“Oh sweetheart,” the sharply dressed woman with perfectly styled hair said in a singsong voice as she looked Evie over appraisingly, “is your shoe wet?”
“Toilet water,” Evie croaked out with a defeated shrug as though it was just her luck. Another day in the life of Evie Pike.
“Oh,” the woman said, furrowing her brows up and looking mildly aghast. “Why don’t you just toss that right there in the trash, and you can have these.” She fished a pair of sandals from her large designer purse. “I keep them with me just in case my heel breaks. Things like that always seem to happen at the most inconvenient time. So I like to be prepared.”
Evie did as she was instructed and deposited the shoe into the trash. Washing her hands, she avoided glancing at herself in the mirror. She knew she was all running mascara and frazzled hair right now.
“I can’t take those,” she said with a shake of her head as she toweled off her hands. “Those look like a very nice pair, and I couldn’t afford to pay you back for them.”
“What’s your name dear?” the woman asked, tilting her head to the side and smiling with a hint of pity. Evie was reminded of her own mother sitting across from her after a particularly hard day at junior high with a plate of cookies and as many solutions as she could muster.
“Evie,” she sighed, deciding the one heel she had left on didn’t make much sense. She pulled it off and tossed it in the trash as well.
“My name is Sophie,” the woman said as she put a hand on Evie’s shoulder and led her out of the bathroom. Finding a bench in the large lobby of the office building, Sophie gestured for her to sit.
“I should go,” Evie said. “I don’t belong here. I don’t belong anywhere because all I do is screw things up. Over and over again.”
“First of all, this is my son’s building so you’re welcome to stay on this bench as long as you like. Second of all, I’m sure whatever you think you’ve screwed up can be remedied. Now put on these sandals.” She pushed the strappy gold shoes back at her and Evie accepted. Mostly because she couldn’t think of anything besides the fact that the one woman Emmitt had asked to avoid was now sitting by her on a bench handing her a tissue.
“Trust me,” she argued, realizing now she didn’t have an exit strategy so she might as well just steer into the pain. This woman seemed nice and Evie could use a little empathy, believing Emmitt was an empty well in that department. “I have a laundry list of things I’ve gotten wrong lately. I’m just trying to find my path. I really thought I was well on my way to fixing all the broken parts in my life. I had a plan, and now I have absolutely nothing at all figured out. I can’t go home. Not until I can get a handle on things. But at the same time I miss home so much. But I can’t go back.”
“Why not?” Sophie asked, leaning in and touching Evie’s shoulder gently. She looked pained by Evie’s aching heart, a true testament to a woman who knew what it meant to listen. To really listen. “Maybe that’s what you need? Going home can be very healing.”
“My mother,” Evie said with the shake of her head. “I just can’t face it right now. I can’t go back. But what do I have if I stay here? I’m not even qualified to get a coffee order correct. There has to be something wrong with me,” she rambled through more tears. “He doesn’t even see me when he looks at me. I’m right there in front of him, and he just walks away. It’s like he can tell I’m worthless. He can see it.”
“Slow down,” Sophie insisted gently with a tiny knowing laugh. “First off, any man who can’t see your worth shouldn’t take up even a minute of your time. Second, and please know this is from personal experience, you can always go back home. My daughter and I have had our troubles, but we’re making it work. Some days it really works. But you won’t get anywhere if you don’t face it.”
“I just wish I knew where I was supposed to be. I wish I was doing exactly what I was meant to do.” Evie banged her fist into her other palm, angry with her failures. “Something that can actually help the people in my life.”
“Life’s not a ladder you climb, Evie,” Sophie said eloquently. “You don’t arrive at the top, at the last rung, and realize you’ve made it. Life’s a big bright painting full of textures and colors. Every inch should be explored and touched and examined. Some days you’re a work of art and other days you’re just a work in progress. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to get somewhere.” Sophie’s eyes were flooding with compassion as she maternally brushed back a lock of Evie’s hair. “You’ve already arrived, Evie. You’re sitting right in the middle of the beautiful painting you’ve made.”
