Between Octobers Bk 1, Savor The Days Series by A.R. Rivera Read Free Book Online Page A

are obsolete. And I only looked through it
to get your number. Have I done wrong?”
    I took in a concentrated breath as he knelt
beside me. His hood had fallen back from his head.
    “You did perfect!” I squealed and excitedly
shoved his shoulder. He lost his grip on the table and fell back on
his butt. I covered my mouth, “Sorry!”
    “No worries,” he chuckled, rising from the
ground to dust off his backside.
    “Thank you so much, Evan. You have no idea
how much this means to me!”
    “I think I can guess.” His handsome face
widened with an amused grin.
    “Thank you. So, so much. I was having the
worst day.”
    “Want to talk about it?” His gaze grew
intense, darting from left to right before taking the offered
chair.
    “No,” I smiled, giving in to his bright
eyes. “This was my husband’s phone.” I couldn’t keep my lips from
quivering. “How can I ever repay you?”
    “ Start by having lunch with
me.”
    I agreed with a stammer, suddenly vexed. “I
feel like such a baby. Every time I see you, I start bawling.”
    “Do I smell that bad?” He lifted one arm to
take a whiff.
    “Of course you do,” I poked.
    His eyebrows comically pulled together.
    “Lunch sounds good, but I’m buying. It’s the
least I can do.”
    He shook his head. “No, it wouldn’t be right
if I let you, the woman, pay.”
    “I am paying and don’t you dare argue with
me.” I cocked one eyebrow, giving him the look. It always worked on
Caleb.
    His constant smile widened. “Right. You
win.”
    When the waitress walked over, Evan flipped
his hood back up and looked down. I wondered, while wrangling
between the chicken salad and the cheeseburger, if he knew her. I
wanted the chicken, but the burger came with my favorite kind of
sour pickle.
    “I’ll have the chicken salad.” I could order
one on the side to take home.
    She turned to Evan. He was still looking at
the table, tracing the floral patterns on the iron tabletop.
    “ . . . And for you, sir?” She
asked.
    “Cheeseburger, no pickle, and fries,
please.” He didn’t lift his head.
    “Are you sure about that?” I asked. “Because
this place is known for their pickles.” I turned to the waitress.
“Just bring his pickle, I’ll eat it.” And to Evan, “that is, if you
don’t mind.”
    “I’m surprised you offered so quickly.” He
said, holding back a laugh.
    At first, I didn’t get it, but when our eyes
met, I saw a spark of humor and repeated the exchange to myself,
feeling the awkward awareness on my face when Evan started
laughing.
    Our little joke was of no consequence to the
server. “Rhys Matthews!”
    Evans bright eyes turned flat. “You’ve got
the wrong guy.”
    “It really is you!” She spouted, more determined. “I’d know
that voice anywhere!” She bounced and squealed with
excitement.
    He looked around the café, visibly annoyed.
“Please, calm yourself.”
    The girl was probably about twenty and
practically hyperventilating. Her shaking hands formed a fist
around the tablet that held our orders. Her eyes were larger than
her smile, which was enormous. She looked more like she’d won the
lottery—completely taken in and utterly overcome with jubilation.
It was very amusing and really strange.
    Evan measured my reaction while his own held
reserve and guilt. As we exchanged glances, the young girl started
talking. Singing his praises while he adjusted himself in the
chair, crossing his arms over his chest.
    She gushed, “All your movies are my favorite
because they’re scary, but not too freaky. I have to be your
biggest, most loyal fan.”
    My eyes leapt from her to him and back. When
she complimented, he smiled, tentatively. When she asked questions,
he responded with a question that was off topic, or said something
completely ridiculous and she laughed.
    She was bursting with curiosity. “Oh my God!
What are you doing here?”
    “I heard the service here was brilliant and
had to see for myself.” He winked at her and