He shrugged. “I didn’t even know for sure you’d be here but I figured it was worth a shot.”
Had he really not expected her? Was he so oblivious to how strongly she was drawn to him, no matter how hard she fought it?
They chatted about inconsequential things during the meal, avoiding mention of anything important. Evan talked about his work, about some of the plans he and Tate had for expanding their business, and she saw the ambition in his eyes. She had no doubt that they would soon be one of the premier landscape design firms in the state. She asked a lot of questions, and the time passed so quickly she had to hurriedly finish her meal when she glanced at her watch.
“We didn’t talk about the scholarship tonight,” Evan said as they cleared the table. “We should probably look things over next week, make sure we’re still on track for the coming semester.”
Though he’d just said he wasn’t sure she’d come this evening, he seemed to be taking for granted now that she would be back next week. Thinking of her calendar, she shook her head. “I won’t be here next week.”
Evan went still. A frown cut a line between his dark brows. “You won’t?”
She could see that her words had taken him aback. Maybe he thought she was breaking it off with him. She probably should, before everything got even more complicated between them than it already was.
“Next Wednesday is the night before Thanksgiving. I’ll have too much to do getting ready for the holiday.”
His expression cleared and she thought she saw some of the tension leave his shoulders. “Oh. Yeah, I forgot about the holiday.”
She would think later about how dismayed he’d seemed before her clarification—and what that meant about this no-strings, purely physical affair she’d thought they were having. She said the first thing that came to mind to distract herself as she gathered her things to leave. “Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?”
He nodded. “My grandparents in Batesville are hosting the family. My sister’s coming from St. Louis, and our parents are flying in from San Diego.”
She remembered that he had grown up in Little Rock, but his parents had relocated to San Diego because of his dad’s career when Evan was in college. At loose ends on weekends after that, Evan had spent time hanging out with Jason and Tate, occasionally getting into mild mischief, from what Renae had gleaned later from Jason and Lucy. That had been a couple years before she’d met Jason, but she had no trouble picturing the three friends raising a little hell during their college years. Lucy might have tried to cast Evan in the role of ringleader, but Renae had no doubt that Jason had contributed his share of ideas.
“I’m sure you’ll enjoy visiting with your family.”
“Lots of food and football,” he replied lightly. “What’s not to enjoy?”
She smiled. “Lucy and I are cooking a traditional Thanksgiving meal. A couple of widowed neighbors
are joining us for lunch, since neither of them have family to share the holidays with.”
He managed not to frown this time in response to the mention of her mother-in-law. She supposed that was progress. “That’s generous of you,” he said.
“They’re both very sweet ladies. We enjoy spending time with them.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Evan leaned against the back of the couch. She sensed a lingering tension in him she couldn’t quite explain.
“What about your family?” he asked. “Will you see any of them for the holiday?”
She toyed with the strap of her bag. His question only highlighted how little they really knew each other. “My father died last year. My few remaining relatives have scattered, and I don’t see them very often now.”
He grimaced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know about your dad.”
“It’s okay.”
She wasn’t sure how much Evan remembered—or had ever known—about her rootless past. She had been very young when her mother died of an allergic reaction to a medication. Her father, a truck driver who had spent more time on the road than at home, had left his young daughter to be passed around among a couple of aunts with whom she had never bonded. Her childhood hadn’t been an unhappy one, exactly, but she had definitely been vulnerable when she’d met naturally demonstrative Jason and his inherently nurturing mother—lonely, and hungry for affection and stability.
“Well,” she said, shoving those thoughts to the back of her mind. “I’d better go. It’s getting late.”
Pushing away from the couch, Evan walked with her to the door. “Enjoy your Thanksgiving, Renae.”
She smiled up at him. “Thank you. You, too.”
He lowered his head to kiss her. The kiss was long, slow and so thorough that her head wasn’t quite clear by the time he finally, reluctantly, released her.
“I’ll call you,” he said.
She swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice before she replied. “The kids are always in bed by nine. Any time after that is good.”