Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(91)

I think it might be possible.





CHAPTER 22





Knox - Three and a half weeks later - two days before Christmas “When will I see you again?”

“Boxing Day. Ewan is taking the boys. Or so he says. It’s all arranged with Frances.”

I spin my spaghetti around my fork. “If he doesn’t, we will all spend the day together.” I clatter my fork against my white plate and push it away from me. I’m not hungry.

I can’t eat. Can’t sleep either.

Stretching my back, I reach up.

I need a massage. My back is so stiff these days.

“You need sunshine.” Eva watches me wince.

“I have sunshine, right here.”

She gifts me a smile.

Beautiful.

Throughout everything, Eva has maintained her calm. She’s such a breath of fresh air when I need it most. She has this ability to detect what I need when I need it.

She has lots of her own shit going on too and she never complains.

Veronica was unable to find out where Ewan’s severance pay disappeared to. However much it was, it’s vanished. Just like her furniture.

Ewan has yet to sign the divorce papers. Our only saving grace is he has continued to keep his distance.

He’s been deadly silent. Worryingly so.

If he would just sign the papers and set her free, I think Eva would sleep better at night, too.

Although the stress rash on the back of her neck has almost gone, which is a great sign.

I’m grateful for the small things.

She nailed the Castleview Business Circle social media training too and some of the businesses have embraced their newfound addiction; others not so much.

At the hotel, finally, the members’ bar has been fully remodeled. What a nightmare that was. The bar stools arrived in the incorrect finish. We asked for all white and what did we get? Black with red leather seat pads—someone else’s order.

That set us back by a week, delaying the members' only opening party. But I let Linc handle that too.

Over time, he’ll be running the place.

That’s the plan, anyway.

Then there is the Winter Ball. The white LED dance floor has given us nothing but issues. It flashes on and off sporadically. We’re going to get sued for causing seizures if it isn’t replaced. Luckily, our trial run at Ella and Fraser’s wedding highlighted the problem and a new floor is being laid the week after the New Year’s celebrations.

I had to threaten to pull our three-year equipment hire contract with them. Miraculously, within an hour, they’d found a replacement.

Then some dipshit—me—thought it was a great idea to over-invite people in the hope some wouldn’t make it, but I fucked up. We are now seventy-three people over our ballroom capacity, forcing us to open the adjoining function suite, that’s only used for smaller parties, to redistribute people.

Lincoln assures me it’s going to be just fine. I trust him.

With every day that passes, Eva and I are getting closer to telling our friends and families about our relationship.

I’m excited but so fucking nervous.

I’m also preparing myself for the many questions my own parents will have, too. Then there are my staff, my friends’ wives, and the town. The gossip.

Always the fucking gossip.

My chest feels tight.

I’m going to give myself a heart attack if I keep worrying about what other people think.

Eva takes a sip of the crisp apple juice. Lunch today in my office is the only time I get to see her this week. Christmas is in two days, meaning she has a full schedule with the boys.

In the last three weeks, we’ve only snuck in a couple of nights here and there—not enough.

I miss her.

“I have something for you.” I pull out the elegant white-wrapped slim square box from the inside pocket of my suit jacket. I hope she likes it. “Merry Christmas.”

“Oh, my goodness. It’s too beautiful to open.” She plays with the dark-red ribbon. “I bought you something too.” Dipping into her purse, she pulls out a similar-sized black-wrapped box with a bouncy gold bow.

“You didn’t have to get me anything.” I shake my head.

“I know we never spoke about getting each other gifts. But I saw this.” She taps her gift for me. “And thought of you, and you got me one too, so you can’t be mad at me,” she says coyly.

“Is it a new clit jewel?” I reply, laughing.

“Noooooo.” She hits me playfully on the shoulder.

I point to her box. “You go first.”

“Nope. You first.” She bobs her head toward my present.

“I’ve never had a woman buy me a gift before.” I untie the silk bow.

“No?” she asks, full of surprise. “Massive pressure on me, then?”

Unwrapping the paper reveals a black leather pouch. I open the gold pouch popper and pull out a shiny brass object.

“It’s a pocket sundial compass.” Sounding nervous, she points at it. “It’s antique. The man in the shop was very helpful and said it allows you to tell the time and find directions or something. You can look it up. And I had it engraved. See?” She flips it over in my hand.

So you can always find your way back to me. Just follow the Sunshine x