The Arrangement Page 2

  Eli nodded as Evie spoke, his brown eyes alive with true interest. He seemed to be really processing her statements, not simply nodding in agreement out of politeness. “Sounds like you have a well-thought-out plan in mind,” he encouraged her.

  “So how long do you plan to wait before you campaign for your father’s seat?” Evie’s father asked, turning the conversation to Eli.

  “I’m a bit like Evie. I think I need to get my feet wet. No one here knows me except by my father’s name, and I want to make a name for myself. While I admired my father and many of his positions, we disagreed about many issues. I wouldn’t want people to vote for me, expecting to get my father, and then be disappointed.”

  Two hours later Evie’s mind reeled from the avid political discussion. She used her fork to gracefully scrape the remaining chocolate icing from her dessert plate and swallowed her last sip of coffee. She forced herself to yawn and looked pointedly at her mother and then to Eli and her father.

  When the conversation lulled, she spoke up. “Eli, it was nice meeting you, but I really do need to excuse myself. I have mid-terms next week and need to get a head start studying.”

  Eli nodded in her direction, his mouth filled with a bite of chocolate cake.

  “Mother,” she added as she stood and turned toward her mother, “dinner was wonderful.”

  She stopped on her way out of the room and planted a kiss on her mother’s head. From the doorway she turned and gave Taylor and Leigh Anna a slight wave and smiled at the sight of their eyes wide with shock at her sudden departure.

  Once Evie escaped the dining room, she hurried upstairs, her sandals making a dull thud on the stairs as she almost skipped up them. The instant she entered her room, she closed the door behind her. Before she thought about tackling her heavy backpack, she checked her cell for messages. Her heart sank when she saw no missed calls. She had to figure out what she would tell Ben before she talked to him, but she longed to at least know he was thinking about her.

  She stared out the window at her BMW convertible, a high school graduation present from her parents. Her brother’s Escalade and a jet black Lincoln sedan she did not recognize but presumed belonged to their guest were also in the driveway. In the middle of the drive a large fountain bubbled, the water sparkling from the floodlights inside it.

  Beyond their home lay farmland that had belonged to her family for centuries. Normally, she loved it. But tonight, the wide expanse of land and dark sky twinkling with stars made her room feel claustrophobic.

  Evie rummaged through her backpack until she found her notes from her news writing class. With notes in hand, she picked up a green chenille throw from her bed and stuck a pen behind her ear. She opened her door, careful not to let it squeak, and listened for a moment.

  No voices.

  After venturing into the hallway, she paused again before easing down the stairs. She didn’t want anyone to catch her sneaking around. Muted voices now filtered into the foyer from the dining room, so she hurried down the last few steps. Silently opening the door to the front porch, she slipped into the cool September night.

  Evie slid off her sandals and sat in the large white swing, tucking her feet under her and the throw around her. Propping her notebook in her lap, she began to read. But thoughts of Ben and the decision before her continued to return, distracting her from her notes. Finally, she decided that, if she allowed herself to focus on the problem, she’d only grow more angry—an emotion she didn’t need, especially right now.

  Evie lost track of time as she crammed her mind instead with the notes in front of her.

  She jumped when the front door opened a couple of hours later.

  “It was nice to see you again, Thomas,” Eli said, his back to Evie as he extended a hand to shake her father’s. “Dinner was wonderful. Thank you again.”

  Evie only heard a muffled reply from her father.

  The door closed quickly behind Eli. As he turned to walk to his car, his eyes caught Evie’s. “Evie…” He paused his search for his keys. “I didn’t see you here.”

  Evie smiled in return.

  Eli walked toward her. Without waiting for an invitation, he set his briefcase on the porch and settled onto the other end of the swing. “It’s beautiful out here.”

  Evie rolled her eyes.

  “What?” he asked, as though he’d missed the punch line to a joke.

  “You don’t get it, do you?” Evie asked in disbelief.

  Eli lifted a brow. Finally, he shook his head slowly.

  “You were not brought here to discuss legal matters with my parents,” she explained, struggling to keep her voice quiet. “This was a date. My parents are trying to fix me up, and you’re a pawn in their game.”

  “If what you say is true, then I’m flattered your parents consider me worthy of dating their daughter.” A smile played at his lips.

  “I don’t need them to fix me up,” she growled. “I have a boyfriend. They just don’t approve of him. He’s not from the right family.”

  How could someone who seemed so smart play right into her parents’ hands? Could he really have had no clue?

  “I see…and because my father was a congressman, and I’m a lawyer, I would make a suitable boyfriend.”

  “Not boyfriend,” she corrected him, allowing the statement to hang in the air before finishing it. “Husband.” The word cut through the flirting, leaving only silence in its place.

  Evie almost regretted saying it. Almost. Eli seemed nice enough, and she hated to drop reality into his lap this way, but he had to know her parents’ intentions were not innocent.

  “Wow.” Eli merely mouthed the word.

  They sat for a minute in uncomfortable silence.