“I should go clean up,” Evie said, rising finally as she began to feel a little better. “I’m so sorry to just fall apart like this. A complete stranger just crying over all her troubles. It’s mortifying.” She turned her back slightly and patted her eyes with the tissue.
“There you are? Why are you crying? Are you all right?” Emmitt’s hands came to her shoulders more gently than she imagined him capable. “Did something happen?”
“I’m all right,” she coughed out, not wanting Emmitt to say something compromising about why they were here in front of Sophie in case he hadn’t spotted her yet. “I was having a hard time, and I ran into Sophie here. She’s been so nice to me.”
“Oh,” Emmitt said, biting at his lip and nodding his head. Sophie sprang to her feet and extended her hand.
“Sophia Barrington,” she sang. “I really didn’t help that much. Evie’s quite a lovely young lady. And you are?”
“Emmitt Kalling,” he said through a forced smile. “I believe you know my brother, Mathew.”
“Oh yes, Mathew Kalling. What a wonderful charity he and his girlfriend are starting up. I hope things are going well for them. I’m excited to get involved.”
“Things are moving along,” Emmitt said, and Evie could practically feel seething anger shooting out of him. He kept a pretty straight poker face but his little tells were making his true feelings apparent to her. “We should get going, Evie. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Barrington.”
“Oh please call me Sophie. And Evie, don’t forget what I said.” She leaned in and hushed her voice. “You can always go home.”
“Thank you, Sophie,” Evie said through her last sniffle. “I really appreciate the shoes.”
“I have these tickets to the symphony tonight, and my husband and I aren’t able to go. I just hate the idea of thinking of empty seats. Would you be willing to go in our place, Evie?”
“Oh, I’m not sure.” Evie said, waving the idea off. “I don’t know my way around Boston. It’s my first time in the city.”
“I happen to have the phone numbers of plenty of eligible bachelors in here who would be delighted to show you the city and accompany you tonight. That’s if you didn’t come up with a date on your own.”
“Well,” Evie said, unable to keep her eyes from Emmitt. She darted them away quickly and dropped her head down. He’d be more likely to take her to the closest airport than a night at the symphony. Actually she’d be lucky if he even let her in the cab after this.
“I’m free tonight,” Emmitt said in a cool deep voice. “I love the symphony in Boston. I haven’t been in years.”
“Didn’t that work out nicely,” Sophie said, handing the ticket over to Evie.
“I’ll go get us a cab,” Emmitt said as he nodded goodbye. “Thank you so much for the tickets.”
“So that’s the guy?” Sophie asked with a knowing smile and a wink.
“Yes,” Evie admitted bashfully.
“He sees you,” Sophie replied through a laugh. “While you were patting those tears away you didn’t see him crossing the lobby looking like his heart was being torn out. You didn’t see that look in his eyes when he thought something was wrong. Men always seem to show their truest emotions when they think no one can see them. But I was watching.”
“Really?” Evie asked, trying to tamp down the flutter of hope that pumped in her heart.
&n
bsp; “Enjoy the symphony.” Sophie grinned as she spun and strolled away with a hint of victory in her step.
Maybe Sophie was right. Maybe Emmitt did care for her and the symphony would be the perfect place to find out. Just like one of those romantic movies she never had a chance to star in. The only problem was, she still had to break it to him that the zip drive fell in the toilet and was ruined. But if Sophie was right, if he cared about her, he’d be able to look past it.
Chapter 11
“What the fuck was that?” Emmitt barked before Evie could even close the door to the cab. “I specifically told you to avoid her and instead you’re there sharing a goddamn moment with her. Where are your shoes?” he asked, staring down at the sandals.
“One went in the toilet,” she explained quietly as though her calmness could compensate for his anxiety. “So I threw them out and Sophie had these sandals in her bag in case she breaks a heel. It happens more often than you think.”
