Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(23)

She laughs, grabbing my hands to stop me. “Yeah. I’m only here for the house. Oh, and the cooker. I really want to bake on your stove.”

Smiling wide, her dimples dent her pale cheeks as she leans out of our close kiss.

“I like having you here, Eva.”

“I like being here.” Her brows lower. “But tell me. Are you dating Tabitha MacEvoy?”

Joyful feelings blow away in a puff of smoke at the mention of Tabby’s name.

I sigh. I didn’t want to have this conversation. “I’m not dating Tabitha. We’re like friends with benefits.” We aren’t even friends.

“For three years?” she asks, wide-eyed.

Goddammit. She heard our conversation in the kitchen.

“Yeah.”

“Does she know that? Lincoln made it sound more serious. Marriage?” Her furrowed brows deepen as I continue to hold her tight.

“I’m never marrying Tabby. Ever. It’s only casual between her and me. Lincoln is talking gibberish.”

“I don’t think Tabitha knows that, Knox. I don’t want to come between you two. Sounds to me like you need to set the record straight with her, if that’s how you feel.”

Eva’s right. I’ve been avoiding that conversation.

“I will.”

“When were you last with her? I would never steal someone’s boyfriend. That’s not my style. Please tell me it was ages ago.”

I try to remember. “She’s not my girlfriend. The last time we were together was about four months ago. I don’t sleep around, Eva. I know that’s probably not what you’ve heard about me. But it’s the truth.” We haven’t hooked up for ages. I’ve been making excuse after excuse not to see Tabby. But I’ve got to give it to her. She’s persistent.

A wave of relief floods Eva’s face, and she relaxes in my arms.

“Thank goodness. I’ve heard nothing about you, Knox. I hardly know anything about you. But you’ve seriously never brought Tabitha here to your home? Why not?”

“I like to keep my private life private. I’ve never felt the need to bring her back here.” It’s not that I don’t trust her, but we aren’t serious. Bringing her here would imply I want a relationship with her and I don’t want that.

Do I want that with Eva?

I’ve never had a relationship with anyone since Lincoln’s mother, and that was a giant-sized mess and not a story I’ve ever shared with anyone before.

For a moment, we stand together.

I lean my forehead against hers.

“You let me into your sacred space,” she whispers.

“Yeah. I did. I want you here.”

She smiles and my heart melts.

“I like being here with you.”

I don’t want her to leave. Forty-eight hours will never be long enough.

“Are you hungry?” I tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.

“Starving.”

“Let me call for breakfast to be brought down from the hotel.”

“No way. Do you have food in the fridge?”

“Yeah. Always. I keep it stocked for Lincoln.”

“Then let me cook for us.”

“You sure?”

“Hell yeah. Any excuse to use that cast iron beauty of a cooker you have.” She grabs my hand, guiding me out of the pantry.

“I’ll help you.”

But she doesn’t let me. She makes me sit at the kitchen island.

I stare in awe as she weaves her way through my kitchen in nothing but my white dress shirt. Her caramel locks are scooped on top of her head in a giant messy bun. She cooks at the same time as calling her boys to check in with them. Her phone tucked between her ear and shoulder, she giggles and jokes with them as she digs out pots and pans, juggling, making fresh coffee, and mixing up a fresh pancake recipe at the same time. Through her innocent actions, she cheekily flashes her bare pussy and beautiful backside every now and again to me as she bends over and moves around. Eventually, she hangs up before she tells them she loves them. Eva’s a remarkable mother—everything Lincoln’s mother never was.

Fixated, I can’t take my eyes off her. She moves about my kitchen as if she’s done this a thousand times, like she belongs here, chatting away to me, firing questions at me a mile a minute as she cooks me the most incredible breakfast of bacon and pancakes with maple syrup. It’s divine.

We feed each other, and in what feels like a planetary shift, I feel relaxed. Content.

Happy.





CHAPTER 6





Eva

Staring up at the vaulted glass roof of Knox’s swimming pool extension, I float aimlessly in the warm water of the heated pool, unapologetic bliss and relaxation pouring across my aching body. It’s a pleasurable pain, in the best possible way, and a reminder of our all-night entanglement.

One thing’s for sure, Knox has endurance and stamina. I may sign him up for the Marathon des Sables; he’s ultramarathon-worthy.

After I made him breakfast, we showered together. Strike that, after our breakfast, Knox showered me. He washed my hair, then carefully washed every single part of me. He never spoke to me the entire time. He was lost in the moment.

Not once did I feel uncomfortable or shy.