Page 14 of Cowboy of Convenience
Amelie's baby boy squalled on the other end of the line and her best friend gently shushed him before picking their conversation back up. "Sasha didn’t take your rejection well, did he?"
Evelyn laughed even though there was nothing amusing about the situation. "He didn't take it at all. He acted like it wasn't an option. Like we were going to be together no matter what I wanted."
It'd been the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. The moment that sent her shoving only the necessities into a carry-on and taking the next flight out of New York. She’d gone to great lengths to avoid being controlled. Done everything she could think of to be able to make her own decisions and live her own life. Determined not to allow a man, especially one like Sasha, to take that from her.
Which made it extra bizarre that she didn't lose her mind last night when Grady ordered her to bed. Any other time, she would have kicked his ass right out of her house, regardless of how great it looked in his department-issued pants.
But Grady's demand didn't seem like control. What else it could be, she didn't know, but whatever it was, it didn't make her bristle the way she normally would.
"Okay. We’ll be here when you get back." Amelie spoke softly to someone beside her, the tone of her voice sweet and gentle.
Evelyn waited, trying not to be jealous. She was happy for her best friend. Thrilled Amelie found the kind of man neither of them believed existed. Even more delighted they’d procreated and produced the cutest little baby boy she’d ever seen.
But damned if she wouldn't love to have just a little more of her friend’s precious time. Especially in moments like this.
"Okay, I'm back. Sorry. Troy's headed out back with his dad to go work on something I don't care about." Amelie paused, the line going so quiet it almost seemed dead. "What were we talking about?"
Evelyn closed her eyes, breathing deep. "Sasha showing up at my yoga studio and then renting out the house across the street."
The twat came over as soon as Grady left, like he thought she would change her mind the second her fake fiancé was out of sight.
She didn’t.
Sasha’s shock when she slammed the door in his face was enraging. Could the man not take a hint? A small part of him must have expected she wouldn’t just fall into his arms since he’d gone so far as to rent the vacant house across the street. He should probably listen to that small part more.
“That’s right.” Amelie groaned. "What are you going to do? That whiny bastard's going to bug the shit out of you thinking he can wear you down."
Evelyn chewed her lower lip, debating how she should answer. She hadn't offered the whole story to her friend, specifically the part about Grady pretending to be her fiancé. Not because she didn't want to share all the details, but because she wasn't quite sure how she felt about those details.
She'd never had a man sweep in and save the day before. Certainly not a man who was willing to sleep on the couch instead of trying to find his way into her bed. At first it almost made her think maybe Grady was just being nice. Maybe he didn't actually have the same kind of interest in her that she had in him.
It would've been some sort of poetic justice.
But then the kiss happened. And, after kissing more than her fair share of men, she could tell the difference when the gesture had more behind it than just keeping up appearances. And there was plenty more behind that one.
It added yet another layer of complication to the problems stacking up on her plate.
"I guess I just have to wait him out. Eventually he’ll figure out I’m not going to be with him no matter what anyone else wants, and he'll go back to New York and find some other rich socialite who doesn't care if her husband wears highlighter and tells her what to order at a restaurant.” And as long as he was embarrassed enough to keep this whole thing to himself, she might be in the clear.
If not… Sasha might not be the only one back in New York.
Amelie sighed. "God I hope so. I could go the rest of my life without having to see his face again."
"Agreed." Evelyn sat up, leaning to peek out the front blind yet again. "Maybe I should see if I can get my hands on some bedbugs and infest the place he’s renting."
“I—” Amelie sputtered. “You know you can’t do that, right?”
“I’d be willing to pay to have it fumigated once he left.” Evelyn dropped back to the cushions. “I might as well use the Amex at this point.”
Amelie’s baby started to wail on the other end of the line, like he was just as shocked by her suggestion as his mother obviously was. “I should let you go. Sounds like you’ve got your hands full.” Evelyn worked hard to keep her tone from showing her irritation.
It wasn’t the baby she was irritated with. Or her friend.
It was just about everyone else though.
She listened while Amelie promised to call back—knowing full well the chances of it happening were slim to none—before hanging up and gently sliding her phone onto the coffee table.
Then she smashed one of the velvet throw pillows stacked on the sofa into her face and screamed. Even muffled and smothered, the sound made her feel better. Right up until she took a breath to scream again.
