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“Yesterday, no. Soon, yes. How about we talk about your uncle coming into my session and taking over.” My moodiness is showing. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re Harvey’s niece?”
She snaps at me then, surprising me. “Would you have treated me the same if I had told you? Technically, I didn’t lie to you. I am here for rehab, and I am going to ask for a job here once I’m done.”
I inhale a long breath then exhale through my nose. How can I be mad at her for that? Hurt…a little, but I understand. “It makes sense I suppose. It explains why you were so quick to answer back about Asher. I’m curious though, why do you call him Mr. Fort?” Josey gets a mischievous look on her face. The one I know too well she’s up to no good. “Josey…”
“He hates it. He hates the formality of it, and it’s also how people address my gramps; it makes him feel old. He’s usually super laid back, Eve.”
“He didn’t seem laid back yesterday when he came to help me. He was…”
Josey leans forward astonished. “He helped you in the center? Like, with physiotherapy? He’s never in there! What else happened? There must be something we’re missing here. My uncle doesn’t do anything unless his heart is in it. Somewhere along the way, you triggered something in him.” She gets thinking then asks me what he looked like, what he said, and if anything out of the ordinary happened.
“I did fall… twice,” I admit.
“See, that’s significant. He would have had physical contact. Maybe he got a spark from you.”
For some silly reason, I burst into laughter. I can’t be mad with Josey if I try. The girl is incorrigible.
“Josey, you need to stop. At the end of the day, I was a tragic mess and he left me in my room to recover. I’ve not heard from him since. This afternoon when I have my session, Asher will be the only Fort family member present, and I will go on as I was before this mess.”
There’s a not-so-subtle clearing of a throat not far behind us. I know exactly who it’s from before I turn around.
“Josey, we will be having a little talk about this, missy.”
She pats my hand before turning around. “Oh, hey, Harvey. I was just leaving.”
“Josey, I’ll see you later. Evelyn, do you mind if I join you?” There’s sincerity in his voice, and I’m too tired to cause any drama today, so I motion for him to take the bench seat on the opposite side of the path. “I’d like to apologize again for yesterday. I’ve come to ask you over for dinner.”
I’m stunned by his invitation and a little dubious. “Is that allowed? I mean, I’m a patient here. As I voiced after physio, isn’t that bad practice?”
I see the moment disappointment crosses his features. He’s genuinely asking me—not out of obligation. Right then, I make a snap decision and hope I won’t live to regret it later. “Okay.”
“Okay?” he asks back, needing clarification.
“Okay, as in dinner would be nice, as friends, thank you.” Harvey’s eyes lose the sad edge, replaced by a new shining spark.
“Okay, as friends,” he clarifies, happy with my answer. Then he surprises me again. “Yesterday, at any given time I was with you, did I make you uncomfortable?”
This is a bizarre question to be asking, but I answer truthfully. “No. I felt safe.” I look at my fingernails instead of Harvey to try and hide the blush appearing over my cheeks.
“Did you feel the chemistry when you turned around and walked back to me and I marveled at your bravery?”
I swear I’m going to melt into my chair if he keeps asking these intimate questions. “Yes,” I answer with bated breath.
He looks at me with those steely eyes I was afraid of. The ones that made him look like he is fighting a war within himself, which I now come to realize is affection. His lips part to say something else, then close.
I have a query of my own, so I voice it. “When I mentioned you being very forward, and you said, and I quote, ‘only with what I want’, does that include me?” I wait for an answer and Harvey doesn’t disappoint.
“Yes.” There’s a long pause. I swear if this were any other time or place, this would be the exact moment we’d lean into one another and kiss, but it’s not and we can’t. I have to remember, friends.
“I’ll pick you up from your room at six. Josey will be out tonight with friends, so it’ll only be the two of us. I have to get back to the stables, but I look forward to later, friend.” I get that charming smile again. A woman could grow used to that; this woman to be precise.
As he leaves the gardens, this time wearing washed jeans and a tee, I watch his muscles flex as he walks away from me. The man I once pictured is a reality before my eyes.
Harvey turns to face me before opening the courtyard door, catching me admiring the view, and winks with a sexy glint in his eye, then he’s gone.
“Evelyn, what are you doing?” I ask myself. “This is crazy!” I continue talking to myself. “Friends?” I’m on a roll so why stop now.
“Never took you for the type to have a conversation with yourself, but whatever, I can totally work with that.”
