Evie Alexander

London - One Year Ago

Eveline swirled the melting ice cubes at the bottom of her glass.

I know Estelle’s hoping that if I’m in this dress and she’s late, maybe someone might approach me. But I feel really uncomfortable right now, and I don’t know what to do with myself.

At five-thirty on a Friday afternoon, the London bar was packed with braying and confident professionals celebrating the end of the week. Eveline had perched herself on a high stool at the far end of the bar, sitting side-on to see people as they entered. But as the minutes ticked by and her friend hadn’t appeared, she’d swivelled around to face the wall of drinks. I haven’t been somewhere like this for over ten years, and back then I was always off my head…

Estelle was Eveline’s best friend and had persuaded her to take half a day off to accompany her to London for a meeting. Estelle had also bullied Eveline into wearing the kind of clothes she hadn’t worn in over a decade, and to let down her long hair.

Eveline’s tight red dress—borrowed from Estelle—was almost the same colour as her hair and had ridden up a few inches above her knees. She tugged it lower. God, I feel almost naked right now. Do you think I should try that Christian dating site again? Even though it was a disaster?

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a couple leaning on the side of the bar next to her. The man’s hand snaked around the woman’s waist and caressed her bottom. Eveline kept her gaze forward, but could see their passionate kiss reflected in the mirrors on the wall in front of her. A pang of loneliness pierced her heart. No matter how much she filled her life, there was still an empty space in her chest that kept getting bigger.

I thought leaving Bexminster for Foxbrooke was a sign, but it’s been nearly two years and I’m worried I’m running out of time.

Biting the inside of her cheek, she squeezed her eyes shut. Please, God, I know you have a plan for me, but if there was ever a moment for a miracle, this might be it.

‘Hi.’

Eveline’s eyes snapped open, and she jerked her head to the right. The couple had gone, and a man stood in their place. He was so close, his gaze so focused, that she didn’t need to look around to know he was addressing her.

Her breath froze as her body went into meltdown. It wasn’t just that he was heart-stoppingly beautiful. His soul was shining out, brighter than any sun. It wrapped itself around hers with a rush of joy, as if reuniting after millennia apart and determined never to let go ever again.

Time seemed to slow, then stop, as the universe ground to a juddering halt in recognition that this meeting was ordained beyond the stars. A flicker of something passed across the man’s caramel eyes, a tiny shockwave that seemed to crack his confident expression for a millisecond.

‘May I sit down?’

If the man’s soul was currently hugging hers, his voice was removing her clothes. It had the deep, drugging warmth of a wood fire in winter and the skin-scorching heat of an inferno. As his question hung in the air, Eveline’s nervous system whined in her ears like a siren, punctuated by the pounding beat of her heart. Sparks flashed before her as darkness encroached on the edges of her vision, marching inwards until only the bright sight of him at the centre remained.

His expression creased with concern and he reached across the small space between them.

‘Are you okay?’

As his fingers made contact, the shock jump-started her breathing. Gulping air, she nodded. A tiny part of her was conscious that she was acting like a lunatic. However, most of her was lit up by his touch as flames tore up her arm.

Say something! ‘I… I…’ she stammered.

He smiled, and pleasure prickled across her skin.

‘I’m Jasper.’

‘Eveline.’

He repeated her name, as if tasting it on his tongue. She stared at his full lips and a delicious shiver ran through her.

‘May I sit?’ he asked.

Inbuilt politeness kicked in before rational thought. ‘Yes, yes of course.’

She shifted slightly to give him space, pulling the hem of her dress lower and swallowing at the sight of his muscled thighs as they filled his black trousers. His knee was so very close to hers. She dragged her gaze up his body, past his crisp white shirt, his tanned throat, to his face.

Breathe! Breathe! Breathe!

There was a tiny flush of red on his cheekbones and his pupils seemed bigger than before.

‘You’re incredibly beautiful, Eveline.’

She blinked and dug her short nails into her palms, trying to process that this was actually happening. He was really talking to her.

‘I—’ She swallowed again. ‘I haven’t, erm done—I mean, er…’

He smiled. ‘There’s a first time for everything.’

She nodded, giving up on words altogether.

‘Why don’t we just chat? Get to know each other a bit?’

Yes! She nodded again.

‘Can I get you another drink? What are you having?’

‘Elderflower pressé with soda please.’

Jasper placed his phone and wallet down in front of him and signalled the barman. ‘Elderflower pressé with soda, and whisky on the rocks.’

Eveline closed her eyes tightly and dropped her head. Thank you, God. Thank you.

