by Darcy Burke
“That you were reading them.”
“Gee, thanks. Now he’ll get his hopes up.”
“What was I supposed to say? ‘She’s hiding out and I have no idea what she’s doing’? Because that’s the truth. What are you doing up in Oregon?”
“Nothing. Just hanging out.”
“I call bullshit. You’d be bored out of your mind, and you don’t sound bored. You have to be doing something—and I know you aren’t reading those scripts.”
Alaina considered feeding her garbage, but why? Crystal was her oldest, best friend. “I’m sort of seeing a guy.”
“What?”
Alaina held the phone away from her ear for a moment, then put it back. “You didn’t need to yell.”
“Apparently I did, because why haven’t I heard this before? And why do you sound guilty?”
Duh, because Alaina felt bad for not saying anything sooner. “It’s not a big deal.”
“You passed on handing out the best costume award at the Oscars. That’s not not a big deal.”
Alaina winced. “Okay, it’s a minor deal. Really, it’s nothing important. He’s a nice guy. We hang out. That’s it.”
“Are you sleeping with him? Because that would make total sense. You haven’t been with a guy in forever.”
Alaina rolled her eyes and took a sip of beer. “Glad to know you’re keeping track.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“Nope.”
“Then I have my answer. And yay! I’m glad. It’s about time you tried a normal relationship with someone outside of the business. I hope you’ll actually let this one get close.”
“You don’t know anything about him. Maybe he’s an actor. Or a writer. Or a director.”
“You’re in Bumfuck, Egypt—I highly doubt it.” She sucked in a breath. “Wait. You’re visiting your producing partner . . . But I thought he was married.”
“He is—and happily so. It’s not him.”
“Then who is it?”
Alaina heard the door at the bottom of the stairs open and close. “Hey, I’ve gotta go. Dinner’s here.”
“What does that mean?”
“Pizza. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Because you have a date, and you’ll be busy. Mmm-hmmm. I see how it is. I want a full report—you owe me that much!”
“Bye. Love you!” Alaina disconnected and rushed to the door just as Evan reached the landing.
He looked so good, a heathered green crewneck sweater peeking out from the top of his leather jacket, his gray eyes sharp and sexy as they raked over her. And he smelled like a dark, damp winter’s night.
“Is it raining?” she asked, moving aside to let him in. It had rained that afternoon for a while.
He strode past her and set the pizza box on the counter. “Yeah.” He shucked his wet coat, and she took it from him to hang it on one of the hooks by the door. “Cold, too.”
“I have the fireplace going—we’ll get you warmed up in no time.”
He reached for her, clasping her waist and pulling her against his chest. “Sounds good.” He lowered his mouth to hers, and she wound her arms around his neck, stretching up into the kiss. Heat fired her belly as his tongue found hers and licked her in delicious, lavish strokes.
When they parted, she was considerably warmer than when they’d started. “I don’t know about you, but I’m well on my way to toasty.”
He turned toward the bar. “Thanks for grabbing the beer.” He picked up his pint glass and lifted it to his mouth.
“Wait!” She plucked her glass from the counter. “A toast to . . . What are we toasting?”
“I told my family about being the creative director.”
She grinned up at him, wanting to envelop him in a joyous hug but realizing it would be difficult, since they were both holding full glasses of beer. “I’m so happy for you!” She tapped her glass to his and took a drink. “It must’ve gone well?”
He drank and then set his glass down. “I think so. My dad had requested a meeting this morning, and last night I—or should I say Eric Steele—e-mailed him to say I’d come in person. He was pretty shocked when he opened the door and found me.”
“I bet. What did he say?” She went into the kitchen to fetch a couple of plates, then brought them back to the counter.
He opened the pizza box and put a slice on each plate. “He was happy. Excited. I was afraid he’d be mad, but he wasn’t at all. Though, he was confused at first. He didn’t understand why I lied.”
