by Sam Crescent
“I don’t have much in the house. I hope you like crackers and cheese,” he said. “I’ll have to get some real food now that I have a houseguest.”
She walked closer. “Don’t go to any trouble for me. It’s bad enough I’ll be underfoot. You didn’t have to do this.”
Dalton dropped the knife in the sink and turned around, bracing both hands on the counter behind him. His stomach was washboard-flat, his shirt haphazardly tucked into the front of his blue jeans. He kept staring, making her wonder what he was thinking.
“Your house is really cute,” she said, trying to break the silence.
He smirked, still looking at her without saying a word.
“I’ve never lived in a house, only apartments.” Eva hated rambling, but she hated the awkward silence even more.
“You can’t run forever, Eva.” His voice was so smooth and controlled, the deep timbre doing a number on her libido. When she focused on his words, she felt a little threatened. When she’d left the city, she planned to keep going, to keep running from life until something monumental finally grounded her—if ever. Eva had no clue what her next step would be, and the fact both excited and terrified her.
She shrugged, walking around the small country kitchen. “No one can stop me.” Eva turned back, daring him to refute her.
“Sounds lonely.”
“What about you? You’re not running, so does that mean you never get lonely?” she asked. Her defenses were up. He’d hit a soft spot, a wound that never seemed to heal. She’d tried to pursue her dreams, only to have them dashed over and over again. Now, the only thing she could do was run, hoping that maybe one day she’d find a little piece of happiness.
He smirked. “Touché.”
“Are you really? Lonely, I mean?” He should be married with kids at his age. Any woman would want him. It made her suspicious, but when wasn’t she suspicious?
“I have my family, my job, my friends. At the end of the day, I’m here in my empty house.”
“Then why don’t you change that?”
He turned and grabbed two mugs from the cupboard. “My mother would love that, but it’s not that simple. I don’t want just any woman.”
His response piqued her interest.
Dalton set the mugs on the wooden table. “Milk? Sugar?”
“Both. Thank you.” She sat down at the table, the chair legs scraping the ceramic tiles.
Once they were both seated, he looked at her from across the table. “What about you, Eva? Why aren’t you married? Lord knows how a beautiful woman like you is still single.”
She snorted, quickly stopping herself. “Sure.”
“Did I say something funny?”
Eva outstretched her arms, cupping her mug of coffee. “I don’t exactly have a line of men ready to sign up. Not ones worth keeping, anyway.”
“I find that hard to believe,” he said.
Eva took a sip of coffee. “If I’m being totally honest, I don’t believe a word you’re saying. It’s still nice to hear though.”
He frowned, his jaw twitching. “Someone or something did a number on you, darlin’. You have to learn to trust a little.”
She shook her head. “Those are dangerous words. Trust has to be earned, and as I’ve learned, it can be easily broken.”
“I’d love to meet him,” Dalton said.
“Who?”
“The asshole who hardened you like this. Around here, men are taught from an early age how to treat a woman.”
Eva scoffed. “What would you do, Dalton?” She picked at the platter he’d brought to the table, nibbling on a cracker. Even though her defenses were always up, she’d never felt this comfortable in a long time. Just talking, being listened to, was nice.
“I’d teach him what happens when he messes with my woman … if you were my woman.”
She could envision Dalton ramming his big fist into Mark’s face, and it deeply satisfied her. The mere thought of such a buff man standing up for her made her sigh internally. She couldn’t even imagine what it would feel like to be unconditionally loved by one man. By Dalton.
“That doesn’t sound like the Hope Springs way of doing things,” she teased.
His demeanor changed, his eyes appearing to darken. “You have no idea how far I’d go. Never mistake good manners for being weak.”
Eva wondered if he was a gentleman in bed too, or was he dark and dirty? He confused and intrigued her. Since entering Hope Springs, nothing was as it seemed.
****
Dalton studied the beauty across the table. She had a laundry list of issues, but it did nothing to detract from his desire. If anything, her broken pieces attracted him, bringing his protective nature to the surface. He wanted to know everything about her, which wasn’t the norm for him. Other women were barely an afterthought, and he’d started thinking he was incapable of love. Eva stole all his focus.
“I thought you were a good man,” she said. “A momma’s boy.” Eva tried to disguise her smile, but her games were obvious to him. At least she was flirting rather than pushing him away.
