Chapter 24

Evie

Ilace up my running shoes, my heart pounding with excess stamina. It's a beautiful afternoon, the late-day chill perfect for a run as I step out onto the quiet street.

Adam suggested I stay at his place until the wedding. It would give us a chance to learn each other's habits and prepare for the onslaught of questions sure to come our way. He'll make arrangements to retrieve my bags from the hotel in Merced.

For a moment, I thought he was looking for excuses to spend more time together. Then he reminded me that the bride is a federal officer.

"We need to keep our stories straight in case we're cornered separately," he'd said.

He made it sound like a police interrogation.

"Are we crime suspects?" I quipped, giving myself a mental slap. No one my age would ever jump to my ridiculous conclusion. I'm many years older than Adam. He could be with a woman twenty years my junior.

And yet, with age comes honed intuition.

Unless I'm going crazy—which given my recent choices is a distinct possibility—there's a genuine and intense attraction, from both sides.

Things with Adam are becoming confusing. I need to recalibrate which is why I decided to go for a run.

At first, the rhythmic slapping of my feet against the pavement helps clear my mind. But as I find my stride, my thoughts drift back to the electrifying kiss.

The memory plays on a loop, each detail vividly etched in my brain. The way his lips brushed against mine, the warmth of his touch, and the overwhelming surge of emotions that coursed through my veins. It was a moment that took me by surprise, leaving me breathless and craving more.

I spend the hour-long run consumed by swirling thoughts and unanswered questions. So much for clearing my mind.

Exhausted and sweaty, I return to the house, my body screaming with both fatigue and exhilaration. I notice the empty driveway. Adam's car is gone and the Porsche is still at The Rocky Roastery.

I knock. When no one answers, I let myself in with the code Adam gave me. I pass through the foyer and down the hall, neither seeing nor hearing Adam. He must be out on an errand. Good thing, as I need a shower desperately.

In my room, I reach for my phone, intending to check for any missed calls or messages. But as I press the power button, the screen remains dark and lifeless.

Plugging it into the charger, I wait anxiously for it to come back to life. After several minutes, it's still dead. A bolt of panic fills me.

I'm alone in the wilderness with no cell signal. The likelihood of a house phone is slim. No one Adam's age bothers with landlines. I never thought to ask him how to log in to his Wi-Fi so I can't access email either.

Any lingering benefits from the run vanish as I realize if something were to happen to me, no one would ever know.

"Get a grip," I tell myself,

I fight to stop my downward spiral. Surely, Adam will be back soon. This is nothing like that other time. With Marco.

I mean, the only connection is a dead phone. So, why am I thinking about that awful incident now?

Because I met someone I truly care about.

With determination, I undress and get into the shower. Adam is not Marco, I tell myself emphatically. Far from it. By the time I get out, I feel more relaxed, the scent of the sandalwood body wash filling the bathroom. I wipe off the mirror's condensation, studying myself, annoyed with my earlier panic attack. Even if Adam is now on his way to Hawaii, I would manage if something went wrong. I'd find a neighbor, use their phone, get to my car and drive back to the hotel. I am not helpless. Not anymore.

"Evie?"

My body fills with relief hearing Adam's voice. He's here. He hasn't left me.

"I'll be right out!" I shout, my entire mood shifting in an instant.

"I picked up some wine and cheese. It's movie night!" Then, "Your bag is outside the door."

Sure enough, my suitcase is there. Either Adam drove all the way to Merced to pick it up or he hired a magical delivery service.

I know my insecurities need attention, but now is not the time. I extract my makeup kit and dab on some tinted moisturizer, two coats of mascara, lip gloss and at the last minute, a spritz of perfume, aware I am acting like a schoolgirl with a burning crush. It's date night and I am going to be ready.