Ever Always (5 page)

S
o I thought you said tall, hot, and handsome wasn't
available
tonight?” asked Rilla with a mischievous sparkle in her clear blue eyes.

Ever pinned her with a warning glance. “It's your first night out. I wanted you to meet some people. He's bringing his friends from work to the only bar in town where people our age hang out.”

“Oh,” said Rilla innocently. “Can't wait to see him again.”

The pan Ever was carrying to the kitchen crashed to the floor. Rilla stood up with a snort and reached behind the counter. She pulled Ever by the elbow to stand in front of her.

“Look.” Rilla's eyes met Ever's gaze, a slight frown on her lips. “I'm not going after Hunter, not that he's not a hottie. But I wanted to gauge your reaction, because last night there was some serious heat between the two of you. Is he really your boyfriend's brother? And where the hell
is
this boyfriend? And
why
, for God's sake, do you two look like you want to rip your clothes off and have each other for breakfast?”

Ever sized Rilla up. Girlfriends shared things, though, right? If she didn't give her something, maybe Rilla would think she wasn't interested in friendship. Now that Ever knew Rilla wasn't going after Hunter (and why did the prospect bother her so much, anyway?), she was more apt to open up to her.

She compromised by telling a half-truth.

“My boyfriend, Sam, is out of town until the fall. He asked Hunter to look out for me. We've all known each other since we were kids, so Hunter and I are close. And…if you were interested in him, it wouldn't be a problem for me. He's not mine to claim. I swear.”

The untruth wound its way inside her stomach and set up residence, creating a sticky, nauseous feeling deep in her gut. Ever wasn't a cheater. And Hunter was like a brother to her.

Wasn't he?

He hadn't felt much like a brother in the woods last night. Actually, he hadn't felt much like a brother since Sam left and her world fell out from under her. The heat that blossomed low in her belly when she looked at him, or when he touched her…it was electric. And terrifying.

Definitely not a brother. A cold fist of guilt clenched around her heart.

“Okay,” Rilla said, her voice full of doubt. “Then let's just let loose and have a little fun tonight.”

“That sounds exactly like what you need, Ever,” Lacey said as she came out of the kitchen carrying clean dishes. The woman was in her mid-to-late forties, childless and husbandless. She'd poured her whole life into the bakery, and her gift was making sweet things taste like a slice of heaven. She was also like the mother Ever needed since she began working for Lacey in her late teens. Lacey knew the ins and outs of Ever's childhood almost as well as the Waters boys did. And she loved Ever as fiercely as a mama bear loved her cubs.

“You've sat on the sidelines in this town for too long, watching everyone else grow and live,” Lacey continued. “Now it's your turn to grow and live. Get out there and do it!”

“And you,” she said, turning to Rilla and tugging a long curl, “I'm pleased as punch you showed up in town. Just at the right time for my Ever, too.”

Rilla showed off a winning smile, then turned to Ever. “Come on—let's go upstairs and get ready for tonight. Did you bring your stuff?”

Ever glanced down at her cutoff jean shorts and purple The Band Perry T-shirt. “What was I supposed to bring?”

Rilla stared at her with wide eyes. “Oh, honey. We need to get started
now
. Bye, Lacey!”

Lacey waved them out the door. Ever and Rilla hurried into Vines and up the stairs at the side of the shop. Rilla unlocked the door at the top of the enclosed staircase and let Ever into her cozy apartment above the flower shop.

With urgency, Rilla led Ever straight back to the single bedroom and threw open the closet door.

Ever's mouth dropped open in horror. The closet was bursting with clothes—clothes Ever would never dream of wearing. She caught sight of tags hanging off of some items, as if they were going to take off running back to the store at any moment.

“We need to…uh, change our clothes just to go out to a bar? What's wrong with what we're wearing?”

“Ever,” said Rilla with measured patience, “you're new at this. Just trust me, will you?”

The next hour was spent completely on Ever. Rilla told her that she would have spent two, but they were in a time crunch. They were meeting the guys down the road at the bar in twenty minutes. Rilla would barely have time to throw on her own clothes and fix her hair and makeup.