  “Evie…” Eli hesitated, as though searching for the right thing to say. He drew a breath. “If I had known, I would not have come. I am very sorry your parents put you in this position. I haven’t lived here in many, many years and truly looked forward to meeting some people outside the baby boomer era. But I understand your anger.

  “I never dated much because the women my parents suggested were more interested in shopping, getting their nails done, and bragging about the future occupations of the men they dated. I rarely found someone who wanted to be with me for me and not for my family name. If you have found a boyfriend who fits that description, hold on to him. They are few and far between.”

  Evie’s face burned as his words sank in. Embarrassment overtook her anger as she stared into Eli’s sincere blue eyes. “Ben is just like that,” she whispered. “He doesn’t care how much money I have or who my parents are. He’s more comfortable eating fast food than at four-star restaurants.” She thought of her boyfriend—his warm smile and chocolate brown eyes. “He asked me out before he knew who my parents were.”

  “Sounds like you have a good thing going,” Eli commented. The swing swayed back and forth when he stood. “Well, it’s time for me to get out of here. It was really nice to meet you tonight, and good luck with your mid-terms next week.” He smiled down at her and then picked up his briefcase.

  Evie watched Eli walk down the steps and then drive away into the night. She closed her eyes, rested her head on the back of the swing, and sighed. Maybe Eli isn’t too bad after all. Now at least he knew where she stood so he wouldn’t make excuses to drop by her parents’ house when he knew she would be home. He knew she was off limits.

  Yet something about that thought unsettled her. Regardless of Eli’s opinion of Ben, Evie had a choice to make, and only a few days to figure out what to do.

  She stared at her shiny red convertible. She remembered her excitement when her father handed her the keys for the first time. How could she give it up? The car payments and insurance alone would eat up any money she could make from a part-time job. Yet the title was in her parents’ name, so she could not sell it to raise the cash she needed. Could she just give the car back? She had plenty of friends on campus wi
th cars, and Ben had a car. Did she really need it? Before she could finish her thoughts, the front door opened again, and Taylor and Leigh Anna walked onto the porch calling good-bye to her parents.

  “Hey, sis,” Taylor called when he saw her. “Looks like Mom and Dad have found the perfect future congressman for you,” he teased.

  Evie screwed her mouth into a sarcastic grimace. “So you noticed too, huh?”

  “Whatever happened to Ben?” Taylor asked.

  Even from where Evie sat she could see the playfulness in Taylor’s eyes. “Nothing happened to Ben. He found a new apartment and is moving this weekend, that’s all.”

  “Are you going to tell him Mom and Dad set you up this weekend?”

  “Whatever,” she replied as though his statement did not ring true at all.

  Taylor crossed the porch with Leigh Anna close behind him and took the place on the end of the swing Eli had left vacant. His eyes turned from playful to serious, “Listen, I know you really like Ben, but sometimes Mom and Dad have a sixth sense about these things. People who don’t grow up in our world don’t understand the obligations that come from being in the public eye.”

  “Being in the public eye?” Evie repeated her brother’s words. “What are you talking about? Mom and Dad are doctors, not the king and queen of England or any other tiny island.”

  “With wealth comes community recognition. Whether we want it or not, the whole community is watching what we’re doing and imitating us. That brings a certain amount of responsibility. Just consider their point, that’s all I’m saying.” Taylor patted his sister’s legs and stood from the swing.

  “Easy for you to say,” she grumbled. “You fell in love with the right person.” She watched Taylor and Leigh Anna exchange glances. “What?”

  “Nothing.” He put his arm around his wife to lead her off the porch. “You better get inside before they lock you out in the cold,” he recommended as they walked to their car.

  Surely not, Evie thought. Her brother would never give in to their parents’ demands. Sure, he had always wanted to please them—they both had. But marrying just because his parents approved? It wasn’t Taylor’s style. And what about poor Leigh Anna? Did she know she was a trophy wife?

  No, Evie decided, he simply understood what her parents were saying. And maybe he never really liked Ben anyway. As she watched them drive away, Evie considered his words and then the cool night air. She gathered her stuff and headed back into the house.

  2

  )

  E

  vie knocked on the door to Ben’s new apartment. He had shown it to her the week before he and his roommates moved, but this would be the first time she had seen it with all their furniture inside. A moment later, Casey, one of Ben’s roommates, opened the door. His dirty blond hair stuck out in several directions. She pretended not to notice his bare chest and wrinkled shorts. He grunted at her and moved out of the way so she could come into the apartment. The Sunday afternoon sunshine broke through the dimness for only a moment until he closed the door behind her. He walked back to the couch and fell headfirst into a pile of pillows.

  Cardboard boxes filled almost every inch of floor space, and from where she stood she could see the kitchen had suffered the same cluttered fate. She shook her head, wondering how long she could force herself to wait before she added a female touch to the bachelor pad.

  “Ben?” she called as she walked down the hallway to his room. When she reached the door, he turned from his computer. She ached at the warmth of his smile and the reminder of the news she had to tell him.

  “I was wondering what time you would get back today,” he greeted, holding his arms out to her.

