A Prior Engagement (12 page)

“What kind of guy would I be if I did that?”

“The kind of guy that allows a girl to thank him for all of his generosity. You paid for the subway and the cruise. If you let me get this, I’ll let you get the cab ride back.”

“No subway then?”

“I think I’ve had enough excitement tonight.”

He leaned forward as the waiter left with her credit card and whispered, “By the way, before you think I’m some knight in shining armor, you should know the cruise is free. You just have to make a reservation. The cruise is courtesy of our tax dollars and the city of New York.”

“I had no idea. That’s actually really cool.” She still didn’t feel bad paying for dinner. It even made her feel more independent.

They were quiet again during the taxi ride to her home. As they neared the Upper East Side, William scooted a little closer, trying to be nonchalant. “I had a memorable night with you. I hope you feel the same and we can do it again soon.”

She took his hand, pulling it onto her lap, and closed the small gap between them. Starting to feel tired, she rested her head on his shoulder. “I would love to.”

The cab pulled up to the curb in front of her building and Joe the overnight doorman was prompt to open the door. “Good evening, Miss Wright and Mr . . . Oh.”

Evie interrupted, “Good evening, Joe.” She turned back to face William. “Thank you for an amazing night. I’ll never forget it.”

“May I have your number?” William asked, feeling timid now.

She smiled as she took his phone from him and added her name and then her number to his contacts list.

It was now or never, he thought. William dragged his sweating palms down his thighs and tried to smile at her though his nerves were getting the better of him. Although he never remembered being this nervous with a girl before, he went for it anyway. Slowly, he leaned toward her, closing his eyes, and kissed her. She didn’t pull away which he took as a good sign, so he slid his hand up her bare neck and came to a stop on the side of her jaw. His fingertips disappeared into her silky hair and he pressed his lips a bit firmer against hers.

Evie tilted her head, feeling a rush of emotion fill her heart, and though she wanted to deepen the kiss, neither of them did. They kept it innocent and sweet, perfect for the pace of their relationship.

As they pulled away, she was the last to reopen her eyes. “I’ll see you soon,” he said in a hushed voice for her ears only.

Without realizing she did it, she closed her eyes and touched her lips unaware of her audience: the cab driver, Joe, and William. When she opened them again, she and William exchanged one last knowing smile before she got out and ran into the lobby. She dashed upstairs and into her room, locked the door, and melted against it, sliding to the floor. She could still feel the pressure and heat of William’s lips, of his kiss on hers. She smiled and giggled, feeling lightheaded and giddy thinking of him and that perfect kiss they shared.

William leaned back, sinking into the back seat as Joe shut the door and the taxi took off into traffic, but he stopped the driver one block up. “I’ll get out here.” He could barely afford the current fare, so he paid the cabbie and walked the remaining fourteen blocks home to save money, thinking of Evie, and smiling the entire way.

Chapter 10

The next day, Everleigh walked into Rock Center Cafe and approached the hostess stand, “Can you please tell me if Mr. Whitney has arrived?”

The hostess scanned her reservations list, and looked back up. “No, he hasn’t.”

“Thank you. I’ll wait over here.” Everleigh turned and went to sit by the window. She felt sick to her stomach thinking of the mess she’s created with William. With her mind preoccupied, she dragged the cage pendent back and forth along the chain of the necklace. She just wanted a friend, a study buddy, but she got so much more. William had already become important to her in such a short time that she knew she was in deep. Guilt engulfed her in the last twenty-four hours. Last night, she overstepped propriety. But when she was with William, all of her problems, Tom and her family washed away, and she lived in the moment. She also found she was whom she always wanted to be when she was with him.

Tom walked in and spotted her, greeting her with a kiss on her cheek then pulling her by the hand up to the hostess stand. “Thomas Whitney, table for two at twelve-thirty.” Tom was still in business mode. The formality struck her in direct contrast to last night.

The hostess winked at him, disregarding Everleigh altogether, and spoke to Tom. “Follow me.”

They were seated in the middle of the restaurant and as Everleigh took her menu in hand, she asked, “How’s your day?”

“Our new CFO is paranoid thinking there’s going to be a takeover. He’s been on a war path, but it’s being handled.”

She looked over the top of the menu at him. “Sounds worrisome.”

“It’s nothing for you to be concerned about. We’re a profitable company that’s very attractive to outside parties. Of course, investors will be looking to buy us out. I take it as a compliment. We’re too smart to let a takeover happen though. What looks good for lunch?”

Everleigh felt more like one of his employees instead of his fiancée by the tone he was using. Although typical, it was still disappointing. “I’m thinking the pasta with blackened chicken—”

The waiter walked up to greet them, and Tom said, “I think you should order the grilled fish. It’s much lighter.”

Embarrassed by his insinuation in front of the waiter, Everleigh sat there inwardly fuming.

“Are you ready to order, sir?” the waiter asked.

“Yes. I’ll have the Chicken Pasta Frizole and she’ll have the grilled halibut with steamed vegetables. Two iced teas and no breadbasket.” Tom handed the menus to the waiter, proud of his choices.

Leaning forward with her hands tucked on her lap, under her breath she accused him. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“What, the fish? Seriously, Everleigh, that’s what has you upset?” Tom chuckled, adjusting his napkin on his lap and scoping out the restaurant clientele to see if he recognized anyone. This is what he did. He liked to be seen. He liked showing off his possessions and Everleigh knew that’s exactly what she was to him—a possession.

