Evie shrugged into her peach jacket, covering her little black dress with a gold belt. She was wearing a pair of black sandals that had cutouts all the way to her ankles. She thought she looked poised and elegant while still having a trace of attitude.
King was back in his familiar suit, which Evie had to admit she preferred. She felt comforted, as if he could keep her safe and handle anything she didn’t want to. She liked the feeling of femininity she felt around him. She had hidden from it for a long time, and now she wanted to feel like that near him.
She locked the door then King took her arm, leading her down the sidewalk to his car and opening the door for her. After she’d slid inside the front seat, he closed her door then walked around the car to get behind the driver’s wheel.
“That a first for you?”
King laughed. “Are you implying I’m missing Henry?”
“Are you?”
“Yes, but not for the work. We’ve spent many hours together over the years, so it’s like my left arm is missing.”
“It’s going to be an adjustment for you.”
“For Henry, too. He’s already called to check on me six times.”
“I’ll have to call him and tell him I’ll keep an eye on you.”
“Are you trying to relieve him or make him worry more?”
Evie laughed. “Both.”
King pulled into the parking lot of the Pink Slipper.
“In the space of five minutes, you can drive from one end of Treepoint to the other unless you get caught by the only red light in town.”
“It is small. That’s why the Pink Slipper is so busy tonight; it’s the only restaurant in town with a liquor license,” she told him when he couldn’t find a parking space in the crowded lot.
“So far,” King said, getting out of the car. Evie gave him a startled look when he opened her door. He took her hand, helping her out of the car. “I’m thinking of giving them some competition.”
“I thought you were retiring?”
“I have no plans to open a strip club, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’m thinking of something like this, a restaurant with a bar.”
“That’s good because your chances of opening a strip club in Treepoint are nil. I don’t even believe some of these people get naked when they have sex.” Evie’s voice had dropped to a whisper as they entered the club.
“Oh, I think they do,” King said, staring around the busy restaurant.
“I don’t know,” Evie continued to tease him as the hostess showed them to an intimate table.
Once seated, Evie stared across at King, admiring his harsh, good looks while the waitress took their drink order.
“When did you start drinking wine again?”
Evie looked down at her hands, adjusting her utensils. “I’m trying to cut back on the hard liquor. I’m not getting any younger. Did you know excessive drinking can age you?”
King took a drink of whiskey, his amused expression gentle. “You look beautiful. You don’t look a day over twenty-one.”
“Liar.” She rolled her eyes at his transparent compliment.
The waitress took their dinner order at that moment. Once she’d left, Evie watched King enviously as she took a sip of her wine, wincing at the taste just as his eyes sharpened at something over her shoulder. She was about to turn when a familiar voice greeted them. While Evie’s stomach lurched as she gazed up into her sister’s face, Merrick came to his wife’s side, sliding his arm protectively around her waist. Evie’s lips tightened, her hand clenching the wine glass, threatening to snap the fragile stem.
“Evie.”
“Pastor Patterson.” Evie refused to acknowledge her sister.
“I haven’t seen you in church since I’ve gotten here. Lucky said you were a faithful parishioner when he was pastor.”
Evie decided to be truthful. “I’ve decided to go to the church in Jamestown.” She almost regretted her bluntness when she saw the hurt look on Merrick’s face. He was a nice man--too nice--and he was completely blind to his wife’s faults.
“I’m sorry to hear that. I was hoping you and Brooke would overcome your childhood arguments now that you are older. Brooke has sent numerous invitations for dinner; the least you could do is respond. Evie, it is your niece that she is carrying. We really would like our baby to get to know her mother’s twin.”
Evie ignored King’s body tensing across the table at Merrick’s cutting words.
“I don’t think that’s going to be possible, Pastor. I’m afraid I haven’t reached the point of turning the other cheek.”
“Evie, that was uncalled for.” Brooke’s tearful voice drew both men’s eyes, one more discerning than the other.
“I see I was wrong in trying to make an effort to encourage Brooke to make an attempt of reconciliation. I hope your new church can give you what you need.”
“I hope you take those blinders off, Merrick. I truly wish you the best.” Evie was sincere; she wouldn’t wish Brooke on her worst enemy, much less a man like Merrick who deserved better.
“Let’s go, darling. I told you it was useless.” Brooke gave King a sweet smile before turning into her husband’s protective arm as he led her away from the table.
“The check I had done on her doesn’t do her justice. The poor bastard.”
“Why did you run a check on her?” Evie made herself lower her voice.
“Don’t be angry, but I had you checked out, too.”
Evie started to smart off then closed her mouth. “We had you checked out, too, but you knew that, just as I should have. So, you already knew my past before I told you?”
“Some of it, yes, but I became curious after you told me what happened. It didn’t match the report I was given, so I looked into it further. That’s when I discovered one of the men’s testimonies about Brooke’s involvement.”
“You already knew about Levi before I told you?”
King nodded his head.
“You want to know the ironic part? She did it to break up my friendship with Shade, and it only strengthened it. She was angry we were stationed together. I wouldn’t have made it through those days after Levi was killed if I hadn’t had him to lean on.”
“I’m glad he was there for you.” Evie saw the truth in his eyes.
“She has the life I wanted. Levi and I were going to get married and make a family together. She never wanted kids, though. She hated them.”
“Evie…”
At that moment, the waitress brought their food, and thankfully, the topic was changed, but the lighthearted atmosphere was gone. Evie managed to take a couple of bites yet couldn’t force herself to take another drink of the appalling wine.
King motioned for the waitress to bring the ticket, giving her his credit card.
“Finish eating. I’ll be fine in a minute.”
“Yours isn’t the only appetite she ruined,” he said, signing the check and rising to his feet.
They drove back to her house in silence. “King, I...” she started when they got to her door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Evie.” His mouth brushed her lips before he stepped back, going to his car. He waited until she was inside before pulling out of her driveway. She had been tempted to invite him in but had not wanted to return to her habit of using sex to escape the pain of her past.
Evie went into the living room, sitting down on the couch and staring into space.
King had irrevocably changed her; all she could think of was wanting him. She had missed him and wanted to touch him. None of that had to do with missing Levi. She was tired and aggravated at Brooke, but she didn’t feel like sitting and thinking about the past; it had finally lost its grim hold on her.
Evie got off the couch and went to bed.
* * *
Monday’s were always busy days. She was returning a file to the office when she looked out into the lobby to see Beth sitting there. Evie opened the door, motioning her back.
“I didn’t know
you had an appointment today with Dr. Jones.” She caught the brief twinge of pain Beth tried to hide.
“I didn’t. I haven’t been feeling well, so I thought I would get Dr. Jones to check me out. I know I’m probably just being paranoid, though.”
“I have a room available. Go on inside, and I’ll tell the doctor you’re here.” Evie went to the nurse and passed along the message.
Beth was carrying twins, and while she had a naturally-fair complexion, she seemed pale to Evie. She went into the exam room she had placed Beth in, going to the cabinet.
“I’m going to get some blood work on you, Beth, while we wait for the doctor.”
“Okay.” As her friend’s worried gaze caught hers, Evie swallowed, forcing herself to focus. She had been trained to maintain a profession demeanor, yet Beth had become a close friend. She had become more of a sister to her than her own twin.
When Dr. Jones came in, her eyes showed the same concern as Evie’s. Both women worked together to check Beth out then talked silently outside before going back in to Beth.
“Beth, I’m putting you on bed rest.”
“Before you freak out,” Evie started, “I’ll take over your patients for the rest of the week. Besides, you’re already training Dayton to take over for you while you’re on maternity leave anyway.”