“I didn’t mean to imply that you didn’t love her. But I know you.” She smiled sweetly, moving a little closer. “And I know that you don’t tolerate that kind of behavior. Surely she must have tricked you.”
Eve’s saccharine-sweet voice started to grate on his nerves, but outwardly, he didn’t show his agitation. “I assure you, Sabrina did not trick me. I know exactly who and what she is. And she’s not a call girl.”
“Oh?” Eve let out a snort. “Well, then let’s just say for argument’s sake she isn’t, there are still plenty of people who think she is. I didn’t think that was the kind of reputation you’d want your wife to have.” She batted her eyelashes and looked at him innocently.
“What are you getting at?”
Eve reached out and touched his forearm. Though he’d enjoyed the ex-cheerleader’s touch when they’d gone out in high school, he now wanted to throttle her for putting her hand on him.
“I’m just worried about you, Daniel. I know you’re a very loyal person. We’ve known each other a long time. I’d hate to see you get hurt.”
“I’m not going to get hurt.” He stepped back, making her hand slide off his forearm.
Eve nodded. “Are you sure?”
He was saved from answering when Mr. Peats entered the store again, carrying a box. Daniel turned to him and pulled his wallet out of his pocket, while the old man placed the box on the counter.
“Found it. Sorry it took so long,” he apologized and opened the box, motioning Daniel to take a closer look.
Daniel reached in and pulled out a place card, quickly inspecting it. “They look great.” He was anxious to leave and get away from Eve.
“I’m glad you like them.” Mr. Peats smiled broadly.
Daniel slid his credit card across the counter and watched impatiently while Mr. Peats swiped it on his card reader and typed in the amount.
“Please sign here.”
Daniel hastily scrawled his signature onto the receipt, took his credit card, and grabbed the box from the counter. “Thank you.”
He turned to leave. “Bye, Eve.”
But Eve didn’t give up so quickly. “Wait, I’ll walk with you.”
Not wanting to make a scene in front of Mr. Peats, Daniel didn’t respond to her and continued walking to the door. When he opened it and exited to the sidewalk, Eve followed him. He turned halfway.
“I don’t think you should make a hasty decision about this,” Eve continued and put her hand on his free arm.
He wanted to remove her hand from his arm, but he was holding the box in his other hand.
“It’s not a hasty decision,” he pressed out from between clenched teeth.
Eve moved closer, leaning into him. “I still have feelings for you, Daniel.”
Daniel tensed.
“If you’re afraid that you’ll be alone if you break up with her, don’t be. I’m here if you need me. We were good together once. It could be like that again.”
Before he could tell her that it would never happen, a shadow entered his peripheral vision.
“Daniel?”
Daniel jerked his head to the side. Sabrina had stopped only a few feet away from them. Her eyes darted to Eve, then Eve’s hand, which still lay on his forearm. When Sabrina raised her eyes to meet his, he realized how this situation must look to her.
“Sabrina.”
“We need to talk,” was all Sabrina said in response.
13
Sabrina followed Daniel to his car and got in without saying a word. She looked out of the passenger side window while he drove north, her arms crossed over her chest.
Like a vulture, Eve McCall had already swooped in and was trying to snatch Daniel away from her. It was clear from the way Eve had glanced at Sabrina that she knew about the article and saw it as her chance to make Daniel change his mind about the wedding. Had she actually told Daniel about it? Did Daniel know or was he still in the dark about it? She couldn’t tell from his reaction.
“I didn’t know Eve was going to be there. She came in while I was waiting,” he said long after they’d left East Hampton behind.
“I don’t want to talk about Eve. I want to talk about us. In private.”
She noticed Daniel nod and pull into a side street outside of town. The dirt road turning off the Old Montauk Highway led to a secluded beach framed by dunes. Daniel pulled the car to a stop and switched off the engine.
Without waiting for him to say anything, she opened the car door and got out. She needed fresh air. Daniel followed her as she walked down to the beach and stared out at the ocean.