"I completely agree. I've been gently encouraging Eden to listen to herself more. To her own guts. She's very timid in a lot of ways, and I'm hoping that she learns to trust her real feelings."
Victoria set out three teacups, placing the pot in the center of the table. "I like what you just said. Partly because I completely agree, but mostly because you're not firing me a line of horsefeathers that you think I want to hear."
I nodded. "I only want what's best for Eden. I feel that I could be an excellent partner for her. It's one of those feelings that strikes you straight down to the bones."
Victoria sat back with a delighted smile, nodding.
"Eden has a lot of fears, and a lot of things make her a bit nervous,” I said carefully. “I don't want to tell her that she's wrong, or make light of her feelings because I don't agree with them. But I know that we belong together. It just might take her a bit of time to see that."
Victoria looked me dead in the eye. Then she leaned forward, unblinking, staring at me. I held still, unflinching. If she did have some mystical power and could see into people's souls, I had nothing to hide.
"You're straight up," she said, nodding. "You're also completely in love with her."
Trying to hold back the laughter, I said, "Yes, but I haven't told her that, so maybe that could be our little secret for now."
She reached out to pat my hand. "Don't keep things bottled up for too long," she said quite seriously.
"I agree, but considering that she broke up with me about half an hour ago, it's probably not appropriate today."
Her eyebrow raised. Her lips pursed. "What did you do?" she asked sternly, but her eyes were sparkling.
Trying to figure out how to begin to explain it, I was saved by a knock at the door.
~ Chapter 25 ~ Eden ~
* Gambling *
I couldn't believe Eric was sitting at my grandmother's kitchen table. It was impossible.
My body wanted to jump into his arms. To be comforted. To feel safe and warm, like I had somebody on my team that was going to help me get through this.
My mind screamed in terror, thinking that maybe his stalking tendencies were real. His devotion was sort of romantic on one level, but his lack of boundaries was questionable. I knew that he meant me no harm, but it was disconcerting. How did he even have this address?
My guts were the most decisive. I was livid.
"What in the sassafras are you doing here?" I hissed.
Nana put a hand on my shoulder. "Eden, Eric came here to ask for my advice. Apparently, you just dumped him, but he's not sure that's the most logical thing right now."
"We are not dealing with logic," I said slowly, glaring at Eric as sharply as I could. "There are greater forces at work here. He doesn't seem to understand how serious they are."
Eric stood up, and it felt like he took up the entire room. Remembering the gigantic chiseled physique that was hiding under his shirt and jacket was an unwelcome reminder of how much my body craved his.
"Eden, why don't we step into the hall for just a moment, so that you could tell me off without upsetting your grandmother?"
Nana laughed, sitting down and pouring herself a cup of tea while we went outside.
"How dare you," I muttered the second the door was shut behind us. “I just finished telling you that we can't be together for your own safety, and you just show up? Don't you have a self-preservation instinct?”
"I know that I am perfectly safe," he said.
"Well, how about the terror I’m feeling knowing that one of us could get hurt?"
He held out his hand, and I took it automatically. Instantly I felt that connection between us. That enchanting feeling of calm, mixed with simmering lust, and a deep need to be closer to him.
"You can't stalk me," I practically whimpered. "You know it's wrong."
"It's not stalking. It's a conversation in a safe place with your lovely grandmother right here for you." He paused. "Eden, I know you’re scared of us being real. I can feel it. But you know that we’re right together. We're so right, that you're going to forgive me for being a little bit wrong occasionally."