“Take a look,” she said proudly, turning Ever around to face her full-length mirror.

Ever looked as Rilla grinned and turned away to change into her dress. And she looked.

And
looked
.

Her hair fell in a long, thick curtain past her shoulders. Long bangs swept over the right side of her face. Her makeup, though understated on her creamy skin, created a smoky effect on her eyes that made the deep green leap off of Rilla's makeshift canvas. Delicate silver hoop earrings dangled gently from her ears. Ever had forgotten she even had them pierced.

She turned her body this way and that in the mirror, checking out her outfit from different angles. The long black maxi dress she wore, thanks to Rilla, hugged her curves and dipped so low in the T-shaped back she was in danger of revealing the top of her curved backside. A pair of silver gladiator sandals matching the color of her earrings topped off the outfit.

“Oh,” breathed Ever. “This is…wow.”

“Hell, yeah, it's wow!” Rilla clapped her hands, delighted. “Now I know this is a casual town and all, but I gotta wear heels. Let me pull these on and I'll be ready. Are we walking to the bar?”

Ever nodded, still staring at her foreign reflection.

“Good God,” groaned Rilla. “I have a feeling I'll be walking home barefoot. Dang, you look hot. Make sure you send a pic to that boyfriend of yours.”

Ever nodded numbly. If only she could send Sam a pic.

Hunter drummed his fingers nervously against the dull wood of the round bar table. There was no way in hell he wasn't going to be there to look out for Ever.

“Relax, dude.” Cross took a sip from his longneck. “It's just another night out with the guys. At least that's what you need to be telling yourself.”

Hunter nodded. The three other guys sitting around the table burst into raucous laughter, responding to something one of them said. The waitress walked over in her tight jean shorts and cowboy boots, serving another round of beers for the table. Hunter grabbed one off her tray, and she winked at him.

“Nice to see your handsome face out tonight, Hunter Waters.”

“Thanks, Heidi.” He'd gone to high school with her. Looking around the bar, he probably went to high school with most of them. Duck Creek was always familiar that way.

A low whistle from the opposite side of the table drew his eyes toward Dean Matthews, one of his crew members. Dean's dark brown eyes had gone wide, and he was staring at the door, his beer forgotten in his hand.

“Fuck me,” he said loudly. “Is that
Ever Allen
?”

Hunter's eyes snapped to the door. He nearly swallowed his tongue.

Because it was definitely Ever, but gone were her usual jeans and T-shirt.

She looked
hot
. Like she'd just walked out of some country music video. A blush colored her cheeks as she heard a few appreciative whistles.

Hunter's fists clenched underneath the table. It took every ounce of self-control he could grab hold of to stay in his seat, rather than rushing over, throwing her over his shoulder, and carrying her out of the bar like the caveman she was turning him into. His stomach clenched uncomfortably.

“Hell yeah, that's Ever,” responded another member of his crew. “Looking fine as hell, too.”

Oh damn. Hunter was going to end up behind bars tonight. Sheriff Lincoln would be thrilled.

“Hey, guys.” Ever smiled sweetly around at the group. “This is my new friend, Rilla. She owns the shop next to the bakery.”

The guys almost tipped over their stools making room for Ever and Rilla. In the confusion, Hunter wrapped an arm firmly around Ever's waist and guided her onto a stool directly next to his.

The look he laid on her was a dangerous one, full of meaning he wasn't ready to feel and she wasn't ready to experience. “You look…you know how you look, right?”

She smiled at him with sparkling eyes. “No. Why don't you tell me?”

He let out the breath he'd been holding since she walked in the door and grinned at her. He couldn't help it. She just pulled the smile right out of him as if she were holding the other end of the string. “You look beautiful, Ev. Is that Rilla's work?”

Ever nodded, beaming.

“Remind me to thank her later. Or cuss her out.”

Ever laughed out loud, glancing around the table.

“Okay, guys,” she announced. “I'm ready.”

