AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"You still don't understand, do you?" His lips formed the sweetest smile I'd ever seen. "I love you, Evie. You aremeu amor, my love. That's what I called you the day of my unfortunate encounter with invisible insects."
"I love you too, Val." The words poured out before I considered what I was saying. His declaration had hit me like the mythical arrow fired by Cupid, sinking deep into my heart. I loved him. The idea might've scared me a month ago, but today, loving him felt like the most right thing I'd ever done. "I really do love you. An awful lot."
"Me too." He smirked. "I love you an awful lot, not myself."
"You're one hundred percent sure you want to run this place with me, as official business partners."
"I do."
"Well then." I peeled his hands away from my face and clasped them to my chest. "Yes, Val, I accept your proposition. I will be your business partner."
"I'll call my lawyer so he can get started on the paperwork."
"Sounds good."
He leaped to his feet, swept me into his arms, and carried me off to our bedroom. For the next hour, we celebrated the best way we knew how—with plenty of grunting and moaning, a few screams, and lots of enthusiasm.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Val
The next day, with our new partnership in the works, I drove into town to visit the hardware and grocery stores—as a business partner, not as Eve's lover. This was my first official outing to buy supplies for the resort. Eve had wanted to come with me, but I'd convinced her to stay home and take care of our guests.
Our guests. I liked that.
I wandered into the hardware store feeling better than I had in years, since before I'd made a public spectacle of myself for the attention and become the accidental star of a sex tape scandal. My old life no longer appealed to me. The thought of going back to LA to finalize the sale of my house and collect my belongings made my jaw tighten. None of that mattered anymore, because I had the right life now. My life with Eve, working with her and living with her, was all I needed.
Ten minutes after I walked into the store, I was talking with an employee who seemed very knowledgeable about paint. Eve had looked at the store's paint selection online and had given me strict instructions to buy only the colors white and seafoam green. If I came back with gray or bright blue she would, she'd promised, sick a horde of no-see-ums on me.
Jeff, the paint expert, was explaining the types of paint to me. I nodded and pretended I understood the differences, knowing I would buy whichever kind Jeff suggested.
Out the corner of my eye, I noticed a figure moving down the aisle toward us. I glanced in that direction and gritted my teeth.
Quentin Smith stopped in the middle of the aisle, looking surprised like he hadn't noticed me before. A muscle ticked in his jaw.
With a herculean effort of willpower, I relaxed my jaw and turned my gaze away from him, back to Jeff. The young salesman seemed unaware of the tension between me and Quentin and had not paused in his description of the types of paint.
"Like I said," Jeff told me, "the paint and primer in one is the easiest to use and has the best coverage. If you want stain protection—"
I swore I could feel Quentin's gaze burning into me. I glanced at him, moving only my eyes.
He had his fists clenched now, along with his jaw.
Fuck him. I would not give the bastard the satisfaction of goading me into a confrontation. I had Eve. He didn't. End of story.
Naturally, the bastard refused to walk away. He marched up to me and growled, "Shouldn't you be going back to where you came from? The worms in the swamp must miss you."
His insult sounded like something straight out of a schoolyard. I almost laughed but quashed it because that would inflame him more. Eve wouldn't want me to beat the shit out of her former handyman. As good as punching him would feel, it wouldn't solve the problem.
Quentin was obsessed with Eve.
I gave him my back and asked Jeff to explain the stain-protection options again.
A hand slapped down on my shoulder. "I was talking to you, nature boy."
"Please excuse me," I said to Jeff. "I need to deal with a personal matter."
Jeff glanced from me to Quentin and back again three times. "Uh, sure. I'll be at the paint counter when you're ready to order."
