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It wasn’t either Bodie or Gus.
“Eva!” Chris stood stock-still before throwing herself into her twin’s arms. For the first time in her entire life she was wishing her sister wasn’t on her doorstep. Or on Eva’s own doorstep. Or whatever. “I was just talking to you! Why didn’t you tell me you were already here?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“You did, you did!” Chris laughed drily. Yeah, no kidding.
“Zac!” Eva sent Chris an oh-my-God-you-owe-me-details look before giving him one of her passionate embraces. She looked her wonderful kooky self, with her bright red-framed glasses and a green knit cap over her blond hair, peacock earrings that dangled to her shoulders and a polka-dot top over scarlet leggings tucked into black ankle boots. Strangely, for once Chris didn’t feel drab and boring next to her. Maybe the tequila...
“Hi, Ames.” Chris hugged him hard. Funny how when Ames had been pursuing her in New York, Chris had found him cold and soulless. Now standing next to her sister, he was instantly likable, handsome even, with warm brown eyes Chris immediately trusted. What an amazing transformation. “It’s great to see you.”
“Same here.” He turned to Zac. “I’m Ames Cooke, nice to meet you, Zac.”
The two men shook hands.
“So, what are you doing here?” Chris poked her sister in the arm, resigned to no hope of returning to make-out heaven. “Who is minding my store?”
“Jinx is in charge, just for two days. Ames passed all the phone interviews at Great Grapes with flying colors so he’s here to meet the bigwigs for the in-person rounds.” Eva was on fire with energy and love for Ames. It was wonderful to see.
But her message was somewhat less wonderful to hear.
If Ames was hired, he and Eva would be moving back to Carmia. And if they were moving back to Carmia, that meant Chris would be moving back to New York.
And if Chris was moving back to New York, that would mean her time with Zac, newly redefined and opened up to a whole new world of possibilities, would be even shorter than they thought.
7
BODIE SAT MOODILY at the bar, back at the A-Frame, trying to figure out what had gone wrong. Chris had been so hot for him she could fry an egg on the sidewalk. He was sure. She’d done that same squirmy, pink-cheeked blush thing all chicks did when he gave them his Sex Look.
Damn.
Maybe she was playing hard to get. Maybe he should have been more persistent, though she’d sure sounded as though she meant no when she said it. But if he went back tonight and—
“Hey, is this seat taken?” A blonde took the empty stool next to him without waiting for his answer, flipping her hair and smiling seductively, her breasts prominently displayed in a low-cut, clingy top.
Whoa.
Okay, never mind about Chris. He was good.
* * *
ZAC DROVE TOWARD his house, faster than he needed to be going. It had been so great to see Eva. So great to meet Ames.
But had they had to show up just then? His guy parts were still furious. Hey! What happened? We were almost there! You can’t do this to us!
He’d finally been able to put Bodie and Gus safely away, and this woman who had haunted him for the better part of the past five months would finally belong to him...in a truly tentative and messed-up way.
Yeah, okay, that last part sucked. But he couldn’t tell Chris the extent of his feelings. She could barely handle the lying version. It was all part of his master plan: if the relationship felt disposable, Chris wouldn’t feel so anxious. Then, under the astounding spell of his irresistible charm, she’d be free to discover or develop feelings for him.
Of course, the plan could backfire. He could fall even deeper and she could bolt from fear, or never feel anything for him. But crossing the country hadn’t been enough to get her out of his head. Trying to ignore her here hadn’t worked, either. He had to try something else, and, to his great surprise, Luke had been his inspiration, encouraging him never to give up. Yay, team.
Except now, with Eva and Ames back at Eva’s place and Luke camped out at his place, there was nowhere private in Carmia short of a motel room in which he and Chris could explore the benefits part of their friendship. If Ames got a job offer in the next few days, he and Eva would be making plans to move back ASAP. Just as he and Chris were finally making progress, they’d end up on opposite sides of the country once again.
