Take Me Home for Christmas

“Her return to his life doesn’t concern you?”

“Why would it? We’ve talked about it. He says he’s over her.”

“Eve, he’s been saying that for years.”

“And?”

“No one believes him.”

She understood what Cheyenne was getting at but didn’t want to consider it. “Stop. Don’t ruin this.” Her phone rang, and she checked Caller ID. “It’s him.” She raised a finger to her lips before answering. “Don’t tell him I told you. And don’t tell anyone else about us. Not yet, okay? You promise?”

Cheyenne’s smiled looked pained, putting even more of a damper on Eve’s excitement. “I won’t. I promise.”

Trying to throw off the odd feeling she’d gotten since revealing her relationship with Ted, Eve answered the phone. “Hello?”

“Hey, what’s up?” he asked.

“Not much.” She stepped out of the office so she could talk without Cheyenne listening in. “Are you getting some pages written today?”

“Not too many. I’ve been busy with...other things.”

This surprised her. He’d gone home early last night because he was under so much pressure to get the rest he needed so he could work. “What other things? You’re on deadline, remember?”

“I’m afraid this couldn’t be helped.”

“What’s ‘this’?”

The resulting pause told her he was searching for the right words. “I had to move Sophia and Alexa into my guesthouse.”

Her blood ran cold. She liked Sophia, felt sorry for her, but on the heels of what Cheyenne had just said.... “What?”

“Someone’s been harassing them, vandalizing the house, even threatening them.”

“Who?”

“I wish I knew. Maybe then I could put a stop to it without having to go this route.”

“But...you’re already helping her. Isn’t there someone else who could come to her rescue?”

“Like...”

“If she’s being harassed, the police would be a logical choice.”

“Chief Stacy is no fan. Not anymore. I told you what he said when he came here on Monday.”

But Sophia was still a citizen of Whiskey Creek, and the citizens of Whiskey Creek should be able to count on their chief of police to do his job. “That means she’ll be around you almost 24/7.”

“Not for long. She’s planning to get out of town as soon as she can afford it.”

“That could be months.”

“I realize this isn’t what either of us would wish for.” He lowered his voice as if he was afraid someone— Sophia?—might overhear him. “But they couldn’t stay where they were. They’re not safe there. Not only that, but she can’t afford to heat that big house.”

Eve remembered her relief and excitement when he’d hired Sophia. She’d been so grateful to him. But now...jealousy bit deep. Was Sophia using her situation to get closer to Ted? Was she playing the martyr, preying on his sympathies?

It was even possible that Sophia’s house hadn’t been vandalized. Maybe she’d done it herself.

As much as Eve hated suspecting the worst, she couldn’t forget who Sophia had been in high school. “Ted, she must be aware that you’re...successful.” And still single. “Maybe she hasn’t changed as much as I thought. Maybe she’s a...a parasite looking for a new host.”

“I doubt it. If so, she’s not looking to me. I saw the damage at her place with my own eyes.”

How? Why? Had she called him? Asked him to come by?

Eve wasn’t sure she wanted to know. “Either way, you won’t make the mistake of getting back with her....”

“Of course not,” he said. “You and I are together, aren’t we?”

She drew a deep breath, but still felt shaky. “That was my understanding.”

“It’s true. You don’t have anything to worry about. I won’t let you down.”

That was exactly what she wanted to hear, but the way he’d stated it left something to be desired. She can’t hold a candle to you. Or why would I want her when I’ve got you would’ve been more flattering. More convincing, too. But their relationship was new. She couldn’t expect him to be madly in love with her yet.

“I’ll admit this has me concerned,” she said.

“Eve, I made my decision about us on Monday.”

In the hot tub. When he was drunk. That didn’t bolster her confidence, but she knew she could rely on his integrity. And she was the one who’d championed Sophia. It wasn’t as if she could get angry about his involvement in Sophia’s life when she’d been so supportive of it.

“I know.”

“Are you still interested in getting together tonight?”

“I am.” More than ever. “Your place okay?”

She wished there hadn’t been another pause, but there was.

“Sure.”

“What time?”

“Seven? I’ll have Sophia prepare extra for dinner.”

It made her feel slightly better that he expected Sophia to cook for both of them. “I’ll bring my swimsuit.”

“Sounds good. See you later.”

After he hung up, she remained in the hallway, thinking. She’d been as convinced as everyone else that Ted wasn’t over Sophia. Was she only buying into it now because she wanted to?

“Everything okay?” Cheyenne stood in the doorway of their office, wearing a concerned expression.

“Of course. That was Ted.” Hoping to seem more confident than she felt, she smiled. “He wants me to come over for dinner tonight.”

Obviously relieved, Cheyenne returned her smile. “I’m happy for you. I really am.”

Eve knew she should probably tell her friend that Sophia was moving into Ted’s guesthouse, but that would only feed her skepticism, and Eve didn’t need that. Fortunately, Sophia wouldn’t be staying at his place for long, she told herself. Ted had said she’d be leaving Whiskey Creek.

Eve had to admit she’d be glad when that happened. She even wished she had some money to give her so she could go right now.

21

With a master bed and bath upstairs, and a bedroom with bath, a small kitchen, a living room, mudroom and laundry area downstairs, Ted’s guesthouse was tiny compared to what Sophia was used to. It was no more than eight hundred square feet. But she was thrilled to have furniture—and heat—again.

Exhausted from so many sleepless nights, the stress of starting a new job, the worry over Alexa’s situation at school and hauling box after box through Ted’s side yard and into his guesthouse, Sophia dropped onto her new bed. He’d helped her by carrying in the heaviest boxes, but then he’d left her to finish on her own so he could work.

Now she was alone, and it felt like heaven to lie down somewhere that didn’t remind her of Skip. Somewhere that felt safe. Somewhere no one would expect to find her. She had to walk over to Ted’s house and get to work now. It wasn’t fair to him that the move had taken up more than half their day. He’d already had to warm up the leftover soup for his lunch. But she needed a few minutes to rest.

She was so tired....