SEVENTEEN
he wants to eat you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. and then go back for seconds
Alice
This is my second time at Maeve’s in the month since I got back to Ojai, and I’m not sure the shock of feeling at ease here has worn off yet. Elaina and Charlie are easy to talk to and more down-to-earth than I had expected at our first girls’ night. After last week, they decided we’d do this as often as possible. It so happened we were all free again tonight—because, well, I’m always free—and now here we are.
So far, we’ve eaten our body weight in cheese, crackers, and various meats, had three different kinds of ice cream, and Charlie and I are currently witnessing Maeve and Elaina having a dance party in the kitchen.
“Some things never change,” Charlie says as the two women walk back to where we’re gathered on pillows around the coffee table.
Panting, Elaina, who is Owen’s sister and also married to a movie star, flops down next to me. “I don’t have the stamina for these like I used to, so I’mofficially not leaving this spot for the rest of the night.”
“Is that it, then? We enter our thirties and can’t even handle a little dancing?” Maeve, who is also panting, throws herself dramatically onto Charlie’s lap.
“I don’t know about you, sister, but my stamina is fine, thank you. Ask Raf.” The innuendo isn’t missed by anyone, and Elaina perks up at the comment.
“Oh, have we reached the portion of the evening where we talk about all the crazy sex we’re having? Except you, Maeve. You keep your fucking mouth shut about my brother.” She points a finger at her best friend, who rolls her eyes as we all laugh.
“Well, I’m not having any sex, so I guess I’m out of this conversation.” I pop a grape into my mouth, and Charlie openly gapes at me.
“How on Earth are you living with a Machado and not having sex? Have you seen those men? They are literally all attractive as hell. Even Ivan, but you never heard that from me. Rafael would have a conniption if he knew I thought his dad was fit.” Charlie’s British accent is stronger than Maeve’s, and it’s incredibly endearing, but her comment makes my cheeks burn.
“We’re just roommates. And coworkers. And once he takes over for Rosemary, he’ll be my boss.” I chance a look at Maeve, and find her looking at me with a sly smile and brows raised.
“As our resident romance author knows,” Elaina starts, “those are some great tropes. I mean, my husband was oncejustmy roommate.”
“I bet Arthur totally knows what he’s doing, too. He’d probably handle you like he handles the horses, you know? All commanding and strong, but still sweet.” Maeve sits up a little taller. “You’ll have to tell us if it ever happens, Ali.”Her words have my eyes practically jumping out of their sockets, but the way she so casually gives me a nickname makes me want to share parts of my life with them.
But she’s my actual boss. My boss’ boss.
And I’m eventually going to leave this place and never come back.
“You’ll have to excuse Maeve. She’s never taken an HR course in her life.” Elaina giggles, shaking her head.
“Listen, if you and Arthur can keep it profesh at work, it’s totally fine. You’re looking at me like I’ve lost my marbles, but I’d hate for you two not to give it a try because you sometimes see each other at work. The chemistry between you is hot. We’ve all seen it at the ranch. And I have never seen Arthur this way about a woman.” My eyes must only be getting wider, because she keeps going, “But if you don’t like him, then you do you. If the chemistry is strictly platonic, that’s all right. No pressure.”
She pauses, and I finally swallow and take a full breath. “But, Alice?” I meet her eyes. “That man looks at you like he wants to doverynaughty things to you. Like he wants to eat you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And then go back for seconds!” Her brows dance on her forehead, and a shocked laugh escapes me.
“Ohhhhh, girl. You’re in trouble. What a Machado wants, a Machado gets.” Elaina’s green eyes sparkle as she speaks. “I’ve known Raffy and his siblings for a long time. I mean, Raf played the long game to land Charlie, for fuck’s sake. If Art’s already looking at you like that, you better gird your loins. He’s coming for you!” My loins choose that moment to react to her comment, because my gracious, I’ve thought about Arthur coming for me. In more ways than one.
“I—He doesn’t—It’s not—” I can’t form a thought, let alone a sentence.
“Take your time processing it. There’s no rush, anyway, right? You’re getting to know one another, and this part should be fun, whether it’s platonic or romantic. So let it be fun.” Maeve reaches over and takes my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze before letting go.
“Anyway, what are you all reading these days? I’ve found myself in a slump of sorts, and I need something new.” Charlie, bless her heart, changes the topic and I couldn’t be more thankful, though it doesn’t help to take my mind off Arthur.
“I’m reading a sci-fi, horror, thriller romance. I know that’s a lot of words, but this book is difficult to describe,” I say as I pick up my sparkling water. When Charlie’s brows raise in curiosity, I continue. “It’s called Grave Matter. I’ve been devouring it, though I’m a big baby and can’t read it at night because it’s so atmospheric and creepy, so if you’re into that…”
“And it has romance?” Elaina asks curiously.
“Sure does.” My cheeks heat as I think about the scenes in the book. I definitely didn’t expect Arthur to read romance books of any kind. “The sex scenes are… hot.”
“Fucking right! I am so in! Text us the book details later?” Elaina—who swears more than anyone I’ve ever met, yet is a literal angel of a human—always gets me to laugh. I nod my response, and when I look at Maeve, she shakes her head.
“No books for me, thanks. I leave the smut reading to these two. I read enough scripts as it is. Though it’s remarkably unsexy reading a sex scene when there are instructions between the dialogue.” She shrugs, and the rest of the night goes by in a blur of cheese, chocolate, and laughter.
This morningI’m in the clinic barn, setting a few things up for our first trial patient tomorrow. Arthur’s brother has a daughter with autism who has been having a harder time than usual with transitions, and he wants to try hippotherapy for her. I’m equal parts excited and nervous.