“Ready for what?” drawled Cross, who hadn't yet taken his eyes off of Rilla.

“Ready to get this bar thing going. Rilla, what should we order?”

“Your first round's on us!” exclaimed Dean.

Rilla smiled thankfully at him. “Well, in that case, margaritas for me and my friend!”

Heidi smiled sympathetically at Ever. She knew the girl wasn't quite old enough to drink, but no one was going to deny her. After all, her father had been shot. “Doin' okay, hon?” she asked.

“Getting there,” replied Ever, speaking above the din of the bar. “Thanks for asking.”

Heidi nodded and left to go fill the order.

“Go slow,” warned Hunter, frowning at Ever. “I want you to have fun, but—”

“But nothing!” said Rilla. “Quit worrying and let the girl live a little!”

Hunter shot her a glare and opened his mouth. But Cross cut in.

“So, Rilla,” he said with a flirty smile. “Tell us about yourself.”

Rilla shot him a smile and informed them all of how she came to be in Duck Creek.

Hunter couldn't listen to a word of it. Ever flipped her long, fragrant hair over her shoulder and he was lost to the rest of the conversation. Had he noticed before how delicate her shoulders were? How the curve of her neck made her look like a graceful ballerina? How high her cheekbones were?

Eventually, his eyes dipped lower to find the keyhole opening in the top of her dress allowing her cleavage to play peekaboo with him. He caught his bottom lip between his teeth and bit down hard, trying to make his eyes travel north again to her face. But they wouldn't listen. His lip stung, but his eyes kept traveling south. The black dress she was wearing hugged her curves in a way that should be illegal.
Fucking illegal
. Hell, he didn't even realize Ever had curves like that. And now every man out tonight in Duck Creek knew it, too.

A feral growl left him then; he couldn't help it. He looked back to her face. Her eyes were burning into his with a fierceness he couldn't deny. He leaned closer to her like she was holding a damn magnet and he was being drawn in.

“Two margaritas for the ladies,” announced Heidi as she arrived back at the table.

The drinks she presented proudly to Ever and Rilla were
huge.
Hunter had never ordered a margarita here, but had he known they were served out of
cereal bowls
he would never have let Rilla order one for Ever.

Ever's eyes were wide, and she stared at Rilla as she laughed and clapped her hands.

“This is awesome!” she shouted. “Drink up, girl. We got a long night ahead of us.”

The guys at the table were chuckling, and Ever leaned forward to take a sip. As her plump red lips closed around the straw, Hunter's tongue suddenly swelled and he fought the instinctive urge to swallow it.

It was going to be a long fucking night.

H
er margarita glass, if it could be called that, was dry. She didn't know how she'd finished it. A competitive edge she'd forgotten she had emerged in her when Rilla had begun to down the drink, and Ever refused to be left behind. Even with Hunter urging her to slow down in her ear every few minutes, she swallowed and chugged until that sucker was gone.

Now her head felt…calm. Nice and quiet. Clear for a change. Not so full of sadness and despair. She wasn't confused about the way Hunter was looking at her now that she'd downed a week's supply of tequila in one good drink. Her inhibitions—and she usually had so many—were dangerously low. She was suddenly happy Rilla had made her dress up. Actually, she was happy Rilla was here, period. She was fun and bubbly and loose—everything Ever had lost about herself.

“Come on, Ev,” said Rilla, bouncing up from her seat as if she hadn't just downed her drink like a sailor. “Let's hit that jukebox in the corner. It's playing country, and I don't do country.”

Giggling, Ever let Rilla pull her up and over to the corner.

“Okay,” whispered Rilla urgently into her ear. “I'm three sheets to the wind, and even I can tell that the relationship you have with McHottie back there isn't as innocent as you claim. He almost ate you up when you walked in, and he hasn't taken his eyes off you, like, for a second the entire night. You gotta give yourself some space, or you're asking for trouble. I'm just sayin'.”

Ever only giggled. “Hunter was staring at me, wasn't he? He's so gorgeous. I think he likes me, Rilla. Do you think he likes me?”

