Close to You

said, really
meaning it. “But more than that, you really care. Daniela should
have that. You should have what you want.”
    Eve gaped at her.
    Margaret nodded, smiled, and walked
out. She had one more thing to take care of. Pulling out her cell
phone as she headed back to Crumpet, she dialed the number from
heart.
    “ Margaret?” Grant’s deep
voice sounded hesitant.
    “ I was hoping you were free
for dinner tonight.” She said it blithely, but fear clutched her
belly. What if it was too late? He had every right not to want to
see her anymore after the crazy way she’d acted.
    “ I have plans already
tonight,” he said.
    Her heart sank. “Oh.”
    “ But for the right woman
I’m willing to change them.”
    Confidently she said, “I’m the right
woman.”
    “ That’s what I’ve been
telling you,” he said softly.
    She smiled, hope buoying her heart. “I
finally listened.”
     

Chapter Twenty-nine
     
    Eve was staring off into space when
Olivia walked into the café. “You look deep in thought,” her friend
said as she strode to the counter.
    “ I’m thinking.”
    “ I can see that.” Olivia
crossed her arms and waited.
    She sighed. “Treat’s mother came to
see me today.”
    Olivia straightened, at attention.
“And?”
    “ She apologized. She said
she encouraged Daniela Rossi to pick my shop for the
event.”
    “ Do you believe
her?”
    “ Half an hour later Daniela
called me herself to give me the news.”
    Olivia smiled brightly. “That’s great
news.”
    “ Yes.”
    “ You don’t sound very
enthused for someone whose business has just been
saved.”
    Frowning, she tucked her hair behind
her ear. “Do you think I acted hastily with Treat?”
    Understanding dawned on Olivia’s face.
“It doesn’t matter what I think. You’re the one who’s in love with
him.”
    “ I am.” Her heart stuttered
at having it said out loud.
    “ So what are you going to
do about it?”
    She pulled out a pastry box and began
loading it. “I’m going to go get him back.”
    “ That’s what I’m talking
about.” Olivia grinned. “Stop by and see me before you go. I just
got in this bra set that he won’t be able to refuse.”
    “ You think he’s going to
refuse me?”
    “ Hell no. That man wants
you forever. You can tell by the way he looks at you.”
    Eve melted. “You can?”
    Olivia rolled her eyes. “Duh. It’s
enough to make a girl gag.”
    She laughed. “How did someone who’s so
pragmatic about love and sex end up selling romance for a
living?”
    “ Go figure.” She headed
toward the door. “Be back in a couple. Make me a latte, will
you?”
    “ Where are you going?” Eve
asked, confused.
    She grinned devilishly over her
shoulder. “To get your secret weapon.”
     
     
    Eve stood on Treat’s doorstep. It was
dark, but she told herself that didn’t mean anything. She wouldn’t
have turned on the porch lights unless she was expecting someone,
and she’d been pretty clear that he shouldn’t expect her ever
again.
    She winced. What had she been
thinking?
    Taking a deep breath, she rang the
doorbell.
    She waited.
    And waited.
    Leaning, she pressed her ear to the
door. She didn’t hear anything.
    The door flung open and she pitched
forward—right into Treat’s arms.
    She looked up into his dear face and
said, “Hi.”
    He frowned. “What are you doing here,
Eve?”
    Oh shit—he had someone over. Maybe it
was a woman. She stepped back, her heart hurting. “I should have
called before I came. I’ll just go.”
    “ No.” He took her arm and
pulled her inside, looking behind her as he closed the door. “How
did you get here?”
    “ Olivia gave me a ride.”
She’d been hopeful that she wouldn’t have to leave. “I came to tell
you your mom fixed everything for me.”
    He nodded, watching her impassively.
“She told me.”
    “ It was brave.”
    “ It was no less than what
needed to be done.”
    “ Still.” She frowned at
him. “You forgive her, don’t you?”
    “ Not if it cost the only
woman I’ve ever fallen in love with.”
    All the tension dissolved from her
shoulders. “You really love me?”
    He scowled. “Of course. That’s never
going to change, even if you push me away.”
    She nodded calmly even though her
heart soared. “Okay.”
    “ Okay what?” he asked
cautiously.
    “ I’m good with
this.”
    He lifted her chin to look
directly into her eyes. “ This is forever. It’s a lifetime with me, even though
my mother is apparently