“No. And we’re going to keep it that way. If she did something, we’ll figure it out and she’ll fucking pay for it. Maybe I should have said something earlier—”
“No, I get it. I’ve had a lot to process. This is . . . a lot more. But at least I know to keep her at a distance for real.”
“It’s just a theory Nicole had. It still could have been an accident.”
A theory, sure, but the more Evie thought about it, the more sense it made. She’s been thrown from a horse and just broken her arm. Would slipping down the stairs be enough to put her in a coma? Maybe. But someone shoving her down a flight of stairs would definitely do the trick. A sudden tightening in Evie’s chest made her feel like Nicole may have been right to keep this from her. A possible murder plot was not something Evie was ready to handle.
“Are you okay?” Zach asked before he pressed his lips to her forehead.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” She snuggled closer and wrapped her arm around his waist. It was too late now, or too early in the morning on the East Coast to talk to Nicole, but as soon she could she’d ask Nicole to tell her everything about this Melanie Burns theory and figure out exactly what they could do about it.
* * *
Evie sat on the edge of Zach’s bed, waiting as he finished getting ready for his day. They’d been up most of the night talking and making love. She would have spent the whole day in bed with him, but she had to check in with Vega. Plus Miss Leona would be back eventually and it would be rude for Evie not to show her face.
She looked at the flood of text messages that had hit her phone in the last twelve hours. Television personality Chef Evie was pretty dang popular. She’d ask the girls which Happy New Year greetings she should respond to and which messages she should ignore after she took a shower and got something to eat.
She felt pleasantly worn out. Zach talked a big game, but he also knew how to back it up. So much of her recovery had felt like an uphill battle, but being in Zach’s bed made her feel pretty damn good. She could learn how to cook and take care of herself again and she could also be a woman who had amazing sex with an incredibly hot guy. What the future meant for them, she had no clue. But she wanted to give herself the room to enjoy what was happening between them in the present.
Zach came out of his walk-in closet, slipping a tie under his collar. “I was thinking about what you said last night,” he said. “About not liking what you saw onSupreme ChefandThe Dish.”
“Yeah?”
“Two things. You may not have been really cooking onThe Dish, but think about the viewers at home, right? You were teaching them to cook. And from what I understand, you were the biggest ratings draw to the show.Supreme Chefwas bullshit drama, but some people need stuff like that to unwind. Ask Lilah her feelings about the wholeHousewivesfranchise. WithThe Dish, people are watching to learn something from someone they like. You. You are a part of something that people want and need. If it’s not fulfilling moving forward, I get it, but it’s just something to consider.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“And you do have to cook a little. You have to demonstrate a good chunk of the steps.”
“You’re right. What was the second thing?”
“Ask Lilah to put onThe Chef ’s Cornerfor you. I’ve seen a few episodes and it’s about actual chefs and the food they make. I think you might find more of the inspiration you’re looking for there.”
“Thank you. I’ll try that.”
“You ready?”
Zach was in another perfectly tailored suit and his cowboy hat. Shiny black boots with swirls carved into the leather finished the look. She gave him a once-over, then cocked her head at him as he adjusted his Stetson.
“You know how good you look in that hat, don’t you?”
Zach shrugged, the corner of his mustache lifting in a more earnest smile. “I mean, I feel good in it. That’s what matters.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Come on.”
Evie took Zach’s hand and let him pull her off the bed. She followed him out to the front door. Just as he opened it for her, she heard the dogs barking. When they stepped outside, Evie could see a car driving up Pleasant Lane.
Zach glanced over his shoulder as he finished locking up. “That’s Miss Leona and Corie.”
“Oh, they’re back already.”
“Yeah.” Something in Zach’s voice was off, but he took her hand. “Let’s go say hello.” They crossed the property and met the black SUV in front of Miss Leona’s house just as Lilah opened the front door. Sugar Plum and Euca came running out to greet Corie as soon as she hopped out of the car. She came around the other side and opened the passenger door for Miss Leona while their driver grabbed their bags.
“Good morning,” Miss Leona said, eyeing Evie’s pajama pants and her shawl.
Zach bent down and kissed Miss Leona on her cheek.