Besotted: An Enemies-to-Lovers Small-town Romance (Carmel Cove Book 3)

by Dr. Rebecca Sharp

  Hopefully, our dreams.

  The discussion she’d promised had been a hard time coming. With Eve staying at Blooms and sharing her old room with Jo, it was hard to find a moment alone—truly alone. Alone in the kind of way that would let me kiss her the way I’d been starving to.

  Meanwhile, the words built up in me like rain inside a cloud—a cloud that kept hanging heavier and heavier over me, threatening to unleash the torrent of emotions with a single gust.

  Still, I went there every morning and stopped every evening, most days with a pickle plate in hand, to sit with her or hang out or watch a movie with some of the other girls. I went just to be there. She’d made it clear that she would be moving in with the nuns today for the short term while her life and our relationship settled.

  I didn’t argue.

  I wouldn’t.

  But I was going to do everything in my power to make it hard as hell for her to stick to her decision.

  And that was why I’d asked if she’d be okay with me driving her over there this afternoon to help her get settled and so that we could finally talk.

  We’d just be taking a slight detour here first.

  “Sorry.” My gaze jerked up to see George lumbering down the stairs, wiping his hands off with a greased towel. “Damn faucet was a bitch to replace.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  I knew all about grand gestures. I used to think I was an expert in them.

  But I’d come to realize that there was no gesture as grand as the apology that comes from the very fibers of your heart. No gesture as grand as telling the woman you love just how much you love her, and just how much you’d give to be able to tell her that every day for the rest of your lives.

  And I didn’t just plan on telling her. With all this, I planned on showing her.

  “Miles?” I turned to see my brother walking down the hall. “You alright?”

  I nodded and checked my watch.

  “It’ll be ready,” he assured me, and I let out a long breath.

  “I know,” I grumbled, wiping my forehead. “Addison finished up the front yard this morning, so I just want to finish putting up the new gate and then we should be good.”

  I’d talked to Addison before I did any of this. Not that I asked permission, but I would’ve respected her opinion if she thought it wouldn’t be the right thing for her sister.

  Thankfully, she’d be on board.

  And then she’d offered to weed and replant the front yard. The following morning she’d shown up with Isla to design the front gardens. Two hours later, the Fleurtations flower truck was parked out front and the two of them, along with two of the girls from Blooms, unloaded planter after pot that, over the next few days, transformed the yard that had been overgrown with weeds, into a vibrant sea of flowers—the ‘garden’ part of Eve’s Yoga Garden.

  My chest tightened.

  Those girls… hell, this whole town was an army of helping hands. Everyone was on standby for today—to see what Eve wanted to do next with the place. Jules, Laurel, Cambria, the girls at Blooms… even Ace stopped by yesterday to install the state-of-the-art security system on every window and entrance—a gift from the team at Covington Security.

  “Alright, well then I’m goin’ to go hang the sign now unless you need me for anythin’ else in here.”

  I looked down to where my brother had hand-carved a hanging sign for above the front porch steps.

  The Yoga Garden was engraved into the rich, stained wood, the letters curving and swirling like stems on a flower, complete with little leaves off some of the ends.

  “Thank you,” I said with a low, hoarse voice.

  Now that the day was here, I wasn’t too stubborn or too proud to admit that I was worried it wouldn’t be enough—that I’d fucked up too bad to ever make this right.

  I blinked and, almost like a mirror that reflected a more confident version of myself—and a more groomed one—Mick stood in front of me, his hands planted firmly on my shoulders.

  “You’re a good man, Miles,” he said resolutely, his grip tightening. “Eve wouldn’t give up on you, so don’t give up on yourself.”

  I wasn’t going to give up.

  I just hoped that what I had to give would be enough.

  “Ready?” I asked, desire coating my voice with a gravelly film as I watched her walked down the stairs at Blooms wearing white yoga pants and a tight yellow tee.

  I knew she thought she was dressed casually but the truth was it was hard to remember a time when I’d been more turned on. Unless I counted every other time I was around her.

  She nodded, and her excitement spilled from her smile.

  “What did the doctor say?” I reached for the small suitcase in her hand and turned toward the front door.

  “Everything is good. Baby is good. She told me I could start working my way slowly back into my yoga practice. And that I’m supposed to go for my regular check-up and ultrasound next week.” She paused. “It’s on Thursday if you want to come…”

  I faced her to make sure I could see her when I answered, “I will absolutely be there.”

  Opening the door, we were greeted with a few excited yaps from Kona who had his head out of the back window, waiting for the both of us.

  “He doesn’t think we’re taking him to the beach, does he?” Eve whispered teasingly to me.

  I chuckled. “Who knows what that goof is thinking.”

  I opened the door for her, making sure she was in the seat before I closed it and put her suitcase in the back for Kona to watch over.

  “It feels so good to be outside.”

  I glanced over as she closed her eyes and watched as her chest rose and fell with deep, savoring breaths.

  “I thought your sister let you out?” I teased.

  Eve nodded. “She did. But I just wanted to be really careful… after everything… and it was pretty rainy last week. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just when you know you can’t really go anywhere or do anything that it feels more confining than the free choice to just stay inside and do nothing.”

