The second I saw Eva walk through the doors of Radcliffe’s once again for lunch, a smile spread across my cheeks. She probably thought I was damn-near addicted to this place, and I was, but that was beside the point. The owner of Radcliffe’s and I had a silent sort of agreement: I talked up his restaurants and brought new people here as often as I could, and he kept his lips quiet on an ironclad NDA we both had to sign for one another that kept everything in our private lives private.
And while I didn’t agree with some of the things he did in his life, so long as he kept up his end of the bargain, we wouldn’t have any issues.
“Camila! Hey!” she exclaimed.
The woman I had hired to work with me during the daytime smiled as she got up. I watched the two women embrace in a hug, and it was apparent they knew one another well. I was glad that all of us could sit down in a private room and have a meal together, especially with my daughter here. Asia’s comfort was of utmost importance.
I stood. “Eva, thank you so much for coming.”
She came over and offered her hand for me to shake, and it caught me off-guard for a split second. I mean, Camila and I had shaken hands, no problem. But, something within me wanted to hug Eva—to pull her close and bury my nose in her beautiful chestnut hair.
“It’s not a problem at all. I’m using this weekend to prepare, so I’m glad I get to have a bit more time with Miss Asia before we all jump headfirst into this,” Eva said.
I shook her hand a bit longer than necessary, so I dropped it quickly and sat back down. I felt Asia settle on top of my feet as she sat beneath the table, allowing the white tablecloth to shroud her away from the rest of the world. My daughter had forever been shy, which wasn’t a good thing when both of her parents were continually in the limelight. Still, I always made sure to carve out safe spaces for her to be herself. Radcliffe’s was definitely one of those zones.
It was a safe zone for me, too. Especially in this private room. Why? Well, for one, there were only two entry points: one for guests being escorted by staff and one straight from the kitchen. So, it made the room feel protected. And secondly, there were no windows. That usually made people feel cramped, but for me, it gave me a sense of security. The last thing I needed was paparazzi attempting to climb the roof of this place and snap pictures of me in here, especially with two women at the same time, enjoying lunch with me.
What a morning headline that would be.
“Gavin?”
Eva’s voice pulled me from the depths of my mind. “Yes?”
Her brow furrowed with genuine worry. “Are you okay? We can do this another time if there’s something else that needs you.”
I smiled softly at her kindness. “I’ve always got things on my mind, Eva. But, I promise everything is all right.”
Camila dipped beneath the tablecloth. “Oh, that’s a pretty picture, Asia.”
My daughter giggled. “It’s pink, see?”
“It’s a glittery pink, too! Where did you get such a pretty color?”
“Eva gave me a pen. She had it in her purse. It’s really pretty, and she let me keep it.”
I smiled at her from across the table. “I didn’t know you let her keep it.”
Eva shrugged. “If she can get more use out of it than me, she can have as many as she wants.”
Asia gasped as she poked her head out from beyond the tablecloth. “Really? You mean it?”
Eva giggled. “Of course. I’ll make sure to come Monday afternoon with all the gel pens I currently have. How’s that sound?”
Camila slid back into her chair. “Sounds like I’m the one bringing the water coloring, then.”
Asia climbed back up into her chair, joining the crowd. “Yay! I love watercolors and gel pens! Daddy! This is gonna be awesome!”
My head fell back with laughter. “I’m glad you think so, princess. Because I think these two are gonna be a big help.”
I felt Camila’s smile, but I saw the cool sincerity behind Eva’s eyes. Dammit, she had striking eyes. They were the color of a crisp summer day spent running through the woods that were lush with blooms. Her smile reminded me of carefree days lounging around on the beach before my life had taken off into this endless, spiraling abyss of fame and filming schedules.
Her smile made me feel almost… normal again.
“So, I have some questions,” Asia said.
I tore my eyes away from Eva’s beauty. “Oh? You do?”
My daughter nodded. “Yep. I do. First, Camila. You ready?”
