"You keep doing what you're doing." By evening, the ranch yard was packed with people eating, drinking, and talking in groups that shifted and reformed like water. Evelyn moved through it all in a daze, accepting congratulations and deflecting questions about her future plans with practiced vagueness. Because the truth was, she didn't know what her future plans were. Her 6-month contract would be up in 3 months.
The debts back home were paid. She could leave if she wanted to, go back to Red Hollow, or even try to find work somewhere else entirely. But, the thought of leaving made her chest feel tight and hollow. She was refilling a platter of chicken when Ridgewell found her in the kitchen. "You should be out there enjoying your own party," he said.
"I am enjoying it. Just from in here where I can control things." "Control?" "Right." He leaned against the door frame, watching her work.
"You know people are going to talk about this, too. About me throwing a party for my cook." "Let them talk. I'm getting used to it." "Are you really?
Or are you just getting better at pretending it doesn't hurt?" Evelyn set down the platter and turned to face him. "Doesn't matter. The result's the same either way." "It matters to me."
The way he said it made something in her chest twist. They were alone in the kitchen, the sounds of the party muffled by distance, and suddenly the air felt charged with all the things they'd been carefully not saying for months. Dawson. She almost never used his first name, and hearing it in her own voice startled them both. "I know," he said quickly.
"I know all the reasons why this is complicated. You work for me. People are already talking. Lily's involved, and timing is terrible. I know all of it."
"Then why bring it up?" "Because I'm tired of pretending I don't feel it. Because watching you win that competition and stand up for yourself made me realize that life's too short to waste on careful." He pushed off from the doorframe, taking a step closer. "I'm not asking you for anything.
I just needed you to know that what's between us isn't all in my head." Evelyn's heart was hammering. "It's not all in your head." "Good. That's That's good to know."
He smiled slightly. "Now we can both go back to ignoring it professionally." "Dawson." "Evie." "Papa.
Come quick." Lily's voice cut through the moment like a knife. She appeared in the doorway, breathless and excited. "Someone from the county newspaper is here, and they want to interview Miss Evelyn about the competition." The moment shattered.