Page 63 of Tempting Eden

“I’ll call you in a few days.”

“Love you.”

“Me too.”

“Jack?” Bess snapped her fingers. “Earth to Jack?”

“Yeah, sorry.”

“I’m used to it by now.” She shook her head. “Why do I always have a soft spot for the troubled Jack Englands of the world?”

I shrugged.

“Ugh! Well, go on home then and get ready for your date or whatever it is you and Diana are doing. Do I get to meet her sometime, at least?”

I snapped my laptop closed and dropped it into my satchel. “Doubtful.”

She put her palms on the desk at the sides of her legs and leaned forward. “That means she’s not the one. If you don’t even care if I—your bestest friend in town or on the planet—ever meet her.”

“Two things. One, you’re assuming a lot. Two, you’re assuminga lot.”

Diana sucked up some time I’d otherwise spend drinking. She lived in my building. I’d seen her a few times. Nothing serious. She wasn’t particularly bright or interesting, but she helped take my mind off the past. We’d fall into easy discussions about pop culture, food, politics. Nothing real, nothing heavy. Just easy listening for me, simple interaction that kept me somehow sane, kept the memories at bay.

It seemed like that was my main goal—drinking, painting, working, dating Diana—all of it was meant to blot out my memories, to take up my time so I didn’t dwell on Ms. Temple’s bits and pieces of information about Eden’s fall from grace, her firing from Thornfield, her custody battle.

A few tidbits of news did interest me, though. Gray Poole had made headlines throughout the Southeast when he was indicted in a massive loan fraud, as well as racketeering, and unfair competition. The federal government had been watching his expanding real estate empire with interest, especially when they discovered the drug and hooker parties he threw for politicians in charge of zoning and environmental issues. His company was going down in flames and turning his closest cronies—including Thornfield—into smoking ruins. I’d scanned the news stories for Eden’s name, relieved to never see her mentioned.

Her, her, her. That’s where my mind wanted to go. If the feeling ever got too strong and I wanted to break down and call her, I forced myself to recall the image of her the last time I saw her. With Gray. My blood boiled anew each time, the sting of betrayal like a thorn embedded deeply into my heart. I was poisoned, ruined.

Bess leaned back and tapped her dark red fingernail on her chin. “Stop trying to fool me. I know you’re still in love with her.”

I threw the satchel strap on my shoulder. “Don’t start, Bess.”

She looked down, her signature crimson lips in a pout. “I just don’t want you to throw something away. Love like the kind I felt between the two of you doesn’t happen all the time.”

She glanced up at me, her dark eyes serious.

I stiffened. “Bess, drop it. This isn’t something I’m going to discuss. I’ve told you that a million times.”

“But she cares about y—”

“Goddammit, Bess, Eden only cares about herself!”

She cringed away from the harshness of my words. I realized I was clutching the satchel strap so hard my knuckles had gone white. I forced myself to relax and lower my voice.

“I’m sorry, Bess. I just can’t talk about her, okay? I can’t.” I took the few steps to her and lightly squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

She put her small hand on top of mine. “No, I shouldn’t have pushed. It’s just that I want you to be happy, you know?”

“I know. After all, as you said, you are mybestestfriend.” I gave her a weak smile. The last person I wanted to hurt was Bess. She’d given me a job, found me a place to stay, and let me nurse my broken heart under her watchful gaze. She deserved nothing but my thanks.

She patted my hand and stood. “Right. Well, let’s blow this joint. You aren’t the only one with a hot date tonight.”

“The Puerto Rican?” I asked.

“The very one. He couldn’t get enough of me the last time. I think he may have an Asian girl fetish, but I don’t care. I like what he can do with his tongue.”

“Thanks for sharing. Gotta run.” I hit the exit with her laughter at my back.

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