As their drinks were made, she stretched out her clenched fingers and tried to calm her breathing.

The barman placed their glasses down and Jasper lifted his.

‘What do you think we should drink to?’ he asked.

The moment reminded Eveline of a line from Groundhog Day, one of her favourite films. It was a quote she lived by every day.

‘I like to say a prayer and drink to world peace.’

His face lit up. ‘Not to the groundhog?’

She tried not to squeal with excitement. ‘You got the reference!’

He nodded and touched the side of his glass to hers.

‘La fille que j’aimerai est comme un vin qui se bonifiera un peu chaque matin,’ he said softly.

Her mouth dropped open. ‘You speak French?’

‘Oui,’ he replied, wiggling his eyebrows.

Joyous laughter bubbled out. ‘I can’t believe it! I’m always quoting that film, but no-one seems to get what I’m talking about.’

Jasper put on an American accent. ‘Am I right, or am I right, or am I right? Right? Right?’

Eveline chinked the side of his glass with hers. ‘I think you’re very right, Jasper.’

His smile faltered.

Embarrassed heat bloomed in her cheeks. Slow down! She cleared her throat. ‘So, what does the French quote translate as? I’ve never looked it up.’

He took a gulp of his whisky. ‘It’s just a line about wine and women. Standard Gallic stuff.’

‘It must be a bit more than that?’

He shrugged, staring at his glass as he swirled the ice cubes around.

‘Please?’

As he glanced up, it was like the windows to his soul were open again.

‘The girl I’ll love is like a wine who will only get better a little every morning.’

A sudden image came to Eveline of the two of them lying entwined in her bed. Pale dawn light filtering through the curtains. Desire cracked like lightning between her legs.

For a moment, Jasper’s eyes seemed to reflect her own thoughts, but then his confident smile was back on display. ‘What is it about Groundhog Day that you like so much?’ he asked.

Sipping her drink, she attempted to control her rioting heart. ‘I think it’s one of the most beautiful and moving films about the human condition there is,’ she said, bringing her gaze back to him. ‘It shows that all of us have a chance at redemption.’

An uncertain look flickered across his face. She might have missed it had she not been staring at him so intently.

‘And why do you like it?’ she asked.

He hesitated.

‘You can be honest. I promise I won’t judge.’

‘When I saw it as a kid, I liked the idea that I could do anything I wanted to without consequence, because there was no tomorrow.’

‘And now?’

He paused. ‘I’m not sure. I think I watch it these days with a sense of relief. It’s like remembering my childhood—which felt like living through Groundhog Day—but knowing I’m no longer there. Life has moved on and I’m not the same person I was.’

She wanted to ask more, but would she be stepping too far?

‘Is it your favourite film?’ he asked.

She shook her head. ‘It’s definitely in the top five, but number one is The Princess Bride.’

‘Another classic.’

‘Have you seen it?’

He grinned. ‘Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!’

She laughed and inclined her head. ‘As you wish.’

Another moment of unspoken intensity crackled between them.

He swallowed. ‘Any other favourite movies?’

‘Galaxy Quest.’

‘Never give up! Never surrender!’

‘By Grabthar’s hammer… By the Suns of Worvan… You shall be avenged!’ she cried.

He held his hand up and she high-fived him, the warmth from the contact sending a spark dancing down her arm.

She laughed, feeling lighter than air. ‘Are we really geeky?’

‘Not at all. We’re just two highly cultured people who appreciate a good movie.’

‘What’s your favourite film?’

His brow furrowed, and he rubbed his jaw. It was a move that all the heroes in her favourite Polly Hart romance novels did to demonstrate their rugged masculinity. Reading the books, she hadn’t understood how such a gesture could be so attractive. Now she did.

‘Star Wars.’

‘Which one?’

He flashed her a dangerous smile. ‘Will my answer be a deal-breaker?’

Never. ‘Well, I might have to think twice if you mention The Phantom Menace…’

‘It’s not that one.’ He chuckled, lifting his glass to his mouth.

‘The Star Wars Holiday Special?’

Jasper choked on his drink as he laughed, then put the tumbler down and started coughing.

‘Do you want me to slap you on the back?’

He nodded, his eyes watering.

Eveline stood and moved closer, patting his broad shoulders.

Jasper recovered and raised his head. He was so close she could feel the movement of his breath against her lips, smell his deliciously clean scent. She could see flecks of gold in the light brown of his irises, a couple of freckles at the corner of one eye.

‘Eveline,’ he murmured.