Rilla stared at her. Then she reached out and cupped Ever's face in her hands. “Yeah, I think he likes you. Is that what you want?”

Ever nodded vigorously. “No!”

“Uh-huh.” Rilla rolled her eyes. “Then you better stop sending him ‘come fuck me' signals. I'm going to make it my mission to keep you away from him tonight. You two are on dangerous ground. Everyone in this bar can see what's happening. And I have a feeling you don't want the whole town to know you're hot for your boyfriend's brother. Kapeesh?”

Ever nodded solemnly. “Pakeesh.”

Laughing, Rilla searched through the songs on the jukebox. “Ah, this should do. Come on!”

She towed Ever toward the dance floor, and soon after they arrived a new song began to play over the bar speakers. Several girls were glaring at them from where they sat around tables, but every single man in the room had eyes trained on the pair.

“Dance with me!” sang Rilla as the beat picked up and the strains of a Lady Gaga dance anthem began to pound.

“I'm pretty sure this bar has never played this song, like, ever,” said Ever with a snort. But she copied Rilla's moves and began snaking her body around to the beat.

She had never danced. She and Sam had been to a few dances in high school, but Sam never actually wanted to dance—just hang out with the football team. She loved the powerful, freeing way her body felt when she moved it to the music. Surprisingly, dancing came naturally to her. Rilla nodded her approval and beamed.

“That's my girl!” she shouted with glee.

It didn't take long before they were surrounded by a group of guys their age and a little older, all vying for a spot behind the girls to claim a dance. The attention was different, but Ever didn't mind it. She wondered faintly if Sam would.

“That man of yours hits the road and you come out looking like
this
?” said a deep male voice in her ear. She recognized it as coming from one of the guys she attended high school with and sent him a smile over her shoulder. His name was Trent.

He smiled back encouragingly and placed his hands on her hips. “That's what I'm talkin' about.”

Through the haze created from the hot, loud bar and the tequila flowing freely through her veins, she very clearly realized that she didn't want his hands on her. That wasn't why she was here. She was here for a night out with friends, for an escape from the turmoil she was continually going through. For a break from missing Sam and mourning the impending loss of their relationship.

She grasped Trent's hands and removed them from her waist before turning to face him.

“No touching, Trent,” she chastised, swaying slightly.

“Yeah, Trent,” said Hunter as he stepped up beside her. He sent Trent a murderous glare. “Listen to the lady.”

Ever folded her arms across her chest. “I can take care of myself, Hunter.”

Trent raised both hands in surrender and backed away. “My bad, Hunter.”

Hunter didn't take his eyes off Trent as he reached for Ever's hand.

“I know you can,” he said through gritted teeth. “But I need to talk to you.”

“Oh, that can wait,” sang Rilla as she grabbed Ever's hand and tugged her away. “We got some more dancing to do, right Ever?”

Hunter opened his mouth, but Ever cut him off. “Yep, we do. We'll talk later, Hunter.”

The night was a whirlwind. Rilla was a pro at how to work a bar, and Ever was having the time of her life just hanging out with her. Now, although she didn't know it, she was definitely at the “I wish I had stopped drinking two drinks ago” stage. Her stomach was lurching and her eyes were tight and itchy. The room was moving around her in a blur that was way too fast for her to keep up with, and Rilla's laughing voice was now coming to her from beneath a deep, dark sea.

Somewhere, in a dusty, cobwebby corner of her mind, she knew she had pushed it too far. But, in that secret place, she was happy. Because she wasn't thinking. She wasn't worrying. She wasn't on her guard. She just
was.
And even though she had a sinking suspicion that she might regret this in the morning, she was relieved that she wasn't
feeling
.

She was completely undone. And she liked it.

With a happy sigh, she fell into her chair at the table with Hunter and his boys.

“Hello, boys,” she drawled, leaning an elbow on the table. “I missed you guys. Where have you been?”

