Free Deliver the Moon by Rebecca J. Clark Page B

eye.
    He stared straight ahead, his gaze glued to the freeway. A small tic pulsed in his cheek.
    She gripped the edges of the leather seat. “And then he came over for dinner.” There. She’d said it. It was out in the open, come what may. She could have just as easily not told him, but she couldn’t be certain Gram would keep her mouth shut. Plus she hated dishonesty.
    Evan said nothing as he took the James Street exit into downtown. When they stopped at a red light, he said quietly, “That sounds cozy, Louisa.”
    She forced a laugh and slid her hand over to his upper back, ruffling her fingers in the graying blond hair at his collar. “Yeah, leftover spaghetti is pretty romantic, isn’t it?” At least, it wouldn’t be with anyone besides Gabe.
    He turned his head and squinted at her. “Leftovers, hmm? You didn’t share the same strand of noodle, did you? You know, each of you at opposite ends, nibbling your way toward each other?” Despite the teasing words, his tone vibrated with displeasure.
    “No, we ate off our own plates.” They drove in silence a few moments, the smooth hum of the tires beneath them the only noise. “It was Gram’s idea. She needed someone to take her to the opening—she and Gabriel were always close.”
    Evan harrumphed under his breath.
    “Then afterward, Gram just kind of invited him over for dinner.” She left out the part about Gram staying behind at the gallery, leaving her and Gabe alone.
    “I don’t like this, Louisa,” Evan said finally, pulling into the parking garage of the high-rise apartment building, his knuckles stark white against the black leather steering wheel.
    Louisa couldn’t help grinning. “You’re jealous.”
    “Of course I’m jealous,” he snapped, whipping into his reserved parking space. “Your ex-husband appears out of the blue, you slow dance with him at the wedding, you take forever in saying yes to my marriage proposal, and now you’re frolicking around town with the man and invite over for dinner.” He killed the engine of the Saab. “Damn right, I’m jealous.”
    Neither of them moved to exit the car. Louisa bit back another grin. “First of all, you don’t know my ex-husband. He most definitely does not frolic . With anyone. Second of all, there’s no need to be jealous, Evan. Like I said, Gram was the one who insisted I take her to the opening and then invited him over. If I hadn’t gone with her, she would have made Mother go.”
    Evan’s lips twitched. “That would have been interesting.”
    “So please don’t worry about it. Okay?” She reached across the console and squeezed his knee.
    After a moment, he clasped her hand.
    They climbed out of the car, and Evan set the alarm, the high-pitched beep echoing against the cement walls of the parking garage. Over the roof of his car, he asked, “Do you plan to see him again?”
    Louisa didn’t look at him, adjusting the strap of her purse across her shoulder. “I don’t plan to, but…”
    “But you’re not ruling it out,” he said in a flat voice. He cursed under his breath as they walked toward the elevators. “I don’t know why you’d ever want to see him again, why you’d even let your grandmother talk you into going to that opening. It’s not even art, for Christ’s sake. Anyone can take a photograph. You just point and shoot.”
    She frowned and bit her lip from blurting out that she found Gabe’s work beautiful and emotional. She didn’t dare tell Evan she couldn’t get the images out of her mind.
    Evan pushed the button to signal the elevator. “That man put you through hell, Louisa. I should think you’d hate him. But for some reason, you seem to have a weakness for him. Your folks agree with me, you know.”
    She frowned. What they all seemed to forget was that she used to be married to “that man.” She used to love him. Nothing Gabe could do would ever make her hate him. Even after last night, when she’d been so furious with him over that