Page 15 of Tender Heart
I rub my hands down my face before rolling over and burying my face into the plush blue upholstery. I scream and smack a fist onto it. My hand hits something solid. Slipping it between the cushions, I produce a tattered journal of some sort. The wordsWeather Logare gilded and embossed into the leather cover. I toss it on the coffee table and glance at the window as he walks past it.
Most infuriating man on the planet.
No, the whole entire goddamn universe.
He better not leave without me.
Six
CALLUM
Islide the throttle back, slowing the cruiser as I approach the jetty. The mainland was bustling. Not that Eve would know. She didn’t show... or was late. I left at seven sharp. Now, three hours later, I make out her pacing, huffing figure on the end of the jetty.
I chuckle at the sight of her all wound up.
She could have just showed up. Being on time isn’t hard. Firefly bobs up to the jetty, and I throw a line over and anchor her to the structure. The harsh click of heeled boots flies toward me. I tamp down the smile that wants out at her pouty fucking face. This ought to be good.
“You utter ass, I was here at seven oh five! You left without me!”
The meek, shy girl is nowhere to be found. And I can only assume her permanent state of hangry since she arrived has set in.
She should have been on time.
“I left at seven. Told you that.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “You have to go back. I need provisions.” She looks like she’s about to cry.
Fuck.
I toss a bag ofprovisionsat her and she catches it, fumbling the bag a little.
“What’s this?”
“Iris sent some things.”
“Iris did?”
“Yep. Try not to be too grateful.”
Her mouth gapes open but she slams it shut, unrolling the paper top and peering inside. A little gasp leaves her lips, and her eyes shoot back up. The way she goes from night to day in a split second over a chunk of damn cheese is hilarious.
“Tell her thank you... but I do really need to get back there. I have things I nee?—”
“It can wait till Wednesday.”
“No, no, it can’t.”
“Has to.”
Giving me the poutiest twisted face she can manage, she turns on her heel and walks back up the jetty, holding her one paper bag of groceries like it’s her prized possession. I won’t tell her Iris actually sent three bags. I’ll leave them at her doorstep. Ought to light them on fire before I do.
Fucking brat.
At least she’s sticking up for herself. A far cry from the conservative, shy girl that breached these shores that first day. I kill the engine and secure the boat before hauling the two remaining bags and a few things I needed back up the path. I drop the bags at the house front door and make my way to the cottage. My few pickings, grabbed while I waited for Iris to shop for Eve, are wrapped in a smaller bag.
My stomach rumbles as I stash away the few essentials—soap, toothpaste, a new novel. God knows the few on my shelves have been read a thousand times. A small knock at the door sends it creaking open.
Eve stands at the threshold, her hands wringing through themselves.
