Mistaken Gifts (16 page)

"Smile," he whispered to her. "This is a happy day."

"I know, but—"

"I saw," he said simply. "I saw."
 

Eva looked up and saw the pity and friendship in Troy’s eyes and almost started to cry again. She forced a smile and squeezed his arm closer. She should have gone with her first instinct after all, and stuck with her fake date.
 

Jeff nodded and smiled at the wedding guests, most of whom he’d never met, and tried his best to push his way through the crowd without being rude. He needed to find Eva. She’d looked incredible standing next to Andi with her red coat and her blond hair swept back off her face. From the moment he saw her, all he wanted to do was twist his fingers through that amazing hair, kissing her so thoroughly that it became unpinned and fell down her back in a wild tangle.

Watching her, he’d been fixated, unable to stop thinking about holding her, kissing her…but then Marianne had come out of nowhere and destroyed his private reverie. He’d done his best to get rid of her without making a scene. But Lord knows that wasn’t easy when you were dealing with a woman like Marianne. She was supposed to have gone home. She was the last person he’d expected to see, or wanted to, and worse, she wouldn’t take no for an answer. As it turned out, he’d forgotten to initial a page on the employment contract. At least that’s what her cover story was. Just to be sure, when he’d finally managed to drag her away from the ceremony, Jeff made it clear in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t interested. There was someone else.
 

And was there ever.
 

Jeff turned around again, scanning the busy reception hall, and there she was.
 

Forming a small receiving line next to the bride and groom, Eva was standing with the groomsman, Troy. At least now Jeff knew he was a fake date and nothing more. His heart sped up just watching her, and the way she laughed and chatted with guests. She shook hands and smiled, but there was something wrong. She looked like she was acting, holding herself a little too stiffly. Her smile wasn’t as bright as he remembered, like she was forcing it.

He needed to speak with her, to see what was wrong and what he could do about putting that smile back where it belonged. But the only way to do that would be to get into the receiving line. Jeff dodged around two young boys who were barreling towards him, and slipped into the line, only about ten people back. Eva looked up from the elderly woman she was greeting, and caught his eye. Jeff smiled but she looked away and focused on the next person in line, her face dropping into a frown.

Jeff recognized who it was a split second too late. Marianne. What the hell was she doing here? He didn’t have time to process the question as he watched her lean forward and whisper something into Eva’s ear. She stepped back and grinned in Jeff’s direction, but he wasn’t looking at her. All of his focus was on Eva and the pain that crashed over her face.

"Eva," he called out, remembering a split second too late that he was standing in the middle of a wedding reception. Everyone turned to look in his direction, blocking his view, and impeding his progress through the room. All he could see was her hand rise to her eyes, and Troy wrapping his arm around her bare shoulders while he steered her out of the room. And away from him.

~ ~

"This shouldn’t be so hard," Eva said. She blinked hard and dabbed her eyes with a tissue Troy had handed her the moment they’d escaped into the kitchen. "Why do I always pick the losers?"
 

"I don’t think Jeff’s a loser." Troy leaned against the door to the walk-in refrigerator and waited while Eva pulled herself together.
 

She looked up and stared at him in astonishment. "You don’t? What would you call a man who starts something with me while he’s getting ready to move away with a different woman?"
 

"I don’t think that’s the case," he said.
 

But it was the case. That woman, the same woman who’d cuddled up to Jeff during the ceremony, had told her exactly that. "She said he was moving away to be with her. Why would she make that up?"

"Why would she tell you at all?" Troy countered. "In my experience, if a woman makes a point to mark her territory, there’s a reason."
 

Eva turned and leaned against the prep counter. There were too many possibilities racing through her head, but nothing made sense.

"I just don’t know what to think.”
 

"About what?"

Eva spun around as Bruno came in the room.
 

"And why are you in my kitchen?"
 

She tried to straighten her dress and at least pretend that she was under control and nothing was wrong.
 

"You look fine," Troy said. "Doesn’t she?"
 

"You look amazing," Bruno said. "As always." He spoke to Eva, but his eyes were on Troy, and Eva couldn’t help but smile at his blatant attraction.
 

"Would you tell her that not all men are trying to hurt her?" Troy asked the chef.

It took a moment, but Bruno finally shook his head out of whatever daze he’d put himself under and refocused on Eva. "It’s true," he said. "Most men are good. What is this about? Or should I ask, who is this about?"

"Jeff," Troy said.
 

"He’s a liar and a cheat and—"

"Jeff? Not our Jeff?" Bruno looked between them both. "The Jeff I know is nothing like that. He’s honest and loyal and has the mega hots for you. Does he not?"
 

"Yes," Eva said. "I mean, no. I thought he did, but—"

"But she’s letting someone else change her opinion about everything. Without even giving him a chance to explain," Troy said. "Isn’t that about right?"

She shook her head. "No. I mean, I would give him the chance."

"But?"

Eva didn’t have an answer for him. She looked down at her feet.
 

"Eva," Bruno said, his voice gentle. "Jeff is a good man. He wouldn’t hurt you. Not on purpose. You know that, don’t you?"

She nodded. She did know it. She felt it in his kiss, and in the way he held her. The way he’d guided her and kept her safe on the horse. The way he’d looked into her eyes as they’d— She’d trusted him then; why not now?

"Good," Bruno announced. "Now get out of here. I have a dinner to prepare for. I do not need an angry bride after me. Especially an angry, pregnant bride."

Eva laughed at the image of Andi chasing the chef down in her wedding gown. "No," she agreed. "You don’t need that."