Alaina wasn’t completely sure she understood the reasons either, but they’d made sense to Evan, and that was good enough for her. “Did you explain?”
“I tried, but, you know, it’s weird. Alex is gone, and I know I shouldn’t feel like a usurper—Dad said as much—but it’s hard not to. Especially when they were all so complimentary. It still feels like I took something from him, but that’s stupid.”
She stroked his arm. “It’s not stupid at all. It’s sensitive and thoughtful. Your brother would be proud and honored, I think.”
“I hope so.” He glanced toward the dining table and then at the living room. “Where do you want to eat?”
“Will your mom mind if we eat on the couch by the fire?”
“It’s not her apartment. Well, I guess it is, but she doesn’t live here, so who cares?” He picked up his beer and pizza and went to plop on the couch.
Alaina took a bite of pizza, then followed him. “Oh my God, this pizza is fabulous. Where’d you get it?”
“The only pizza place in town—Slice of Pi. That’s pi as in three point one four. The owner’s a retired math teacher. They’re only open Wednesday through Sunday, so we were in luck.”
“Pi—that’s cute.” She took another bite and washed it down with some beer. “So what else happened with your dad?”
“Not too much. Kyle and Derek were there, too. And they were great. We had a terrific meeting about branding the beers we’re taking to the various brew festivals this summer. We didn’t do much last year because of the turmoil with Alex, so we want to come back strong this year. Then Kyle and Derek talked to me about The Alex. Now that they know what I’m capable of, they want me to design the logo and develop the brand. I’m going to work with Chloe a bit—I want to incorporate her artistic concepts, which are in keeping with the established Archer brand across our pubs.”
“This all sounds so exciting. You’ve got me thinking. Sean and I need a logo for our production company—Rainy Day. Think you’d have time to create something for us?”
He finished a bite of pizza. “Sure. I mean, I’m busy, but I’ll make time. Do you have ideas, or do you just want me to come up with something?”
“I trust you. Just something Rainy Day-ish without being cliché obviously.” She laughed. “No umbrella and no giant raindrop, I guess.”
He nodded. “Got it. I’ll come up with some concepts. Oh, I almost forgot. Kyle’s planning a celebratory dinner on Friday at Georgia’s in town. We have the private dining room upstairs. We’ll be able to go in the back and get up there without being seen. And it has its own bathroom upstairs, too.”
He was just about the most thoughtful guy she’d ever met. “You thought of everything.”
“I know how important it is to be comfortable and feel safe. I like to scope things out before I commit, and I think you do too—out of necessity.”
He really seemed to understand the fame thing—at least that part of it. “Yeah, thanks. I’d love to come—I think that was an invitation, right?” He hadn’t outright said, but it had sounded like one.
“Of course.” He laughed again. “I guess I didn’t make that clear. Yes, I’d like you to be my date.”
Speaking of date . . . She wanted to talk to him about her conversation with his mom but was trying to find the right way to bring it up. And now he’d given her a good segue.
He stood up before she could say anything. “You want another slice of pizza?”
“I’m good for now.” She turned on the couch and watched him open the box and grab another piece. “On the topic of dating . . . You told your mom that we were seeing each other?”
He came back around to sit on the couch. “Yeah, is that okay?”
“It’s fine. I just wonder . . . Do you think she suspects that we’re sleeping together?”
“No, because we aren’t. I don’t do the sleeping with others thing.”
She scrutinized him, trying to discern if he didn’t understand.
He smiled at her. “I’m kidding. I know what you mean. Does it matter if she thinks we’re having sex?”
He clearly didn’t care if she knew. And if he didn’t, why should she? “Not really. She found my socks downstairs—I apparently left them there the other night. You know, after the foosball.” The heat swirling in her belly kicked up a notch as she thought of that. “I just wondered if she’d put two and two together.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Finding your socks means we’re having sex?”
She laughed. “It means I’m taking clothes off!”
His gaze dipped to her chest. “Mmmm, sounds like a great idea.”
