“Why?”
“Because…” I try to choose my words with care. I don’t want Eva to get the wrong impression about me. “At work, I’m not praised for my people skills.”
The phrase rolls off with a certain bitterness, but I hope Eva doesn’t notice it. She can’t guess that the sole reason she and I are standing here now, is exactly my lack of involvement with my employees.
Eva shakes her head. “I find that weird. You’ve managed to get through to my brother, and he is a hard nut to crack.”
“I prefer keeping business just business, you know? I’m not a robot with my subordinates, nor do I treat them as slaves, but I don’t focus on them outside of the job they’re supposed to do for me.”
“Well, maybe you should. Alfonso’s not the best boss—far from it—but he is human, and he’s considerate of our lives and wishes. This compensates for a lot of his shortcomings in my eyes.”
I pull up my shoulders and let them drop in a who-knows fashion. “I’m not sure I would be able to do that. Nor that it wouldn’t be counterproductive. Our company is a workplace, after all, not a place to chitchat.”
Eva pulls her lips left to right as if she isn’t convinced by my argument. “I’m no expert, Nathan, but I believe that if you’ve got the business part down, then strengthening your human touch could only be of advantage to you. You are quite…impressive when you let your nice side shine through.”
My mouth pulls into a happy grin at her praise. “That’s good to know.”
She’s just admitted that I am—or at least that I can be—impressive. That’s not a bad score to have, given where I started at the bar.
Eva coughs shortly, and her eyes drop back to my car. “So…mhm…anyway, paying for your damage…”
Oh, no. She’s still insisting with this. “I told you already, I don’t need your money, Eva. I’m a billionaire. Do you think it troubles me to get a new gloss on my car?”
She licks her lips. “No. I’m well aware that it would be within your financial reach. But I still would love to compensate you somehow.”
Despite my will to keep our conversation casual and light, my gaze dips to her mouth. A red web of desire circles through my body as her lips glimmer in the sun. Right now, I have tons of ideas about how she could repay me… No, Nathan focus. Think of the bet. Maybe this is the moment to press her to accept my previous invite? She wouldn’t refuse it now that she feels obligated to please me.
But just as I’m about speak up, something blocks me. Despite my usual instinct to achieve what I want in the fastest possible way, I swallow back my words. This isn’t how I want Eva to agree to spend time with me. To my surprise, the following phrase comes out of my mouth. “I don’t want you to feel like you owe me anything. Not for the flowers, and not because of the car. If anything, I owe you because you let me stick around, despite your lack of enthusiasm about my company in the beginning.“
Eva’s jaw goes slack. “Wow, I didn’t expect this.”
The warmth of her voice starts an odd buzz in my chest. “I’m glad I could surprise you.”
“Yes, me too.”
I wonder whether there is a hidden meaning to her words. I decide to try my chance. “Does this mean you might be ready to give me a chance to work for what I want?”
She furrows her brows. “What do you have in mind?”
“I’d love to invite you….” Restrain yourself, man. Take it slow. “Like I said in Cathy’s shop, for a coffee? Or tea? Whichever you prefer.”
Will she accept? If she doesn’t, I might need to admit my defeat. If she isn’t ready to take a chance on me even after I’ve admitted to being a jerk, spoke to her about my life, showed her my shortcomings, and acted nicely with her brother…than she truly has no grain of interest in me.
Eva’s lips move into a shy smile. “Okay, fine. We could do that, I guess.”
Yes!
Oddly, her acceptance doesn’t only trigger joy at getting closer to winning my bet. No, the type of emotion it sets off in me is more like genuine happiness. My stomach is buzzing with anticipation, as if I’m signing a multi-million-dollar deal. I say, “Fine. What about now?”
Eva shakes her head. “My grandmother will be home soon. Also tonight my cousin is visiting us from Phoenix.”
Grrrr…a refusal. Again.
But before I have time to get bitter, Eva adds, “Laia, my cousin, leaves tomorrow around lunchtime. How about we meet after that?”
“That’s perfect. I can come and pick you up at two. Would that be okay?”