How easy would it be to lean forward a couple of inches and kiss him? Could she? She’d done far worse in the past. The thought of her past snapped her back to the present. She was standing next to a stranger in a public bar and contemplating making out. Springing back to her stool, she smoothed her hands over her dress.

‘So,’ she breathed. ‘Not the Holiday Special.’

He shook his head, then turned to the barman, and held up his empty glass. ‘Can I get a refill?’

More whisky was poured.

Jasper faced Eveline again with a smile. ‘My favourite Star Wars film is The Empire Strikes Back. Did I pass the test?’

She grinned. ‘Ten out of ten.’

He took a gulp of his drink and mimed wiping sweat from his brow. ‘Phew. Well, that’s movies safely out of the way. What next? Favourite colour?’

‘Red.’

His gaze caressed her from head to toe. ‘I agree. Favourite animal?’

Eveline was so hot and bothered that she didn’t think to censor her next words. ‘A pig.’

His eyebrows raised. ‘O-kay… Any particular reason?’

She sipped her drink, hoping it would cool her down. It didn’t. ‘Well, pigs are the most incredible creatures. They’re clean—’

‘Like me.’

She bit back a grin. ‘They eat everything.’

‘Also me.’

‘They’re intelligent.’

He held his hand out and tilted it from side to side. ‘Hmmm…’

‘Their manure is great for soil fertility.’

He frowned. ‘In fairness, I’ve never attempted to improve soil fertility.’

‘And they make bacon.’

‘Ah. Yes, you’re right. Pigs win. Pretty much nothing can beat a bacon sarnie.’

‘Do you have a favourite animal?’

He shrugged. ‘Not sure. Cats are out as I’m allergic to them. Dogs? Dolphins?’

She laughed. ‘Dolphins are amazing.’ And you’re amazing, Jasper.

‘Tell me more about you,’ he said. ‘What’s your favourite food?’

‘I think you can probably guess.’

‘Bacon sandwich?’

She nodded. ‘And roast pork with crackling, and prosciutto, and sticky ribs, and ham, and sausages.’

‘You’re making me hungry.’

Her gaze flicked to his mouth, and she swallowed. ‘What about you? What do you like to, erm, eat?’

If her cheeks had been hot before, the moment she’d spoken they started producing enough heat to smelt gold.

His eyes dropped to her lips.

‘Eveline…’

Her heart was hammering so hard inside her chest she was sure he could hear it.

He reached towards her, resting his hand on the bar, the palm facing up as if in invitation.

Could she take it?

His phone lit up with a call.

She glanced at it. ‘Do you—’

He shook his head, and with his free hand, turned it over so the screen was facing down.

Just do it! She placed her hand on the bar next to his. She’d prayed to God, and he’d delivered. This was meant to be. She grazed her fingertips across his.

A shock of electricity shot up her arm, and he sucked in a breath. She hesitated, thinking to withdraw, but he moved his thumb across the back of her hand. The movement was so subtle, yet so intimate. She bit her lip to stop a whimper from escaping.

Bringing her eyes up to meet his, she lost herself in the heat of his gaze. She’d never felt so alive before, so overwhelmed by desire. The only point of contact between them was their hands, but every tiny touch sent flames licking across her skin and a heavy pulse to beat between her thighs. She’d never experienced such raw and elemental sensations before, the desperate urge to consume and be consumed by him.

As if drawn by forces more powerful than her will, she slid off the stool and stood between his legs. His cheeks were flushed and his breathing matched the unevenness of her own.

‘Eveline…’

Jasper’s fingers were now interlaced with hers, his thumb drawing circles of fire on her palm.

His phone vibrated again on the bar beside them.

‘Should—’

He shook his head.

‘But it might be important?’

‘I’m right where I need to be.’ He reached for the phone. ‘I should have turned it off when I met you.’

He picked it up, then his body went rigid as he stared at the screen.

‘Is everything okay?’

He glanced between her and the phone, the colour draining from his cheeks.

Instinctively, she stepped back. Something was very, very wrong.

‘Jasper?’

He looked around the bar, then froze.

She followed his gaze. Standing by the door was a beautiful woman in her late fifties, an anxious expression on her face. She had long red hair and was wearing a red dress.

Turning back to the bar, he pulled notes out of his wallet, then downed the remains of his drink, and placed the glass on the bills.

‘Jasper?’

He didn’t meet her eyes. ‘I’m sorry,’ he muttered, then strode away.

She watched him greet the woman with a huge smile, kiss her on both cheeks, then lead her out of the bar.

He didn’t look back.