by Sara Hess
A rapid scan of the patio showed no Evan…and I did not acknowledge my disappointment…but many other people were there. Landon and Maya were having a small wedding so there wasn’t an overload of unfamiliar faces. Everyone from the party last Saturday was here, and they were waving madly at us.
“Shaw, you made it.” Nadia stood with a smile giving me a hug that was completely unexpected.
I’d gone my whole life without hugs but Carrie had broken that streak, and now these other girls were doing it, because after Nadia came Samantha, Amanda, Maya, and even Gabby. It seemed one night of drunken revelry bonded us for life.
Landon even gave me a casual one arm hug and pat on the back congratulating me on my success yesterday in catching the thief. I asked if he knew if they caught the guy and he told me not yet.
The next couple hours consisted of a lot of awesome food, a great deal of conversation and laughs, and several drinks. Three hours passed and dinner was done but everyone was still milling around the patio in small groups conversing and drinking. I was having a really good time when I suddenly felt heat roll down my spine and shivers of awareness sang through my veins.
Heart hammering, my head shot around and there was Evan, and the banging of my heart became nearly painful. Oh god, my compass needed some serious repair, because it was pointing me in a direction that could only end with me being torn apart.
He’d walked in with Landon’s father and they were still in their suits from work; although their jackets and ties were off, and the sleeves of their shirts were rolled up…showing off those amazing forearms of Evan’s. Everyone else here was dressed a little more casually in nice shorts or slacks, polo shirts, and sundresses. Carrie had convinced me to buy another more casual sundress for tonight and I was glad I did otherwise I would have stuck out like a dumb hick in shorts that only some of the men were wearing.
Evan was staring directly at me which explained the fire shooting through my veins. Strolling straight towards the cluster of people I was with his scorching gaze, wicked with promise, didn’t waiver from mine. I took a large gulp of my drink and belatedly realized I should probably monitor my alcohol consumption from here on in.
Nic saw him seconds after me and called out a cheerful greeting. “Evan, you’re here, but unfortunately you’re a dozen drinks behind everyone. I got you covered, buddy.” He gestured for a waitress.
Landon broke his concentration from Maya. “Dad…Evan…finally. You both had me feeling terrible today making me come here while you fixed the mess from yesterday.”
Evan broke his eye contact with me to throw an arm around Landon’s neck to strangle him good-naturedly the way guys did. “I can see you’ve been wallowing in remorse and unhappiness.”
Landon nodded and hugged Maya who was sitting in his lap.” Yeah, it was hard, isn’t it darlin’?” He chuckled and kissed her neck.
Everyone caught the innuendo and laughed. Maya twisted to kiss him, and it wasn’t just a peck.
Dan turned on his heel with a shake of his head and a smile, mumbling. “I need a drink. Where’s the waitress.” Spotting the one that was answering Nic’s wave he started towards her but halted next to me first. “I’m glad to see you here, Shaw.” He gave me a smile and my shoulder a squeeze.
Unexpected warmth filled me as he singled me out.
A second later Evan was pulling up an empty chair and sat down right next to me, his amber eyes hot and intense as they looked me over. “Shaw. You. Look. Gorgeous.” His hand came up and fingered my hair. I’d left it loose tonight. It wasn’t something I did often because it was so riotous and wild.
Wayward thoughts of his lips on mine, my lips on his, caused my body to break out in a sweat, and because I was used to vulgar comments and not compliments I had to grapple with my waning self-control and disorientation.
“Uh…thank you.” Well, that was eloquent.
He smirked evilly. “So, your room or mine? Tell you what; I’ll flip a coin. Head at my place, tail at yours.”
The table went silent as those who were accustomed to this waited for my reply. Those who hadn’t heard our banter were probably shocked at his crudity.
I raised my brow dispassionately even as my heart pounded madly in enjoyment. “How about I smack you upside the head and kick your ass…I mean tail.”
