As they made their way back to the hotel, Darius couldn’t stop thinking about Joe’s comments about pursuing Eve. Pursuing Eve. That wasn’t the way Darius had been thinking of a second chance with her. Upon reflection, it described it perfectly. He’d made the mistake all those years ago of assuming that their friendship could withstand his silence. He’d been wrong.
The more time he spent in her company, the surer he became that he didn’t want to let her go again. They only had a few days, and then she’d be taking another job. Darius knew it would take some time to get the charity up and running and she’d be needed again. His silence had killed their relationship before. He would not let that happen again, so he needed to make his interest clear to her.
“Your expression is pretty intense,” Joe said, coming to stand beside Darius.
“Eve does that to me. I’m planning to ask her out to dinner tonight.”
The bodyguard nodded, but his expression was neutral. Darius had no idea if the man was on his side or not.
* * *
“You,young lady, have done enough for today,” Eve said as they dragged themselves into the hotel. As much as her feet hurt, Sophia’s must be doubly so. It was a good thing they’d been able to sit down while they ate lunch.
“But there’s so much more I want to see,” Sophia said.
“Which is why you have to rest now so you have energy for tomorrow.”
“Sophia,” her mother said softly.
“You’re right.” The girl nodded with a fatalistic expression and followed her mother to the elevator. Eve’s heart twisted for her, knowing that if she’d been in Sophia’s shoes she’d have wanted to be out doing and seeing everything she could. Eve hoped the girl hadn’t overdone it.
“Since when did I become a footman, carrying around shopping bags for the ladies,” Noah grumbled.
“Didn’t you know?” Darius asked, his tone teasing. “It’s in your job description as ‘other duties as assigned.’”
Noah heaved a sigh worthy of a martyr, but the corners of his mouth quirked.
“Do you really mind?” Sophia whispered.
“Nay.” The young Irishman winked at Darius and said, “I just like to give the big guy a hard time.”
Darius shook his head and stepped into the elevator beside Eve. When the doors closed, he asked, “What are your plans tonight?”
“I was thinking of going to the gym. We must have stopped at every bakery and sweetshop along that portion of the Royal Mile.”
The elevator doors opened, and everyone exited. Sophia and her mother’s room was the closest, and they disappeared inside. Darius stepped ahead before they shut the door.
“You’re both welcome to have dinner in my suite again but don’t feel like you have to,” he said. “If you’d prefer to order room service for yourselves, feel free.”
“Thank you.” Carmen looked over her shoulder. “I think we will do that tonight. She needs to rest.”
Eve moved beside him and said, “Let me know if she’s overdone it and starts showing signs of a flare.”
Carmen nodded and closed the door.
“You’re already tired,” Darius said to Eve. “Could I talk you into going to the gym in the morning and having dinner with me tonight instead? I asked the concierge last night about places to eat nearby. After he recommended the hotel’s restaurant, of course, he said the Golston Arms is a nearby pub with good food.”
“All right,” Eve said, keeping her voice casual and hoping that the racing of her heart didn’t make the vein in her throat pulse too much. Obviously she wouldn’t just be going out with Darius, but still. “I’ll get cleaned up.”
She felt like wearing a dress, so after a quick shower, she went to her closet and considered her two options. One fit under the description of a “little black dress,” classy and elegant. The other was a bright, summery dress. She chose the latter, hoping that her cardigan would be sufficient to keep her warm.
When she stepped from her room, Darius was heading her way. They must have been thinking the same thing, because instead of the jeans and sweater he’d worn during the day, he’d changed to trousers and a button-down shirt. Dang but he looked hot. He paused and watched her.
“Nice choice,” he finally said. “The white fabric and the sunflowers make your skin glow.” The expression on his face shifted. “I’d love to paint you sometime.”
The almost tender tone of his voice made her entire body flush. Before she could respond, Joe appeared at Darius’s side.
“Noah’s playing REKD with his friends again. He said he’ll order in.” The man paused as though he realized he might have interrupted something. “I’ve already called to reserve a table for myself near yours.”
