The Life That Mattered (Life Duet 1)

“Do you like her?”

“Well, I’m having dinner with her, so yes. It’s safe to say I like her. Probably more than makes sense given our nine-hour acquaintance.”

“She’s special. I can tell. I can tell from the tone of your voice.”

I ran my fingers through my hair and flipped on the shower since I took a hike after visiting Evelyn. “Yes. I think she’s special.” The words sounded so foreign to me. Did they really come out of my mouth? I hadn’t known her long enough for my feelings to make sense, but some things didn’t make sense. That didn’t make them less true. Less real.

“Trust that. I know it’s hard for you to trust your feelings since …” She trailed off.

Since my accident. Sometimes I felt things that weren’t mine to feel.

“One day at a time. Love you, Mom.”

Evelyn breezed into the restaurant ten minutes late, peeling her unruly blond hair from her face, vibrant blue eyes scanning the tables. I didn’t draw her attention to me yet because I wanted a moment to just watch her—just one moment to sort out some things in my head.

I admired the beautiful mess, dropping her keys on the floor, fighting to slide off her pink puffy ski jacket while it simultaneously pulled on her black sweater that hung off one shoulder. When she spied me, I smiled, and she mirrored my expression.

Right there. That was one thing.

Her smile, an effortless light that couldn’t be dimmed. It grew as we made eye contact, and it felt like she acknowledged something unspoken between us. I had no idea what it was, and maybe she didn’t either. It was just a feeling.

A good feeling. I took all the good feelings I could get. Lord knows I’d had several lifetimes of the alternative.

“Hey! Mind if I sit with you?”

That was another thing. Her playful and flirty personality drew me into her world without even trying. I wanted to roll around in her positivity like a child in a pile of crisp leaves.

“I insist. Besides … saving you a seat seems to be my thing. Even before we met.” I took her bag from her while she finished removing her jacket.

“You’re such a gentleman. How un-American of you.” Her lips twisted into a devilish grin.

“Hey, Ronin!”

I turned to the familiar voice. “Noah, hi!”

My boss held out his hand, and I shook it. “This is my wife, Tami. Tami, this is Ronin. He’s the reason I won’t have to work sixty hours a week.” Noah winked at me.

Tami shook my hand. “Then it’s definitely a pleasure to meet you.”

“You too, Tami. This is Evelyn.”

“Wife? Girlfriend? None of our damn business?” Noah shot Evelyn a smile.

“All good questions.” She shoved out her hand to greet them while her gaze flitted to meet mine.

“Indeed.” I returned a conspiratorial grin.

Okay, Universe, Mother dearest, Cupid, and gods of romance … I get it.

“It’s packed tonight. Friday craziness and it’s not even snowing yet. Tami, let’s grab a drink while we wait for a table.”

“You should join us,” Evelyn said without a second of hesitation.

Noah and Tami shifted their attention to me, a bit of unease etched onto their faces.

I shrugged. “Absolutely.”

Instead of sitting in the booth across from Evelyn, I sat next to her—a huge upside to eating dinner with friends. With every passing minute, my feelings about her solidified. The things multiplied. She was definitely special. As the evening progressed, I discovered Evelyn could get along with anyone. A master conversation starter. She spoke and listened with such truth. It was impossible to not feel her genuine interest in … people. Yes. Evelyn Taylor was just a great person.

Also, as dinner progressed, we navigated closer. I wasn’t sure it was intentional or just natural—magnetic. By the time I paid the check, my hand rested on her leg, and her hand covered mine with our fingers laced together. Sadly, we were forced to let go when it was time to leave.

“What a great evening.” Tami smiled as everyone stood.

She was right. It had been a great evening. But so was the night in Vancouver with Graham and Lila. Again, I think with Evelyn in a group, it was impossible to not have a wonderful experience.

I wasn’t looking for her … or anyone. Nope. Just minding my own business. Living my best life, an unsettled bachelor with no particular direction, no girlfriend, and no penchant for gift giving.

“It really was. I’m so glad we did this.” Evelyn hugged Tami like they’d known each other for years.

Amazing.

She was that amazing.

Then she hugged Noah. He glanced over her shoulder at me, a little caught off guard at first, but his face said the same words that played in my head … I’m one lucky guy.

Again, our hands automatically found each other as we walked out of the restaurant, parting ways with Noah and Tami just outside of the entrance.