Alaina suppressed a smile. “So your whole family knows about us?”
He shrugged. “Probably. They’re a nosy, gossipy bunch—among themselves. We’re fiercely protective of our privacy. And of yours, so don’t worry that anyone’s talking about your being here.”
“No, I didn’t think that.”
“Anyway, if they don’t know, they’ll figure it out Friday when we show up together, I guess.” He let his gaze linger against hers for longer than usual. “Is that okay? Did you want to keep it a secret?”
“Not here. But . . . ” Damn, how did she say this without sounding like a cold-hearted bitch? “My public life is complicated, as you know. And sometimes it’s hard to separate it. If people knew I was seeing someone, that someone would be investigated and publicized.” She thought of the things his mom had said—and of the things she hadn’t but that had been heavily implied. Dating Evan could be hazardous—to him. Emily was intensely protective of her children, and rightfully so. Alaina could only imagine the lengths she would go to in order to protect her own child, if she were fortunate enough to have one.
“I’ll make sure my family knows it’s not a big deal and also not to be shared. They’ll understand.”
She didn’t doubt they would, given their own personal experience with fame. After they finished their pizza, she took their plates to the kitchen and topped off their beers, then rejoined him on the couch. “So what are we doing tonight?”
He took a drink of beer, then set the glass on the coffee table. He took her free hand and stroked his thumb along the back of it, gliding from her knuckle to her wrist and back again. “Whatever you want.”
She snuggled against him. “But it’s your celebration. Tell me what you want.”
He tipped her chin up. “You.”
“Well that’s easy.” She smiled just as he kissed her. As she twined her arms around his neck and pressed into his chest, her mind went back to the conversation with this mother. More than anything, she didn’t want to hurt Evan. In that, she understood Emily’s love and concern. The love and concern she’d shower on her own child—a child she should probably tell Evan about.
Maybe. Not yet.
For now, she just wanted to enjoy the moments they shared. If she allowed her real life to intrude, it might spoil what they had, and she didn’t want that.
It was absurd, but she was actually glad her visit to the clinic had leaked. If not, she never would’ve come to Ribbon Ridge. And that would’ve been a shame.
Chapter Thirteen
EVAN PARKED HIS car in the lot at The Alex and jumped out. The ground was soft from last night’s rain, but most of the puddles had dried out overnight. Still, the mud clung to his boots as he rounded the car to get the door for Alaina.
She’d already opened the door and smiled at him as he held it for her. “You’re such a gentleman.” She slid out of the car gently, obviously trying not to sink into the mud in her fancy boots.
“Do I need to carry you again?”
She laughed. “No. I’ve accepted that these are going to get dirty. I’m just going to be careful.” She zipped her coat up to her neck against the breeze. “Where are we going? Restaurant or office?”
“Restaurant. There’s more space. They set up a lot of the tables and chairs yesterday, so Chloe’s going to spread her drawings out in there.”
He’d scheduled a meeting with Chloe this morning to discuss the artwork and branding. He didn’t remember the last time he’d been so excited about a project. Probably never.
She clasped his hand as they walked toward the restaurant. Other cars were in the lot, but they didn’t run into anyone. He opened the door for Alaina and saw it was because everyone was inside.
Chloe, Tori, Kyle, Sean, Maggie, Sara, and Dylan all turned as they walked in. Well, everyone but Derek was there, he realized. He must’ve had a meeting at Archer.
Alaina didn’t retake Evan’s hand as they joined the others gathered around a large table, or maybe it was two tables pushed together. “Good morning,” she said brightly. “I hope it’s okay that I came. I asked Evan if I could tag along. I’m fascinated by this whole project.”
“Sure,” Kyle said. “Makes sense, since you’re funding the show that Sean’s filming about it.”
She nodded. “I suppose so.”
Evan looked around at everyone but didn’t make direct eye contact. “How come all of you are here?”
