Page 45 of In this Moment

A few weeks?

Evie took a step back. He thought of her as a thing he needed to tie up? And he’d be gone in a few weeks? She shook her head, trying in vain to clear her head from what she’d just heard. Less than an hour ago, she’d been fantasizing about what it would be like if Declan stayed in Cedar Springs with her. Hell, she’d actually been contemplating the idea that she was falling in love with him and the whole time she’d been nothing more than just a thing he was dealingwith.

Her heart clenched, nausea rising in her stomach. She wanted to cry. To be sick. To… The ring of her cell phone pulled her attentionaway.

Russ.

At least she could focus on something that mattered.

Evie.

Declan heard her cell phone ring in the other room and a moment later the sound of her voice as she took the call. He’d expected her to come in when she woke up, but maybe she hadn’t had a chance.

He liked their easy morning routine that they’d fallen into. It was such a simple thing, but he liked having a pot of coffee made when she woke up. She’d never slept in so late before, though. He’d had to make a fresh pot for her, she’d slept solong.

Not that he minded.

It was such a little thing, but it made him immeasurably happy to know he could help with even one little thing. She was such a busy woman and she worked so hard. She deserved a little bit of spoiling.

He turned his focus back to the computer screen and the current problem he was having. His right-hand man, Wes Morris, was pushing hard for him to get down to Haiti to have an in-person meeting with some of the government officials who were looking for an update on the work that DAR had been doing in their country for the last few years.

It wasn’t unusual to have meetings and normally it wouldn’t have been a problem at all. In years past, he would have dropped whatever he was doing, which was most likely some other work for DAR, and flown down for the meeting at once. But that was before.

BeforeEvie.

He couldn’t explain it to Wes, and he certainly couldn’t tell him that he was engaged. That would be just one more lie he’d have to unwind after the fact. It had been easier to just tell him that he was dealing with something at home. He’d tried to make it sound like a family thing, but he couldn’t help but feel a little guilty at the way he’d reduced his relationship with Evie to such a simpleterm.

Not that it mattered what Wes thought. But he did need him to understand and get the meeting times moved. Wes wanted him down there next week and there was just no way he could do that. Not if he was supposed to be in Cedar Springs, helpingEvie.

But eventually he would have to go. He had a job to do and not only that, but he loved his job. He loved his career and his foundation and everything he’d built.

He was proud of it. He’d built it from nothing. It was his whole life for the last five years. He’d dedicated everything toit.

But he’d be willing to let it go. ForEvie.

He felt that in his bones. For Evie and Jonah, he’d let it all go and settle down in Cedar Springs.

In a heartbeat.

As long as she felt the sameway.

“Russ, give me some good news,” Evie said the moment she answered the call. “Please tell me all this bullshit is over. I’ve played nice, I’ve allowed access, I’ve—”

“Good morning, Evie.”

She swallowed hard and tried to calm down. She was getting herself all worked up and she knew that wouldn’t help anything. Although, to be fair, she’d been worked up before the call. After eavesdropping on Declan.

She needed to stay cool. And she needed to stay focused.

“Good morning, Russ,” she said after a moment. “Sorry, I’m just anxious to hear what you have to say.” She slipped out the patio door and went out to sit in the sun on her deck, her coffee still inhand.

“I know this has been hard for you, Evie,” Russ said. “And I want you to know I’ve been doing my best to come to a solution everyone can be happywith.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Not everyone,” she said. “Me. You need to come to a solution that I can be happy with, Russ. Not Tony. That doesn’t—”

“Obviously, I meant that I’m looking for a solution that you’ll be happy with,” he said. “But also one that is in Jonah’s best interest. After all, we have to remember that the ultimate goal is to make sure Jonah is well cared for and happy.”

“Of course.” Evie forced herself to take a sip of coffee. “I know.” She nodded. “I know,” she said again, more to reassure herself than Russ. “So what’s happening? Just tellme.”

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