A Time To Love (A Mill Creek Crossing Romance) (6 page)

“You okay back there?” he asked.

“Yes!” she yelped with a squeal.

“Having fun?” he asked.

“Actually I am. Hard to believe, I know!” she said. She squeezed him tighter as he took a sharp turn leading up one of the mountains surrounding Mill Creek Crossing.

“I’ve got you. Don’t worry,” he said. His words made her feel immediately calmed. She knew, at her core Brice was not a man who would ever let anything happen to her. “We’ll be there in about ten more minutes.”

The ride was the most invigorating thing Eva had done in a long time. As she felt the crisp north Georgia wind on her face, she tried to take in all of the beautiful scenery around her. The mountains were covered in the beginnings of spring with bright green trees that had just turned from their dreary brown winter leaves. Flowers peppered the landscape, and she took in the variety of smells as they wound there way up the side of a mountain.

A few minutes later, Brice pulled into the driveway of a small cabin. He stopped the bike and helped Eva off. After taking his helmet off, he helped her remove hers and then hung them both on the back of the motorcycle.

“Here we are. Home,” he said with a smile. His dimples were really more pronounced to her at the moment for some odd reason.

“Do you live here too?” she asked cocking her head.

“No. Dad has a caregiver who stays with him right now. We are very different people, and living in the same house was never fun for us. Even when I was growing up.”

“Really?”

“Yep. But he’s my family, and family should take care of each other. Always,” he said smiling at her.

“Was that directed at me?” she asked crossing her arms.

“Oh, good Lord! Stop crossing your arms, spitfire,” he said as he put his hand on the small of her back and pushed her toward the front door.

Brice unlocked the door and opened it for Eva. As she stepped inside, she was taken aback by how nice the cabin was inside. With finished hardwood floors and soaring ceilings, it was bigger than she imagined. She could see the kitchen off the family room, and it had stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. This wasn’t a log cabin like she’d ever seen before, and it was obvious Zeke O’Malley had done well for himself.

“Dad?” Brice called out as they walked through the home. “Dad?” he continued to call over and over. It quickly became apparent Brice was growing concerned over his father not answering. “Where is he?”

Eva walked to the back of the house and looked out the window only to see a man she assumed to be Zeke, lying on the ground beside an immaculate flower bed.

“Oh God! Brice! He’s back here on the ground!” she yelled. Brice ran up behind her and then out of a side door leading to the deck. He sprinted straight down the stairs while Eva watched in horror from above.

“Dad!” he yelled as he rolled his father over from his stomach to his back.

“I’m okay… I’m okay…” Zeke said. A tall, lanky man, Zeke had a hint of an Irish accent, and then Eva remembered Cara said Zeke was raised by his Irish parents in the U.S. She watched him slowly sit up as Brice knelt beside him on the ground.

“What happened, Dad?” Brice asked brushing the dirt off Zeke’s pants.

“I was trying to weed this stinkin’ garden and I lost my balance. Damn MS…” he muttered.

“Dad, you shouldn’t be out here doing stuff like this…”

“I’m a grown man, and I’ll do as I damn well please. I don’t need anybody tellin’ me what to do!” he snapped. Brice looked up at Eva with desperation in his eyes, and in that moment she could see he was torn between arguing with his Dad and taking care of him.

“You must be Zeke,” Eva said as she walked down the stairs and knelt beside him.

“That’s me. And you are?” Zeke said furrowing his furry white eyebrows.

“I’m Eva, your newest O’Malley’s employee,” she said smiling and extending her hand. “I’d heard how handsome you were, so I had to come out here and see for myself.” Eva forced a big smile and offered her hand to help him up. Zeke brushed Brice’s hand off him and held onto Eva for support. Although petite, Eva was strong and was able to get Zeke to his feet.

“Nice to meet you,” he said finally shaking her hand once he got to his feet.

“Now, Brice has told me you have some real Irish beer hidden somewhere in this house. I’d love to have a taste,” she said being sure to look him in the eye.

“Well, ya heard right. I’ve got something that’ll knock your socks off,” he said finally cracking a smile as she helped him up the stairs. Brice stood by with his mouth gaping open the whole time, and Eva knew he’d never seen this side of her. The caring person. The sweet girl. She hated to reveal that side of herself, but it seemed necessary in this situation.

“Mr. O’Malley!” a dark haired woman shouted as she ran out onto the deck.

“Bernice,” Zeke said as he passed her and walked into the house.

“Where in the hell were you?” Brice said in a loud whisper with his teeth gritted at the home healthcare worker.

“I’m so sorry, Brice. My son called and was broken down on the mountain. Mr. O’Malley promised to stay in his chair and watch his TV show until I came back…”

“You know you can’t trust him, Bernice. Don’t let it happen again or else you can be replaced,” Brice said as he walked into the house. Bernice stood there for a moment, holding back tears.

“Don’t you be getting on to her, Brice. It’s my fault. I do what I want to do,” Zeke said glaring at his son. It was obvious to Eva these two didn’t get along well, and she felt bad for both of them. It also reminded her of her own relationship with her sister.

