Calvin nodded. “I’ll grab it and meet you up front.”
As Evie stepped inside, she slipped further into a relaxed state. She’d made it through–shared her art, and her past as well–with Calvin.
Through the sheer curtains in the living room, she saw him close the Jeep door, matte board in hand. The old screen creaked as she pushed it open, and a gust of wind rushed over her body. “Storm’s coming in,” she said, loving the idea of a rainy night spent with Calvin.
“Looks that way.” The heavenly scent of cool spice and pine mingled in the breeze as he shuffled past her. Just the smell of him made her pulse quicken.
“Go ahead and have a seat.” Evie rounded up the books that lay scattered over the tabletop, creating a tall stack to lean the piece against. “Okay, let’s see it.” She took the board from his hands, anxious to view his project. Once she had it propped against the books, Evie settled into the couch, purposefully scooting closer to him.
“Oh, yeah,” he said, putting his arm around her with a smile. “This is nice.”
She chuckled. Having him so close was nice–but distracting. She folded her arms across her chest and set her gaze on the sketch, trying to recall the way they’d critiqued in art class.
She’d almost forgotten the intimidating amount of skill displayed in Calvin’s first piece. This drawing showed that same level of talent, and it made Evie glad she’d gone first; she may have chickened out altogether after seeing this one.
The art portrayed two young boys at a riverside. One leaned lazily against a tree, plucking a tall blade of grass, while the other stood close to the edge of the river. Surrounding the boys stood tall trees with mighty trunks so detailed, she imagined reaching out to feel the rough texture of the bark against her fingers.
“Calvin, this is beautiful. The detail is amazing.” It took her a moment to remember she was supposed to be analyzing the piece. She was more content to just enjoy the beauty of it.
“Let’s see. It’s a sketch–looks like pencil lead. And um, maybe a slight wash of … I’m not sure what kind of paint over top.”
“Egg tempera.”
She looked at him and smiled. “Hmm. I haven’t heard of that one yet.”
“It’s really cool. You actually make it yourself. Gives it that kind of luminescent look.”
There was something appealing in watching Calvin talk about the craft he knew so well. “That is cool. You’ll have to show me sometime.” Looking back to the art, she spoke up once more. “Okay, the first thing I notice is the contrast between the two boys. This one to the left, he looks a bit younger than the other one, he’s carrying two backpacks. One on his back, and one that’s hooked around his fingers and kind of scraping the ground, like it’s heavy for him. ” She pointed toward the boy seated on the ground. “The one down here, lounged against the tree trunk, seems to be relaxed and carefree, where this one is like, picking up the slack, maybe, since I’m guessing the other backpack is his. There’s this sense of burden.” She took a look at Calvin. “Sorry, I’m not very good at this.”
“No, you’re doing great. Go ahead.” He kept his gaze on her as she continued.
“There’s something else that stands out to me though. The paint you were talking about–this amazing wash of gold–it puts a twist on the mood. But I can’t exactly place it.”
Calvin brought his arm from around her back and leaned his elbows onto his knees. “This isn’t the most momentous time of my life, but I’ve been taking art for years now and I’ve already gone there, more than once. But there was this time, shortly after my mother died, when I was kind of faced with a decision, I guess. My dad expected life to still go on, of course, wanted us to be part of the team, as he called it.”
He shook his head absently, the story replaying somewhere behind his deep brown eyes. “We were all suffering, and it took a lot to stay afloat. But Parker refused to do his part. I watched the way he used his pain as an excuse to act like a jerk half the time, and I made a conscious effort not to follow his lead. I knew I’d have to grow up faster and just … be stronger without having my mom around. But I also knew that if I did, I’d become the man she would’ve wanted me to be.” He nodded toward the artwork. “I made that decision, in a moment like this, at the riverbank by our house.”
Evie pulled her gaze from the page as he paused, glancing over at him.
