The Heir and the Spare (15 page)

I eyed him before obligingly closing my eyes. He grasped my hand, making a grin fill my face. As we drove, the faint melody of holiday music filled the car. Tempted as I was, I didn't peek.

“We're here,” Edmund's voice rumbled near my ear. “Ready for your surprise?” I nodded and he continued. “Open your eyes.”

The Eiffel Tower lit up the night sky like a Christmas tree.
How beautiful.
The lights blinked on and off, creating a sparkly disco ball effect. A beam of light shot out the top.

Edmund's lips quirked up, then he whispered, “Come on.”

“But it's closed.”

The excitement in his eyes and the tenderness on his face gave me a warm, shivery sensation low in my tummy. We exited the car and I stood, looking up. “Incredible.”

“I may have called in a tiny favor.” He gestured to the tower glittering over us. “The tower, the observation deck, it's all yours for the night."

My mouth popped open, astounded he'd done this. “Are you kidding me?”

His lips curled in a sexy grin and his hand settled at the small of my back. I gasped as the electricity from his touch pinged through me.

Nothing in my life would ever be able to compare to this night, to this moment right now.

“Edmund.” My voice came out in a breathy whisper. “I . . .” I shook my head. I couldn't wrap my head around this. Tears burned in my eyes.

“This way.” He guided me to the coolest double-decker elevator I'd ever seen.

I watched the shimmering city slowly shrink as we made our ascent. The doors slid open and we stepped out.

I'm on the Eiffel Tower. With Edmund. Holy shit.

Below us, the city glimmered and gleamed in all its seasonal finery. Trees and buildings bedecked with lights and the neon glow of blinking signs lit up the sky as tiny snowflakes filled the air.

The view and the gift were overwhelming. A lump formed in my throat.
How can I possibly thank him for this
?

Facing him, I said, “No one has ever done anything this amazing for me. Thank you.” Before I knew what I was doing, I threw my arms around him. Eagerly, he returned the embrace. Pressed tightly against him, his heartbeat raced under my ear. I never wanted to let go.

Edmund leaned back, his eyes piercing mine. Softly, his fingers brushed against my cheek. I leaned into his hand.

“Has it been a good birthday?” he whispered, his nose reddening.

“The best.” I inhaled, feeling lightheaded.

He was so close I could feel his breath on my lips. It was intoxicating. I closed my eyes. If he let me go now there was no way my knees would support me.

“Evie.” My name crossed his lips on a soft breath. It was so quiet I nearly missed it.

Then it happened.

His lips grazed mine. I gasped and opened my eyes to look at him. His were shut and he slid a hand into my hair. My eyelids fluttered closed again as his mouth pressed firmly on mine.

My imaginings could never begin to compare with this. Arms threading around his neck, my fingers twined through his blond curls as sparks zapped through me.

A muffled groan escaped Edmund as he deepened the kiss. His fist clutched the back of my jacket, pulling me closer.

My senses went into overdrive, the smell of him, the taste of him, the feel of him. I was lost in everything Edmund.

The hand tangled in my hair held my lips against his. As if I'd dream of going anywhere.

A soft moan escaped my throat like a purr.
There's definitely no going back.

A few kisses later, he pulled away and rested his forehead against mine, both of us breathing heavy. My hands slid down to rest on his muscular chest. Tingles coursed all over my body, making me feel weak. I've never had a kiss do that before.

“Wow.” Edmund met my eyes with a huge grin.

His heartbeat slowly steadied under my fingertips. Reaching up, Edmund's hand found mine. He led me to the railing and put his arms around me. It felt like we were on top of the world.

Happiness surged through me. I closed my eyes, still tasting him on my lips. That had to be the best first kiss in the history of first kisses.

I opened my eyes and saw Edmund, holding his hand palm up to the sky.

“I love snow.” I stuck my tongue out, trying to catch one of the puffy white flakes. As the snow came down harder I stepped away and did a little twirl.

“Does Seattle get much snow?”

