AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Maybe if I wore a paper gown?"
He snorted.
"Besides you're the pot of honey," she teased.
He stared at her lips, and Eva prepared herself to be kissed, but Jamison must have decided against it. He dropped his hand and stepped back. "Honey?"
Eva tamped down the disappointment mixed with relief. She didn't know if she wanted him to kiss her or not-or if she was insulted or not.
" Yeah, you're a honey pot. Women swarm like bees around you.” She raised her voice into falsetto. "Dr. French, you're so wonderful. Buzz, buzz, buzz."
That made him laugh, and the man looked good laughing. His eyes crinkled behind the lens of his glasses, and his bright teeth flashed against his tan skin.
He said nothing more, merely turned his attention to the stage where a slim woman with dark hair, a lithe body, and a helluva voice worked the microphone. The crowd cheered as the band shifted into a new song that showcased the singer's raspy voice.
"She's good," Eva said.
"Yeah, her name’s Morgan Cost."
"No kidding? She broke up Abigail Orgeron’s marriage. She slept with Cal. Then she left with him. They got married out west, but I heard they were getting a divorce.” Eva flushed when she realized it sounded like she was gossiping. Which she kinda was.
"I didn't know she married Cal," Jamison said, clapping along to the song. "I mean I knew he ran off to California few years back. Anyway, Morgan released a record last month, and it's getting good airplay on country music stations. There was even an article in theBaton Rouge Advocatelast week."
"Huh," Eva said, impressed by the woman's voice but little else. Cal had left Abigail with their daughter, a huge mortgage on a bed-and-breakfast, and a scandal. In Eva's eyes, Morgan would always have that black mark against her, no matter how talented she was.
She hadn't known Jake back then, but he still got steamed when someone brought up the topic of Calhoun Orgeron. Eva didn't like the man much, either, especially since he'd already hit on her at church earlier that year when he'd dragged his butt back to Magnolia Bend after Morgan had dumped him.
"Well, she's definitely a good singer. I'll give her that, I guess," Eva said, joining Jamison on the clapping.
Hours later, after eating jambalaya, drinking another cold Abita beer, and sharing a sno-ball with Jamison who obviously didn't mind swapping spit in that manner, Eva stepped onto the porch of the cute bungalow she'd bought in the Laurel Creek subdivision. Jamison trailed behind her, still giving off the breezy yacht club vibe. The man's pants weren't even creased, and no sweat ringed the undersides of his shirtsleeves.
Eva pulled at the filmy material of her romper. The silly thing, bought in a moment of insanity, was plastered against her chest, advertising the wares a little too well. She found her house key and stuck it in the door. ''Thanks for inviting me, Jamison. It was fun."
"It was. I'm glad you went with me."
"Would you like to come inside for a drink? Or to use the bathroom?"
Why had she asked that? Just because the beer had done a number on her didn't mean he had to go to the bathroom, too. Jeez, she sucked at dating.
Jamison grinned. "You're asking me in to pee?"
Eva never blushed, but she felt close to it in that moment. "Sorry, I know you have a bit of a drive home. That was stupid."
"No, it was cute," he said with another blinding smile. "I really should go though, but I hope we can do this again."
With Charlie about to come live with her, things felt uncertain in her life. But taking in her brother didn't mean she had to quit being who she was. "Yeah, I'd like that."
"Good. So maybe... Tuesday night? They're showingBringing Up Babyat the Grand. Want to share some popcorn with me?"
Eva shook her head. "I have some things going on early in the week, but maybe by Friday I can get away."
"Well, that movie won't be showing, but I bet we can find something to do," he said.
Any other guy would have made the last statement sound sexual but not Jamison. He sincerely meant they'd find something to do. That thought almost made Eva giggle.
"That sounds great," she said, twisting the key.
"It's a date, then," Jamison said, moving toward her.
