“Listen. There’s no place for modesty at this table. I burn ice cubes,” Vega said. “And I’m not family. I’ll hurt your feelings if I have to. This is delicious.” Evie didn’t want to get her hopes up too high. Cooking dinner for a few people wasn’t the same as cooking in front of cameras or cooking in a restaurant. If she was going to get her life back she was going to have to keep practicing, maybe be a little more careful with the cheese grater, but for now, this really good pasta dish would have to do.
* * *
Zach was dead on his feet, but he wasn’t turning in before he gave Evie a proper goodnight kiss. The Getlier wedding party was great company, and Zach had been smart to show his face to greet Sebastian and his wife, Marsa. Getlier was a good man and he was very happy with the red carpet treatment Big Rock had rolled out for his daughter and her husband-to-be. That kind of relationship led to repeat business.
There were two full days left of ranch-related entertainment in store for the wedding party. Beyond the rodeo exhibition, Zach had to show his face at the rehearsal dinner and the reception. After losing the industrial freezer and scrambling to help save thousands of dollars’ worth of food, he still had to deal with the rest of his Saturday as planned. He needed some solid shut-eye, and that was the reason he jumped in his truck and headed straight for Miss Leona’s.
As he drove, the image of Nana Buck popped into his mind. Over the years he thought of her less and less, but still that mixed feeling of pain—and something close to resentment, though Zach was always hesitant to name it—filled his chest. He’d loved Nana Buck almost as much as his own grandmother. His father had taught him the confidence he needed to enter the arena, how to perform, but Nana Buck taught him everything he knew about how to properly care for his animals, how to ride with flare, and the sense he’d need to keep from breaking his neck. He’d never forgotten how clear she’d been when it came to him and Evie. He knew she’d never meant for their friendship to crumble. Still, the power of hindsight was a hell of a thing. Had he stayed away from Evie because of Nana Buck, or his own foolishness?
Now it was as if he’d finally been given permission by the universe to think about Evie again, and now that he wasn’t forcing himself to push every thought of her to the back of his mind or forcing himself to avoid her public image, she was all he could think about. All day long, he’d been thinking of ways he could cash in that rain check on that kiss, and maybe more. Getting her into bed was not his focus. He just wanted more time with her, wanted to make up for all the potential moments they’d missed, and, if he was being honest, soak up as much Evie as possible just in case her memory did come back and cussing him smooth-the-fuck-out was the first thing on her agenda. That what-if was still lingering in the back of his mind, but that didn’t change the way he felt now, and it didn’t change the fact that Evie had kissed him and had plans to do it again. Who was he to disappoint a lady?
It was only a little after nine p.m. when the dogs greeted him at his grandmother’s door. If Evie wasn’t awake, Zach was sure that all the barking Sugar Plum and Poppy did when he opened the door probably did the trick. But he was glad to see she was still up, watching television with Lilah and Nurse Vega. He was also pleased to see her scribbling in the journal he’d given her for Christmas.
“Evening, ladies,” he said with a tip of his hat.
“Hey, you’re back.” The lightness in Evie’s voice inflated Zach’s ego a little bit.
“What I miss?”
“Evie made some amazing carbonara,” Lilah said.
“Oh yeah?”
“There’s leftovers for you and Jesse in the fridge. If you want to try it.”
“I think I just might, but I had one question for you first. If it’s okay with Nurse Vega.”
“Ask away,” Vega said with a tilt of her head in Evie’s direction.
“You wanna check out the ranch?”
“Yeah.” Evie perked up even more. “I’d love to.”
“Grab your coat and your boots. The temperature’s dropped a bit.” Zach had his own wool-lined Carhartt jacket in the truck.
“Okay. One sec.” Evie jumped up and headed toward her room. Zach resisted the urge to kiss her as she passed by, but he did follow a few steps behind. They could catch up while she laced up her boots.
“Uh, Mr. Pleasant.” Zach turned back around just as Vega looked at her smart watch. “Wellness curfew is eleven p.m.”
“Absolutely. I’ll have her back at ten fifty.”
“Now you’re just showing off.” Vega smiled, then turned her attention back to the television.
Evie was back, jacket on, boots in her hand, before he could make it down the hallway. Euca was following close at her heels.
“You make some new friends?” Zach joked as Evie took a seat on the front entry bench. She dodged Euca’s attempt to lick her face and pulled on her boots.
“Yeah. I think she loves me.”
“Can’t blame her,” Zach said. “You want to bring her along?”
“Sure, I guess. If that’s okay.”
“The dogs are up at the ranch all the time. They just aren’t allowed in the dining areas.”
“Sure, let’s bring her.”
They said their goodbyes to Lilah and Vega, then loaded Euca into the back of Zach’s truck. Zach didn’t want to fuck around and waste any time he got with Evie alone. She must have felt the same way. A certain heat moved between them as she shyly glanced over at him.