Page 76 of Five Days to Be Mine

My brain grinds to a halt, but he’s ushering me through the door and into his car before I can form an intelligent sentence.

“Evan you…” I let the words hang in the air at his look of steel.

“This was the agreement, Mara.”

I swallow, but for once I’m not feeling panicked and like I want to run away. I’m eager to find out what he’s planned.

15 EVAN

There’s a part of me that is waiting for Mara to bolt and I hate that I have that expectation lodged in my brain.

I’m determined to do everything I can to make her feel safe, to show her how much I want her past these five days.

The renovation at her parents’ place is going to take weeks. But even after it’s all done? I don’t want her to go anywhere.

I hum as I drive, eager to show Mara the space I've chosen for her.I know she's a talented artist. After meeting her that night, I looked her up online and saw her portfolio.

If I can play a small part in helping her be successful, then it pleases me to do so.

“How did you get to be the kind of guy who knows where to buy a mirror?”

The question makes me laugh. “Owning a restaurant brings all sorts of connections. I’ve bought things from Rita before. I went and got my business degree because I wanted to help my dad be successful. I didn't think it’d end up in me choosing decor.”

“Did it help?” Mara lays her hand on my knee.

“It took years for one of dad’s inventions to be successful but when it did, I was in high school. He and mom kind of drowned in the business side of things. By the time I was finishing up my business degree, mom had quit her job as a paralegal, dad had sold three more successful inventions and I realized I wanted to travel and picked up a minor in hospitality management.”

“What was your favourite place to travel to?”

“I like lots of sunshine and warmth. I lived in Belize for a couple of years.”

“What made you come home?”

“I was home visiting for my mom’s birthday when a college friend invited me out and that’s how I met Julian Hugo. We became friends.”

Julian and I both, being the second eldest with fathers who loved us but were in their own worlds, had a surprising amount of stuff in common.

“What made you stay?”

“Sinful Bites. I took a risk and threw the idea to Julian. He loved it and here we are.” I swallow, grateful for Julian’s help because three years ago my brother lost his wife and if it wasn’t for Julian saying yes to the idea of Sinful Bites and the formation of the Brennon Consortium, I wouldn’t have been home for Noel.

“What’s wrong?” Mara’s warm hand on my leg.

“You never know how things are going to work out. Noel’s first wife died suddenly three years ago. If I hadn't been brave and okay, a little, tiny bit drunk, and if Julian hadn’t said yes to my kinky restaurant, I wouldn't have been here for him.”

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Noel met Holly this past Christmas, and he’s going to get married this spring. They haven’t set a date yet.”

“That’s good.” Mara brushes her hand along my thigh.

“I’m happy for Noel.” The last three years had been really hard, watching him get lost in his grief.

But it’s also made me hyper aware of how much I don't want to waste time.

“Evan, where are we going?”

Glancing at my phone, I realized I got a little distracted as we passed the parking lot for Science World.

“I have to turn around.” I had only been to Steff’s warehouse once, last year, and my memory of it is foggy. “Something you should know about me is that I have a terrible sense of direction.”

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