Путь одарённого. Крысолов. Книга вторая. Часть первая. Юрий Москаленко

he like the dress?”

      “He said I looked great.”

      Chey had seen that for herself. “Do you want to wear it on the cruise?”

      “No, I’ve got plenty of clothes for the trip. Go ahead and take it home so you have it while I’m gone.”

      “How many outfits are you packing?”

      Holding a pair of shorts that was supposed to go into her suitcase, Eve sank onto the bed. “I was hoping he’d kiss me. I almost leaned in to make sure he did, but chickened out at the last second.” She slanted a devilish grin at Cheyenne. “Maybe I should’ve gone for it.”

      Eve hadn’t heard, let alone responded, to her question about the number of outfits. It had merely been Cheyenne’s attempt to divert her, anyway. Chey didn’t want to talk about this. It told her that Eve liked Joe more than ever and that last night had gone well. Maybe they hadn’t slept together, but Eve was bent on seeing him again, and Cheyenne couldn’t imagine any man rejecting a woman as beautiful, caring, sophisticated and intelligent as Eve.

      “Wait for him to make a move. He will when he’s ready.” Was that her true opinion? Or only what served her best?

      “Why is it always up to the guy?” Eve demanded. “What if I want to kiss him?” Her voice warmed. “What if I’d like to do even more?”

      Cheyenne wished she could look away from her friend’s face, but she was afraid that might reveal how she felt. “Then…I guess you could let him know—if you want to take that risk.”

      Eve’s scowl said she wasn’t particularly pleased with Chey’s response. “Do you think it would be a risk? Do you think he’d hesitate? I’ll bet he hasn’t been with a woman in ages. I can’t name one he’s dated since his divorce.”

      “He doesn’t date women from Whiskey Creek. It’s too uncomfortable when things don’t work out. That’s the danger of seeing someone in your hometown, right? You run into them, and keep running into them, long afterward.” The same was true for falling in love with someone who didn’t love you back, she thought.

      “I get that, but he has to miss sex.” She sighed. “I know I do. My last experience was with that guy I met because he stayed at the inn, who wound up being married.”

      Cheyenne remembered what a smooth liar he’d been. He’d had a woman with him the first time he’d stayed, but he’d convinced Eve she was only his girlfriend and said they’d broken up. That part turned out to be true—but he still had a wife. “I have no idea how he’d respond if you tried to kiss him. I don’t know anything about his private life.”

      Eve wasn’t really listening. She was too consumed by her own thoughts. “I almost wish I wasn’t leaving town. I mean…there’s your mother’s health. I should be here in case…you know, the worst happens. And now I’ve started a relationship with Joe that I have to walk away from for two whole weeks.” She pinched her bottom lip. “I should’ve held off until after the cruise to ask him out.”

      “You were thinking if he turned you down, it would be easier to recover if you were gone, remember?”

      She chuckled. “I remember. I should’ve had more confidence. If only I’d waited…”

      “He won’t forget you that soon.” Cheyenne got off the bed to take the shorts and fold them herself. “Did he ask what you’re doing tonight?”

      She hated herself for prying. She’d promised not to make matters worse by digging for information, especially information that would upset her, but she couldn’t help this one question. If last night had been so amazing, Joe could’ve invited Eve one more time before she left.

      “He didn’t, but he talked about how much work it is to get ready for such a long trip, as if he was expecting me to be busy.”

      “Anyone would expect that,” Cheyenne concurred, but she wasn’t convinced that two people who were really excited about each other would put off getting together just because of packing, especially when Eve had had all day.

      Still, she had to admit there were a lot of reasons Joe could’ve decided not to ask Eve out. Maybe he had to work.

      As Cheyenne put the shorts in the suitcase and began folding items Eve had yet to gather up. Eve stood and embraced her. “I’m going to miss you. You’ll be okay while I’m gone, won’t you? I hate that I’m leaving you in the lurch.”

      “You’re not leaving me in the lurch. We’ve both known this was coming for months and months.”

      “True, but…”

      Cheyenne collected the dress she’d lent Eve. “Stop worrying. I’ll be fine.” Part of her felt she’d be better off. She couldn’t handle what was happening between Eve and Joe while she felt so vulnerable because of her mother and sister. Two weeks of not having to pretend would give her a chance to get her feet underneath her again. “I’m happy for you. You deserve a vacation.”

      “You deserve one, too.”

      “I’ll take one someday.”

      “We’ll track down your birth certificate and go to Europe together,” Eve promised.

      “That’d be fun.” She draped the dress over one arm so she could fish her keys from the side pocket of her big bag. “I should head home. Presley has a date tonight.”

      Eve frowned. “Why does she get to go out while you take care of Anita? You’re always stuck at home.”

      “Someone offered to take Presley to a movie.” She wiggled her eyebrows for comedic effect. “I can’t say the same.”

      “I can guarantee it’s no one she should be with,” Eve said.

      That was probably true. But Cheyenne couldn’t tell her sister whom to date. It was hard enough encouraging her to stay clean and sober, not to mention employed. “Have a wonderful time,” she said, and took the gift she’d bought Eve out of the main compartment of her purse.

      “What’s this?”

      “A send-off.”

      “Oh, my gosh! How sweet! Can I open it?”

      “Of course. But don’t be fooled by the fancy wrapping. It’s just self-tanner,” she said with a laugh. “You’ll need it if you plan on wearing that bikini.”

      “Sad but true.” Eve gave Cheyenne another brief hug. “Thank you. As usual, you’ve come up with the perfect gift.”

      Cheyenne was almost out of the bedroom when Eve called her back. “Chey?”

      “Hmm?” she said, turning.

      “I don’t know what I’d do without you. You realize that, don’t you?”

      For the first time in several days, Cheyenne felt good, or at least better. This was Eve. She could give up the man she loved for Eve, couldn’t she?

      Of course. She’d do anything....

      “I know.” With a smile and a wave she went home, telling herself that Joe was just one guy among many. Someday she’d find someone else who made her feel the way he did. She had to. Because she couldn’t, wouldn’t, put him before her best friend.

       6

      “How’d it go last night?”

      Joe looked up from the basketball game he’d been watching since he got home from work. His father had asked him about his date with Eve Harmon twice already—earlier today, when they were at the station. Joe had brushed aside the subject both times and didn’t have much to add now. “Fine.”

      “That’s all you’ve got to say? It was fine?”

      He returned his attention to the TV.