CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

EVA’S POV

The click of the bathroom lock echoed louder than it should have.

I turned slowly, my heart pounding as Clark leaned against the door like he owned the space and maybe, in that moment, he did.

He didn’t rush me.

That was the dangerous part.

His eyes travelled over me slowly, lazily, like he had all the time in the world.

The corner of his lips lifted in a faint smile.

The least I expected to enter the bathroom with me was Clark.…a female bathroom as a matter of fact was Clark.

“What are you doing here Clark?? Get out!!!"

"Why should I??”

"Because first this is a female bathroom?? Are you a pervert??!!”

"Oh trust me if I was a pervert you would know.”

“Clark, what are you fucking doing here??!! Get out!!!"

“So,” he said calmly, breaking the silence.

“That’s the kind of man you choose now?”

I folded my arms.

“Open the door, Clark.”

He chuckled softly.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Because it doesn’t deserve an answer.”

He straightened and took a step toward me.

“Daniel looks harmless,” he continued.

“Predictable and the kind of man who won’t hurt you.”

“And you look engaged,” I shot back.

“So what are you doing here?”

His smile faded, but only slightly. “Checking on you.”

I laughed bitterly.

“In a locked bathroom?”

“You came here alone,” he replied. “I followed.”

“Then leave.”

He didn’t move.

Instead, he tilted his head.

“Do you like him?”

“Yes.”

“That was too quick,” he said.

I met his gaze.

“Do you love Rachel?”

Silence.

That was the answer I needed.

“You shouldn’t be here,” I said again, softer now.

“You’re getting married.”

His eyes darkened.

“And you’re pretending.”

“Pretending what?”

“That you don’t feel this,” he said, stepping closer.

My back hit the sink.

“Clark…”

His hand rested beside me, trapping me without touching me.

“Tell me,” he said quietly,

“Do you let him touch you?”

My breath caught.

“That’s not your business.”

He leaned closer.

“Do you let him kiss you like this?”

His lips hovered close so close I could feel the warmth of them.

“Stop,” I whispered.

“Say it again,” he said.

“Clark…”

That was all it took.

His lips brushed mine slowly, teasingly, like he was asking permission with every second.

The kiss wasn’t desperate…It was controlled, Intimate and deep in a way that made my chest ache.

I hated how my body responded.

My fingers clenched his jacket before I could stop myself.

He smiled against my lips.

“There you are.”

He kissed my jaw, my cheek, my neck…slow, lingering kisses that made my head spin.

“This is a mistake,” I whispered.

“Then why aren’t you stopping me?” he asked softly.

Because I didn’t want to.

That scared me.

I pushed against his chest suddenly, breaking free.

“Enough!!!”

He looked surprised.

“Eva…”

I unlocked the door quickly.

“This ends now.”

I stepped out, leaving him standing there breathing hard, eyes dark, clearly not done.

The dinner that followed was torture.

Daniel tried to make conversation, but Rachel kept interrupting.

Clark barely spoke, his jaw clenched, his eyes occasionally flicking toward me.

I avoided looking at him.

Rachel laughed too loudly.

“Clark, tell them about the wedding planner!”

He didn’t respond.

“Clark?” she pressed.

“Not now,” he muttered.

Daniel cleared his throat.

“Eva, did you want dessert?”

Before I could answer, Clark spoke.

“You don’t deserve her.”

The table froze.

Rachel gasped.

“Clark!”

Daniel frowned. “What did you say?”

Clark stood. “I said you don’t deserve her.”

I shot to my feet, my hands shaking. “Enough!”

But Clark wasn’t done.

“You think you can just walk into her life again and….”

I grabbed my glass of water and poured it over him.

I didn't mean to do that but I knew that if I didn't stop Clark, his emotions would definitely get the better of him and he would say the things he wasn't supposed to.

Gasps filled the restaurant.

I felt so bad for what I did seeing how everyone's stares were on us at the restaurant.

“You’re embarrassing yourself.” I said to Clark.

I turned to Daniel.

“Let’s go.”

Outside, Daniel was quiet.

“What was that about Eva??" Daniel asked as he gazed intensely at me.

“Nothing…Rachel's fiance can be possessive especially now that he is becoming a member of the family…he's just trying to be protective." I said.

“Or possessive!! That man's eyes hadn't left you since the moment he stepped foot into that restaurant…is there something going on between you both??”

"What do you mean by that??!” I bit out in anger.

"I am sorry Eva…I just thought.. because…never mind.”

“He's my sister's soon to be husband..that's all there is." I said.

“I know…can I kiss you??" He asked.

I didn't want him to but I didn't know when I nodded my head giving him a go ahead.

When he finally kissed me, it was gentle. Safe.

But it didn’t set my soul on fire.

After the kiss, he took me back to my apartment and thanked me for a wonderful night and then he kissed me one more time on my cheeks and left.

What happened that night couldn't leave my head and just when I got deeper in thought, I heard a knock on the door.

I opened it and was excited to see that it was Christiana.

I wasn't even expecting her because she was extremely busy with work.

“Christiana!!! Why didn't you tell me you were coming?? I missed you!!!!” I said as I hugged her tightly.

“Me too sweet…I decided to surprise you.” She said.

"It worked!!!!”

I hugged her tightly.

I invited her in as she freshened up, ate something and we got talking about a lot of things.

“I messed up.” I told her.

As I told her everything, she listened carefully.

“Eva,” she said when I finished.

“That man is trouble.”

She told me about a colleague who ruined her life over a forbidden affair.

“They lost everything,” she said.

“Love isn’t always worth the damage.” she advised and she was right.

Clark wasn't mine and would never be mine and Rachel had no intention of letting go of him so it was now left for me to do the letting go.

That night, I made a decision.

I would stay away from Clark.

Completely.

Things went on smoothly for a few days and it was on a weekend when Daniel called and told me to meet him up at a location.

I dressed up and went to meet him, he did something that shocked me…. something I never expected him to do.

Daniel knelt in front of me.

“Eva, I know it is early…I know that you might not fully trust me but you giving me a second chance made me realize how stupid I was to leave you in the first place…we aren't strangers and I know you better now babe so, Eva Mendes,” he said nervously,

“Will you marry me?”

My heart stopped.