7. Eden

SEVEN

eden

In light of this news, I've come to a conclusion.

Karma is not a purring cat for me.

Nope, it's more like a hissing, spitting alley cat.

What the hell am I going to do now?

Not only am I not going to outrun the storm, but I have nowhere to stay.

In a hurricane.

As an event planner, I know better than to think huge events like the charity ball go off without a hitch. But really, who expects their keynote speaker to get hit by a starlet with a drinking problem?

And whose last resort is one of the most popular baseball pitchers in history and just so happens to be my ex-boyfriend-turned-enemy?

Now, I'm stuck on this island with a hurricane bearing down on it with the man who knew every single one of my buttons to push.

Both good and bad.

I really can't make this shit up.

A giggle escapes me before I slap a hand over my mouth.

"Are you okay?" Chase asks.

The two men stare at me like they're wary of my next move and ready to bolt at the first sign of insanity.

Good thing I hide it well.

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just fine." I giggle again and this time I don't try to stop it.

I bend at the waist, my arms wrapped around my middle, and laugh until my sides ache.

The situation isn't even remotely funny. I'm fucked in so many ways. But the thought of that just makes me laugh harder.

"Eden?"

Chase's voice is full of bewilderment, like he expects me to run in circles or start drooling.

I lift up and wipe away a tear that leaked out.

Tears, Eden? Really?

My mother's voice echoes in my head. The woman has always had impeccable timing when it came to making my life hell.

Even if she is six feet under.

"I'm fine, Chase."

"You don't look fine."

The stance of his body is rigid, but his eyes are searching. "And you're doing that laugh you do when you get nervous. Or are about to lose your shit."

"Didn't I just say I was okay?"

Nate clears his throat. "I'm sorry, Eden. But I gotta agree with Chase. You don't look fine, and you're laughing like a loon. I don't know you well, but I'm not sure that's a good thing."

What is it about men when a woman says she's okay and they dispute it ?

I look over at the two men standing in front of me and shake my head.

What the hell do they know about anything in life being hard or unfair?

They are both too sinfully handsome for their own good, with women falling at their feet all the time.

They get paid millions to play a fucking game and never have to worry about losing a business due to lack of money.

Okay, that isn't fair.

I don't know much about Nate, other than what I've seen on ESPN. He keeps his private life private.

But my life is unraveling before my eyes, and logic isn't factoring in to my thought process at the moment.

Chase is right, the rat bastard. I am about to lose my shit.

I start to pace. "Oh yeah, I'm fine. Just peachy keen. I'm about to lose the business I've worked my ass off to build over the last decade because some young Hollywood star decided it would be fun to drink—underage I might add—and drive her Porsche down the PCH and hit the keynote speaker I had lined up for the biggest event my company has ever hosted."

I gesture toward Chase. "He's the only person I could think of to step in but refuses because I ran out on him after we slept together four years ago after his wife's funeral."

Lifting my arms to the sky, I continue my rant. "Now this storm is making its appearance early, closing off my escape hatch to the mainland where I'd have a bed to sleep in, which is more than I can say for this fucking island!"

My voice ends on a screech, and in the ensuing silence, I freeze and it dawns on me what I just said.

Oh. Fuck.

I drop my arms and stare at the ground, my face warm from the humiliation weighing me down .

Nate clears his throat. "Okay, yeah. I need to head home. Hunker down, guys."

Twigs and tree debris already littering the driveway crunch under Nate's footsteps as he walks away, leaving Chase and me alone with nothing but the wind and regret.

I turn to face him, but keep my gaze on the small expanse of grass between us. Grass that reminds me of his eyes depending on his mood.

"Eden, look at me."

"No, that's okay. I'll pass." I start to turn and stalk away when he catches my hand.

"Eden. Look. At. Me."

I jerk my hand from his because I can't continue to have skin-to-skin contact with him and think straight. But I bring my gaze to meet his. "What?"

Between the bill of his ball cap and the darkening of the sky overhead, it's hard to tell what his eyes are saying.

Damn it. I could always read them before—it's how I knew his moods. In Chase's case, his eyes really are the window to his soul.

Even when his soul is empty.

"I…" He rubs the back of his neck, then lifts his cap and wipes his brow before replacing it on his head. "You don't have a place to stay tonight?"

"Oh, I have a place to stay. In Jacksonville. You know, on the mainland I can't get to."

"Did you check the inns here?"

"Are you serious right now? Of course I did! How do you think I found out about your fortress out here?"

I blow out a breath and try to rein in my temper. As much as I want to blame him for my being stuck here, I can only lay part of it on him .

If he'd let me tell him what I needed from him to begin with, I'd be gone.

And if I hadn't been so arrogant as to think getting on a plane with a hurricane headed to my destination was a great idea, I'd be outta here.

Or if I'd listened when he told me no and had gone on my way, I'd be on a plane right now back to safety.

God, the what-if game sucks.

"I checked both places, and they're closed due to the storm."

My gaze wanders over to the large SUV I rented. It looks pretty sturdy, and surely it has seats that fold down.

Chase follows my gaze. "No way, Eden. There's no way you can stay in a vehicle. With the wind and rain? You're crazy."