“People’s shoes fall in the toilet more often than I think?” Emmitt asked, staring at her like she was a lunatic.
“No,” Evie began with a smile, but Emmitt’s face didn’t soften. “Heels break. That’s why Sophie had the sandals. You’d think you could just walk around without the heel but it’s not the same as having sudden flats. High heels are shaped differently. Take the heel off and it’s just a nightmare. You know what I mean?”
Emmitt opened his mouth to speak but froze, staring at her as though she were speaking a foreign language he couldn’t understand. “What?” he stuttered. “Why was your shoe in the toilet?”
“I used it to get the zip drive out. I know I totally messed this up. I know we’ll have to do that all over again, but I can. Just give me another chance.”
“No,” he said flatly, taking the zip drive wrapped in toilet paper from her.
“But now I know where everything is. I can totally do it again, no problem.” Evie shrugged as though she were an old pro now.
“Now that you’re on a first-name basis with Sophia Barrington, you are no good to me. I’m not sending you back in there or anywhere else when I need something. If you had a cover, consider it blown. And, I’ve seen you deliver coffee. I like to be prepared and know who I’m dealing with. The zip drive is waterproof. I wasn’t taking any chances.” She hoped for the hint of a smile, tempering the insult but there was none.
“Then it worked out,” she said, trying to lighten the mood. She was holding tight to the idea that Sophie saw something in his face that spoke louder than his angry words right now. “I did it. Now you have what you need. What does it matter how it happened?”
“I have the start of what I need. There is more to what I do than just this,” he said, gesturing at the zip drive. “But there’s no point in you sticking around for that anymore. Whether it’s Texas or back home or whatever, I’ll make arrangements for your travel this afternoon.” He was livid. Emmitt had taken a gamble on her, and she’d blown it. Maybe the zip drive was intact but she had to admit stumbling out of a bathroom missing your shoes and leaning on the one woman you were supposed to avoid couldn’t really be considered anything short of an epic disaster.
“What about the symphony?” Evie asked, hoping maybe Emmitt could separate his anger from their plans. “Sophie gave us these tickets, and we said we would go.”
“I’m not going to the symphony,” Emmitt called back brashly. “I don’t know what the hell you were doing in there but I was sitting outside on a bench wondering if you were all right. I don’t need that shit. You are just something I don’t need.”
“You were worried?” Evie asked, giving him the chance to bridge the space between them. He could pocket his temper and just be real with her for a moment. “You were worried that something happened to me, and you don’t like that feeling do you? You can act like you don’t care if I stay or go, but I can tell you do.” She was near yelling now, and she didn’t care if the cab driver’s eyes kept darting to the rearview mirror. She didn’t care if she sounded crazy. “I’ve known men like you before. But you are the first to push me up against the wall and touch me like you own my body, like you’re about to give me everything. You’re also the first to leave me there, to walk away like I was nothing.”
“Stop,” he said, his cheeks red with what she pegged as anger. But his voice wasn’t demanding now, it was pleading.
“I was there, Emmitt, standing there bare and ready, and you just walked away from me. Why? You were worried about me today. Why?”
“Stop,” he demanded again, but he was talking to the driver now. “For Christ sake, pull the car over.” The cab stopped abruptly and Emmitt swung the door open. “Go home or go wherever. But just go.”
“I’m going to the symphony,” she asserted. “I’m done climbing the ladder. I’m going to experience the painting instead.”
“What?” he asked, completely perplexed as he kept the cab door open. “What are you talking about? Never mind. I don’t give a shit.” Slamming the cab door, he backed away and tossed his arms up furiously.
“Where to, miss?” the cab driver asked timidly.
“Back to the hotel,” she said with a sigh, feeling like maybe her bold reaction was misplaced.
Before the cab driver could put it in drive again Emmitt swung the front door open. “Here,” he said, shoving some money in. “Take her wherever she wants to go.” The door slammed again as he stormed away.
