Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(60)

“You don’t have to say it again.”

“It’s okay. It helps. She is Linc’s mother, after all.”

“Is she still alive, then?”

“Yes.”

I don’t ask any more. He’ll tell me when the timing is right for him.

“You have a kind heart, Eva. I think that’s what I like about you the most.”

“Not so keen on the early bird part of me, though, right?”

“Honestly, I like every part of you.”

“And I like all the parts of you, too. Apart from one thing.”

His expression grows serious.

“I don’t know what part of you thought it was a good idea to sleep with Tabitha MacEvoy.”

“Oh, I do.”

“Your dick.”

He grimaces. “That sounds so crass.”

“I’m right though, aren’t I?”

He groans, and his mouth unpleasantly twists. “I’m not proud of myself. But there aren’t that many women in Castleview Cove.”

“There are hundreds of women passing through your hotel every year. Rich women, socialite women.”

“Yeah, but no one I’ve ever felt attracted to.”

“Except me.”

“Apart from you, but you were not an option. Married, remember.” He squeezes my backside.

“Soon-to-be divorced.”

“Couldn’t come quick enough.”

“Veronica reckons six months.”

“Too long.” He traces the slight curve of my hips.

“So you’re calling Tabitha today?”

“Yes.”

“Make it official. No more fuck buddy arrangement. It’s over.”

“Consider it done.”

“You’re mine, Knox Black.”

“I’m all yours, Sunshine,” he confirms.

My heart booms in my chest at his admission.

He’s beginning to open up to me.

One slow graceful waltz step at a time.





CHAPTER 14





Eva

Stunned mid-lick, Eden stops lapping at her Scottish Tablet ice cream sundae. “Say that again, Eva?”

Seated round the pastel-lilac and powder-blue semicircle booth of Castle Cones Ice Cream Parlor, for the second time, I repeat Knox’s dance retreat proposal to Eden and Ella, and of course, these days, wherever there is Eden and Ella, there is Hunter and Fraser.

Hunter’s mathematical sports brain is doing the sums. “Four hundred thousand pounds. That’s almost five hundred and fifty thousand dollars,” he blurts out.

Hunter always reverts to his American currency. Since he moved to Scotland full-time and married Eden, he can’t get used to the British pound. I’m sure he will, eventually.

He continues. “It would be more if you run it three times a year. Do it. It’s a smart business move.”

It would definitely help me buy Ewan out of the house and maintain some sort of normality for my boys, at the very least.

“One hundred percent. Work out the schedule. Get the contract signed. It’s a no-brainer,” Fraser pipes in, drumming his fingers against the tabletop.

Ella still hasn’t said anything.

“Helllooooo.” I wave my hand in front of Ella’s face. “Are you there?” Ella pushes my hand away.

Eden chuckles. “Ella’s in shock. So am I. Ten grand a head and we get half? Are you sure?”

“Yeah. Positive. I need the green light from you girls and we’ll get a contract prepared and signed. Deal done. Then we need to plan, sort out studio staff coverage. A schedule for the five days. I was thinking we might do a dance-off on the last day or a showcase for each couple. Let everyone shine.”

“I love the sound of that, Eva.” Eden shovels a heaping spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. That girl sure loves ice cream.

I turn my attention to Ella, who’s seated next to me. “What do you think?”

Gobsmacked. She throws her arms around my neck. “I think it’s the best day of my life.”

“Hey.” Fraser points at himself. “I thought the day I showed you our new house was the best day of your life. Or the day I asked you to marry me was the best day of your life.”

We know he’s kidding.

“Oh yeah, those too.” Ella brushes Fraser off as she unwraps herself from my neck. “This is unbelievable. A total game changer for us. Maybe we’ll get our new studio sooner than we expected.”

“That’s what I thought too.” It’s quite exciting.

“And Knox proposed this to you on Wednesday night and you’ve waited until Saturday lunchtime to tell us? Here? Now?”

Actually, it was while I was in his lap on Thursday morning in his bed.

But I don’t say that. Instead, I say, “I’ve been busy. I’m sorry.”

The rest of my week was taken up with teaching dance classes, lawyer’s phone calls, and then wrestling my boys to and from childcare, school, after-school clubs, bridesmaid dress fittings, and I still found the time to cook, clean, remember to feed myself, and do the ironing. It’s amazing what lots of orgasms can do. I feel re-energized.

Plus, all the sexting Knox and I have been sending one another all week. I live my minutes, hours, and days for them.