Troy grabbed her hand. "Besides," he said. "I think I hear the first dance. We don’t want to miss that. And we’re up next. You owe me a dance, you know?"

She grinned at him. "Okay, but just one. And then your dance card’s open." She winked in Bruno’s direction and let Troy lead her out to the reception and the dance floor.
 

~ ~

There was nothing that would keep him away from her again. Not until he’d had a chance to explain and make her understand. So when Jeff saw Troy leading Eva out to the dance floor for the wedding party dance, he made his move. Not willing to risk the wrath of a bride whose plans were interrupted, Jeff was smart enough to wait until the second chorus before he slipped onto the floor and cut in.

"May I?" he asked Troy.

The other man smiled, held out Eva’s arm to him and bowed gallantly. "Please, by all means," he said. And then before he walked away, he added quietly, "Be good to her."
 

Jeff turned and looked into Eva’s eyes as he pulled her close, keeping one hand on the small of her back and one hand clasped around hers as he picked up the beat and led them across the dance floor. "You look beautiful," he said. He drank her in, trying to read what was going on behind her beautiful eyes.
 

She tensed and ducked her head. "Thank you," she said. She didn’t sound angry, and Jeff took that as a good sign.

However, she didn’t offer anything more, and he didn’t immediately push. But after a few beats, he couldn’t wait any longer; he needed to know what had happened. He needed to know why she’d closed herself off from him. "I don’t know what she said to you," he said. "I don’t even know why she’s still here, but—"

Eva’s head whirled up and her face was tight with anger. "But you do know her?"
 

They both knew the answer to that question and the only thing that was going to save things between them was honesty. "Yes," he said quietly. "We were together once. But it’s over."

Eva glared at him. "That’s not the way she tells it." She swallowed hard, and her cheeks pinked with the anger she was holding in. "She told me she was here to pick you up because you were moving away together."

Jeff took an involuntary step back, breaking their rhythm. He caught himself quickly and resumed the dance.

"Is it true?" Eva asked.
 

"No," he said. "Well, yes." She pulled to break away from him, but Jeff turned it into a spin and pulled her closer. "She made it sound like something it’s not," he whispered into her ear. "She hired me to work for a production company that’s filming in the city. So I am moving, and I suppose she’ll probably be there somewhere since she works for the company, too. But I’m not moving away with her." He pulled away, just enough so she’d be able to look into his eyes when he spoke. "Eva, there is nothing between me and Marianne, despite what she might say or want."
 

He held his breath, letting her absorb what he’d said. He knew he shouldn’t hold back, but he had to see how she’d react, if she would believe him. He needed her to believe him and trust him.

After a moment, her expression melted a bit and he could see that she might be accepting his truth. But then she shook her head. "No," she said and tried to pull away. He wasn’t prepared for her response, but there was no way Jeff was going to let her go. He pulled her deftly into a spin and held her back against his chest, one arm wrapped around her stomach. He swayed with the beat of the music, which had changed to a different song. Couples crowded the dance floor around them, but he didn’t care.
 

"Yes," he whispered in her ear. "I don’t care about Marianne and what she might have said to you, because I know that whatever this is between us, it’s something. From the moment I met you in those impractical and totally sexy boots, I felt it. Even when you were making me crazy, it was because you challenged me, and I loved it. And I don’t know what’s going to happen from here. But I do know I want to find out, and from the way you kissed me last night, I think you feel exactly the same way. No," he said slowly. "I know you feel the same way."
 

He knew his breath was hot on her neck and he could feel the shudder go through her. He released her, spinning her around so they were once again chest to chest. This time, one hand held her close, while the other traced the lines of her cheek, and worked their way up to the pin that held her hair in place. "You’re beautiful, and hardheaded and absolutely amazing," he said. "Together, there’s something between us that’s undeniable and—"

"Jeff, I—"

"Tell me it’s not true," he challenged. His eyes held hers, and he could see the battle warring in them. "You can’t tell me that you don’t feel exactly the same way."
 

"No," she whispered, her voice husky. "I can’t tell you that." She paused and looked down. "But I’ve been hurt before and—"

"I’ll never hurt you, Eva." Jeff stopped moving and tipped her head up, forcing her to look at him.

 
"I know," she said simply. "You make me feel safe and strong all at the same time, even when you irritate me." She smiled a little and moved to close the tiny gap between them.

He met her halfway, their lips crashing together in a passion that didn’t need to make sense.
 

Jeff released the pin from her hair and wound both hands into her silky tresses, never breaking contact with her lips. He could have stayed like that forever, tasting her, feeling every part of her give in to what they felt together.

Eventually they pulled apart; a small smile played on Eva’s lips and Jeff traced it with his fingertip. "So," he said after a moment. "You believe me then?"
 

She regarded him seriously for a moment before she grinned and said, "Well, any man who can get me on a horse is probably a keeper, don’t you think, horse guy?"

He pulled her back in close and matched her grin. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go for a ride."
 

THE END

If you enjoyed Mistaken Gifts, you’ll probably like the next in the series, Secret Gifts (The Steamy Version)
 
available SOON! Check out an excerpt, right after a note from the author.
 

Thank you so much for taking a chance on Mistaken Gifts (The Steamy Version) I loved adding a bit more heat to Eva & Jeff’s story.
 
If you prefer your stories a little ‘sweeter’ the original versions are also available. The love continues at Castle Mountain Lodge with Secret Gifts, the next in the series. Enjoy an excerpt after this note. The hotter version is available soon!

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