“You’ve been thinking about the sex.”
“Oh my God, yes,” Evie said with a sigh. “All the time.”
“You can come check out my hotel room later this afternoon, if you like. Talk a bit more about this business plan.”
“Yeah. Please give me your whole business plan. All of it.”
Zach laughed as he shook his head a bit, then pulled out his phone. “Let me text Sam and tell him to come back. I know he’s starving, and then you can tell me what’s good on this menu.”
“Try the grilled cheese.”
“For seventeen dollars?”
Evie leaned over and kissed him on the lips. “It’s worth every penny.”
Epilogue
Evie could not stop smiling. She’d just sat down with Celia Lamontagne for their third in-person meeting. Nervous didn’t begin to describe the way she felt, but slowly things were starting to come together. She’d started working with Lavane Connor, a consultant who would help Evie with all the ins and outs of opening a restaurant. Zach was still available to give his input, but Lavane knew the New York culinary scene better than anyone.
Celia was in the middle of post-production on her latest film. In one month, cameras would start rolling on their documentary. Celia had explained her vision and they’d decided that Evie would go public with her memory loss. She wanted to tell the audience and her fans how and why she’d ended up on this path and hopefully inspire other young women not to give up when the road feels impossibly hard.
Evie had received so much support since leavingThe Dish. Their ratings had absolutely tanked when viewers realized she wasn’t coming back. Since then she’d been offered two hefty endorsement deals. One with FitJade, a women’s athletic apparel company, and one for MedHealthChat, an online therapy tool. So many things seemed to be falling into place. Including her relationships with all the Pleasants.
As soon as they heard the good news—about her personal and professional life—Senior and Mrs. Pleasant practically added Evie to their speed dial. It was strange at first, but she liked Senior’s kind words of encouragement and the texts Mrs. Pleasant sent just to check in. And Mrs. Pleasant keeping her up-to-date on all of the latest fashion trends out of Paris. They would never replace her mom and dad, or Nana, but Evie valued their support.
Evie pulled her rental SUV to a stop right in front of the main lodge. She pulled out her phone and called Blaire. She had so much to do, but she figured if she was heading to Los Angeles for business, it would be a shame not to stop off in Charming for the weekend. She owed Blaire and Raquelle big-time, so it only made sense to bring them along.
“Where you at?” she said as soon as Blaire picked up.
“Umm, I just left the spa and what the hell, Evie? I can’t believe you’ve kept me from this place for so long.”
“I’m sorry. I know. I’m the worst.” She climbed out of the driver’s seat and reached for her weekend bag. A new staff member named Peter jogged around the front of her car and took her keys.
“Enjoy your stay, Mrs. Buchanan,” he whispered.
“Thanks.”
“Raquelle’s still in the sauna. We’re gonna head back to our cabin and take a nap, and then Jesse said there was a barbecue and then a barn dance tonight? You grew up in a freaking movie.”
“Well, it’s a little different when your grandma is the one leading the trail rides, but this place has always been pretty incredible. I’m just gonna grab my key and find Zach, and then I’ll come meet up with you.”
“Um, so he took us out on the trails this morning, and I need David to learn how to ride a horse.”
“Oh yeah?” Evie laughed.
“Yeah. I get it now. I totally get it.”
Evie turned at the sound of a loud wolf whistle, and there was Zach coming up the path from the barns, looking as fine as ever. He was wearing a black-and-white flannel, those jeans that made his thighs look downright sinful, and that cowboy hat that always did something to her insides. She could see that sexy smile of his too, beaming off in the distance. “Speaking of. Just found my man. I’ll be over a little later.”
“Have fun.”
“Well, hey there, little lady,” he said in that fake Southern accent that made her laugh and drove her crazy all at the same time. “I haven’t seen you around these parts before.”
“Howdy, stranger,” she replied, stepping into his arms. She leaned up on her tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
“How was your meeting?” he asked.
“Great. Celia has a vision and I am with it. I have some listings I wanted you to take a look at this weekend, if you don’t mind.”
