“Holy shit,” Melanie said, with a sickening laugh. “You didn’t know. Un-fucking-believable. What is Evie going for? Gold medal in the morality Olympics? I mean, I really messed her up and she still didn’t rat me out. Tell your friend a little thing about self-preservation. It trumps kindness every now and then.”
Nicole closed her mouth, which had apparently been hanging open, and did her best to reclaim her cool. “She did tell me.”
“And then what? She told you not to go to the cops ’cause she didn’t want me to get in trouble. I know Evie, I just didn’t know she could turn the other cheek this hard. Bravo.” Melanie took out her phone and checked the time. Somehow this conversation about how she almost killed someone was considered a time suck.
“Listen. Go to the cops or whatever. Who’s gonna believe her? There was no one else in the that staircase. Just me and her. It’s her word against mine and I’m pretty sure NYPD is not gonna give a shit about a she-said, she-said between two celebrity chefs. Give me a fucking break.”
“Why didn’t you help her?” Nicole said. Practically yelled it. “How long was she up there?”
“Uh, because I pushed her and why does it matter now? She’s fine. Surrounded by flowers from her adoring fans. I know she’s getting some sweet paid time off now too.”
“Says who?” Nicole demanded.
“Like I’d tell you,” Melanie replied, as though naming her possible in atThe Dishwas somehow worse than confessing to attempted murder. Melanie turned on her heels and put her middle finger in the air. “Have a nice day, Evie’s friend. Real effective work there.”
This time Nicole let her go. Melanie wasn’t wrong. Unless Melanie walked into a precinct and confessed, there was no proof of what happened in that stairwell. And no proof of the conversation they’d just had. And even if Nicole went to the police, there was no way for Evie to corroborate her story. Still no timeline, no details as long as Evie was still suffering from this awful amnesia.
Nicole turned and walked back toward the movie theater. She had to tell Jane what had just happened and then she needed to call Jesse Pleasant.
* * *
Evie sat on the flatbed of Jesse’s truck and watched the horse trailer back into the small paddock behind the barn. She was a good hundred yards away, but that didn’t stop her from appreciating Zach’s commanding presence as he and their ranch foreman, Felix, directed the arrival of the ranch’s newest addition.
Thoughts of the previous night still warmed Evie’s whole body. After they’d enjoyed the lovely meal Britnay had made for them, Zach had turned on some music and there was definitely some intimate slow dancing. How they stopped themselves from christening the cabin’s large bed was beyond Evie, but they managed to keep their kissing and groping above the belt. For the most part. There may have been a moment or two when they climbed back into the truck and his hand found its way between Evie’s legs.
The quick, but mind-blowing orgasm he delivered made them a few minutes late for Jesse’s ridiculous imaginary curfew, but the scowl on his face when Evie walked through the door was worth it. Zach featured heavily in her dreams that night, and this time, wherever Evie went in her dream, he was right there, right by her side. He never left her, never disappeared, and it was his smile that had her waking up the next morning with a smile on her own face instead of a head filled with jumbled thoughts.
Their plans for a thrilling Saturday night involved pizza and a movie at Zach’s place, but for now Zach had important business to deal with, getting a new horse acclimated to its surroundings. Miss Leona had to head back to Los Angeles the following day to attend the Golden Globes. When Jesse offered to take Evie and Vega over to see the new colt, they figured it would be a good chance to give Miss Leona a few hours of peace and quiet. Plus, Evie wanted to see this animal Zach was so excited about.
“This is the horse he bought before Christmas?” Evie looked up at Jesse.
“That the ranch bought. Yeah.”
“Why do you say it like that?”
“We didn’t need another horse.”
“But you love your baby brother so you let him get away with anything?” Vega teased.
“Yeah, something like that,” Jesse grumbled.
“You don’t like horses?” she asked.
“I respect them, but I think a relationship with a horse works best when there’s a fence between the horse and me.”
“But you own a ranch.”
“Coaches don’t play, Vega.”
“Oh, okay,” she said as she and Evie both burst out laughing.
“I got bit once and that was enough for me. Also, I’ve been about this size since I was twelve and I’m pretty sure our draft horses are the only ones who can comfortably carry three-hundred-and-fifty pounds of pure man.”
“Three-fifty?” Vega reached out and grabbed his flannel-covered his biceps. “I know I only come up to your belly button, but damn.”
Jesse casually looked at his smart watch before he pointed in the direction of the corral. “You’re about to miss the show.”
Evie looked up and sure enough, one of the ranch hands was easing the black-and-white horse down the trailer ramp. A female ranch hand led him by the reins and stopped the horse right in front of Zach and Felix. Zach took the reins and started very slowly to lead him around the corral.