  The silence that followed was the awkward kind of appetizer that always preceded the heavy conversation about to follow.

  “Eve,” I began as we approached the light where I knew she’d realize we weren’t going to her new apartment. “I need you to know I’m sorry for what I said to you that day.” My voice was rough and rasped and scored with regret. “I need you to know that I was in shock… hearin’ those words again… and while that’s no excuse for what I said, I need you to know what I said wasn’t the truth.”

  The Jeep quieted as we sat at the red light, and I purposely left my blinker off.

  “Miles, I know—”

  “Please,” I begged. “I just have to tell you that what I said about you was as far from the truth as night is from day. I know you never would’ve done this on purpose. I know it because I know you. I know your mind. I know your body. And I know your heart.” I cleared my throat from the emotion that clogged it like oil in a drain. “The only thing I didn’t know was me.”

  The light turned green, and I went left instead of right, my breath lodging in my chest for so many reasons.

  It took a few seconds. I glanced over and realized it was because she was processing my words that she didn’t immediately see we were going in the wrong direction. But because her beautiful face could never tell a lie, I saw the second confusion crossed it.

  “Miles, where are we going?” She looked over her shoulder. “You went the wrong way.”

  I waited a beat as we turned onto Ocean Avenue. “No, I didn’t.”

  “Yes, you did. The apartment building—”

  “The nunnery—” I interjected with a grin.

  “The apartment building,” she growled, “is back that way.” Her arms crossed over her chest.

  I knew one dance. One kiss. One night. And it would never be enough. Now, one minute was too long to go without having her in my arms, and it had almost been t
hree weeks.

  “Miles, what’s going on? If you think kidnapping me is the way to get me to accept your apology, I can tell you now, speaking from experience, that it is not.”

  I grunted. “I don’t think you should stay at the nunnery.”

  “It’s not—” she huffed. “Why? Forgetting all the other reasons—like I don’t have anywhere else to stay—please tell me what’s wrong with it.”

  “Because it’s haunted.”

  “Are you kidding me?” She threw up her hands and sunk into the back of the seat. “Miles, please, I just need to find my footing again and—”

  “I don’t think you should stay there, because I don’t want you to stay there. I want you to live with me… be with me,” I confessed as we turned onto Sunflower Lane. “I will take you there if that’s what you choose, Eve, but not before I have the chance to properly promise you forever.”

  Her head turned slowly to mine, and I watched the color drain from her face.

  “Are you… are you proposing to me?” she asked breathlessly. “You don’t… I mean, I’m not expecting you to do that just because of the baby. I told you, that’s not what I want—not what I was trying to—”

  “Eve.” I pulled my Jeep over to the side of the road a few houses down from hers and threw it into park, sliding in the seat to face her. “One of these days, woman, I will propose to you, and you won’t have any damn warning, so you won’t ruin the surprise with all your questions.”

  And just like that the color returned, vibrant and pink to her cheeks.

  I let out a long breath and thumbed my nose that began to itch.

  “I want to apologize to you, Evie. I want to apologize, and I want to show you how much you mean to me because I haven’t done a very good job up to now.”

  Only then did she look and see where we were. “Why are we parked on Sunflower?”

  “Because I have somethin’ to show you.”

  Letting myself out, I came around to the passenger side as she slowly stepped down, Kona following on her heels.

  Shutting the door, I pressed her up against it, wanting every inch of her attention for a single second more.

  “I’ve been holdin’ on to something for weeks now. Somethin’ that should’ve been said long ago before I went and screwed things up.

  My jaw tightened. “With Amanda, it had been her for so long, I didn’t see any other way.” My thumb brushed her cheek. “But with you, Evie, I looked at every other possible way. I ran in every other direction, but each time, each way… they all led back to you. They all led back to loving you. It’s the only way for me.” I let out a shaky breath. “Loving you is the only way, forever.”

  “Miles…” She licked her lips and it took every ounce of strength not to bend down and kiss her like her eyes begged me to.

  “I’m sorry I hurt you, Evie… so damn sorry. Thing is, I didn’t know the truth about forever.”

  “And what’s that?” she murmured.

  “That forever isn’t a one-time choice.” I spoke without thinking, only feeling. “Forever is a decision that gets made every single day. To wake up and choose to love that person for that day. And the next. And the next.”

  With each word my lips drifted closer and closer to hers.

  “And I didn’t realize that I’d been choosing you for far too many days—too many days to want to or know how to stop.” I caught her tears with my fingers as they slid down her cheeks. Meanwhile, Kona walked circles around our legs, wondering what the hell was taking us so long. “I’ve been a damn fool, Eve Williams, but I’ve been a damn fool who’s in love with you.”

  Her small watery laugh brought a smile to my face, and I carefully wiped away more of her tears without dislodging her glasses.

  Her hands crept to my chest and curled into my shirt. “I love you, Miles.” My heart swelled. “And I think that’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

  “It better fuckin’ be,” I growled, nuzzling her nose. “Because no one else is allowed to say anythin’ romantic to you unless they want to deal with me.”

