Evie stared at Shepherd, stunned by his outburst. Her cheeks flushed hot with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation. Who did he think he was, demanding answers about her personal life after ignoring her for days?
"Excuse me?" she managed, her voice tight. "I don't see how that's any of your business."
Shepherd's jaw clenched, his dark eyes flashing. "It is when you're out with someone else just days after we—" He cut himself off abruptly, glancing at Asher.
Evie's heart pounded. She could feel Asher's questioning gaze on her, but she couldn't tear her eyes away from Shepherd's intense stare. The restaurant's cheerful atmospherefelt oppressive now, closing in around her, and she felt like everyone was looking at her. Judging her.
"After you what?" Asher asked, his usually jovial tone edged with confusion. "Evie, what's going on?"
Evie's stomach churned. This was not how she'd imagined the evening going. She opened her mouth, scrambling for an explanation, but Shepherd spoke first.
“After we shared an evening of intimacy.”
OMG! He did not!
Oh yes, he did. Shepherd made it sound like she’d slept with him, the ass!
“It was a movie and a kiss, after which you avoided me… until right now, it seems,” Evie retorted, seething inside at his highhandedness.
Evie's cheeks burned as she glared at Shepherd. How dare he barge in and make such insinuations? Her heart rate kicked up, a mixture of anger and mortification coursing through her veins.
"A kiss?" Asher's voice was quiet, laced with hurt. "Evie, I thought..."
She turned to him, desperate to explain, but the words caught in her throat. His blue eyes, usually so warm and kind, now held a glimmer of betrayal. Evie's stomach twisted with guilt.
"It's not what you think," she managed, her voice small. "Shepherd and I, we're not... It was just..."
But how could she explain the complexity of that night? The comfort she'd found in Shepherd's presence, the unexpected spark when their lips met? And now here he was, ruining everything with his caveman act.
Shepherd loomed over their table, his jaw clenched tight. The paper bag in his hand crinkled as he gripped it harder. "You didn't waste any time moving on, did you?" he growled.
Evie's normally placid temper flared. She stood, hands planted on the table, her blood boiling as she glared at Shepherd. How dare he barge in and make such accusations? Her hands trembled slightly as she willed herself to stay calm.
"You have no right to question who I spend time with," she hissed, struggling to keep her voice low. "Especially after you ghosted me."
Shepherd's dark eyes flashed dangerously. "I wasn't ghosting you," he growled. "I've been busy."
"Too busy to even acknowledge me when I came into your shop, even though I saw you run for cover?" Evie shot back. Her cheeks burned as she remembered the humiliation of being brushed off. “Too busy to pop in for the cinnamon buns I saved especially for you? I mean, I’m right next door - so it’s not exactly out of your way.”
Asher cleared his throat awkwardly. "Look, I think there's been some kind of misunderstanding here. I’m sorry if I’ve stepped on your toes, Shepherd.”
Her dinner companion’s expression was deliberately blank when he turned to her, but his words were scathing. “Evie, I don’t appreciate being led on. You should have told me you’re involved with Shepherd. I expected more of you.”
She flinched at his harsh tone. Part of her wanted to apologize and shrink away, but she’d done nothing wrong, damn it. In the end, righteous indignation overrode her instinct to back down.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that," Evie said, her voice low and biting.
Shepherd smirked, so she included him in her ire, and to hell with all the townsfolk who had stopped even pretending to eat and were focused on the show.
“That goes for you, too. How dare you! Both of you. I’m not in a relationship with anyone. I don’t owe either of you anything.And quite frankly, after this little pissing contest, I’ll consider myself fortunate that you’ve shown your true colors. I lived with one asshole, and I certainly don’t need any more.”
She pulled out several notes and flung them on the table, determined to pay for her own dinner. “Good evening, gentlemen.”
With that, she walked out without looking back and with her head held high, even though she knew she’d be embarrassed by tomorrow’s gossip.
Chapter
Nine