Everyone hooted in hilarity, and while they did Evan leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Seriously, you look amazing, and you should wear your hair down more often. It’s stunning.”
Heat scorched my face…and blood…and girl parts. I gulped more expensive champagne. Shit! I was supposed to take it easy. I hate what he did to me, even when I loved every sexually charged, torturing second with him, I hated it. I also hate how I want to press my body against his; feeling every hard, ripped, muscle on that perfect body of his.
Trey, one of Gabby’s cousin-in-law’s, and Maya’s friend, who’d been trying to hook me all night leaned around me to smirk at Evan. “That was way harsher than the rebuffs I’ve been getting. You must have not impressed her last weekend.”
Cold washed over me and I instantly stiffened at the subtle implication that I’d had sex with Evan. Had Evan told him I had? I had been starting to think Evan might be different, but he was just like every other fucking guy out there; more concerned about his dick’s reputation than mine.
“Trey, Shaw and I only shared a bed, so be careful how you phrase your words.”
Evan’s hard voice brought me out of my cold freeze and I stared at him in surprise. Was he actually contradicting Trey; clearing my reputation, taking my side? That was different.
“And the reason her rebuffs toward you were lukewarm was because you are barely a blip on her radar.” Evan sneered with what looked like menace.
Everyone at the table was watchfully silent as the scene unfolded. Normally I didn’t give a shit about making a scene, but this was different from what generally happened around me and I started to feel self-conscious as the two men eyed each other with hard glints while everyone else stared.
“Trey, are you not being nice?” Maya exclaimed with tipsy cluelessness. “Shaw, did he say something bad?”
Even though my nerves were twitching because of his comment I didn’t want to blow up Maya’s pre-wedding party by exploding all over Trey, so I shook my head with a smile. “If by bad, you mean smelly, than yes, his breath stinks.” I gave Trey one of my own hard glares, backed with teeth.
Several snickers erupted around the table and Havi, Trey’s brother, stood clapping Trey on the shoulder with a lopsided grin. “She’s been burning you all night, brother; time to give up.”
Trey stood and gave me a rueful smile. “You don’t know what you’re missing, Shaw, but I do.” He bent partially down, his dark gaze meeting mine…it wasn’t anywhere near as forceful as another set of amber ones. I felt Evan’s heavy arm settle on the back of my chair and Trey’s gaze flickered his way briefly before returning to me. “We could have been explosive together.” He declared.
Keeping my teeth covered I raised my eyebrow. “When you say that all I can envisage is sparklers.”
Trey straightened with a laugh. “And that right there is why it would have been explosive, but I guess I’m going to have to be the one to settle for sparklers.” Still chuckling he walked away with his brother toward the bar.
Evan nudged my shoulder to get my attention but I was already turning my head his way. His eyes tracked from Trey to me with a frown. “Has he been bothering you the whole night?” Before I could answer he turned to the table. “Why did you let him fucking hassle her this entire time?”
My brows shot up at his vehemence and my heart swelled…he was sticking up for me! Wow! Another first.
Juan, Trey’s other brother, leaned forward with a frown. All the brothers were good looking with their Latino looks, muscular physiques, and tattoos.
“Trey may have been a little over-ardent just then, but he hasn’t been hassling her, Evan.” His frown deepening, Ju
an looked at me. “He wasn’t, was he?”
My grim mood dwindled further at Juan’s concerned query. Trey really hadn’t been that bad. He was one of those rare guys who seemed to enjoy my derisive remarks. He was arrogant and thought he was god’s gift to women and any other time and place I would have probably flayed him with my tongue, but I’d been having a lot of fun with everyone, even him somewhat, so I’d let it fly. I got harassed way worse on campus.
I might have also taken his reference to last weekend too seriously; he had most likely been trying to rib Evan in that guy way they liked to do.
“He was mildly annoying…like a mosquito bite.” I joked hoping to ease the situation further, because everyone was staring at me and Evan with varying questioning looks.