“Yes, it would.” Eva smiles, then her glance wanders to my pants. “I’ll get a cloth to dust you off or you’ll ruin the driver seat.”
We both stare at the tacky yellow scribbles for a second, and a chuckle escapes our throats almost simultaneously. Yes, my dirty pants won’t destroy my Bentley any further. The begonias and Juan’s chalk spray did a good job of that already.
As I blink back at Eva, my expression sobers and my heart accelerates.
I might have succeeded in the first step of my plan. Eva has agreed to a date with me. But somehow I’m also inching forward down a forbidden path. That of liking Eva. I need to remember I can only win the bet if Eva likes me, but I don’t end up falling for her.
That might just turn out to be a bigger challenge than I thought.
Chapter 13
(Eva - Day 4)
“Laia, could you please quit it? That sound is driving me crazy.”
Laia is walking in circles around a fresh heap of soil, her sandals creating a shuffling noise as she drags her feet.
My cousin stops and her large, brown eyes—just a few shades lighter than my own—flick to my face. “Why are you so grumpy?”
“I’m not,” I snap. “I just want to be done with gardening.”
It’s shortly after lunch, and I’m trying to finish planting the last line of flowers before Nathan arrives. We couldn’t finish all of the plants after Juan’s little bravado, and I only have two hours left before he is supposed to show up.
I might’ve told Laia that I’m not tense, but I’m getting more nervous with each second. My stomach is set in knots, a clear sign that I might’ve made a mistake accepting the offer for coffee. It’s just that after his kind reaction to Juan’s masterpiece I….what?
Did I feel obligated? That’s what I’ve been telling myself. But I know it’s not the truth.
Nathan’s unexpected behavior with my brother, together with what he told me about his family, made me see him under a different light. A far more attractive, human light.
Unfortunately, it has also started me on a path of self-doubt. The question of whether I’m too prejudiced against wealthy men nags at the back of my mind. I can’t decide if Nathan is an odd one out, or if I’ve let my mother’s story lead me to assume the worst in people who don’t necessarily deserve it?
“Eva, what are you thinking about?” My cousin’s voice interrupts my mental dissection.
Laia’s forehead creases and she squints at me. This particular expression of suspicion is one that we tend to share, so I can imagine what’s coming. “You were pondering about Mr. Duke-of-the-Roses. Admit it,” she says.
I fight back the blush that’s bound to come. But as the heat spreads from my neck to my cheeks, I know my attempt to hide the obvious is in vain. I drop my glance down to the hole I’ve dug, pretending to measure if it’s deep enough. “Mr. Duke-of-the-Roses? You’ve spent too much time listening to Espie and Juan’s gossip. They must’ve put the wrong idea into your head about Nathan and me.”
While I was in the Desert Rose, my siblings filled in my cousin and Abuelita about my mystery helper. Juan didn’t spare any details—to his merit, he even confessed about Nathan’s Bentley. Luckily, Abuelita had gone to bed by the time I got home and then left early this morning, so I didn’t get her firing squad type questioning yet. Though based on what Laia told me, I can expect a long session with her next time we meet.
Laia chuckles at my wor
ds. “Ah, you can’t blame this on your chatty siblings.”
Something in her voice makes me jerk up. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” she says grinning at me, “that it wasn’t Espie and Juan. It was you who told me you like this billionaire.”
What is she talking about?
I wrack my brain to remember what I have said to my cousin last night. Laia had waited up for me and we chatted till almost midnight. Also a bit about Nathan, I believe. I’m not quite sure, because the exhaustion after work and the sweet red wine Laia poured into my glass blurred my memory a little.
I cross my arms, not caring that my gloves leave dark smudges on my pink T-shirt. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to. I told you what happened. That’s hardly a confession about anything.”
