Elevating Eve (Fairford Affairs #4)

12. Eve

CHAPTER 12

Eve

H uddling deep within her orange Denver sweatshirt, Eve tucked her legs up under her on the oversize deck chair. It took a few tries to get everything situated just right, but she finally made the perfect blanket burrito around her legs, her exposed skin protected from the cool night air.

“No wonder you love it here so much,” she said, leaning back against the plush cushion and closing her eyes. The chirps of crickets and other night insects mingled with the croaks of frogs. An owl call drifted in from somewhere out in the darkness—three short hoots followed by a longer one. Far off to their left, a second owl answered in the same pattern.

She was no stranger to the sounds of nature. Not in northern Vermont. But she could easily imagine how peaceful and beautiful a young Jonathan would’ve found this place when he spent most of his time in the chaotic bustle of southern California.

Jonathan stood on the edge of the large deck, leaning against the railing. For the first time since she’d met him, he had on a T-shirt instead of a button-down and tie. His dark gray sweats were doing wonderful things for his ass, especially with him bent over like that .

Keep it in your pants, Eve, she scolded, not wanting to ruin this beautiful moment.

“My dad and I used to sit out here after everyone else went to bed,” he said, his voice taking on that misty, faraway quality again. “Just the two of us. We’ve both always been night owls. I’m sure everyone knew we were out here, but it always felt like our secret. Like our own special club or something.” His sigh held so many emotions, from gratitude to longing to regret. “We haven’t done anything like that for years.”

Eve was glad he faced away from her and couldn’t see her brush tears from her eyes. She remembered nights like that with her dad when she was growing up. Unlike Jonathan, she never had to wait for the rest of the family to go to bed. It had been just the two of them as long as she could remember.

Staying up way too late, raiding the pantry and the freezer at two AM, talking about anything and everything. She couldn’t even remember what they’d talked about anymore—most of it was nonsense anyway.

But she’d never forget how those nights made her feel.

Like she mattered. Like she wasn’t and never would be alone.

In those moments, she knew, without a doubt, that she was the most important person in his world. Just as he was the most important person in hers.

Sixteen years had gone by since she lost him. In all that time, the depth of her longing for one more night with him hadn’t diminished one bit.

“Are you still close to your dad?” she asked, hoping despite a slight spark of envy that he’d answer yes. She wouldn’t wish her situation on anyone, least of all a person who she’d come to care for deeply.

“Very close,” he said, and her heart filled with happiness for him. “I’m about to turn forty, and he’s still the person I go to for advice when I need it most.” He chuckled, looking over his shoulder at her. “I hope that doesn’t make me sound pathetic.”

It took her a few seconds to answer. She had to swallow three times to make the lump in her throat disappear. “I think it makes you sound lucky.”

One side of his mouth lifted into a small smile just before he turned back toward the darkness. “Will you tell me about your dad?” he asked, tone gentle. He kept his back to her, as if he knew she wouldn’t want him to see her tears. She appreciated his kindness more than she knew how to express.

“He was funny. That’s what I remember most about being with him—how much we both laughed.” She closed her eyes for a moment, picturing his laughing face. “He was the kind of person who could diffuse even the tensest, shittiest situation. Someone could be ready to fight him one minute, and then cracking up the next.” That literally happened once, when he had to fire one of his employees. The two still sent each other Christmas cards for years afterward. “It made him an amazing boss. The crew adored him.”

“I’m sorry you didn’t have him in your life longer,” Jonathan said, so softly that she barely heard him over the noise of the forest. “He sounds like an incredible man. No wonder you’re so amazing.” At this, he finally turned back around, his eyes boring into hers. It wasn’t lust she saw there now, though the heat in his eyes still seemed to scorch her.

Eve had known for a while that she wanted him, and for almost as long that she respected him as a person. But as this magical day progressed, she found her feelings changing. Deepening into something she didn’t have a name for yet.

“Jonathan, I?—”

The loud buzz of his cell phone interrupted her. “Shit, I’m sorry,” he said, fishing it out of his pocket. When he saw the screen, he gave her an apologetic look. “It’s my sister Maisie. She usually texts, and only ever calls if it’s really important. Do you mind if I?—”

“Answer it,” she said without hesitation. “I don’t mind.” She had no doubt that if she had a family to call her, he’d be just as understanding.

With a grateful smile, he turned back around, leaning against the railing before bringing the phone up to his ear. “Hey, Maise. What’s up?”

Settling back in the chair, Eve looked out into the trees, happy for a chance to think before they continued their conversation. So much had happened in the last thirty hours or so, and she hadn’t yet had a chance to wrap her head around all of it.

Jonathan straightened so abruptly, she yelped in surprise. “ What? ” Bewilderment saturated his voice. In that single word, he sounded utterly lost.

Eve fought her way out of the tangled blanket, launching herself from the chair and across the porch. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Not even seeming to hear her, Jonathan held the phone against his ear in a death grip. “I—I don’t...” He didn’t sound a thing like himself, the words hollow, his usual confidence and strength nowhere to be found.

The phone fell from his hand, clattering against the ground. “Jonathan, what—shit!” His legs gave out, and she caught him as best she could, getting his arm wrapped around her shoulders. “Come on,” she said, half-dragging him toward the chair she’d abandoned as best she could. “That’s it.”

It took some major finagling, especially given how much taller and heavier he was than her. She was out of breath by the time she helped him through a semi-controlled collapse into the chair. Squatting down between his legs, she grabbed his hands, trying to get him to look at her. His skin was cold as ice. “Jonathan? What’s happening? What can I do?”

His unfocused eyes stared in the vague direction of her face, but he didn’t seem to see her at all.

Not sure what else to do, she ran back across the porch, snatching his phone up off the floor. Thank God the call hadn’t ended; she could hear the person on the other end screaming Jonathan’s name. “Hello? What’s going on? I think Jonathan’s in shock or something.”

“Oh, thank fuck,” the woman said, literally crying with relief. “I thought he was alone. Can you help him? Who is this?”

“Eve.” Realizing that probably meant nothing to Jonathan’s sister, she added, “His girlfriend.”

Maisie was silent for a few seconds. “Girlfriend,” she repeated, genuine wonder in her voice. “He’s never had a girlfriend before.”

“Not important right now,” Eve said, trying to get the woman back on track. “What’s going on? What do I need to do?”

The sound of crying came through the phone again. “I’m his sister, Maisie,” she said, struggling to get the words out through her tears. “ Our dad—he’s—he—” She dissolved into a fit of sobs, unable to say anything more.

Eve’s whole body went numb. No. Please God, don’t do this to him.

“This is Maisie’s husband, Sean,” a new voice said. Though grief filled each word, he at least wasn’t crying. “I’m so sorry we have to meet this way.” He sighed. “Jonathan and Maisie’s dad had a heart attack an hour ago. Their mom gave him CPR while she waited for the paramedics to get here, but there was nothing any of them could do. He passed on before they arrived.”