There was a chance Emmitt truly was just fed up with her, and she was not his type. She’d made a stand, and judging by the manic way he was taking off, she’d played a losing hand.
Chapter 12
“This girl has problems,” Emmitt exclaimed, banging a hand down on the railing of his hotel room balcony. “Did you know she was fucking crazy when you sent her up here with me? Was it a game? If you want me to do what I’m supposed to, get her back to Texas because she’s not helping.”
“What happened?” Mathew asked through thinly veiled amusement.
“I sent her in to do one simple job, to go unnoticed, and who does she run into? Sophie Barrington. I specifically told her to avoid her.” He stared over the sinking sun and knew the afternoon was slipping into the evening. The symphony was approaching, and Evie would be sitting around staring at the two tickets.
She’d been right; he’d grabbed her, kissed her, and then walked away. What she didn’t know was the encounter was blazed into him. Like touching a hot pan, he’d had to let her go quickly, but the mark she’d left on his skin was still tingling.
“I’m the one who told you to send her back here. I agreed with you.” Mathew huffed loudly, clearly exasperated by his brother’s antics.
“You know damn well telling me to send her back would make me do the opposite. But was that the plan? Were you trying to use reverse psychology to keep her up here?”
“No comment.” Mathew laughed. “So you’re saying it was disastrous with Sophie?” he asked in a leading way that made Emmitt wish they were closer so he could punch him.
“No,” he replied angrily. “It went fine. She gave us tickets to the symphony for tonight. I’d say Evie made a good impression and—”
“And how about you?”
“I was fine too,” Emmitt explained with annoyance. “But that’s not the point. There are parts of what I’m doing here you don’t understand. I needed to be under the radar. She’s blowing that for me.”
“What time is the symphony?” Mathew asked offhandedly. “It must be starting soon?”
“How the fuck should I know? I’m not going.”
“Why not? Did you tell Sophia you’d be there?”
“Yes,” Emmitt grunted, “but I was just trying to be polite.”
“I’ll have to give Evie a raise.” Mathew snickered. “She got you to act polite.”
“Fuck you,” he roared. “This game is getting old.”
“If you took the tickets from Sophie, and you told her you’d be there, then you should go. You never know wh
o you’d be sitting next to, and if Sophie told them you’d be there you should be. It could get back to her that you blew off the tickets, and I’m sure she wouldn’t appreciate it.”
“I’m sick of this,” Emmitt said flatly. “Evie needs to leave. You need to make the call and tell her to come back. Whatever reason you give, I don’t care. Just get her out of Boston. She won’t listen to me, but she’s on your payroll. I can’t think when she’s around. I can’t focus.”
“Fine,” Mathew agreed. “Tomorrow. I’ll call her and tell her I need her back here. I won’t give her a choice. But tonight you go to the symphony.”
“You’re going to owe me,” Emmitt growled.
“I guess that would be true if I hadn’t bailed you out of a million things before this. Pull all of this shit off and we’ll call it even.” Those numbers were pretty accurate though he hated to admit it.
Emmitt hung up the phone and checked his watch. The symphony would start in an hour. It would be tight since he still had to get himself a tux and have a car service lined up, but it could be done. He called down to Evie’s room but there was no answer. The poor thing was probably crying in her pillow, eating the other half of the room service menu. A few dozen calls to tux rental places and he finally had everything lined up.
His tux, though a bit snug, was pressed and his shoes were shining as he made the walk toward her hotel room. A few knocks on the door and finally he heard her answer.
“Oh you’re early; hang on just a minute.” Her tiny voice was more bubbly than usual.
“Early?” Emmitt asked, wondering if Mathew had called ahead to tell Evie the symphony was back on.
“Emmitt?” she asked, swinging the door open and sticking out her foot to hold it as she slid one shining earring into place. “What are you doing here?” She was wearing a champagne colored dress that looked as natural as skin, hugging her figure snuggly. The elegant bones of her shoulder and collar held up the thin silky straps.
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