Laia kneels to my eye-level. “Ah, really? You said—and I’m quoting…” She starts to count on her fingers. “One, he’s got the most amazing grey eyes, deep and alluring like the Duke’s. Two, he isn’t half as haughty or cocky as you thought, in fact he was kind with Juan even after he painted his car. Three, he surprised you with his gardening skills and working alongside him felt natural. Oh, you also mumbled something about his daddy issues and his mother preferring his brother, but I couldn’t get those points fully as you were constantly yawning.” She scratches her head as she tries to unearth something else from her mind. “Ah, yes… my personal favorite—you claimed his physical closeness makes you feel like a piece of butter on a sizzling pan! Is this enough of a confession or shall I go on?”
As she recites my exact words, I cringe inwardly.
Did I really say all this? Even that cheesy line about the butter? Oh, gosh. I’ve never been much of a drinker, but I’m not touching a drop of alcohol ever again. It must have totally messed with my brain. Why would I have said all this nonsense otherwise? I must have been so tired after my shift, I couldn’t control my mouth and brain properly.
I raise my hands in protest, dirt falling from my fingers to the ground. “Please stop. Fine, maybe I said all that. But it doesn’t mean anything. I wasn’t in…well, in me.”
Laia shakes her head, and her long black hair drifts around her shoulders like a cascade. “Ah, you were very much in you. That little alcohol only eased your inhibitions and helped you voice what you would otherwise keep suppressed.”
“It’s not true,” I snap back, but my voice doesn’t sound convincing. Not after hearing the vivid replay of my own blabbering about Nathan.
“Isn’t it?”
When we were growing up, people used to think that Laia and I were sisters. By some interesting turn of genetics, her looks resemble mine more than those of my siblings. Even now, the mocking frown she wears makes me think of myself.
“Fine,” I decide to admit. “Maybe I like him. A little. Certainly not as much as you would make it seem. But it doesn’t matter. I’ve probably made a mistake already accepting his invite.”
“Why?”
“Because I let the fact that Nathan is a more honest and nicer rich man than the average one blind me. He surely doesn’t have a lasting kind of interest in me.”
My tone hides a disappointed edge, and I hope I’m the only one who’s able to hear it.
My rationality tells me the reason Nathan insists on seeing me must be a mix of male pride and sexual interest. It has to be that. There’s no way a man of his looks, financial resources, and social background could have a genuine interest in me.
And he doesn’t even know Ale is in jail, yet.
Of course, that is entirely on me. Nathan offered me a good chance to come clean about having a convicted brother when he asked why I moved home. I still don’t know why I didn’t. I’m not ashamed of Ale. It’s not his fault he ended up in that mess. If it’s on anyone’s conscience, then it has to be on mine.
But discussing Ale with Nathan would have brought up questions. And those would have led to speaking about my drug dealer ex. I’m sure that a man in Nathan’s position would run before associating himself with someone who has a past like mine.
Wait… I freeze.
Could that be the reason why I didn’t say a word? Could a part of me secretly hope that Nathan could be for real?
As if Laia senses that my thoughts are making me vulnerable to her argument, she insists, “You can’t be sure of that. Not until you give him a chance to show what he’s made of. He might be like the Duke and—”
I snort. “Ah, Laia, please! When all’s said and done, Nathan won’t come around looking for me with a glass shoe. Or however that darned Cinderella story goes.”
My cousin, contrary to me, is a born romantic. When we were kids, she was all about princes in shiny armor. Normally I find her naive ideals endearing, but not today. I don’t want to begin to see Nathan as anything special. I mustn’t.
Laia’s face softens. “I get it, Eva. You’re afraid that if you let yourself go, you’ll end up with a broken heart.”
She’s right. I do dread giving my heart to anyone after it has been mistreated. But there’s nothing wrong with that.
As if Laia can read in my thought, she adds, “Except there is, Eva. Plenty of wrong. You cut yourself off from finding love. Nathan isn’t like Fernando.”
My ex’s name catches me off guard, and I almost drop from my squatting position to the ground. “How would you know that? He could very well be just like him. A wicked wolf in sheep’s clothing!” Or, in Nathan’s case, that of a dapper billionaire.
Laia smacks her lips. “As far as I know, he doesn’t sell drugs, nor does he court other women besides you.”