“I’m glad you caught onto the light. It’s a big part of it. Because on the actual day, it seemed like once I set my mind to it, this incredible burst of light broke through the cluster of trees, almost … I don’t know, confirming that I’d made the right choice. That my mom would have been proud, if that makes any sense.”
Evie nodded. “It does. Makes a lot of sense, actually. So you have an older brother who acted up, and I have an older sister who kind of did the same thing. And while she was off in her own rebellious world, I was busy trying to be perfect. Getting straight A’s, helping around the house, and trying to keep the peace between my dad and Jess. And it’s funny, because I look back and see that no matter what either one of us did, it was never going to bring her back.”
Calvin leaned back into the seat and folded his arms. “I remember the first time I sketched an emotional piece. It took a lot of effort to get to that dark place, but I was able to really make the moment shine, like you did with yours. I also remember not knowing what to do with the hurt once I was done. I had opened up all these wounds, and suddenly they were almost impossible to ignore.”
He’d pretty much nailed it with that statement. “Yeah. It’s been that way for me. It took me a long time to get back to that place, and now I’m just kind of stuck there.”
Calvin looked at her, and though he said nothing, the knowing look in his eyes said he knew right where she was. That he’d been there himself. “Got any plans tonight?” he asked.
What? Her heart was back on the trampoline, bouncing out of rhythm in the breeze. “I don’t.”
“I’d like to take you someplace. There’s one thing I found that’s really helpful for kind of putting it all behind you. A good way to let off the steam. You’ve got some steam to let off, right?”
She nodded. “Right. Major steam.”
“Well then, let’s go.”
Chapter Twelve
As Evie sat waiting for Calvin to pay, she eyed the many activities going on around her. Wide lanes of glossy wood stood to her left. The ever-present crash of bowling balls hitting the pins filled the air.
A giant arcade lay behind, complete with flashing lights, digital sounds, and a cluster of revved-up kids to keep it all going. She wasn’t quite sure what Calvin had in mind until he turned from the counter, a baseball bat in hand. He also carried a plastic ball cap which he placed on his head as he neared.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“Batting cages?”
“Yep. You ever been hitting before?”
Evie stood up from the bench. “No.”
“I used to go nearly every week. Something about the crack of that bat, the satisfaction it gives; I really think you’re going to like it.”
Calvin rested his hand on her back, guiding her along the spacious walkway behind the arcade. Evie eyed the high ceilings, bright lights, and chain-linked fences as she pushed open the gate. She shrugged out of her thin, black raincoat and tossed it on the bench.
“Okay, let’s get you ready.” He handed her a pair of gloves. “You’ll want to wear these so you can keep a good grip on the bat.”
Once she tugged the stretchy gloves onto her hands, Calvin grabbed her wrists. “Here, you fasten them up with this strap. Like this.”
She smiled as he cinched up the gloves, enjoying the feel of his closeness.
“Is that good?” he asked.
She nodded. “You’re going to hit too, aren’t you?”
“No. Just you.” As he lifted the batting helmet from his head, a curved lock of hair tumbled loose, slightly covering one dark brow. He set t
he cap gently on her head and smiled. “Looks good on you.”
She adjusted the loose-fitting hat. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“I’ll help you.”
Evie pulled her gaze from his handsome face and took the bat he held out for her. “Whoa. This is heavy.”
“Okay, get into your stance.” A spark of child-like excitement flashed in his eyes.
“Getting into my stance.” She placed her feet apart, tapped the bat on the base, and cranked the heavy thing back. “Ready.”
“No, you’re not.” He covered up a laugh. “You really want to nail this, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, well if you’re not in the correct position, you’ll either miss the ball completely, or give it some wimpy tap and aggravate yourself. So here, let me help you.” He came up behind her. “First, you need to spread your feet apart more.”
She looked down, repositioned her feet.
“A little more.”