“We just wanted to watch brilliance take place,” Tori said. She was on his right and moved closer to him. “Is that okay?”
“Sure.” He didn’t love the audience, but he had to get used to it. This was a family business, and they worked together. Gone were the days of working by himself in his office at his apartment back in Longview.
Chloe stood on the opposite side of the table. “Here’s everything I’ve got. You can see I’m incorporating some of the same animal motifs we have in the other pubs. Given the name of the restaurant—The Arch and Fox—and the importance of the fox to Alex, I sort of went with that as a base theme.” She gestured toward a large piece of paper with several renderings of the same fox—strutting, sitting, curled up asleep.
He picked it up and studied the drawings. “These are great. Are you thinking a fox in the logo, then?”
“I don’t know. That’s up to you.”
He thought about what Alaina had said about her studio logo. Not too obvious or cliché. He’d use the same guideline here. A couple of ideas tossed around his head, but he wasn’t ready to share anything yet. “Okay. What else do you have?”
She showed him some other conceptual drawings, ideas for a mural in the hotel as well as paintings in the restrooms and the bar.
Evan had an idea. “Have you thought about doing maybe ten different paintings and then making prints to put in the guest rooms of the hotel? You’re so talented, I bet people would want to buy copies.”
“I’d totally buy one,” Maggie said.
Chloe blushed. “You don’t have to—I’ll paint you something special.” She looked at Evan. “That’s a really good idea. Thanks.”
“Love it,” Tori said, nudging Evan in the arm and beaming up at him.
He could bask in this approval all day long. Maybe audiences weren’t so bad after all.
“What about the underground pub?” Alaina asked. “Are you doing anything down there?”
Chloe cocked her head to the side. “I’m sure we will, but I haven’t thought about it yet. I’ve been working on the Ridgeview space.”
“What’s that?” Alaina asked.
Sean answered. “That’s the special-event cottage at the end of the lane. Didn’t Evan show it to you the other day?”
No, because he’d gotten too distracted with kissing her. “We didn’t get that far. I can show you
later,” Evan said, glancing at her on his left.
She smiled up at him, and there was a bit of sauciness in it—maybe she was hoping for a repeat of their last visit. “Sounds good.”
Oh yeah, he could definitely go for round two up here, but not with so many people on site. Dylan’s crew was working over at the hotel, and damn near every Archer was currently underfoot.
“Well, I have a crazy idea about the Archetype,” Alaina said. “What if you did something like cave drawings down there?”
Chloe clasped her hands together at chest-height. “Oooh! I love that idea.”
“So fun,” Sara said. “You have to do that. I don’t care if anyone agrees.”
Laughter spread. “Oh, I’m totally doing it.” Chloe high-fived Sara, who was standing next to her.
Evan looked over at Alaina. She wore that brilliant smile of hers that never failed to make him feel incredible. “Great idea,” he said softly.
She tossed him a glowing look. “Thanks.”
They talked about art for a few more minutes, then Dylan started talking schedule.
“When are you guys set to open?” Alaina asked.
“That is the million-dollar question,” Tori said. “We’re waiting to see how the stupid zoning appeal turns out. We can’t open until they rezone us as commercial.”
“Sounds like a nightmare,” Alaina said. “What happened?”
Kyle scoffed. “This jackass who hates our dad filed an appeal when the rezoning was approved. It’s taking months to resolve.”
Alaina winced. “What a pain. Why does he hate your dad?” She flashed a glance at Evan as she asked this.
“It’s a total pain,” Tori said. “He hates Dad because he stole Mom away from him.”
“No way, really?” Alaina giggled. “That’s kind of romantic in a vengeance-is-sexy sort of way. Not that he’s sexy. No, he’s the villain in this plot, for sure.”
“Chloe, I’d like to see where you envision the mural over in the hotel lobby,” Dylan said. “Would you show me?”
“Sure.” She and Dylan headed toward the exit that led to the hotel.