Juan chuckled. “I can’t wait to tell him you said that.” He snorted.
I relaxed as everyone went back to casually conversing.
“You sure you don’t want me to go kick his ass?” Evan whispered in my ear.
I shivered as his hot breath puffed over me. Slanting my gaze his way I saw that while he was smiling his eyes were still narrowed in tight contemplation. His offer was the sweetest thing anyone had ever offered. The man continued to skew my world in ways that had me scrambling to not fold.
“Do you think you could? The guy is huge.” Evan had a large, brawny build, but Trey was bigger.
“Steroid muscle doesn’t compare to the real thing…and then there’s the side effect.” Evan growled, flexing slightly.
I grinned. My night was abruptly fifty times better…and that I distinguished that was disturbing. “You better watch it, all three of them are built the same way and they most likely would take exception to those words.”
“Pssh.” He waved his hand carelessly.
A waitress came by and Evan added his drink order to the list of others, and then Landon drew his attention and he relaxed back in his seat, propping his ankle on his knee as they talked. His arm was still on the back of my chair and he played absently with my hair as he chatted while giving me frequent smoldering glances.
I don’t know why I wasn’t stopping him, or at least giving him murderous glares. All I knew was that it was taking everything in me to manage my response to him; my pounding heartbeat, the blood zinging hotly through my veins, my overly sensitized nerves and skin, and the ache taking up residence in my breasts and between my thighs.
I was torn between wanting to kill him and attack him.
My thoughts flashed unexpectedly to yesterday and the conversation I overheard between him and his mother. They seemed to have a really close relationship, and I could hear the mutual concern in their voices as they conversed. I had also caught the hint of sacrifice in regards to Evan’s stepdad, and what I’d concluded was that both of them had put up with the guy because they’d thought the other one needed them to.
Their interaction had been poignant, and my dead heart had shuddered with faint life. Evan was weaving this emotional web around me that was making it difficult to break free from. I could live through a physical liaison with him, but if my heart got involved…
“Don’t tell me you’ve been this quiet all night?” Evan murmured in my ear.
I threw on a hasty smile over my ruminations, hoping they weren’t obvious. “No, you just make me want to escape within myself.”
He grinned. “There she is. I’ve been looking forward to my fix all day.”
I rolled my eyes at what he thought were compliments…although; they did make me warm all over. “Have you heard anything on Frank?”
“We heard that he hasn’t been back to his apartment for the police to pick up. It has them wondering if he was tipped off somehow.” Evan took a gulp of his beer.
“Not from my end.” I stated firmly. “I closed down the program but he would only know if he logged in from a company computer.”
He gave a tug to one of my curls. “I believe you. I think he was keeping tabs on Carol and when she didn’t get back to him he got worried.”
His faith in me was gratifying and a different type of warmth filled my chest.
“Maya, Landon…” Maya’s mother walked over with Nola, their daughter, in her arms. “Nola is ready for bed.”
I watched as Maya and Landon jumped up to fawn all over their daughter. The sight had me swallowing at the sentiment behind it. You couldn’t miss the love they had for their child.
Landon turned toward us holding his little girl. “Maya and I are going to put Nola to bed.”
“Just don’t put yourselves to bed too.” Noah joked.
Landon groaned and wrapped his other arm around Maya. “Don’t give me ideas.” He said striding away.
“Who’s up for a walk down the beach to work off some alcohol when they get back?” Amanda asked from Noah’s lap. “The last thing I want is to be hung over for their wedding tomorrow. Sunday I’ll be fine with a hangover, but not tomorrow.”
“I haven’t had enough alcohol to walk off yet.” Evan complained with a laugh.
Amanda grinned and began waving for a waitress. “You better hurry then. I give you thirty minutes before they get back.”
Nadia snorted from Seth’s lap…girls were in laps everywhere. “I give him forty.” She checked her phone for the time.
“Are we taking bets?” Blake leaned forward in interest. “Because if so I’m in for forty-five.”