He licked his lips, shifting in his seat. Dalton wanted to tell her just how bad he could be, but he bit his tongue. She thought she had leverage over him because she came from the city. Dalton might have respect for his elders and old-fashioned manners, but he was no country hick. He’d be able to show a young thing like Eva more than a thing or two. He already envisioned her naked over his kitchen table, his face between her legs until she begged him to fuck her.
“We’ll see,” he said.
She ate another cracker, continually tucking stray curls behind her ear. “So, you have a big family?”
“My brother’s a few years younger, and we have a baby sister.”
“Both parents?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“I knew it,” she said. “I can’t even imagine having a normal childhood.”
He reached for his mug, brushing the back of his hand against hers. “Don’t worry about the past, just today. That’s all that matters.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to forget all the bullshit.”
“Mrs. Cooper always tells us that new memories will dull the bad ones.” Fuck, all he could think about was being the man she needed, making a new life with her. But she was too flighty, no doubt capable of ripping his heart out if he handed his to her.
“I’ll have to keep that in mind,” she said. She fiddled with her mug, running the pad of her finger along the rim. When she looked up from behind her lashes, his cock instantly firmed in his jeans, making him uncomfortable. “I really need to block out the past.”
“Let me help you,” he said without thinking. Dalton didn’t want to scare her or push her away.
“Nobody can help me. I need to figure things out on my own.”
“By running from town to town?”
She shrugged. “Maybe. At least I’m living by my rules, and nobody can hurt me.”
“Don’t assume everyone’s out to get you. Some people really do care.”
“Like you?”
Dalton nodded. “Like me.”
“I don’t get why you’re still single,” she said, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink. “I mean, you must have some dark secrets if you’re living here all alone.”
“You’re very blunt.”
“Are you afraid to answer the question?” she asked.
“I told you I just haven’t found the right woman.”
She slowly bit her bottom lip, capturing his full attention. “What’s your ideal woman?”
He leaned back on the rear legs of his chair, assessing Eva as he pondered her question. She didn’t bullshit around, and he liked that about her. Talking about the weather, movies, or pointless news bored him. The women he’d dated were superficial and cheap, nothing he’d consider for more than a few nights of fucking.
“Sweet and strong. Long brown hair and eyes so dark I get lost in them. Lush curves making it hard to keep my hands
to myself.”
She appeared to stop breathing. He noticed her swallow hard.
“You think she’s out there somewhere?” he asked, but his voice came out more like a whisper.
“I’m sure there are a lot of nice girls in this town that fit the bill.”
“You’d think so, but no,” he said.
“How many curves do you need?”
He ran a hand through his hair. Eva was playing with fire, and she had no idea. “A lot of fucking curves.” He got out of his chair, heat creeping up his collar. Dalton paced the kitchen. He needed to get out of the room, to clear his head. The bubble of space around them felt charged with intimacy, and if they continued playing these games much longer, he’d be all over her, and that’s not what she needed. “You don’t start work for a while. Would you like to ride along with me tomorrow when I go to work? It’d give you a chance to see the town. I don’t want to leave you all alone here.”
“You’re a firefighter, right?”
He moved closer to the table, bracing his hands on the edge near her. “Same job all my life.”
“What made you get into the field?”
That question was one he avoided like the plague. Even thinking about the answer made his gut twist. “No special reason.”
“Do you have a lot of fires in town?”
He exhaled. “Nothing out of the ordinary, not usually. We’ve had some issues lately. The fire marshal thinks it could be arson.”
“That’s scary.”
Dalton smiled. “Nothing we can’t handle. There are six of us working rotating shifts. If there’s an arsonist, he won’t last long. When I took this job, I vowed to protect the town with my life.” He stopped himself because he could feel his emotions getting the better of him. She didn’t need to know what played in his fucked-up head.
“I’d love to come. I’ve never been inside a fire truck.”
The fact she agreed pleased him to no end. “You can sit up front with me.”
One thing for certain, he’d make it clear to Luke and Grayson that Eva was off the menu. She was only for him. The thought of another man even looking at her made him bristle.
When he heard the front door open without a knock, he knew it was his brother, James. He often stopped by after work for a beer or to gripe about work at the mine. The sound of his heavy work boots hitting the tile was followed by his sudden appearance in the doorway. James froze, staring at Eva.
“Sorry, didn’t know you had company.”
“Sure, James. You’re the one running your mouth to Mom about my guest.”