“Oh, we've been sitting right here watching your pretty self run all over this bar like the drunk-fairy,” was Cross's amused response.

She reached over and patted his cheek. “You're precious, Cross. Did anyone ever tell you that?”

“No,” he said with a chuckle. “Why don't you go tell your friend Rilla that I'm precious? I want her to know.”

“She knows,” said Ever in a singsong voice. She leaned her head down on the table, appreciating the coolness of the wood against her flushed cheek.

“Okay, baby girl,” announced Hunter. “Time to get you home.”

“Time to get
you
home,” repeated Ever, pushing back from the table. She stood and promptly stumbled, leaning back into the table.

“Whoa,” said Hunter. “I got you.”

He scooped her up into his arms, holding her securely against his chest. He nodded at the table, and the guys saluted him with laughter as he escorted Ever outside.

She sighed in his arms. “You told me that before. I believe you now.”

A fire had been smoldering quietly inside of him the entire night, watching Ever flit around the bar with Rilla. That simmering flame exploded into an inferno inside his chest where she cuddled against him. How had he not known all along that being this close to her was
right
? How had she not known? He knew that last night in the woods she'd felt something. There had always been magnetism between them, and now the physical chemistry was threatening to swallow him alive if he didn't feed it.

“Hunter!” shouted Rilla, clomping up behind them in her heels. She should have been just as out of it as Ever, but apparently the girl was no stranger to a bar. She was holding her own.

“Yeah?” he asked, shifting Ever in his arms.

Rilla glanced down at her. “You can bring her to my place. It's right above the flower shop.”

“Why would I do that?”

Rilla sighed, leaning in close. “Because I don't think leaving the two of you alone together tonight is a good idea, do you?”

He wasn't sure how much she knew, but it was enough to be concerned about them being alone together. Smart girl.

“I would never take advantage of her, Rilla. All I want is for her to be okay. Tonight, that means putting her in her own bed and staying with her, because she's going to be sick.”

Rilla looked unsure until he pinned her with a gaze as sincere as he could muster. Then she nodded.

“Okay. Tell her I'll call her tomorrow.” She leaned over and kissed Ever's forehead.

Hunter liked how much Rilla seemed to adore Ever. Ever needed as many people on her side as she could get.

“Hey,” he said. “Make sure you don't walk home by yourself, you hear me? Get Cross to walk with you.”

She nodded, then reached down and pulled off her heels. She waved, and Hunter watched her walk back inside the bar. He wouldn't need to worry about her getting home; he knew Cross had had an eye on her all night.

Ever was breathing deeply against his chest, her eyes tightly shut. The desire to just sit in his truck with her pressed against him like this all night was crushing him, but he fought it. He eased her into the passenger seat. Then he drove back to her house with her sleeping soundly beside him. He shouldn't have let her drink so much. But Ever was nothing if not independent, and he wasn't going to stop her from having a good time for once in her life. He knew he wasn't going anywhere tonight without her, though.

Pulling up into the gravel driveway, Ever began to mumble. “Losing…lost…can't hold on…”

He put the truck in park and studied her face. There was such an ethereal beauty in her, even with the tension and worry lines creasing her features. When he opened her door a second later, she squeezed her eyes shut tighter and shook her head sadly back and forth. “Lost him.”

“Lost who, baby?” asked Hunter gently.

“Lost him; he's gone,” she muttered. Her green eyes suddenly flew open. “I don't feel so good, Hunter. Where's Sam?”

He sighed heavily and lifted her into his arms again. “He's not here, baby. But I got you. Hold on to me.”

He maneuvered her into the house and into her bed, where she lay in a heap as he tugged off her shoes.

“You going to be sick?” He smoothed damp strands of hair off her forehead.

She shook her head, rolling over, and promptly fell asleep again.

He sat down beside her on the bed, placed his elbows on his knees, and dropped his head into his hands.

He thought she'd seen him, finally seen him for the man he'd become and the place he could hold in her life if she'd let him. But maybe he'd been wrong.

Maybe she'd never see anyone clearly but Sam.