2. Eve

Chapter 2

Eve

The late afternoon sun pours its golden light through the tall windows of my gallery, catching on curves of glass sculptures and illuminating oils and acrylics lining the walls. I love this time of day, when the world quiets down and each piece in this space seems to come alive, whispering their stories to anyone who dares to stop and listen.

Owning an exclusive gallery in Silver Spoon Falls was supposed to be the culmination of my dreams and a chance to showcase the art I adore in a place as charming and secluded as this. But sometimes, the silence can be a little too resounding, making me realize just how private I’ve let my life become. It wasn’t so bad when I first moved here, still riding the rush of opening a new chapter.

Shortly after moving to the small Texas town, I got lucky enough to meet Raven Sterling. One day, she came in to buy a painting, and the next thing I knew, she was my new best friend.

In true Raven fashion, she’d invited me to the club her husband owns without really explaining what I was walking into. Intrigued, and admittedly a bit bored, I’d decided why the hell not? I could use some adventure in my solitary life. When I discovered The Sterling Rope is an exclusive BDSM club, I was intrigued. Figuring I’d use a membership as a way to combat my boredom and network with the wealthy residents in town, I jumped at the chance to join.

Since then, I’ve found a nice rhythm to things, even if the right partner hasn’t materialized. The club and its events offer a tantalizing escape whenever I crave it. But I’m still a spectator, a virgin spectator. I’ve been watching and learning, figuring I’d be ready if the Silver Spoon Falls water does its trick and drops my perfect soulmate right into my lap.

The buzz of my phone snaps me out of my reverie. I reach for it, smiling despite myself as I see Raven’s smiling face on the screen.

“Hey, stranger,” I greet, perching on a stool in the corner of the gallery, surrounded by empty frames that always seem to hold potential. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I’m just calling to remind you that the annual bachelor auction is this weekend.” Raven’s voice thrums through my earbuds, light and melodic. I can picture her now, likely managing a hundred things at once with the impeccable grace she wears like a second skin.

“I haven’t forgotten,” I reply, staring out the window. “Are there any good bachelors up for auction?”

“Oh, girl,” Raven teases, laughter shadowing her words. “I’ve heard there might be someone very interesting.”

My networking antenna goes up. “Who?” I quip back, trying to remember if I’ve heard of any new residents.

“You’ll have to show up to see.” She knows my curiosity will get the best of me.

“Alright, alright,” I concede, grinning at her persistence though she can’t see it. “I’ll be there. I could use a distraction this weekend, anyway.”

“Great! Who knows?” Raven’s tone lifts as if she’s already certain of some untold outcome. “This might be the year you finally find someone interesting enough to keep you entertained.”

“You’re relentless, you know that?” I chuckle, though warmth spreads in my chest at the thought. “But I love you anyway.”

“I love you, too. It’s why I want to see you happy.”

“I am happy.” My words aren’t very convincing.

We wrap up the call with promises to catch up at the auction, and I’m left sitting in the whispers of the gallery, pondering the weekend ahead. I can’t ignore the thread of anticipation starting to weave its way through my otherwise pretty boring life.

The Sterling Rope's bachelor auction is renowned for its unpredictability. Maybe this time, I’ll let myself dive deeper, and shed some of the caution that feels both like armor and a cage.

I glance around at the art surrounding me, each piece a reminder of beauty created from chaos, the stories waiting to unfold. Maybe it’s time I embrace a little chaos of my own, step out from behind the curated serenity of my life, and let the unexpected find me.

With that thought in mind, I push myself to my feet and close up a little early. I need to find the perfect dress for this weekend.

A new chapter waits on the horizon, and who knows? Saturday’s bachelor auction may just be the beginning of a very interesting story.

I step into Curvology, the boutique dedicated to curvy, fashionable women. Any time I need something special to wear, I head here first.

“Good afternoon!” Skye beams as I enter, her enthusiasm radiating off her. The shop’s interior is a celebration of curves and confidence, an atmosphere welcoming the unique beauty of every woman. Skye, Letty, and Jazzy are the trio behind the magic here, and I adore their sense of style.

“Hey, girl!” I reply, tossing my hair back with a grin. “Do you have any new fabulous, bordering on scandalous dresses?”

“We do.” She smirks, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “We got some killer new pieces in last week.”

“You’re speaking my language,” I say, glancing toward the racks. “I need something very special for the bachelor auction this weekend.”

“Darling, you need something that screams ‘Come and get me!’” Skye declares, moving to the nearest rack. “Come on, let’s find you the perfect dress.”

As she starts rifling through the options, I let myself relax in the vibrant atmosphere. Skye’s energy is contagious, always making it easy to forget the stresses of running my gallery, dealing with small-town whispers, or just trying to navigate everyday life.

“Ah-ha! I think I found it.” She pulls out a slinky, black dress that shimmers under the store lights. “This is it. Trust me.”

I raise an eyebrow, smirking. “Then I definitely want to try it. I want to wow this weekend.”

“Eve, you could wear a garbage bag and walk down a runway, you’re so freaking gorgeous.” She laughs and leads me to the dressing rooms in the back of the store. “Try it on.”

As I slip it on, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The dress hugs my curves in all the right places, highlighting my figure in a way that feels both empowering and thrilling. I turn, checking the fit from all angles, and I can’t help but grin. Damn, I look good.

“Skye!” I call out, stepping out of the fitting room to reveal the dress. “What do you think?”

She gasps audibly, eyes practically bulging. “Holy hell! You look like a bombshell! You’ll stop traffic in that.”

“Exactly what I was aiming for.” I smile as a thrill courses through me. “I’ll take it.”

“Oh, I have the perfect pair of earrings that will match your vibe. And don’t even get me started on shoes.” She bounces over to a different display, her energy infectious.

As we continue to experiment, I find myself wrapped up in laughter and excitement.

Once I'm fully decked out, I step in front of the mirror again, taking in the whole picture. I don’t just look good; I feel it, radiating from the inside out.

Skye claps her hands and twirls around, giddy. “You are going to own that auction, Eve! Let me get those earrings for you.”

“Thanks, Skye. For everything.”

I smile back at my reflection, but I know, deep down, I’m more eager now than I’ve been in ages.