecting her decision. Eva realised there was a fine line between furious and relieved as she punched a short reply into her phone and hit send.

  She was hoping for Julian’s swift reply but the vibration of her phone in her clenched fist startled her, none the less.

  You already said that.

  Eva smiled. Suspecting he was, as always, flirting. She decided to rise to the challenge.

  And I’m saying it again. I can’t see you anymore.

  It started to rain. Large drops of chilly water trickled down Eva’s face. Her mint green dress turned emerald as the downpour showed no mercy. She shivered. She was freezing. A crisp breeze had piggy-backed on the fall of dusk, and she could no longer feel the fire of Whisky in her belly. But she shivered most of all because long minutes had passed and Julian hadn’t replied. Maybe he was giving her what she asked for.

  She wiped a large rain drop off the screen of her phone with the edge of her cardigan, and her heart raced as she noticed the waiting image. Cool blue waves sparkled under a golden setting sun. She read the message that followed, over and over, as her heart beat attempted to break the sound barrier.

  You can’t see me anymore? Then close your eyes. But you’ll miss this view. 9.30pm Ms Andrews.

  Eva glanced at her watch; it was a couple of minutes shy of nine o’clock. She shook her head, brushed down her damp dress and marched towards the nearest DART station. It was impulsive, and possibly a decision she would learn to regret, but in that moment she didn’t care. Just one last time, she told herself. One. Last. Time.

  Chapter 23

  The train’s wheels clattered against the tracks like an allegro metronome. Its symphonic rhythm soothed Eva’s nerves. It passed across low bridges over city centre traffic and whizzed through dark tunnels. Eva listened intently to the announcement of every station, terrified she would miss her stop. She lived a thirty minute bus journey in the opposite direction; this side of the city was all new and somewhat intimidating to her. She liked the familiarity of her daily commute and stepping outside that comfort zone, even if it was for Julian, made her want to turn back.

  ‘The next station is Dun Laoghaire. Please mind the gap.’

  Eva stood up and waited as almost all passengers disembarked. She was happy to let them pass and followed their lead. She took a deep breath as she stepped onto the platform and fresh, sea-air filled her lungs. Brief memories of happy summers on Jersey shore, with her family, made her smile, before the pain of the years that followed rushed into her mind. She pushed all thoughts of her past life aside and followed her nose towards the sea.

  A tall, cream and red lighthouse stood at the end of the comma shaped pier, like a sparkling diamante. Eva was drawn towards its blinking light. She folded her arms tight across her chest, trying to protect herself from the rough wind and began walking. She passed a pretty bandstand with lovers kissing in the corner. A teenage busker leaned with one foot against a weathered bench and played impressive rifts on his guitar. And an elderly couple held hands as they walked their dog along the pier in front of her.

  She stopped just before the lighthouse and stared out to sea. The pier was free from railings and she didn’t dare venture too close. She hadn’t been near water in ten years and if it wasn’t for her overwhelming desire to see Julian, she would never go near it again. She stared at the waves below, free from the entrapment of her own memories, for a moment - just a moment.

  Eva didn’t flinch as she felt his hands slip around her waist and his warm lips press against her neck. She closed her eyes and savoured his smell. His body sheltered her from the wind as his tall frame towered behind her.

  ‘Breath-taking, isn’t it?’ he whispered.

  She nodded. It was so beautiful; it was beyond any words she could imagine.

  ‘I grew up here,’ he said, his finger pointing towards a winding road in the distance. ‘Well for a while anyway.’

  Eva wondered how anyone could have such sadness in their voice when talking about such an amazing place. It must have been what people heard when she spoke about New Jersey, she thought.

  ‘You came,’ he said, actively changing the subject. ‘I knew you would.’

  Eva smiled. He was so certain and she admired his confident charm.

  ‘Shall we?’ he said, placing his arm around her waist and guiding her back to stand alongside him. He led her slowly back the way she had just come. They walked in silence as Eva looked all around. Dusk was giving way to night and a red hue hung behind scattered clouds, like burnt orchids splashed across the sky. Julian stopped, stood still and waited for Eva to catch her breath. She met his gaze and smiled. Christ, he was beautiful and she felt beautiful just for being next to him. He signalled with his eyes to look behind her. She double blinked as she took in the view of uneven concrete steps leading down to boats of all shapes and sizes. Some were old and worn. Some were new and shiny. And they all were wonderfully pretty.

  Julian dropped onto the first step with one knee bent and still on the pier. He held his open palm out to her and tilted his head towards a tiny dingy bobbing beside him.

  ‘Are you ready?’

  Eva’s eyes widened and she shook her head. ‘No. I can’t, Julian. I can’t swim.’

  Julian laughed. ‘We’re not going to get wet. Well maybe you are, but it won’t be from sea water. Come on, you’ll like this.’

  Eva’s eyes drifted to the large ferry making its way towards the port. Her tummy began to somersault and her knees quivered. Oh shit, she was going to throw up. Not now, she begged her stomach, suddenly sorry for that last rushed mouthful of Scotch. It was over ten years since the incident but stand
ing at the shore brought all the memories back.

  ‘Julian, please. I…I…can’t.

  Eva pulled away, falling backwards onto the hard concrete behind her. She scampered to distance herself from the edge. Julian watched her calmly edging forward just a fraction. He pulled himself to his full height and straightened his arm and his palm. ‘Just take my hand, Eva. I promise I’ll keep you safe.’

  Eva’s teeth chattered as she explored his face. She could never read Julian but in that moment, for the first time, she knew his intention. He truly did want to keep her safe. And she wanted to trust him. No one had ever made it their job to protect her before. No one. The truth in Julian’s eyes was offering her something she never had but she desperately wanted. She wanted to conquer her fear. To not let the memories surface and control her. And she wanted more than anything for Julian to be the one keeping her safe.

  She slowly edged forwards and grasped his hand so tight, her fingers whitened. Julian stayed one step ahead of her as he led the way to the small, waiting dingy. It was old and the once dark timber was faded and weather beaten.

  ‘Good girl,’ he said, kissing her forehead when she stepped down beside him. ‘I have you. I promise.’

  Eva looked up to find a stunning white yacht anchored in the deeper water. Her nervousness didn’t fade but a buzz of excitement fought for some room in her tummy too.

  ‘Don’t look so concerned, Evangeline. It’s safe.’

  Eva wasn’t convinced and gripped Julian’s hand even tighter.

  ‘It’s just our ride. How else do you suggest we get out to that? Julian pointed to a magnificent white yacht floating in the distance.…’You said you can’t swim.’

  Eva and Julian sat facing each other, their legs cramped and fighting for room. Eva’s bare calves brushed against the leg of Julian’s trousers. He wore the same glacier blue shirt he had on earlier in the shop, but his tie was absent now and his top button open. His sleeves were rolled just enough to reveal his firm, lower arms as he rowed powerfully. His broad shoulders made his swift back and forth action look effortless. Eva’s head told her to keep an eye on the shore and panic about not having a lifejacket on, but her eyes wouldn’t move from staring at his body powering them forward.