  She laughed and then demanded softly, “Say it again.”

  I hummed, the sensation running through my body was like nothing I’d ever felt before. It was like being able to fly without having wings. “I love you, Evie.”

  She moaned and my dick began to throb, too close to her for having been too far away for too long. “I love you, too.”

  I felt the soft rush of her breath against my lips and with a strangled groan I pulled back.

  “If I kiss you now, Evie,” I warned hoarsely. “I won’t be able to stop. And if I don’t stop, I won’t be able to show you what you need to see.”

  “And if I want you to kiss me now?” she asked breathlessly, her hips rolling gently against my cock.

  Christ. My woman was too damn perfect—too damn tempting—for her own damn good.

  “Then the people waitin’ will be in for a much different show than I had planned,” I replied, holding her hips hard against mine.

  I let out a breath of relief when she pulled back.

  “W-What do you mean? What people?”

  Sliding my hand down her arm, I linked my fingers with hers and began to walk toward her house. “Let me show you.”

  It only took a few feet before the house came into view. And from there it only took maybe another step before I felt her steps begin to lag as she realized her house was the same… but so very different.

  “Miles…” she gasped from behind me. “What’s going on?”

  I looked back to her and watched her eyes flit frantically over the building, freshly painted, the windows, all repaired, the front yard, missing all the weeds and overflowing with a rainbow of blooms.

  “What happened… my house… who did all this?” I heard how much of a struggle it was for her to get the words out.

  We got to the front gate, and I pulled it open and stood in front of it so she could enter ahead of me.

  “Dreams aren’t one thing. They aren’t one person,” I began softly as she took a single step through. “They are every step. Every choice. Every failure and every rise. They are every person who closed a door and the ten others who reached out to lend a helping hand. A dream isn’t a solitary thing. Because a seed may dream of becoming a flower but without the soil for a foundation, without the sun to encourage its growth, without the clouds to provide the rain, without the water to wash nutrients to its roots, without all these things, a dream is just a dream.”

  She looked at me, shaking her head in shock and disbelief.

  I went on, “I wanted your dream to become a reality… and so did everyone else.” She looked back and realized all the friendly faces that were staring out from the windows inside, waiting for her. “And I selfishly will admit that I didn’t just want to be a part of your forever or just a part of your future. I wanted to be a part of your dreams, too.”

  I raised my hand and pointed to the sign I was pretty sure she’d missed as it hung above the steps.

  “Welcome home, Evie,” I rasped. “Welcome to The Yoga Garden.”

  Eve

  I was afraid to look.

  Afraid that my heart might burst or at the very least, the bubble that I felt like I was living in at the moment.

  My house… My dream.

  The last two weeks had flown by in a flurry. Between doctor visits, signing papers for the house, and reading everything I could get my hands on about motherhood, the moments with Miles felt too few and too far between.

  Of course, he’d been at Blooms every day. Some days with pickles. Some days with Kona. Some days with movies and snacks. But every day he’d disappear from morning until night, and I wondered if he’d realized he’d spoken too soon at the hospital. I wondered if, now that I was okay, he was rethinking what our future would mean.

  And that was what I wanted.

  Not for him to rethink—but just to think… to make sure… because I wouldn’t survive a cha
nge of heart.

  And that was why I hadn’t pushed the conversation. That was why I hadn’t pushed to hear his apology. Because I knew it all came with a discussion of what our future would hold, and the very last thing I wanted was for my forever to be built on obligation.

  And now… today… I realized that he hadn’t only been thinking about our future—my future—he’d been building it.

  I crossed my arms in front of me to stop my body from shaking as I took in every inch of the house in front of me. It was entirely the same, yet wholly changed.

  What had been broken and busted up on the outside, with jagged and rough edges to hide the character that tried to shine through… What had been armored with overgrown and angry weeds to ward off anyone who tried to come near—anyone who tried to get inside… It now all shone with what was always there—with what was always possible. It now shone with love.

  Just like Miles did.

  I turned to look at the man who I couldn’t help being besotted me in spite of his brokenness, the man who’d become a part of my dreams and taken over my heart.

  “Welcome home, Evie,” he said with a raw voice as he pointed up to the stairs. “Welcome to The Yoga Garden.”

  I looked again, my eyes drifting up from the stairs to the entrance.

  If it hadn’t been for the growing life inside me, I would’ve told my heart to stop. Its frantic beating unnecessary because the love I felt was more than enough to keep me alive.

  My hand covered my mouth but it wasn’t enough to stop the strangled cry that escaped when I saw the wooden sign hanging down from the roof of the porch.

  The Yoga Garden.

  I didn’t have to ask to know he’d had his brother make it for me.

  The flowers… the hand-carved letters… it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

  Unconsciously, my head shook. No, the man standing next to me was.

  I wanted to keep looking at it—at everything—but I couldn’t. My eyes overflowed with tears and my shoulders shook with sobs. Overwhelmed was a puddle compared to the ocean I felt in this moment.

  Blindly, I reached for him. Sinking my hands into the soft fabric of his shirt, I pulled myself against his chest and buried myself in his rich scent.