“Not really. The mountains are close, though. We hit the slopes every season,” I said as Edmund leaned back against the railing and reached for me.

“You ski then?” Catching me, he pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me again.

“I can, but I prefer snowboarding.” I reached up and brushed the icy flakes from his hair.

“Then you have to come skiing with us this year. My family always invites a group of friends to the château. The gang always comes.”

“Sounds like fun.” I cuddled up to him.
Is this really happening? Someone pinch me.

“Then that settles it, you're coming with me.” He gave me a squeeze and sighed. “As much as I hate to, I should probably get you back to your dad. I don't want him to worry. I want him to like me.”

“I don't think you have to worry. You can usually tell right away what Dad thinks of you.”

Edmund hesitated, his eyes darting away from mine. “So, what did he think of me?”

Smiling, I said, “I think he liked you.”

“I'm glad to hear it.”

“Were you worried he wouldn't?” I looked up at him. He hadn't seemed anxious in the least.

“A little," he admitted and rubbed my shoulders.

“You're so good with people, why would you worry?”

“When it really matters, I get nervous.” He kissed my forehead and took a step back, releasing me. “Before we go, you need to open your birthday present.” He handed me a small box wrapped in shiny pink wrapping paper and tied with a sheer ribbon.

“I thought this was my present.”

He shook his head with a smile. “I set this up when I talked to you earlier today. I got your present a while ago, before I knew you had a birthday coming up.”

I smiled and took the gift.

Biting the tip of my glove, I pulled it off my hand. Tearing the paper revealed a black velvet box. The lid flipped up with a snap. Inside, a small silver replica of the Eiffel Tower glinted at me. I pulled the necklace out and met his eyes.

“I noticed the one on your desk. It stuck with me, I guess. When I came across this, I thought of you. I wanted you to have it.”

I rubbed my thumb over the pendant. “My mother had a collection of Eiffel Towers. Over the years, I've continued adding to it, for her. This is perfect. I love it.” I smiled, trying not to cry. “Can you help me?”

Edmund took the necklace and waited for me to take off my heart pendant, then reached behind me, his face close to mine. I lifted my hair and he clasped his gift around my neck.

“It looks lovely.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Leaning down, he pressed his lips softly to mine once more. It was sweet and sexy and perfect.

With winter break over and classes resumed, things were difficult. Edmund and I hadn't talked about Paris or our kissing. There hadn't been any repeats either. Our time together in Paris seemed as if it were captured in a snow globe of perfection. If we talked about it or even looked at it too closely, the glass would shatter.

To make matters worse, he was still very much in contact with Jax. I was even more confused about where I stood with him now.

Which is why when another student in St. John's asked me to dinner, I said yes.

“You didn't seriously just agree to go out with Theron, did you?” Suzy's mouth gaped as she watched Theron walk away. She adjusted her lime green scarf and shook her head.

“You were standing right here, you saw me say yes.” My irritation level was high and Suzy wasn't helping. Things were supposed to be different after Paris.

“It's just that, well, it's
Theron
.” She sounded worried.

“So?”

“How well do you know him?"

I shrugged. “We had a class together last term and we're in a lit class together now. He's always been friendly. What's the big deal?”

Suzy wrinkled her nose. “He has a reputation of taking things too far, way too fast. Plus, he detests Edmund.”

“I won't let things go too far.” When she didn't respond I asked, “What's his deal with Edmund?”

“I don't know exactly, but the two of them can't stand each other. Plus, I thought you and Edmund
connected
when you were in Paris.”

“Who told you that?” I was flabbergasted. I hadn't said anything to anyone, not even Abby.

“Edmund.”

My head jerked back in shock.
Why would he talk to her and not me?
“Did he say anything about it being a gigantic mistake?”

“No, why would he?” Her delicate blond brows scrunched together.

“Because things are awkward again. I just assumed he regretted it. I mean, we haven't talked about what happened at all.”