The next second everyone was throwing out times for Maya’s and Landon’s return.
Evan’s hand roamed to my neck, and ear, and shoulder as we drank and talked, waiting for the couples return, and my heart rate and temperature reached volatile levels. In the back of my mind I should have been asking myself why I was letting him touch me so freely but my brain didn’t seem to be working right. I blamed it on the alcohol…again.
Forty-seven minutes later Nic was the winner when Maya and Landon reappeared, and then a dozen of us stood up to go for that walk.
I bent down to slip off my shoes like everyone else was doing when Evan’s hands got there first. “Let me get these for you.”
His fingers tugged each sandal gently off my foot; lingering and caressing the flesh of my calves and ankles. My breasts and womb clenched achingly and when he looked up at me I knew my face was bright red. He was so handsome; glowing amber eyes, slightly ruffled light brown hair, and his strong jaw with a faint covering of whiskers. My fingers twitched to touch.
“Thanks.” I croaked, curling my fingers inward.
His hot gaze caressed my face like his hands had my legs. “My pleasure.” I could tell by the way he said that he meant it.
Evan toed off his shoes, pulled his socks off, and rolled his slacks up revealing muscular calves. He then set his hand to my back as we all moved to step down the steps to the sand beach.
I got so nervous I asked something completely stupid. “How’s your mom doing?” My hand flew up to cover my mouth but it was too late. The words had been uttered. Not only was the question too personal to ask, but I never asked personal questions. “Oh shit. Forget I just asked that.” I groaned.
A small frown puckered Evan’s forehead as he contemplated me. “No, I won’t. I know you feel bad about eavesdropping, but its okay, and I appreciate you asking.” That surprised me. “I’m not sure how my mom is because I’ve been too busy to call her, but thank you for reminding me and now I’ll be certain to call her tomorrow.”
My feet dug hard through the sand. “I still shouldn’t have asked. That was way too personal.”
He bumped against my side and grinned. “I don’t mind a little personal with you.”
I swallowed in discomfort. “I don’t usually do personal.”
His hand stroked my arm. “I’ve gotten that vibe from you, but I hope you can allow me some leeway. I’ll take as much as you can give me, Shaw.”
I swallowed again, because that was the question. “So, I guess you’re happy your mom’s thinking about getting divorced?”
“I’m happy with whate
ver makes her happy. My mom’s great and I’ve never thought Kyle was good enough for her. I was certain he was cheating on her for years.”
“I could find out for you.” What the hell was wrong with my mouth? It had jabber disease or something.
Evan frowned at me. “What do you mean, you could find out?”
“I know someone that could look into it, through phone records and P.I. stuff.” I amended.
His brow arched. “Really…Well, it doesn’t matter now if she’s going to divorce him anyway.”
“It could help with her settlement though. The way you’ve talked about him he may try leaving her with nothing. Confirming that he was cheating on her would give her some leverage.”
His gaze sharpened on me. “That’s a bit scary, Shaw. You sound like you have some previous experience with divorce. You haven’t been married, have you?”
I snorted at the very idea of putting that kind of trust in a man. “No way, I’ve just seen lots of examples of cheating and the resulting behaviors.”
His eyebrows went up further. “Lots, huh? Don’t tell me all those guys were from your own experience.”
I scoffed. “You have to be in a relationship for a guy to cheat. I don’t do relationships.” Evan was smiling but his eyes were watchful as he stared at me. “And who said I was only talking about guys?” I quirked my brow at him. “I’ve seen quite a few girl cheaters as well.”
His grin turned wicked. “Are any of those girls from your own experience?”
I rolled my eyes. “Perv.”
“That’s not a revelation.” He chuckled. “And all guys are perv’s if you evaluate it from girl on girl action. We all wonder about it, hope to see it, would die happy to be in the same room with it.”
“Double perv.” I said holding back my own laughter.
“Who’s a double perv?” Nic asked walking up with Carrie.
“Your friend.” I announced snootily.