Page 27 of The Love Hoax

I silence it. It feels like I’ve known Evie for years.

She comes up beside me, eyeing the burnt eggs. She’s so close that I get a whiff of the shampoo lingering in her hair. The proximity is intoxicating, a pure test of my willpower.

“What happened here?” she asks, oblivious to my reaction to her.

“I guess I wasn’t paying enough attention,” I reply, my voice thick as molasses. I cough it away. “I can start again.”

“How about I take over?” Evie suggests, washing her hands in the sink and drying them on the dishtowel situated on the counter between us.

I can’t seem to make my feet move away. “Are you sure?”

Evie reaches for the spatula in my hand. My pulse races as our skin makes contact. For a second, our fingers linger.

I know if she raises her face to mine, I will be a goner. I will kiss her with every ounce of pent-up passion. I’ll scoop her into my arms and carry her to my room...

She doesn’t look up.

“Can you grab more cheese?” she asks, her own voice husky.

I back away as if any false moves will spark a spontaneous combustion. I open the fridge and stick my head inside, hoping it will help me cool off. I pull out a package of mozzarella and hand it to her.

Within minutes, two perfectly cooked omelets are set on my glass dishes, sprigs of parsley, julienned cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes beside them.

I bring the plates to the table, along with forks and two glasses of orange juice. “Feels like we’re having breakfast in an alternate universe,” I laugh. “I know this day has been upside down. I’d say I’m glad it’s over, but it’s really nice having someone here to wind down with.”

Evie’s eyes flit away, and I wonder if I said the wrong thing.

“I really appreciate you putting me up for the night,” she says, her face a light shade of pink.

“It’s my pleasure. I know how exhausting it can be to drive the mountain roads late at night after a long hike. When you’re tired, the drive becomes hypnotic.”

“And that was some hike,” Evie says, taking a bite from her omelet.

We eat in companionable silence.

Till she begins yawning again. She holds a hand to her mouth. “Sorry.”

“Wait!” I blurt out, the word sounding absurd.

“Huh?”

Since sitting down to eat, I have been consumed withfinding a way to keep the night going. All I want is to spend more time with her. “I have an idea.”

“An idea?” Evie arches a brow.

She thinks I’m coming on to her again.

“Grab your glass and come with me.”

To my surprise, Evie doesn’t hesitate. I find a couple of sweatshirts in the front closet and hand one to her. “Put this on. You’re going to need it.”

I show her out to the backyard, bypassing the hot tub, soft lights emanating from below the bubbling water. Floodlights are placed strategically among the landscaped flower beds that surround an expansive brick patio. The air is cool and will turn chillier with each passing hour. There is only a sliver of moon.

“It’s so peaceful back here,” Evie says, taking in the surroundings.

“I did a lot of this work with my dad,” I reply, gesturing to the patio.

“Amazing.”