“You’re behind the times. These days we women go after what we want. I’d marry you tomorrow, but I’d drive you crazy because I’m untidy and terrible in the mornings.” She leaned across and kissed his cheek and he gave her hand a squeeze.
“Sixty years ago you wouldn’t have stood a chance. I’m a man who recognizes gold when he sees it. Some man with sense is going to snap you up fast.” He glanced up and Lucas was left with the uncomfortable feeling that some part of that remark had been directed at him.
Had Tom guessed they were involved in some way?
Reminding himself that Tom interfering in Eva’s life was no different than his grandmother interfering in his, he said nothing.
“How long were you married?”
“The first time, twenty years.”
“The first time?”
Tom shrugged. “What can I say? I enjoy being married. Martha and I met on our first day at school. I pulled the ribbon out of her ponytail and she hit me with her book bag. I knew from that moment she was the only woman for me. When she died, and it was natural causes, so don’t start spinning one of your stories, I thought that was it. I didn’t think a man could get lucky twice in a lifetime but I did. I met Alison at a book group meeting. I noticed her because she was the only one who didn’t like the book we were reading and she wasn’t afraid to stand up and say so. I asked her to marry me a week later because when you know you’re in love, there’s no point in waiting. I know Martha would have liked her.”
Eva’s eyes misted. “That’s a lovely story, Tom
.”
Tom squeezed her hand. “Your grandmother would be so happy if she could see you now. Running your own company and in love with a handsome young man.”
“I’m not in love, Tom. Who said I was in love?” Eva’s cheeks turned the color of cherry blossoms. “Who would I be in love with?”
Tom’s gaze shifted to Lucas who decided that this visit definitely hadn’t been one of his better ideas.
It was like a visit to his grandmother multiplied a thousand times.
“I saw you and Lucas talking, over by the cakes.”
“He was helping me. We’re friends.”
“Good. Friendship is the most important part of any relationship. You can be setting fire to the sheets, but if there isn’t a bond of friendship you have nothing.”
Eva sent Lucas a mortified glance and he decided he’d better intervene before Tom found someone to marry them on the spot.
“Eva is working for me right now. That’s all it is.”
Tom gave Lucas a long look that said he didn’t believe a word of it. “Some people don’t believe you can fall in love more than once. I did it twice. I’m living proof that it’s possible.”
Lucas was spared the need to respond because at that moment the chef and two of the kitchen staff walked into the room with trays of turkey sliders. Eva sprang to her feet and went to supervise.
Before Lucas could follow her, Tom leaned forward. “That girl,” he said, “is special.”
Lucas wasn’t about to argue with that, even though agreeing was bound to get him into deeper trouble. “She is.”
Tom eased out of his chair. “It’s easy to develop attachments when you’re lonely. Easy to misinterpret feelings.”
“That’s true, but although Eva is a romantic, she’s actually pretty levelheaded and sensible about relationships.”
Tom gave him a long look. “I was talking about you.” He walked over to join the rest of the residents who were helping themselves to the sliders.
Lucas stared across the room at Eva. What did Tom mean? He wasn’t the one who was lonely, she was. Damn it, he’d been perfectly happy holed up alone in his penthouse until she’d come along.
He signed two more books for residents who were hovering and then joined everyone else to eat the sliders and cakes.
After they’d eaten, Eva was persuaded to sing while Tom accompanied her on the piano.
By the time they arrived back at his apartment building, it was dark.