“Wait, what exactly
did
happen? I thought it was just a kiss.” Her eyes opened wide and I could tell her mind was running wild.

“No, not
that,
geez
.
Kissing, only kissing, but still . . .” I shook my head, at a loss for words.

Suzy rolled her eyes and rubbed her forehead. “Oh my God, the two of you need to get your shit sorted out. It's exhausting keeping up with you. I've got homework to do. I'll see you at dinner.”

Crap.

I watched her walk away, wanting to kick myself. I should've known better.
I'm such an idiot.
Then she stopped, turned around, and marched back to me.

“Evie, you know I love you, but someone has to say something. You're being a complete arse. If I knew Edmund liked me as much as he likes you, I wouldn't dream of dating another guy. So what if he hasn't talked to you, go and talk to him. Make the first move. Fight for him. He's worth it.” With a stiff smile, she turned and left.

I stood frozen.
Did she really just call me an arse?

Feeling like shit and beyond confused, I set off for my last class.

Once there, I slumped in my seat and tapped my pen against my lips. My memory replayed Edmund's kiss, how his mouth felt against mine, and how he held me like he never wanted to let me go. I smiled, wishing we were still in Paris.

“Is it true? You're going on a date with Theron Anderson?” Edmund slid into the seat next to mine, making me jump.

“He asked me to get dinner Friday. It's not a big deal. Who told
you
?” Suzy's words haunted me. I knew she was right.

He shook his head. “I heard Theron bragging to his mates on my floor about scoring a date with you, amongst other things.” Looking away flustered, he said, “I don't . . . I wish . . . Look, Theron's not a nice guy. I know, it seems ridiculous of me to ask this, but please . . . don't go.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You're right, it is ridiculous and hypocritical. Look at you, one moment you're kissing me and the next you're hanging out with Jax. How is my getting dinner with Theron any different?” That last part came out too loud.

Professor Roth looked our way and cleared his throat. I sunk lower in my seat, feeling the other students' eyes on me. Edmund sat straighter, meeting their stares without apology.

Kill me now.

The lights dimmed and the white board up front glowed with the first piece of art. My brain wouldn't focus. Between the twinges of embarrassment, I was trying to decide if I was flattered or furious.

We're not together. I'm not his concern. He shouldn't care. Right?

My pen angrily scratched over my paper, scribbling out a word I'd misspelled. I hadn't been excited about this date to begin with, but now I was dreading it.

I'd only accepted Theron out of sheer petulance. Now, with Suzy and Edmund both warning me, my stomach tangled itself up in worrisome knots.

Maybe I should cancel?
Then it'd look like I was doing exactly what Edmund wanted me to. I didn't want that.

This is so stupid
. I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly. It's just dinner; everything will be fine.

Theron sat across from me at a dingy pub,
still
regaling me with stories of his cricket prowess. Bored out of my mind, I took another bite of my hamburger.
I wish this evening was over
. My pajamas and half an Aero bar were calling my name. Damn my stubbornness.

I watched Theron gesture with his hands as he spoke. Some people might call him attractive with his close-cropped dark hair, green eyes, and muscled chest. But he was also on the short side. It was impossible not to compare him to Edmund.

“So, then I scored another goal . . .”

The place was packed with students. They all looked like they were having way more fun than I was.

“After that, she couldn't keep her hands off me.”

Every story he shared ended this way. He was one of those guys who thought every woman alive wanted him.

I lifted my arm off the table to grab my water, and my sweater stuck to the veneer. He was still on his highlight reel as I dipped a napkin in my water and tried to clean off the tabletop.

Noncommittal grunts and head nods were all the encouragement Theron needed. I'd barely spoken all night.

This might top Caroline's date from hell.

By dinner's end, I knew a lot about Mr. Anderson, and none of it remotely interesting.

In my purse, I fished around and pulled out my wallet, intending to split the tab.

“No, no, supper's on me,” he said, waving me to put my money away.

I smiled. “Oh, okay, thanks.”