“Yes. I just—I just wanted to know where I was coming from before I decided where I was going.”
Wise words, but there was a question hanging on the tip of Nicole’s tongue. How did Zach play into all this? Would he want her to stay in Charming forever? Would he be selfish enough to ask? Would Evie give herself the room to say no if that wasn’t what she wanted?
“If your dream is still to open your own restaurant, I’m still here to help make that happen any way I can. If you feel like you’re headed in another direction, you just let me know.” Nicole knew any other agent in her shoes would take this moment to try to steer Evie back toward the clear and easy moneymaking opportunities. If Evie wasn’t about that on-camera life anymore, then what was the point? The point to Nicole was clear.
Evie needed as many people in her corner as possible, especially now, and Nicole would stick with her for as long as she could. This memory loss may have screwed things up, but Evie was still Evie, and if she was waking up every day and getting her butt in that kitchen, then Nicole knew there was plenty to hold on to. She just hoped Zach Pleasant and his “amazing” skills in the bedroom didn’t screw things up.
* * *
“Wait, tilt the phone down, I can’t see.” Blaire said.
Evie stood still as Lilah adjusted the angle of her phone. She could see Blaire’s face in the tiny box on the screen scrutinizing every inch of her outfit. Thinking it would be eighty degrees, twenty-four hours a day, Blaire had packed Evie a few very cute sundresses, but it was creeping down into the low fifties and the sundress idea was out. Evie looked down at her torn jeans and black boots. Lilah had picked out a cute long-sleeved blouse that matched her glasses. They were just heading over to the ranch for a private dinner, but she wondered if she was underdressed.
“Lilah, there should be a tan jacket in her bag.” Blaire was the only person in Evie’s small circle who was currently dating, so Evie needed to turn to her for pre-date guidance. Lilah was still frustrated with all men after the stunt her dad had pulled, and Corie had made it clear that she was less than impressed with what Charming’s single scene had to offer. The date with Dr. David had gone so well, Blaire was seeing him again that Saturday night. Tonight she was on best-friend duty.
“I’ll grab it,” Evie said. She used a bit of the pent-up energy running through her to dig through her things. It didn’t take long for her to find the long coat Blaire was thinking of. She pulled on the tan jacket with large black buttons, then glanced in the full-body mirror mounted in the bathroom. It was exactly what her outfit needed. That didn’t stop her from taking a lingering glance at her hair. She was still getting used to the short cut.
“How’s this?” she said as she stepped into the doorway. She did a little turn so the girls could see her. Even Euca looked up from her spot on the floor. “I like the way it makes my butt look.”
“You look perfect,” Blaire said.
“Are you sure?”
“Lilah agrees with me, right?”
“I do. I think you look very cute. The jacket makes it,” Lilah said with a rigorous nod of her head.
“And you know I’d tell you if you looked fucked up.” Evie look over and rolled her eyes at Corie, but Corie was too busy sitting in the armchair flipping through the latest issue ofPeopleto catch it.
There was no reason for her to be nervous. She’d already slept with Zach. Their first date should be an absolute breeze, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to put together a good outfit. Before she could ask for the twelfth time if she looked okay, she heard the front door open and Zach announce himself. She heard Jesse’s deep voice respond, but she couldn’t make out exactly what he said.
“Your prince charming is here,” Lilah teased as she handed back her phone.
“He’s here, Blaire. I gotta go.”
“Have tons of fun. Call me tomorrow, ’kay?”
“I will.” She said her goodbyes, then hit End on the video call and slid her phone into her jacket pocket.
“Corie, come on.”
Corie slapped down the magazine and then strode right past them. “Let’s do this.” Evie laughed, and followed her down the hall, Lilah trailing behind her. Zach was there, waiting in the kitchen, his tan cowboy hat in hand. When she saw his worn-in jeans and his wool-lined jacket she realized the one gown that Blaire had for some reason slipped in her baggage would have been a little over-the-top. Not that what either of them was wearing mattered. The moment their eyes met, all Evie could think of was how she’d been waiting all week to be alone with him.
Between the ranch and lessons with Miss Leona and Jesse, they’d both had their hands full. They spent their nights as a family. The whole gang gathered around the TV or the kitchen island. She really appreciated Corie’s attempts to teach her how to play spades. Still, whenever she caught Zach looking at her, or whenever they were able to sneak in the slightest touch, she knew Miss Leona had been on to something. If they’d had it their way, they would never have left the blissfully naked comfort of Zach’s bed.
When Zach asked if he could take Evie out Friday night, she eagerly accepted, with Miss Leona’s blessing.
“Hi,” Evie said, unable to hide her smile.
“Ma’am,” Zach replied with a little nod of his head that made her stomach flutter.
“You two get going,” Miss Leona said from the couch. Jesse stood from his spot on the other end of the large sectional and crossed the large space in what seemed like two strides. He lifted his hand and brought it down hard on Zach’s shoulder. Evie imagined it felt like having a tree fall on you, but Zach barely flinched. He just looked up at his brother with a bit ofwhat the hell?written across his face.
Jesse looked at his smart watch, then back to his brother. Evie tried not to laugh as Zach rolled his eyes and motioned for Jesse to get on with it. “Have her back by eleven. Not eleven-o-five or eleven-o-two. I will be waiting right here at ten fifty-nine, and if I don’t see headlights pulling up—”
“Man, shut the hell up.” Zach laughed. “We’ll be back at eleven. Relax.”
“Good.” Jesse went back to the couch and sank back into the cushions.
