11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Evie

The wind blows outside, and I am glad I decided to bring a hat and scarf. I can see the ice rink in the distance from the parking lot. Jess sent me a text earlier saying to make sure I was on time. I couldn't help but laugh because Jessica is usually the late one.

I look at my phone and let out a sigh as I don't see anyone else here yet; I'm a few minutes early.

I slowly take a deep inhale and exhale, trying to calm my racing heart.

How do I handle things now that Jamie told me he's in love with me? There was a time that I would've died to hear those words from him. So many times before he left, I thought he would say them. Moments that I could see how he felt when he looked at me and at the little things he did for me.

But instead of telling me he loved me, he left me.

"UGH! That man." I rub my hands up and down my face, making my hat move and messing up my hair. I blow out a breath and will my pounding heart to calm down. I pull down the sun visor to see my reflection.

The eyes staring back at me are not the composed ones of Evelyn O'Connell; they are this new person that I've become since Jamie has been back and messing with my emotions. I see a spark of anger flare and I settle into this feeling. Anger is so much easier to handle than the desire to throw myself in Jamie's arms and kiss him senseless.

But what if I do that and he leaves again?

I was devastated when he left, and my heart had just started to mend when he came home. I need to keep up my guard around him, but I have to find a way to live with him in my life.

I give my hat one last adjustment and close the visor. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a car pulling in next to me, and I turn to see Jamie's handsome profile. My heart leaps, and I put a hand over my chest as if that will somehow prevent it from bursting through my ribcage. He looks toward me, and a crooked smile crosses his lips as his gaze meets mine.

I quickly turn away, my stomach swooping. I take another deep breath and very slowly blow it out.

My phone vibrates and I look to see a text from Jessica.

Jessica: Something came up at the last minute with my publisher, and I need to head into a meeting with her. You can handle this for me, right?

I roll my eyes. Yeah, right, she has a meeting.

Jessica: You're the best! Thank you!

My best friend may think she's being subtle, but I know exactly what she's doing, and I'm not happy about it. Ever since Sean's call with Jamie in my office, she and Sean have been playing this little matchmaking game. Needless to say, I am not thrilled.

If I wasn't the maid of honor for her wedding, I may have taken a hiatus from my friend and ignored her. I know she would've hunted me down, but I like the idea.

I close the car door behind me and look up to see Jamie staring at his phone.

"Don't tell me." He looks up suddenly at my voice, his eyes wide. "Sean can't make it, he has a call with his manager."

The smile that creases his lips tells me that's exactly what happened. "How did you know that?"

"Jessica sent me a text a few minutes ago with the same message." I shake my head and walk over to him. "You know what they're doing, right?"

"Would it be so bad if that's what they were up to?" He asks, his voice quiet as his eyes roam over my face. My body temperature rises at the softness in his eyes, and for a split second, I let my guard down and let my love for this man consume me.

His gaze falls to mine, and my breath catches at the adoration I see pouring from them. His crooked smile has my heart off to the races. I'm going to have to find out exactly where it ran to later because right now, I couldn't move my feet if I tried.

"You look beautiful." He takes a step toward me, and for a second, I panic, wondering if he's going to kiss me, but more so because I want him to. Instead, he puts his arm out toward the ice rink. "Shall we?"

I do the only thing I can do at the moment and nod. When I don't step forward, he turns back to me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I say in a high-pitched voice. I clear my throat and try again. "I'm fine."

His smile brightens, and my heart, which apparently found its way back into my chest, stutters. I take a step forward and feel Jamie walking beside me. I have never been so aware of someone standing next to me as I am at this moment. I try to make myself relax but my stiff body isn't listening to my brain.

I glance over at the man next to me. This Jamie Stewart is not the person I remember. In fact, I am not sure that I've ever seen this version of Jamie. This version has an intensity to him that I haven't encountered, and that intensity is all focused on me.

Actually, that's not true. I have seen this version briefly, but it always had to do with his job. Jamie has a passion for work and loves what he does. He's also one of the best in his field.

My stomach swoops and swirls at the same time as I realize that I've become a hacker who Jamie needs to track. There is no one better than him at uncovering the clues left behind to lead him to his target.

With Jessica and Sean's help, I'm a sitting duck.

How will I avoid getting myself ensnared in his web?

But the questions that terrify me most are those I can't shake from my entire being.

What if I want him to catch me?

And what would happen if I let him?

When we get to the ice rink, Jacob, the owner, is waiting for us with his hand outstretched.

"Hi, Jacob. Thank you for meeting up with us."

"Thank you for coming! I'm so very excited that Sean wants to hold an event here. Didn't he do a movie where he was a hockey player?"

"He did," Jamie responds. "He made me take lessons with him."

I let out a surprised laugh. "That's right! I remember that. You were sore for what seemed like weeks."

Jamie looks over at me with warmth in his eyes, making my knees weak. "Try months. But rubbing on the Arnica lotion you suggested helped." A small smile sits on my face as I remember him sitting in my office complaining about Sean trying to kill him with the training.

As I stare into his warm brown eyes, I feel myself getting lost as memories of our time together run through my mind like a slide show. The memory of being under the mistletoe with him rushes back, and I find my gaze falling to his lips. My heart is pounding so hard it's the only thing I hear. I glance back up to his eyes to find his gaze on my lips. I swallow hard and feel my body leaning toward him.

I hear someone clear their throat, and my head snaps back to Jacob, who has a smirk on his face. I feel my face get hot, and I loosen my scarf. Completely embarrassed with myself and a bit annoyed at my body's response where Jamie is concerned, it takes me a moment to remember where I am and what I'm doing.

Oh yes, I'm at the rink for Sean and Jessica. We're figuring out the party details. "Where should we start?" I ask, slightly breathless.

"Let's go inside and look at some pictures of previous events. Then we'll walk around the rink, and you can tell me where you'd like things set up. How does that sound?"

"Sounds good to me," I nod and glance over to Jamie, who has his eyes directed at me and is still looking at my mouth. "Jamie?"

"I'll follow your lead." He pulls his eyes to me, and a crooked grin slides across his mouth before he looks toward Jacob.

"Let's head inside then." Jacob starts heading toward the building, and I follow. I can feel Jamie's presence behind me. His hand is hovering over my lower back, and as much as I want to tell him to stop, I don't want him to. I like the way it makes me feel cherished.

Jamie has always been kind and considerate. But this is the first time he is acting this way in front of others. I feel my face heat for the second time as I think of Jacob clearing his throat. Thank goodness he was here, otherwise I would've been kissing Jamie senseless.

When Jamie and I were dipping our toes in being in a relationship before, everything was careful. He treated me as if I might run at any time, but now, he is letting it be known that I am being pursued.

It's unnerving and exhilarating. Every part of me is humming, and I must admit that if this is the version of Jamie that keeps showing up, my heart doesn't stand a chance.