I’m about to crawl off to bed early when Evie’s voice comes from outside. There’s no alarm in her tone, no need for me to run—but I do, padding across the house to join her on the back porch.
“What?” I ask, running a towel over my damp hair. “What is it?”
“Look.” She leans onto the porch railing and sighs, staring into the distance. The only thing separating us is a screen door. “Isn’t it so beautiful tonight?”
I let the towel flop to the ground and follow her outside, my brows furrowing. “What exactly am I looking at?”
“The sunset, of course. Look how pretty it is.”
After spending a day in nature, it’s shameful to admit I almost forgot about one of the beautiful wonders of the world.Every sunset is the same but unique. This one covers the backyard in an orange glow, like so many do, but Evie is right.
It’s breathtaking to see the sun dancing and dipping below the row of trees and to know she’s making room for the moon. The light ripples across the clear lake. Fluffy clouds float past. It’s like a painting. For someone who spends so much time admiring nature, it’s interesting how often I let it pass me by.
How could I forget about the simple beauty of a sunset?
“Yeah,” I breathe. “I guess it is.”
My head turns, and there’s another beauty, one awesome enough to punch me right in the gut. It’s her. She’s the only thing as beautiful as the sun and as far out of my reach.
The soft, orange light illuminates her face. Her golden hair is bathed in the sunshine, and her eyes brighten, almost shockingly blue. The strap of her blouse slips down over her soft, rounded shoulder.
My hands clench into fists.
“I love sunsets,” she says. “I actually have a controversial take, but…”
My fingers unfurl slowly, tension releasing from my body. “Hit me with it.”
“I like a sunset more than a sunrise,” she whispers like she’s telling me a secret. Finally, Evie glances at me from the corner of her sparkling eye. “It’s not worth it to wake up so early. It always ruins my mood. Being up early reminds me of work, not of the beauty of nature.”
“Thatiscontroversial.” I chuckle. “A scandalous take on Mother Nature. But don’t worry—your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your discretion, Mr. Roche.”
“Don’t call me that. Not right now.” Not when everything is so perfect.
I lean onto the porch railing beside her, forcing myself to focus on the scenery. Evie and I have been spending more time alone, but this is the first time we slip completely into silence.
It’s comfortable to be here with her, without having to say a thing, admiring the beautiful show nature is presenting to us. I was ready for bed earlier, but I’m wired now, like she really is the sun. Evie’s energy makes me want to perk right up.
I’ve spent my life basking in nature, but I never had time to find someone to enjoy it with—not in quiet moments like these.
Our shoulders are only inches apart. It’s nothing, not even a real touch, but the brush of her bare shoulder keeps me awake until Evie finally turns to me, smiles sweetly, and goes inside. Her sugary perfume trails behind her, leaving little reminders everywhere she goes. The sun disappears. It’s dark out, and I’m still stuck in a moment that meant nothing to her.
Chapter Thirteen
EVIE
Fresh bread and ripe fruit. That’s all I smell as my shoes click against the floor. It’s cool in here, enough for goose bumps to form across my flesh, even with a cardigan wrapped around my shoulders.
“I don’t know how you’re out of flour already.” Theo leads us through the tiny market.
“I’m not out offlour.” I tug on his arm, pulling him in the opposite direction. “You do know I need other ingredients to bake, right? Likeeggs. You eat so many eggs. How does one man eat that many eggs?”
“The doctor said my cholesterol is fine, thanks.”
“That’s not my concern! My concern is that you’re an egg hog.”
We’ve been in the little cabin for a few days, and I’ve learned a lot about Theo—like that he eats three eggs every morning for breakfast. It’s an excellent source of protein, but it also leaves me with nothing to bake with. I can’t complain. He’s paid foreverything since we arrived, and whenever I try to pay, he reminds me to use the company credit card.
