Eve didn’t want to go there so she shifted the conversation back to the original topic. “You were talking about your father and why you think I should visit him.”
“You have to do this for me.”
No, she actually didn’t. But something in her father’s voice kept her from saying that out loud. For some bizarre reason, this was important to him. She looked at Darius, not sure what to do.
“What will it hurt?”
“Aye,” her father cried, “listen to him.”
“Can I talk to Mom?” she asked, and after some grumbling, he must have handed over the phone.
“Sweetheart, this is really important to your father.”
“So I can tell.”
“Will you please go?”
Eve glanced at Darius, who nodded encouragingly.
“All right. I’ll do it, but I’m not promising to stay very long.”
Her father let out a whoop, and her mother said, “Thank you, Evie.”
When they ended the call, she just stood there a little numb. She didn’t want to go there alone.
“Second-guessing your decision?” Darius asked.
“I don’t want to go alone.”
“You won’t have to because I’ll come with you.”
Eve turned to face him. “Will you really?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.” If they weren’t on the job, she’d have kissed him.
* * *
While Eve wentto check on Sophia, Darius pulled out his phone and started sending messages to his staff to notify them he’d be gone a little longer. He’d intended to spend a few days with his parents after the bucket-list trip, so he texted his mother as well. He hoped they hadn’t made any plans. She replied immediately.
Why are you staying longer in Scotland? Is it a girl?
He debated whether or not to say anything. It was all still so new with Eve, and he didn’t want to raise his mother’s expectations. At the same time, his gut told him this thing with Eve was different and important. His father had always said that when Darius met the right girl, he’d know it. The only other time he’d felt that was with Melanie, and that disaster was the only thing that made him hesitate. What if he was wrong again?
“I guess we should inform Bill that we’ll be here a little longer,” Darius said to Joe while deciding what to say to his mother.
“Already done.”
“Am I moving too fast with Eve?” Darius surprised himself by asking.
“Not if you want to make it clear you’re interested in her. If she doesn’t reciprocate your feelings, she’ll let you know, and you can move on.” Joe watched her where she was talking with the others. “I haven’t been told any specifics, but I see in her eyes that she’s been hurt. I saw a couple of men make moves on her in Ireland, and she’s good at shutting them down. Since she hasn’t done that to you, I’d take that as a good sign.” He turned to look at Darius and said, “I guess it depends on what kind of history you two have. Do you have any baggage between you to clean up?”
“I think we’ve already done that.” She’d taken his reasons for ignoring her better than he’d expected. The biggest hurdle he’d have to overcome, when and if it came to that, was his history with someone else.
“Are we going to fly home first so Eve will be available for Sophia on the flight, or are you planning to hire a nurse for that trip?” Joe asked.
“Good question. My flight team has EMT training. I’ll have to ask Eve if that’ll be enough.”
