My head snapped over to her. “Everything okay?”
She stood from her seat. “I’m so sorry to cut this short, but there’s an emergency at the hospital, and it’s all hands on deck.”
I stood to my feet and held out my hand. “Then, by all means, do what you need to do. Thank you for joining us while you could, and I look forward to seeing you Monday morning.”
She quickly shook it. “I appreciate the opportunity, and I’ll see you bright and early at six that morning.”
Eva stood and gave her a quick hug before Camila rushed out of the room. Then, there were three of us. Asia started slurping her noodles through her lips as I made my way around the table, finally giving in to the gravitational pull I felt between our bodies. I gazed down into her emerald-green eyes as she smiled up at me. I wanted nothing more than to pull her against me and crush our lips together just so I could finally know what she tasted like.
But, I resisted the urge. “If you need to head out as well, please don’t feel bad. We accomplished so much more than I thought we would, so you’re free to go.”
Eva nodded slowly. “I suppose I do have a few things I need to get in line to prepare for Monday.”
“Here, let me get someone from the kitchen to watch Asia. I’d like to walk you out to your car.”
She shook her head. “No, no. Let Asia eat and hang out here. I can get to my car just fine.”
I held my hand out. “Then, let me at least walk you to the exit. It’s the least I can do.”
“All the way downstairs?”
I pointed to the door leading out of the room. “That door.”
She snickered. “That’s more like it.”
I liked that she didn’t want to pull me away from my daughter. With my hand between her shoulder blades, I escorted her over to the door and opened it for her. I ushered her outside and stepped through the threshold, leaving the door just barely cracked open behind me.
And when Eva looked up at me, I felt my gut clench.
“Thank you for taking the time to come to lunch,” I managed to spit out.
She licked her lips. “Thank you for letting me come out.”
I blinked. “I, uh…”
She shook her head. “No, what I meant was—I just, I just meant thank you for letting—no, that’s not right, either. I just meant thanks for the invitation to come and for thinking of me. Platonically, of course. Just—oh, boy.”
My smile ached my cheeks as it continued to spread. Eva’s eyes fell to her feet, and I watched a blush of embarrassment taint her skin. She had nothing to be uncomfortable about, though. She was the cutest thing I had ever laid eyes on and hearing her stumble over her words only made her more endearing.
I wish she didn’t have to go.“Let me know when you get home safely.”
Her eyes found mine again. “I can do that, of course.”
I reached behind me for the door. “And again, thank you for coming. You’ll be at the house around three on Monday, right?”
She nodded. “Right. Three o’clock, sharp.”
I stepped back into the room. “Wonderful. I’ll see you then.”
“See you then, Gavin.”
And as I closed the door, putting a physical barrier between the two of us, I felt my own flush creeping its way down the back of my neck.
Though, it certainly wasn’t one of embarrassment.
8
Eva