My hands land on my hips, and I bring my chin up. "I can take care of myself. And unless you have a better solution, that's what I'll be doing. I'll go park in a parking garage."

It's a completely stupid idea, but what choice do I have?

"There aren't any parking garages around here, Eden."

Before I could blink, he closes the gap between us and stands so close to me, our chests brush. "You are not sleeping in your car. You'll stay with me. End of story."

I fall back a step, my jaw dropping. "With you? Ha, not a chance, buddy."

He rolls his eyes, his frown deepening. "Look, I'm not happy about it either. But it's the easiest and safest thing to do. You're already here."

"Why can't I stay in the guest house?"

"Because it isn't stocked for anyone to be there right now. My house manager is in North Carolina visiting family, and I didn't have her prep it for guests."

One side of his mouth quirks up. "Not to mention, when the power goes out—and it will—you'll be in the dark since it doesn't have a generator yet."

I bite my lip and look out past the house at the dark purple clouds gathering on the horizon. The storm mocks the irrational rage pulsing through my veins.

Not only do I not have a paddle for shit creek, I don't even have a canoe.

At my prolonged silence, Chase tilts his head. "I'm surprised at you, Mitchell. You'd rather sleep in a car than in a huge house with me?"

A smirk curves his lips. "Unless of course, you're afraid you won't be able to keep your hands to yourself."

I scoff, but my skin feels like I sat too long in a tanning bed. "Give me a break. I can resist you just fine, Chase."

"Well, you'd at least have all the creature comforts you're used to in that fancy penthouse of yours. Not to mention, you'd have all kinds of time trying to get me to change my mind about being your speaker."

"I don't live in a fancy penthouse," I mutter under my breath.

God, he infuriates me—thinking he knows me when he has no clue as to who I am anymore.

Well, that and the fact that he still scrambles my brain cells and sets my hormones raging.

I growl and pace away from him. I have to get away from his heat and everything about him that speaks to my baser needs.

Needs that I've been neglecting just like everything else that isn't business related. All hail the vibrator, but it can't replace the weight of a man on me.

My shoulders sag, and I lower my chin to my chest. Damn it all to hell, he's right.

With nothing sturdy like a parking garage around here, there's no way I can stay in my car. It's not only stupid, but it would be uncomfortable.

Only a fool would turn down the offer of a bed in a house that looks like it can fend off a category five hurricane without breaking a sweat.

I'm sure Chase has outfitted it with everything one would need to hide out for days on an island. Including Internet which I desperately need.

I cross my arms and turn to face him. "Fine. I'll stay here. But only if you put me in the guest room farthest from you. I don't trust you."

He smirks. "Lucky for you, I don't trust you either. I know how you feel about all this." He gestures to his chest.

Warmth spreads through my core and radiates up until my cheeks burn. "Don't flatter yourself, Hanover." I pause, not sure how to proceed without being awkward. "Thank you."

He sighs. "Well, don't thank me just yet."

"Why?"

I don't like where this is going.

"I have guest rooms, but none of them have beds."

My eyes practically fall out of my head. "What? Are you serious? Then how am I going to stay here?"

"You'll stay in my room and I'll sleep on the sofa."

I scoff. "Sleep in your bed? Oh no. I don't think so."

There's no way in hell I'll be able to sleep in his bed among his things.

Everything smelling like him.

No, no, no.

Chase shrugs a broad shoulder. "It's not really a big deal to me, Eden. You're the one making it out to be more than it is."

I put my hands on my head, doing my best not to scream.

Could this really get any worse ?

As if answering me—or maybe taunting me—thunder rumbles far in the distance.

Closing my eyes, I take a few deep breaths, trying to think rationally about the situation.

I still need to try and convince Chase to help me. It's my business on the line here. Not just my livelihood, but the livelihood of my employees. Some of them have families that depend on them.

My ego needs to take a back seat. This isn't just about me or for me.

For all of those people depending on me, I can do this. I can be under the same roof as Chase Hanover if that's what it takes to save the business.

"Right," I say, nodding and facing him again. "I need to get a few things. Is there a drugstore or something in town?"

"There's a small pharmacy in town, but it doesn't carry the fancy products I'm sure you're used to."

"Knock it off, Chase. I just need some basic things, like a toothbrush and toothpaste."

And a case of wine to get me through the night.

"Linda keeps that kind of stuff stocked."

"Who's Linda?"

"My house manager. But if you really feel the need to head to the store, there's a grocery store in town. Right off Main Street. We need some food anyway."

He picks up the drill and box of screws and starts toward his truck. I run to catch up with him. "Well, if you give me a list, I'll go get some things."

"No need. I'll go with you."

"I don't need a chaperone, Hanover."

The materials in his hand land with a clang in the bed of his truck before he turns to me. "For God's sake, Eden, I'm aware of that. Are you going to fight me at every turn?"

I look away, unable to meet his exasperated stare. My throat thickens with shame and I swallow hard before I speak. "No."

He gestures overhead. "In case you haven't noticed, we're up against a time crunch, and it'll go faster if I drive since I know where we need to go."

I don't have to like that he makes a very good point, but I need to concede it.

Think of the business, Eden. That's all that matters.

"Okay, lead the way."