Her pulse raced as Calvin’s hand skimmed down the back of her thigh. He gripped her leg just behind her knee and moved it a few inches. “Out here. Good. Now when you swing, you want to make it short and quick. Wait. You need to start off more like this.” He wrapped his warm arms around her and placed his hands over hers.
The strong muscles in his chest rippled against her back as he moved. She breathed in the masculine scent of his aftershave, a wonderful, woodsy blend of cedarwood, pine, and sage. She even detected a hint of rain in the mix, which made her sigh dreamily. “You smell good.”
A low chuckle rumbled in his throat. “So do you.” He slid his hands around her waist, twisted the angle of her hips. “You want to be about right … here. Perfect.” Before moving his hands, Calvin gave her waist a firm squeeze. After taking a seat on the bench against the gate, he smiled. “Okay, show me your swing.”
She tightened her grip on the bat and gave it a good swing.
“Nice. Pop your elbows out a bit more.”
Evie did as he said.
“Good. Now let that front foot come forward when you hit, just a short step.”
She swung again, stepping forward as she did.
“That’s it. You’re ready.” He turned to the keypad behind him. “They’re going to come quick, every five seconds. So be ready.”
As she waited for the first ball, Evie shifted her weight.
“See that red light?” Calvin pointed straight ahead. “It will flash three times before it fires. There it goes. One…two… three.”
Evie swung late. Missed. “Crap.”
“You’ll get it. Just watch the light.”
The flashing came again. She swung–too early that time. “Crap. What if I miss them all?”
“You’ll get it,” he said. “This is the part where you think about what’s bothering you. Where you tell yourself you’ve got what it takes to beat it, whatever it is. You had to break down for a bit to connect with your art. That’s fine. But now you’ve got to build yourself back up.”
Another ball fired toward her. She swung and made contact, barely nicking the ball. It shot up and over her shoulder. “That would’ve been a foul, right?”
“Right. But at least you hit it. You’re getting it. Find your inner strength now–I call it the fight. Find the fight within you and channel it. Think about what’s holding you back and confront it with your next hit.”
Evie focused on the red, glowing light, thinking of her mother’s absence. The way it made her feel. Worthless and unloved. Only she wasn’t worthless. It flashed … two … three. She stepped forward and swung, short and quick–and hit. Solid and square. The crack of the bat was loud, satisfying.
“Nice,” Calvin said. “Do it again.”
She readied herself, watching the light as her breaths quickened, adrenaline pulsing through her tightened limbs. Evie’s inner voice spoke out, urging her on like a loyal friend. It’s not my fault that Mom left. I might be changed because of it, but I’m not any less than what I would have been.
The light flashed again. She tensed, and then swung–fast and strong–crack! The impact traveled down the length of the bat, rumbling beneath her fingers and palms.
“Very nice,” Calvin praised.
Evie looked at him, exhilarated. “This is awesome!” She readied herself again. This time she honed in on the draining atmosphere of her home. For years she’d been trying to prove that she was good enough. Doing all she could to please the one parent she had left–all to become the perfect little girl–one that no one could leave behind. Frustration fumed within her, powered her next swing where she pulled out another satisfying whack.
I don’t have to be perfect. She stepped into the swing–another hit.
I’m not a child anymore–whack!
I’m older now. And I’m strong–crack!
And determined–she missed that one, and took it out on the next with a crash that earned a smile from herself.
I’m smart too. Smart enough to live a happy life no matter who’s in it.
The baseballs continued to fly, one after the next, and with each satisfying crash of contact, Evie felt more and more alive. Every hit fueled her with strength, a lifting sense of empowerment that left her high.
“This is your last one,” Calvin said. “You’ve got it.”
He was right. She would get it. There was no doubt in her mind. She’d hit that last ball, hard, right on the mark. Evie was awed by the amount of confidence she’d found in herself. She relished the gratifying sensation as she nailed the last ball, fierce and final.