  She studied every detail of him. His short blond hair almost blended with his fair complexion. A navy T-shirt covered his lanky, broad frame, and khaki pants hid his legs but ended at his bare feet. In two steps Evie found herself sitting in his lap, enveloped in his hug and sharing a long, sweet kiss. Although she had only been away for two days, she had missed the taste of his mouth on hers and the smell of his freshly shaven skin. She nuzzled his cheek with her nose until he laughed and pushed her away.

  “Miss me?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.

  “Mm-hmm.” He nuzzled her neck with his nose until she giggled.

  Gazing into his brown eyes, she suddenly remembered her unsavory task. She sighed and drew him close for another hug. She needed all the strength she could muster to present her case to him.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, pulling away from her until they looked each other squarely in the eye.

  Evie took a deep breath and forced herself from his lap. She paced the room a couple of times, wringing her hands, and finally settled herself into a seated position on the edge of his bed.

  “We have a problem,” she confessed. He nodded for her to continue. “When I went home this weekend, Mom and Dad ambushed me. They don’t think we need to see each other anymore.”

  Ben narrowed his eyes. “Okay…”

  “Actually…” She hesitated. Could she tell him the truth? How could she word it to keep her parents from looking so prejudiced? Did she really care what he thought of her parents? Did it matter anymore? She raced to finish the sentence she never wanted to start. “Actually, they threatened to stop paying my bills if we continue to see each other.”

  Ben’s eyes deepened from his usual warm brown to a darker, stormy color. His chair clanged to the floor as he pushed himself onto his feet. “How dare they,” he began, his voice loud enough that Evie was certain the neighbors would call any second to complain. “What right do they have to tell you who you can and cannot date?” He clenched and unclenched his fists.

  “I know, I know,” she pleaded with him as she crossed the room and placed her hands over his. “I’ve tried to figure out what to do, but I’ve got nothing. If they stop paying my car payment, sorority dues, grocery bills, and gas bills, I can’t come up with enough money to do that for the next year and a half until I graduate.”

  She dropped his hands and paced again, babbling as she walked. “You know I don’t care about the money thing, but they do. Evidently your family’s hard work is not worth the same amount as the money and power their friends have. Even if I drop the sorority and give back the Beemer, I can’t afford an apartment or another car. Anyway, I’ve thought about everything all weekend, and I’ve come to only one conclusion.” She turned to look at Ben. She had to know his real reaction before he spoke. “We should get married.”

  He jerked his head in her direction in surprise at her sudden announcement. His eyes widened and then narrowed on her face. “Wha…?” he started to ask but failed to find the words to finish his question.

  “It’s the easiest solution. We’ve talked about getting married when you finish with school anyway. If we do it now, I can live here with you and the guys. You have a car we can share so my parents can take the Beemer back. And I’ll work part-time to provide money for food and gas,” she explained.

  She had no idea what kind of job she could get or if it would pay enough to provide food and gas, but it sounded good. Evie tried not to think about the sweet taste of the strawberries and cream the French restaurant served that she wouldn’t be able to afford anymore. She pushed away the wind-in-her-hair freedom of riding through town in the spring with the top down on her cherry red convertible. She ignored the certain demise of her perfect manicure from cleaning the apartment and doing dishes. She dismissed the nagging thought that she failed to really plan any of this out with a flip of her hair. She needed to focus on saving her relationship with Ben—even if it meant giving up everything else.

  Ben took careful steps toward Evie and placed his hands on her shoulders. “You know I love you,” he said calmly, “but marriage is a big deal. You can’t just get married to get away from your parents.”

  Evie frowned. She had spent the entire weekend working out various plans, and this one seemed to b
e the only one that would work. “That’s not why we would get married. It just speeds up the process a bit.”

  “No, Evie,” he repeated sternly. “I can’t let you pull yourself away from your parents like that. You’ve been too close to them. If we get married, they’ll never speak to you again.”

  “But…”

  “Maybe we should take a little a break.”

  His words seeped deep into Evie’s already tender heart. Tears brimmed. “They can’t do this to us,” she whimpered into his chest as he embraced her. His shirt grew damp.

  “Okay, so maybe we don’t really have to take a break. We only need to make it look like we did,” he offered.

  Evie sniffled back a sob.

  His eyes softened, and he planted a gentle kiss on the end of her nose. “We’ll pretend we broke up and see each other secretly. Nobody has to know. When your parents see how hurt and sad you are, they’ll come to their senses.”

  “Do you think it will work?” she whispered, her hope surging at the thought of keeping Ben and punishing her parents with her secrecy.

  “We’ll have to be very careful,” he warned her. “No talking on your cell…they can look at the bill. No being seen anywhere in public where someone your parents know would see us. Maybe I can find some out-of-the-way places so we can meet.”

  The plan Ben laid out for her sounded fun in addition to workable. She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a heavy kiss on his lips. “I knew we’d come up with something,” she gushed, feeling lighter than she had in days. Excitement over the looming secrecy raced through her veins.