Zeke poured a drink for Eva as he leaned against the kitchen counter. Right now, she wanted a little alcohol to take the edge off anyway. He handed it to her as Brice leaned against the kitchen wall staring at his boots. Eva wasn’t sure if he was mad at her or not.

“Wow! That is some strong stuff!” she said struggling to swallow. “It has quite a kick to it,” she said smiling. Zeke smiled at her reaction, obviously pleased with himself.

“Dad, we came to talk business. Can we get on with it?” Brice said abruptly.

Zeke looked at him and then limped into the living room with Brice hot on his heels. Eva wasn’t sure what to do with herself until Brice turned and nodded toward the living room. Sitting down in an overstuffed brown chair, Eva sat quietly while the men went over financial paperwork, arguing about all kinds of seemingly meaningless stuff.

When it seemed they were at an impasse, Eva decided to pipe in once again.

“Say, Zeke, have you ever thought about changing things up at the bar on Sundays?” she asked. Zeke looked up and cocked his head at her.

“Change it? How?” he asked sitting back.

“Well, when I was in Atlanta, there were all sorts of bars that offered Sunday brunch as a buffet. You can charge a premium and make a great profit if it’s done right,” she said. She could see the wheels turning in Zeke’s head.

“That ain’t a bad idea,” he said as Brice rolled his eyes in the background.

“Dad, I’ve suggested that a dozen times!” Brice said as Eva cut him a look that meant to shut up.

“I don’t remember that,” Zeke said crossing his arms.

“Anyway, I think it could increase revenue a lot. Of course, I’m not a business woman, but I think it would work. And, here’s another idea to consider. What about hosting some events at the bar? Like maybe some charity functions, karaoke nights, stuff like that?” she asked. “Maybe it will bring people from the other small communities around Mill Creek Crossing.”

“I like her, Brice. She’s smart. Good work hiring her,” Zeke said pointing at Eva. Brice smiled at the semi-compliment his father had just dished out.

After talking for another half hour, Brice instructed Bernice to start dinner for his Dad and said his goodbyes. Eva gave Zeke a big hug and joined Brice in the gravel driveway.

“Ready to get back to work?” she said as she slid her helmet on.

“No. We’re not going back there yet. Hop on. I want to show you something,” he said with a smile.

Once again, they were zipping down the curvy mountain road, but then they started going up again.

“Where are we going?” she asked into the microphone.

“You’ll see,” was all he said.

About ten minutes after leaving Zeke’s house, Brice drove down a steep incline and then parked his Harley. The sun was starting to set, and he seemed intent on chasing it as he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the edge of the mountain.

“Look,” he said pointing through a clearing. As Eva caught up, she saw what had to be one of the most beautiful sunsets she’d ever seen in her life.

“Wow. That’s amazing!” she said smiling. For the first time in a long time, she felt like herself. She wasn’t pretending or trying to be something she wasn’t. Someone with money and power and material things. Instead, she was just a woman with a man on a Harley enjoying a north Georgia sunset. And that seemed perfect.

“Glad you like it. Want to sit down for a few minutes?” he asked pointing at a rock that hung over the canyon between two mountains.

“Is it safe?” she asked furrowing her eyebrows.

“Of course it’s safe. You know I’d never let anything happen to you,” he said softly, which threw Eva for a loop. His tone sounded intimate, and she wasn’t used to seeing that side of Brice. Except on the dance floor that one night.

“Do you come here a lot?” Eva asked as she sat down next to him on the cold rock and pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them.

“Not so much anymore. Once I took over the bar, my life became about working. I can’t let what my father built just fall away. He worked hard for it.”

Eva was touched by his words, especially knowing what she’d just witnessed between the two of them.

“I know it must be difficult,” she said softly.

“What must be difficult?”

“Trying to help your father when he gives you such grief.” She glanced quickly over at him as he continued to stare straight ahead.

“Ah, you noticed that?” he asked with a hint of a smile. “My father and I have always had a rather unique relationship.”

“He loves you.”

“I’m not so sure,” Brice said, with sadness permeating his voice.

“Well, I am.”

“And you know everything?” he asked smiling as he looked at her.

“I like to think I do. Although this trip to Mill Creek Crossing seems to be changing me. I don’t feel like the same woman who breezed into town just a few days ago. Must be this mountain air.”

“Speaking of mountain air, you look like you’re freezing,” he said scooting closer to her and slipping his arm around her shoulders. She jumped out of surprise. “Don’t worry. I’m just offering up free body heat.”

“Thanks,” she said, unwilling to give up the warmth of his body against hers. After their dance, she’d found herself wanting more of him. To touch him again. And she knew that was the wrong thing for her to do, yet here she was again. “So, what about your mother?” she asked trying to change the subject.

“She died when I was ten years old.”

“Were you close to her?”

“Oh yes. She was the most amazing woman. She loved to cook, and she always made everything special. Holidays were so much fun with her. She was an artist, and I still have some of her paintings in my house,” he said smiling at the memories.