“Stop telling me what can and can’t upset me! That was rude and embarrassing. I wanted the chicken not the fish and you disregarded my desires and ordered what you thought I should eat.”

Tom turned back to focus his full attention on her. He was demanding as he gritted his teeth together. “Everleigh, you will not speak to me like this—”

“I will, damn it!” She raised her voice higher than she intended. “You are twenty-six, not sixty. You are not my parent. You can talk to me like a normal person, like your equal.”

“I treat you like a child because that is how you act. You’ve been petulant and irresponsible. You have to earn respect, Everleigh. All you’ve shown me recently is that you need discipline, and with that, punishment. That’s all you’ve earned.”

“I’m already being punished. I live in Hell. It can’t get worse than this!” Her eyes welled with tears.

He leaned forward resting one of his hands on the table while the other took her hand in his. After he brought her hand to his mouth, he kissed it. “You don’t know what Hell is, but keep this up and you will soon find out.”

She yanked her hand away like she had been burned. “You can’t destroy me anymore than you have. I’m nothing when I’m with you!”

“Be careful what you say next. I’m warning you now, Everleigh, the wedding is on the line here. I don’t care how many years I’ve invested in you.”

She stood up in protest, but managed to speak in her normal tone. “Invested? I’m not a business acquisition that shows profits and losses. I’m a person. And please don’t threaten me with the wedding. That’s not a threat. That would be a dream come true.” She threw her napkin on the empty plate in front of her and hurried through the crowded restaurant and out the front door.

She ran to her left back into the heart of Manhattan and away from this part of town as fast as she could as crazy thoughts flooded her mind. Hailing a cab, she jumped in as soon as one pulled to the curb to make her escape from Tom. She leaned forward, giving the cabbie directions to the park near her home.

With her thoughts frenzied, she took her phone out and called William on a whim. He didn’t answer, but she left a message asking him to join her. She knew she shouldn’t have, but she needed the comfort only he could provide.

The sight of this part of the park calmed her anxiety over the fight with Tom. She paid the cab driver and started walking. Just as she found a vacant park bench, she received a text from him:

William:
Five minutes until lunch. I’ll bring subs and meet you there.

Evie:
I’ll wait for you.

The bench was dirty, but she didn’t care. Her mind was weighed down with more important issues today. He didn’t keep her waiting long, explaining he was close to the area when she called. There was more silence than words in the beginning because he could tell she was troubled and he didn’t want to push.

As they ate, she debated whether she should tell him about her first lunch of the day. But she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. She enjoyed her time with him and didn’t want to ruin it, so she remained quiet on the matter. It was a conversation they needed to have, but she was not ready to risk
this
. . . this . . . what they were sharing right now. She took another bite of her sandwich and said, “This is good.”

William still found it amusing and intriguing that she ate such normal foods like it was the first time she had ever eaten them—first the pizza and now the sandwich. Surely, she’s had a sub sandwich before. “Do you eat many subs?”

“Not really. I had a nanny who used to take me to a local deli and we would share one. I liked that nanny.”

William thought most of her stories about her childhood seemed gloomy though he didn’t think she meant them that way.

“Does your mom make dinner?”

“Ha! No, but we found the best French chef two years ago. He is amazing.” Her mood brightened as she said this.

William laughed with a full mouth of food, but quickly covered it so as not to be gross before he grabbed his drink to wash it down. After he stopped laughing, he asked, “Have you ever eaten a hotdog from a street cart?”

“No. I was never allowed.” Evie’s expression turned serious. She looked down at the crumbs left on the sandwich wrapper. “Please don’t make fun of me.”

“I’m sorry if it came across as teasing. I wasn’t making fun of you at all. I’m just surprised by how untainted you are by the real world—”

“Oh, I’m tainted more than you know.”

“You say things like that, but never elaborate. And, a lot of time, I see sadness in your eyes. Are you sad, Evie?”

She felt his eyes heavy on her. He was searching for answers she couldn’t give him, not yet, at least. “I have things in my life to be sad about, yes. But not when I’m with you.” She said this with conviction.

Her little confession surprised him. “You’re the most honest person I think I’ve ever met. Don’t ever change.” William reached across the bench to touch her hand, but she tucked it to her side.

Feeling the sting of rejection, he wasn’t quite sure what went wrong between them in the preceding moments.

Tears filled her eyes again for the second time today, but this time for very different reasons. She knew she hadn’t been honest with him and she hated herself for lying. The guilt was consuming her. Just as a tear escaped and rolled down her cheek, she stood and announced, “I have to go.” Picking her purse up, she thanked him for lunch before she rushed away.

Evie made it about ten feet before she was grabbed and pulled against his chest. He held her tighter than she had ever been held. She couldn’t escape him if she wanted, but she didn’t want to, so she stopped trying and relaxed within the safety of his arms, letting him envelop her.

His heart beat strong as she breathed in his scent, a combination of soap and a light sweat, made her a bit lightheaded. She wanted as much of him as she could get right then, but her reality was a dark cloud hanging over her. She took a deep breath as William stroked her hair, gaining her strength to fight all the good in the feelings he brought out in her.