The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek)(18)

Quinn twisted her mouth into a scowl. “But we never miss movie night. Not in the last two years!”

“Come on, Quinn. Is it so wrong that I want to hang out with my boyfriend for once?”

“It is if you abandon your best friend on movie night.”

Quinn folded her arms across her chest and pouted.

“You’re ridiculous,” Evie laughed. She handed Quinn her bag of books. “I promise I won’t miss movie night next weekend.”

Snatching her bag, Quinn rolled her eyes. “Have fun, Evie. Maybe I’ll call Wendy and see if she wants to go with me instead.”

“You do that.”

Evie shook her head as she watched Quinn walk to the exit.

Quinn glanced back and looked her up and down, her face still disappointed. “You look cute, by the way,” she said. “I want to borrow those leggings sometime.”

Evie smirked. “Of course. Thanks, Quinn. Love you.”

“Love you,” she said and left the bookstore.

The scene outside Carter’s Books and Gifts looked dry.

Thank goodness.

High Street was bustling already, and it wasn’t even noon. A slew of students looking for entertainment walked the sidewalk in dense packs. Everyone already started wearing their costumes even though there was still another week until Halloween. Evie couldn’t wait for Parker to arrive so they could go out to Nightmoon Creek.

The store was quiet, with only one older woman browsing the recipe book aisle. Evie pulled her phone out of her skirt’s pocket and checked the time. She smoothed the purple skirt’s layers over her black and purple leggings. She wore a white collared blouse with a black tie and a purple headband in her hair with a large bow.

She looked cute and knew it. She just hoped Parker thought so as well. She couldn’t help feeling an incessant fear that he’d realize she was too much trouble and leave her one day.

The door opened.

Evie’s body straightened when she saw Avalon step inside.

Avalon was silent as he walked in wearing a buttoned up shirt under an evergreen sweater, slim black jeans, and loafers.

She adjusted her glasses as she watched him. “Avalon,” she said. “Can I help you with something?”

He nodded, his eyes scanning the shop. “You can. When are you off?”

Why did he care?

“A few minutes.”

“Great. I’ll just chat you up until you’re a free woman. If that’s okay”

Evie pursed her lips. She looked past him, knowing that Parker would soon arrive. She didn’t need him questioning her about the new guy in town.

“Of course. My boyfriend will be here to pick me up soon, though.”

“Boyfriend?”

Evie nodded.

Avalon clasped his hands before him as he stepped closer to the front register where Evie stood.

He leaned against the front counter, staring her down with those enchanting green eyes of his. “I was hoping to take you up on your offer for a tour of New Town.”

She couldn’t move when he looked at her like that. The intensity was thinly veiled behind a look of admiration as he held her gaze.

“We can go another time. I have plans for today.”

“That’s too bad,” he said, fingering through the stack of clearance books on the counter.

She swallowed, still unable to move. “Why is that?”

He shrugged and stood directly in front of her. The only thing that separated her from him was the counter.

Evie gripped the counter. Her heart rate seemed to rise, and her entire body felt warm.

She tried to keep her face clear of emotion, but she knew what he was doing. He was trying to work magic on her.

The idea frightened her beyond anything she’d feared. He was good. It would have worked if she hadn’t sensed it in time and countered the act by shielding her thoughts.

Evie tried to replace her true thoughts with those that were boring, plain, and wouldn’t reveal anything of importance.

“Because I have something for you. A gift.”

“What kind of gift?”

“It’s a surprise. You’ll have to come with me to find out.”

“I see.” She looked around the store. She wasn’t sure if she liked surprises, especially those that came from a strange man from her dreams.

Nina, the owner of the store came in from the back and dusted a few crumbs off the front of her floral dress. She glanced from Evie to Avalon, her eyes brightening.

“Can I help you with something, sir?”

He put his hands in his pockets. “I’m just waiting for the young lady to get off so I can take her out.”

Evie felt her cheeks flush. Now Nina would think she was cheating on Parker.

“He’s a friend of my brother’s,” Evie quickly added. She looked to Avalon. “He just needed directions. Parker will be here to get me in a minute.”

“Oh,” Nina said, nodding. “Are you new in town?”

“Not quite,” Avalon said. He reached a hand out. “Avalon Prince.”

Nina’s eyes widened. “Hugh’s son?”

He nodded. “Aye.”

Both he and Nina looked at Evie.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Nina said.

“Thank you. What’s done is done, right? He lived a long life.”