The thought of making a move on Tyree filled Eva with a combination of awkward dread, delicious anticipation, and utter terror. "You're imagining things. I wanted your father a long, long time ago. Now all I want is for you to get to know him."
"You might want to say that again. It was hard to understand with your nose growing so fast while you talked."
Eva rolled her eyes. Honestly, her daughter was too damn smart.
And, yes, she did still want him. But she was afraid that he didn't want her. Or that even if he did, the initial spark would fizzle, and they'd stumble along in some anorexic relationship that would sap the joy out of the memories of all their good times.
Better to cling to the good than risk destroying it completely.
"Fine," Elena said. "Forget Tyree. But don't abandon your only daughter."
At Eva's amused shake of her head, Elena plowed on.
"Please, Mom. Just stay one more day. You always throw half your closet into a bag, so it's not like packing takes time."
"I do not!" Eva protested, even though she absolutely did.
"I wanted us to spend some time out here. Go to the Hill Country. Tour all those wineries. Aunt Marianne even gave me a present so we could go in style."
"She did? When did you talk to Marianne?"
"Last night," Elena said. "I caught her up."
Eva nodded. That explained the texts that had been waiting for her when she'd checked her phone this morning.
Well?
&nbs
p; And then ten minutes later...
Hello?
And then forty-five after that...
Fine. Tell me when it suits you. Just TELL ME.
Eva wasn't entirely sure what she was supposed to be telling, since apparently Elena had already revealed all. But she'd give her friend a call later anyway. Besides, she had to ask her to change the return flight.
"So you'll stay?" Elena asked, the question more of a statement.
"I haven't said so yet."
Elena waved it off. "It's all over your face. This is amazing. We can go tour some wineries. Shop. Hang out. It'll be stellar."
"Yes," Elena said, then took her daughter's hand. "It will."
Chapter Nine
Tyree could say one thing for his daughter--she was a charmer.
When he walked into The Fix on Thursday afternoon, there were only a few customers at scattered tables. But half his staff was gathered around Elena at the bar as she sipped from a line-up of drinks and laughed at something Reece was saying.
"Hey!" She looked up and flashed him a smile so broad she seemed lit from the inside. "I'm learning the menu. The better to recommend a favorite to customers. So far, I'm pretty sold on the Jalapeno Margaritas."
"I can see I'm not going to have any help with those locks. By the time we get to your apartment, you'll be seeing two doorknobs."
She blinked. "There are two knobs. One on each side of the door."