Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
I snorted. “Oh my God.”
“I’ll clean it up in the morning. Just don’t walk over there, okay?” He winked. “I closed the door for you.”
“Okay.” I swung my legs playfully as I sat at the edge of the bed, feeling like I was on cloud nine.
“I’d better go.” His brown eyes burned into mine one last time before he walked out of the room.
I stared up at the ceiling, dumbfounded and euphoric. I just came on Evan Ricci’s face.
A few minutes later, I heard the shower running. Knowing he’d already taken one tonight, I slid under my blankets with a silly grin.
Chapter 25
* * *
CHLOE
A little over a week after my closet encounter with Evan, I was getting ready for open mic night at The Lodge with Evan and Effie.
Evan had seemed quieter for the past several days, and he hadn’t come into my room again. I think the close call of Effie waking up had freaked him out a little. Yet despite his demeanor this week, I was looking forward to seeing him perform with his buddies. What better opportunity than a night out to have a little fun in the form of making Evan eat his heart out?
I took some extra time getting ready. I hadn’t dressed up since I’d been here. I put on a black leather skirt, an off-the-shoulder black top that hugged my breasts, high heels, and I styled my hair in long, loose beach waves.
“Chloe, we have to leave,” I heard Evan call from the kitchen.
A prickle of excitement crawled over my skin as I readied to make my grand entrance.
When I stepped out, the first thing I noticed were Effie’s eyes going wide.
“Chloe, you look so beautiful,” she said in her sweet little voice.
Evan had been facing away, but when he turned around, his lips parted.
He cleared his throat. “You look gorgeous, Chloe.” His Adam’s apple bobbed.
It was the exact reaction I’d hoped for. Even if that was the extent of what I got from him tonight, all the time I’d taken to get ready was worth it.
Glancing down at myself, I nodded. “Thank you both.”
Evan also looked damn fine. He wore a brown suede jacket over a fitted green Henley that stretched across his chest like it was made for him. The chocolate color of the jacket complemented the brown of his eyes, and his black hair was parted a bit to the side with that signature piece that always fell over his forehead.
“Let’s get going,” Evan said as he grabbed his keys.
The three of us hopped into his truck. I sat on the passenger side while Effie took her usual seat in the back.
Evan seemed tense as we drove off, his jaw tight, and Effie was uncharacteristically quiet. I could see her little face in the side mirror as she looked out the window. I’d occasionally look over at Evan’s handsome profile, and one of the times, he caught me looking at him. When he cracked a smile, I couldn’t help but giggle for having been busted in the act.
After we’d parked at the place, Evan came around to the passenger side to help me out before opening the back and doing the same for Effie. He was certainly a gentleman, always had been. That was the problem, right? It wouldn’t kill him to be less of a gentleman—more like the way he’d been the other night in the closet.
The Lodge’s neon sign glowed in the dark Wyoming night. As we entered the amber-lit, cozy atmosphere of the bar and grille, I looked around at the familiar pine walls covered in elk and deer taxidermy mounts. The air smelled like beer and French fries, and it occurred to me that I might run into someone I knew. This was the first time I’d really ventured out in Dry River since I’d been back.
Evan and Effie went to find a table while I headed to the ladies’ room.
On my way out of the bathroom, I heard a man call from behind me, “Chloe, is that you?”
I turned to find Brendan Simmons, a guy I’d gone to high school with. He was tall, blond, and while the total opposite of Evan looks-wise, equally as handsome.
“Oh my God. Brendan! How are you?”
He opened his arms to hug me. “It’s been so long.”
“I know.”
“You’re living here now?” he asked.
“Only temporarily. My mom is not doing well. She has dementia, so…”
“Oh, man. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thank you.”
Brendan looked over my shoulder. “Are you alone?”
“What do you want to drink?” Evan’s deep voice interrupted from behind me. I’d had no clue he was nearby.
“Evan, this is Brendan Simmons. We graduated from high school together.”
Brendan nodded. “Hey. I recognize you from around town.”
“Mmm...” Evan acknowledged coldly.
After a moment of tense silence, I turned to Evan. “I’ll have tequila with soda water and lime.”