Page 49 of The Fine Art of Faking It
“Hmm.” It was all she gave him. But it was better than a blistering speech about his teenage shortcomings. Of course he’d regretted letting his parents bully him into taking someone more “suitable.” It was his MO, making other people happy—especially his parents.
“I was eighteen… painfully stupid,” he began.
“Let’s just go back to that whole not talking thing,” she said flatly, her tone leaving no room for argument.
He let her have this round, not completely willing to piss off his hostess who had very generously opened her guest room to him.
They sat in silence, each pretending to read while lost in thought. Eden nudged the small plate of cookies toward him without looking up. He accepted the offering and bit into a cookie.
“Dear God, woman. What are these?” he asked, reaching for another one.
“Cappuccino cookies. Did you mean what you said at Aurora’s party?” She blurted the words out and he knew she must have been mulling them over since he spoke them.
He nodded. “I’m very attracted to you, Eden. You’re a beautiful, amazing woman. You’ve built this entire business from nothing. You were willing to overlook fifty years of feuding to give me a place to stay. Can you blame me for being dazzled?”
“Maybe the Beautification Committee is dabbling in pheromones or something. Doesn’t it bother you that there are people out there pulling strings to make you do something you don’t want to do?” Eden asked.
Davis gave it some thought. “You aren’t something I don’t want to do. And maybe the B.C. has our best interests at heart. I can see the benefit of someone calling the shots when you don’t know what you want or what’s best for you.”
“You’re a grown man, Gates. I think you can make decisions for yourself,” she said dryly. “And there’s no way in hell that I’m what’s best for you.”
One of the dogs gave a low rumble in their sleep.
Davis weighed Eden’s words. He’d always been more interested in going with the flow than standing up and taking what he wanted. Really, what did he want that he didn’t already have? A challenging job in the town he’d always loved. A family that—though annoying and disturbingly set in their ways—cared for him and wanted to see him happy. A loose circle of entertaining friends. He had all that plus purpose, community.
But what if there was more? And what if she was sitting next to him?
Eden sat up, her spine ramrod straight as she held up the binder. “Yes!” She jumped up, jamming her fist in the air. “Suck it Beautification Committee! I just solved our problem. There’s no way they can match us now.”
Reluctantly, Davis raised his hand for the high-five she offered.
“We’ll be free of each other in no time,” she said taking a celebratory swallow of her wine.
* * *
BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE GUIDELINES
SECTION Alpha Lima Echo B32: CONTESTING YOUR MATCH
It’s best that matchees remain unaware of their right to contest their match.
20
Eden hid out in the classic literature section of the library’s first floor, wanting the element of surprise to be in her favor. When Eva wandered by the stacks digging through her bag, dressed in jeans and a baggy sweater, Eden nabbed her.
“Looking for this?” She shoved the Beautification Committee binder in Eva’s face.
“Damn it! How did you get that?” Eva demanded, snatching it out of Eden’s hand. “I’m in so much trouble if they find out that a non-committee member got their hands on the rules and regulations.”
“Relax, you didn’t leave it lying around. I stole it out of your bag while you were busy puking in my umbrella stand.”
“Sorry about that again,” Eva blushed.
“Can we stay focused, please? I’m here to invoke my right to Section 718, Subparagraph G,” Eden announced.
Eva stared at her blankly. “Your right to choose your own match?” she asked.
“No! Wait, that’s a thing?” Eden reached for the binder again. “Because I’ve got some strong feelings for Gerard Butler.”
