Page 38 of Thanks for Coming Along
Eden
Eden lingered in the kitchen, still trying to shake off the intensity of their interaction, while Ronan efficiently took care of the mess. By the time he was done, the only reminder of her momentary lapse of coordination was the faint pasta stain on her Persian rug.
She watched as he prepped fresh plates of pasta and set them on the table with an infuriating ease. Tasked with carrying the wine glasses, she moved at a snail's pace, shooting occasional glares at the corner of her traitorous rug. When she finally reached the table without any further disasters, she plopped into the chair across from Ronan, relieved to have made it without incident.
"Should we toast?" Eden asked, mainly trying to break the quiet tension that had lingered since their previous interaction. Her lips curled into a small smile as she reached for her glass of wine, her hand gripping the glass and thinking of his lips on her palm.
"Yes, without question," Ronan replied, mirroring her action by lifting his glass.
Eden raised her glass slightly. "May we stay beautiful, smart, full of class, and always be a special pain in someone's ass." His eyes sparkled with laughter as their glasses met, producing a delicate, chiming sound.
"Sounds about right," he agreed with a hint of amusement as he took a sip of the wine. Eden's smile widened as she drank from her own glass.
She placed the glass on the table and started to dig into her plate of pasta with enthusiasm, swirling the pasta around her fork. Ronan leaned back into his chair with the wine glass and watched her with sparkling eyes, the corners still squinting with amusement.
"What?" Eden asked him after she chewed and swallowed a big bite of pasta—a small smile formed on her lips from his expression. Ronan's eyes gleamed as he leaned in a little closer over the table.
"Nothing. I just love watching you eat. You eat like I made you a Michelin-starred meal," he hummed, a slight smile curling his lips.
"You're such a good cook! I can't even fry an egg. I’ve basically been living off frozen dinners," she said with a laugh. And microwave burritos.
Cooking had always been a sore spot for her. People teased her about it all the time, but she never shared the reasons behind her lack of skills. Still, it had given her a real appreciation for good food, and now she made it a point to savor every meal like it was a small luxury.
"It's made with love." Her stomach dropped slightly.He doesn't love you, dummy.It was an expression, not an actual declaration of love. But she could see herself loving him in some crazy, strange way.Colleagues,the dreaded word echoed in her head again. That word had become the bane of her existence…it had replaced the word moist in her vocabulary, and she hated that vile word. He probably only made her delicious meals because he was sick of seeing the pizza delivery drivers outside her house every other day.
Eden thoughtfully swirled the wine in her glass, the soft swishing of the liquid echoing in the dimly lit dining room. She looked across the table at Ronan.
"So, I have a severe case of writer's block," she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Usually, a change of scenery does the trick. I was thinking of heading to Lake Tahoe. Would you be able to come with me?" This idea had been brewing in Eden's mind since her phone call with Quentin. With the deadline for her new album looming, she had only a few weeks left to complete her songwriting. Despite her efforts, a creative stalemate had set in, with her lyrics and melodies refusing to cooperate. Quentin was still filming his new superhero movie in Australia, so he wasn't using his vacation house.
"I should be able to. Let me just run it by my boss,” Ronan replied, and he typed a quick message on his phone.
Then, he proceeded to twirl the pasta around his fork. The way he executed it with such precision and care made her slightly envious of the pasta on his plate. The noodles wound themselves tightly around the fork, forming a perfect bite, and his slow, systematic approach to bringing it to his mouth spoke volumes. She knew in her bones he was a good lover, just by his movements. So self-possessed and poised.
Slow your roll.She needed to get laid, like yesterday. It had been a while since she'd been physically close to someone in that way. Since starting his project, it seemed her desire was mounting to the point of a supervolcano, ready to erupt at the drop of a hat.
She took a deep sip of wine, trying to distract herself from her racing thoughts. She had been with other men since Liam, but they were always one-night stands. Typically, they involved someone from the entertainment business, someone she knew would be discreet. These encounters only left her feeling more alone, failing to quell the loneliness within her.
She knew that Ronan wasn't the type of man you would have a one-night stand with; he was the serious relationship type. That is the guy you date with the intention of marrying. She could feel the heat creeping on her skin.
Love.
Marriage.
Those were forbidden words in her vocabulary. The noncommittal troll who lived inside her hissed at those dirty words with a Gollum-level intensity. There was seriously something wrong with her. She poured herself a little more wine to settle her frenzied thoughts.
"Sure, let me know. I usually road trip it—it’s such a beautiful drive." She loved the route to Lake Tahoe, winding through sweeping dunes and colorful canyons before giving way to towering pines and the sparkling blue of the lake.
Ronan’s phone buzzed on the table, and he glanced down at the message.
"Yup, he says it's fine. He told us to do whatever we want to." Whatever we want? Don't tempt her with a good time.
24
Eden
Eden packed light, just a small carry-on suitcase. The limited trunk space in her convertible meant leaving behind her fun shoes and quirky outfits. Still, she managed to squeeze in her favorite silk slip dress—just in case. Something told her she might need the confidence boost of a slinky dress on this trip. Meanwhile, Ronan somehow fit all his clothes into his usual equipment backpack, which she found both baffling and mildly irritating.