She smiled at Calvin as he rose from the bench. Her bottom lip quivered. He strode toward her with a knowing grin, as if he knew the emotion that gripped her, as if he shared it.
Evie dropped the bat just before his strong arms wrapped around her waist. She embraced him while he lifted her off the ground and spun in place.
“That felt amazing,” she said against his shoulder.
Calvin let out a soft chuckle. “I’m glad.”
She sighed. In that sweet moment, wrapped in the solid warmth of Calvin’s arms, Evie felt complete.
After returning the gear at the front desk, Calvin turned to Evie. “You ready to go?”
“Yeah. Thanks again, Calvin. That was exactly what I needed, seriously.” She slipped into her raincoat.
Calvin slid his arm behind her back, pulling her closely against him. The noise from the bowling alley died down as they neared the exit. “You know,” he said, “I love the look of you in this black trench coat. You look like some undercover agent. A deadly one.”
She slowed, turning her head toward him, a serious glare set on her face. “How do you know I’m not? What if I was hired to save the planet from destruction this very evening and you didn’t even know it?”
Calvin stopped walking altogether, fiery heat smoldering beneath his gaze. He slid a hand around the back of her neck, brought his mouth next to her ear, and teased her with his warm breath. “And what if I was hired to sabotage your entire mission by seducing you?”
A blanket of goose bumps covered her body. She bravely traced her hands along his shoulders before resting them at either side of his roughly shaven face. With her lips grazing the lobe of his ear, she answered, “I’d say, two can play that game.”
A deep laugh resonated from his throat. “Then let the games begin.”
Heat flushed up the back of her neck. “Fine. But I need a quick break first.” Evie wasn’t kidding. She felt like she was about to explode somehow. After a quick glance beyond Calvin, she spoke up once more. “Be back in five.”
Calvin grabbed her arm as she walked past. “Wait. I don’t trust you. What if you’re really sneaking out the back door and this place blows up while I’m here waiting for you? You’re putting my entire mission in jeopardy.”
“Then wait for me outside the exit. I’ll only be a minute.” She nodded toward the double doors just beyond the restrooms and then slipped into the ladies room, entire
ly flustered by the heated banter. As she reached into her pocket for some ChapStick, Evie found her deep red lip stain as well. Perfect. She spread the red color over her lips, followed up with a quick coat of ChapStick, and finished with a blot to a fresh paper towel. While tilting her head, she slid the band from her ponytail and let her hair drape in contrast against the sleek, leather coat, smiling with her larger-looking lips of crimson. Mission complete.
Evie walked out of the bathroom and strolled down the remainder of the hallway. Due to the darkness of the night, the glass door showed nothing but her reflection. She wondered if Calvin Knight was really there, waiting for her on the other side; it hardly seemed possible. After pressing open the door and stepping onto the wet pavement, Evie felt cool drops of rain splash against the tops of her feet; maybe the flip flops were a bad idea.
Calvin’s voice sounded from behind. “Agent Wylder?”
Evie spun around to see him step away from a shrub that lined the building. “Agent Knight?” Flutters rose in her chest.
In one quick motion, he grabbed her by the waist and recklessly pushed her backward, pinning her against the building. Tucked just beyond the rain’s reach, Calvin kept one hand on her hip, rested the other against the brick wall behind her. He looked over his shoulder as if shielding her from enemy spies, and then set his gaze back on her face.
A flash of desire shot through her, sudden and fierce.
His eyes narrowed. “Before we get into the vehicle, I have to know if you’re hiding any weapons.” He nodded toward the secured raincoat.
Reflexively, Evie took hold of the waist belt, unfastened it, and pulled both sides open, smiling as if she wasn’t secretly shocked with herself for doing so.
Calvin ran a slow gaze up and down her form. “I see.” Sliding his hand beneath the open flap, he placed it back on the curve of her hip.
Evie gulped.
“I like the lips,” he said softly, seductively, his gaze fixed on her timid smile.
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