Page 10 of Falling for You
Evan watched her for a moment. “You’re not baking tonight?” He frowned, putting his box down and helping her carry the heavier items. As he slid the flour onto a higher shelf, he stepped back and studied her. CeCe looked tired, but she feared it was worse than she’d thought when she saw Evan’s expression. “What’s going on?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Bless him. He worried about her. “Nothing is going on. Just not feeling it tonight.” She wiped her hands on her tunic and shrugged it off to hang by their aprons.
Evan picked up his box and held the back door open. “Good, if you’re done here you can come with me.” He gave her room to walk through the exit before punching in the alarm code and locking the door with his free hand. “I have plenty of food and my sister canceled at the last minute. I can’t have kung fu fort time alone. It’ll be depressing.”
CeCe chuckled. “Do I want to know what kung fu fort time is?” She rubbed her arms in the chill of the March air. Buckeye Falls was not quite ready to give up on winter yet.
Evan gestured toward his car. “Follow me. I’ll show you.”
Going home with Evan was a bad idea on so many levels. They were friends, and she didn’t want to lead him on. Since they went to the Christmas Jubilee together, CeCe felt Evan warming to her even more. She’d be lying if she didn’t feel some of the same butterflies, but she wasn’t looking for those feelings tonight. Or ever, if she had anything to say about it.
“That’s okay. You go and enjoy your martial arts marathon ... and whatever a fort is.”
Evan’s eyes danced with mischief as he stepped closer. He lowered his voice and asked, “You’re a little curious, aren’t you?”
“Nope,” CeCe said, letting thePpop. “Go do your fort thing, and I’ll see you tomorrow for the brunch rush.” She stepped toward her car but stopped when she heard Evan come up behind her.
“You’re totally curious,” he teased. “What are you doing tonight?” He held her door open as she slid into the driver’s seat.
CeCe fastened her seat belt and looked up into Evan’s warm gaze. He was so relaxed, so easy to be around. It would be so simple to follow him home and pretend for a few hours that she could be with him. That she was what he needed, and he was what she needed. But she had a lot of mental baggage to unpack. “I’m busy,” she said, trying to pull the door closed.
Evan kept his hand on the door. “Busy with?” he prodded. At first, CeCe didn’t respond. She couldn’t think of anything that wouldn’t sound fake or lame. “I’m guessing you’re not baking tonight, since I watched you pack up. There’s no wedding planning tonight, so that’s out.”
CeCe bristled under his knowing gaze. “I have a life outside of the diner and wedding planning, you know.”
“I don’t doubt it. I just don’t think you dotonight, meaning you can join me for dinner and the best fort you’ve ever seen. Come on, CeCe, don’t make a guy beg.”
Against her will, CeCe’s stomach growled, and she covered it with her hand. Evan beamed and wiggled the box again. “Sounds like you’re hungry. I have dinner for two right here. Please, CeCe. I can’t eat alone in my fort. It’ll break my heart.”
CeCe gave in, knowing it would be pointless not to. Evan was persistent, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Fine.” She huffed. “But only for dinner. Then you and your fort will have the night alone.”
Evan winked. “You’ll stay for at least a couple of movies. The power of the fort is strong.” CeCe scoffed, but Evan was undeterred. “Follow me,” he said as he gently closed her door.
CeCe watched him bound toward his old SUV and place the box inside. Maybe she checked him out while he leaned into his car, but she’d never admit it. He wasn’t hard on the eyes by any stretch of the imagination. But his heart was open, and she didn’t want to break it. He had the whole world at his feet, and she wouldn’t pull him into her drama. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” CeCe said to herself as she followed Evan to his place.
*
Evan vibrated withexcitement as he drove to his apartment. The light of CeCe’s headlights shone steadily in his rearview mirror, and he couldn’t believe his good luck. When Mallory called to cancel, he’d been so disappointed.
Mallory got called into work when there was a major highway accident. Evan didn't fault Mallory for her job, but he was gutted at the prospect of spending the night alone. Despite the canceled plans, Evan really liked his life. He loved working at the diner, especially as his repertoire of recipes grew. Poached eggs, hearty stews, and even basic bread were now old hats to Evan.
He supplemented his diner income with freelance jobs creating websites. He started it as a hobby in college but found he could make a few hundred bucks with every website he developed. In his dreams, he could snag a job with Natalie and Ginny at their event firm, but he was biding his time. He understood they saw him as the young waiter, but he was a man with a plan. No one knew that yet, but they would in time.
Pulling into the parking lot, he said a silent prayer of thanks that he had tidied up his place in preparation for Mallory. Not that he usually lived in filth, but it was definitely cleaner than usual. CeCe parked behind him and hopped out of her car. She took in the modest apartment building, which sat on the east side of Buckeye Falls. Evan rented the upper unit for a steal, and he was gratified to have his own space.
“Follow me,” he greeted CeCe as he took the stairs two at a time. Using his elbow, he turned the front doorknob and walked inside.
CeCe obeyed and raised an eyebrow. “You don’t lock your doors?”
Evan laughed. “Are you new to Buckeye Falls? What are they going to do, steal my air mattress and cheap beer?”
Letting the door close behind them, Evan headed to the kitchen and let CeCe take in her surroundings. Her jaw dropped when she saw his fort, and Evan nearly burst with pride. “You weren’t kidding, this is an actual fort.” CeCe toed off her shoes and padded into the living room.
The apartment was open concept, with the dining room and living room being one big space. At the moment, the TV was front and center, and the couch was pushed back into the dining room. An air mattress was inflated and positioned right in front of the TV. There were blankets and nearly a dozen pillows on and around the mattress. The coffee table flanked one side and had a six-pack and a bowl of popcorn.
“Take a seat—I’ll bring in dinner. Help yourself to a beer,” Evan offered over his shoulder.
CeCe eased onto the edge of the mattress. The far side kicked up under her weight, but she didn’t notice. “You normally live like this?” she asked as she tried to move a pillow covered in sequins to the side.
