Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
And the hits keep on coming. I’m not sure how much more I can take. But instead, I mask my impression and say, “And that’s the truth.”
Zane catches my gaze. I have to look away, mostly out of fear that I’ll run to him. “I told her a part of me will always love you because you were my first everything. Caryn looks at relationships and love differently than you and I would. She’s used to people wanting to be with her to get to her family, or her dad setting her up with men to benefit his business.”
“How do you fall into this?”
Zane lets out a sigh. “None of it clicked until now, but I think Mr. Bamford saw something in me and put Caryn in my path. He put us together. Kept us together.”
“Why?” The question catches in my throat.
He shakes his head. “I don’t know, Ev. But he knew about you from the beginning and made sure I never had any time to return. And yet, I always had time to go to parties where his daughter was.”
“Well, it must’ve worked. You fell in love, and you asked her to marry you.” The last part feels like I’ve swallowed acid. I always thought we’d be the ones getting married.
“Eve,” he says my name softly. “What if I never fell out of love with you?”
His question sends my mind reeling. I hate the what if game.
What if this?
What if that?
I shake my head, putting my hand up in case he has any thoughts of coming near me. “You need to go,” I tell him. “Asking you to come in was a mistake. You’re engaged, and the only reason you’re second-guessing yourself is because of nostalgia. It’ll all pass when you go back to New York.”
Zane stares at me for a moment, emotion briefly flitting across his face, before he nods. He turns the burner off and steps toward me, but then thinks better of it and moves toward the stairs. I stay at the top until I hear the door shut, and then move to my window. As he exits onto the street, he stops and looks up. I expect him to wave, but he doesn’t.
Neither do I.
TEN
ZANE
There are times in my life where I’ve felt out of control. It mostly happened after moving to New York and losing Evangeline. Knowing what I know now, I find myself questioning everything from that year, and it makes me feel incredibly uneasy.
When I returned to the inn after my late-night excursion, Caryn was out cold. Instead of getting into bed with her, I stayed on the couch. In the morning, she didn’t seem fazed by it one bit and said she had the best night’s sleep.
Ouch. What a shot to my ego. I’m sure she didn’t mean it the way it sounded.
After breakfast, we lounge in the sitting room. While I read the newspaper, which is such a novelty since I’m usually on my phone, Caryn’s fingers are flying over her keyboard, likely texting one of her friends or her mother.
“What do you want to do today?” I ask her.
“I’d like to go shopping.”
Thankfully, the newspaper hides my eye roll. “Okay, there are a few boutiques in town.”
“Chanel is having a sale,” she says. “Where’s the nearest store?”
“Fifth Avenue,” I say without missing a beat.
“Seriously?”
I set the paper down and reach for her hand. “Small town, remember. There’s a mall, but it’s in Albany. Actually, a town called Colonie. Do you want to go there?”
“Ms. Caryn,” Leslie the innkeeper knocks on the door as she comes into the room. “Sorry to interrupt but I overheard you. We’re driving over for Albany today if you’d like to come with us.”
I fully expect Caryn to say no, but she readily agrees.
“That would be lovely!”
My eyes go wide at her statement. She smiles, as if saying yes is something she does often. As soon as Leslie leaves, I lean forward and touch her forehead with the back of my hand. Caryn laughs and bats my hand away.
“Stop it.”
“I can’t help it. I think my fiancée has the flu or someone had taken over her mind.”
“It’ll be fun.” Caryn shrugs.
I pick up my phone and type out a text to her. “This is the address of the Inn. If you get bored or want to come back, call for a car. I think an Uber can bring you here. But please remember, this is a mall. It’s not Fifth Avenue. I think their designer store is Macy’s.”
“I like Macy’s,” she says with a shrug.
I’m doubtful, but she deserves the benefit of the doubt. “When did you get chummy with Leslie?”
Another shrug. “We chatted over tea. She’s rather nice.”
“What’s her last name?”
Caryn’s eyes widen and then turn to slits. “You think you’re a funny guy, don’t you?”