Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(42)

“Um, eh…” Mission outcome: fail.

Thankfully, Knox takes over. “Yes. Eva is on board. I need to go over the specifics with her again later this week. We also need the approval from her sisters, but I’m sure they will be more than satisfied with our proposal.”

What is he talking about? I haven’t got the foggiest. I remain tight-lipped.

“Excellent.” Lincoln beams.

“Great.” Unable to make eye contact with Lincoln, I bow my head down and make for the lobby. “I have to go. Thanks for, um, a great meeting.” I turn slightly to wave back at Knox.

Unblinking, he watches me squirm.

“Eh, Eva,” Lincoln addresses me, stopping me in my tracks.

Bugger, bugger, bugger. Not quick enough.

“A few of us are going out on Saturday night. The Vault, then the new wine bar, The Basement. Would you and your sisters be up for it? Maybe Toni and Beth too?”

Eyes wide, Knox folds his arms across his body and stands wide as he waits for my response.

I stall. “Um, Saturday? Hmm, I’m not sure.”

“Ask your mom and dad to take the boys, Eva. I know how much your dad loves getting his tractors and quad bikes out for the boys,” Knox says, unshaken.

Perplexed at his response, I say, “Oh, um. Well, they had them last weekend. I can’t ask them again.”

Knox wiggles his eyebrows. “You sure? I’m going out on Saturday night with my friends. To the Vault. Maybe even The Basement.” My devil in a suit is playing with me.

“Yeah, right, as if she’d dance with you, old man.” Lincoln laughs, patting his dad on the back.

Knox’s shoulders droop. It’s slight, but I catch it.

Shoulders back with confidence, I say, “You’re forgetting your dad has dance lessons booked with me. They also say you’re only as old as you feel. If he’s dancing with me, I’m knocking several years off his age. After I’m finished with him, he’ll have every woman of all ages in this town queuing up to dance with him. You wait and see. You know as well as I do your father is a bit of a legend in this town. You have some major competition, young man.”

I sneak a glance at Knox. I spot him wearing an enigmatic smile as Lincoln stands beside him, open-mouthed.

Before Lincoln has the chance to reply, I sashay out of the office, swinging my hips as I tip-tap on my heels down the shiny black and white marble lobby.

“Tabby would go apeshit if she heard Eva say that. Can we swap places? Can I do the dance lessons instead of you? Eva looks sexy as hell in that wiggle skirt she’s got on today,” I hear Lincoln say to his dad. Moving further down the corridor, I miss Knox’s response.

I couldn’t give two hoots what Tabitha has to say. Because he’s not with her. He’s with me. Exclusive.

I do a little internal squee.

Oh, this could be fun.

“See you on Wednesday for dance lessons, Knox, and I’ll see you Saturday night, Lincoln,” I shout back in their direction.

Looks like I’m going out on Saturday night then.

I like this feeling.





CHAPTER 10





Knox

Foot to floor, I test my P1 McLaren, or Raven as I now call her following Eva’s naming ceremony.

On a mission to get to my first kizomba dance lesson with Eva tonight, I push Raven around the tight corners of the quiet, winding countryside cliff roads from my hotel down into Castleview Cove.

Deep winter is flirting along the edges of November. It’s almost here. It’s a stunning time of the year in Castleview; dark, bitter cold, and the sparkling frost that sets in is a gentle welcome to the snow that’s about to make its appearance come December and January.

My Mediterranean heritage draws me to summer sun, but of all the seasons, there is something truly special about wintertime in Scotland.

Day-trippers, golfers, vacationists, and locals alike all describe Castleview Cove as magical. It is, and once the glistening frost makes itself at home, it looks and feels even more so.

It’s a time when everyone starts layering up and huddling together to seal in and capture the warmth.

My resort is quieter at this time of the year, which pleases me no end, because much like every winter, it’s the time when we remodel and upgrade sections of the hotel and spa.

It’s all part of our strategy to evolve and improve our guest experience while maintaining our gold five-star rating. It seems to be working so far as we’re fully booked from next February onward again.

My father and his father, my grandfather, laid the foundations on our exclusive hotel and spa, and now this is mine and Lincoln’s time to build upon and create something truly special.

We are on a mission. We have a goal, a six-star rating. There are only a handful in the world and none in Scotland. We decided we are going to be the first.

Having Lincoln by my side, I know we can do it. He’s driven, smart, and he’s not afraid to take risks.

That’s my boy.

My inner gremlin pokes my sides. I’m going to have to tell Lincoln soon about Eva and me. I’ll discuss that with Eva first and she can dictate how we broach that dilemma. She’s in control, plus she also has her own sons to consider.

It’s been two days since I’ve seen her. Two painful, long days. Man, have they dragged.