“Likely right about the first point, unless AMEA is a big cover-up for the mob. But I can’t express myself on the second. Maybe he does have a girlfriend. Or three. Who knows? It’s not like we move in the same social circles. I could be a short distraction from his girlfriend or just a quick fling before he ties the knot.”
Laia rolls her eyes. “He sure puts in a lot of effort for a fling to work out. We both know you’re terrorized by the thought of being lied to again. But what if Nathan isn’t a jerk like your ex or your dad? What if he is for real? You’re refusing him before even having a chance to see what his true intentions are.”
“I’m going out with him, if you’ve forgotten. I don’t exactly know why… I probably shouldn’t since—”
Laia reaches out and grabs my shoulders. She shakes me gently. “Eva, no seas tonta. Don’t be stupid.”
I wiggle out of her grip. “If you’re such an advocate of giving chances, why is it that you’re not seeing anyone?”
Laia’s chin hardens, and I regret my comment immediately.
Laia has been absorbed with finishing her degree and, more recently, with her job hunt. The few dates she managed to fit into her tight schedule these past years had all turned out to be with idiots. Likely because she lets her crazy roommate, Chelsea, match her up. Be it as it may, my cynical remark was uncalled for.
I search her expression. “I’m sorry, Laia. I know you just want what’s best for me. But Nathan…he awakens thoughts and sensations in me that I’m not used to having and…well, as you rightly said, it freaks me out.”
“I know, Eva, and I’m not saying you should throw away all precautions. But, I do think you should stay open to the possibility of being surprised by Nathan. After all, he did amaze you once already, right?”
“Yes,” I mumble. If I’m really being honest, more than once. Which is probably the reason I’m so nervous about our meeting.
Laia straightens and rolls her shoulders. She glances at her watch. “It’s getting late. I’ll need to get going if I don’t want to miss my train. My cab should be here any minute.”
I stand up and take off my dirty gloves. I let them drop to the floor and pat Laia’s shoulder. “I’ll soon start that down-payment on my car, I promise. So next time it won’t matter if Abuelita can’t leave me her sedan. Do you want some change for your ride?”
“No, Eva. I’m still perfectl
y able to pay for a cab. Also…” Her lips curl into a dreamy smile. “You have other, more important things to think about. Like what you’re going to wear to your date.”
“Not a date, a meeting—for a coffee.”
“Call it what you want, but this T-shirt”—she points at my chest—“is spotty, so at least put on a clean one. It can be baggy and formless if that’s the look you want to go for.”
She knows that most of my dresses, despite my lack of money to splurge on clothes, are nice. I shop second-hand so that I can afford the patterns and materials I like. She must be trying to provoke me to admit that I care about how Nathan will react to my dress.
“What an idea, thanks! I’ll just take one of those brown bags Abuelita uses for her veggies.” I stick out my tongue and Laia giggles.
A honk interrupts our banter.
“Shoot, I need to go,” Laia exclaims.
She embraces me, and I hug her back, trying to keep some distance between our bodies so that I don’t smear soil on her blouse.
Laia picks up her travel bag. “Come visit me in Phoenix soon, okay?”
“Will do.”
Laia dashes to the path that leads to the street.
After she disappears, I turn my attention back to the begonias. I still have six plants left, but I’ve at least managed to set a new row. The bright pink and red is pleasing for the eye. I gather the remaining flowers and set them in a neat group beside the fence. I’ll get to those tomorrow, but now it’s time to wash up. I might have joked about dressing like a sack of potatoes, but I’d actually prefer to look slightly more presentable than that when Nathan arrives.
As I sprint into the house for a quick shower, it’s hard to keep my mind on a tight leash. My thoughts keep swirling about Nathan and my chat with my cousin.
Should I listen to Laia’s advice?
It could be nice to see where today goes without constantly monitoring each fraction of emotion turning around in my ribcage. It would certainly make the time we’re about to spend together more pleasant. I don’t need to switch off my radar…just set it on pause. Then I’ll see where that takes us.
Law #1: Never Bet on Love: A Sweet Billionaire Love Story (Laws of Love) Page 11