His brother smirked, that same evil smile that drove Dalton nuts growing up. “Forgot about her.”
“Well, you can stop staring. It’s rude.” Dalton walked to the entryway, shoulder butting his brother, before whispering in his ear. “Get the fuck out.”
James didn’t budge, not that he expected him to actually listen. “Crackers and cheese. My favorite.” His brother pulled out a chair and sat down. “My name’s James. Welcome to Hope Springs.”
“Thank you. I’m Eva. Are you a firefighter too?”
James looked down at his gear and shook his head. “Hell no. I work at the mine, not that it’s anything to write home about. I’m covered in sweat and filth within an hour of my shift.” He brushed some soot off his pants with the back of his hand.
Dalton had had enough of James’s stunt. He needed to go.
“James, I have something for you. Come here a minute,” said Dalton before he left the room. He walked to the front foyer, grabbed his brother’s boots, and tossed them on the front porch, dried mud scattering from the impact.
“What is it?”
They were out of earshot now, which is exactly what he’d been going for. “You’re a little prick. Get the hell out of here.” He grabbed a handful of James’s shirt and forcibly removed him.
“Hey, can’t a brother visit?”
“Don’t play dumb,” said Dalton. “Keep your distance for a while. I don’t want you near her.”
“Think she’ll want a piece of me, eh?”
Dalton scoffed. “Dream on, lover boy. This one’s mine.”
“For how long this time? One week, maybe two?”
“She’s different. I just need to convince her I’m not a monster.”
Chapter Four
Nothing had happened last night. Eva really didn’t know what to make of Dalton—he was … different. She couldn’t exactly put her finger on one thing, it was many. First, she’d never known a man to be so polite. She’d been in her towel and in need. Anyone else would have asked for something more. It was always instant pleasure first, consequences later.
Maybe being in the city had turned her cynical, and she was the one that had the problem?
No, it couldn’t be that.
Dalton was a guy.
Clearly, he had guy needs, and she just didn’t do it for him.
He wouldn’t be the first man who told her that. She wasn’t some kind of whore who slept around. In order to find love, she’d tried speed dating. Eva wouldn’t recommend that method of connecting with the opposite sex to anyone. It had been cold, cruel, and it had sucked.
After a few minutes of talking to someone, most men told her they wouldn’t even fuck her. They were there to pick up easy women.
Some women raved about the speed dating. She wondered if she’d just been there on a bad day.
Getting out of bed, she couldn’t believe how good the night’s sleep had been. The moment she put her head to the pillow, she’d been down for the count.
It was new, refreshing, and it made her smile.
Dalton was also extremely polite, calm, and charming. He was everything that a city guy wasn’t. It was refreshing to not have to walk on eggshells or say something wrong. She couldn’t even imagine him getting angry.
His muscles were a turn-on and a point for him, but did it really matter if he had them or not?
A lot of women loved a guy in uniform, and he was a firefighter. He saved lives.
Dalton was like a woman’s wet dream, and yet there was way more to him than just being a standard guy. He was looking for one specific woman.
Once the bed was made, she stood in front of the mirror. He wanted curves, a lot of curves. Were her curves excessive? All wrong? Her thighs had a few dots of cellulite at the top, and her stomach was rounded. It had never been smooth like she’d seen in a lot of those fashion magazines.
She’d done her time at the gym, only to feel exhausted and in need of a lot more crappy food to put her in a good mood.
Shaking her head, she pushed any thought of Dalton and his precious wife-to-be out of her mind. She wouldn’t be around for long and had no intention of staying in Hope Springs longer than earning some good money to be on her merry way.
Having sexy thoughts about Dalton wouldn’t help her.
She also desperately needed to pee, and staring at her reflection all day wasn’t going to help.
Exiting her bedroom, she went to the bathroom just as Dalton came out.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said.
He was wet, a towel wrapped around his waist.
Why did he have to look so good wet as well? This wasn’t helping her, not right now. Not when she was trying to protect him from her. She was a disaster, every relationship crashing and burning. Did he need protecting?
Compared to her, he was a country bumpkin while she had been hardened by the cutthroats in the city.
“Bathroom’s free.” He moved past her, and she closed her eyes as his scent appealed to her in ways she really didn’t understand. Her pussy grew slick and her nipples hardened to painful points, and it took every single ounce of control not to moan.
She finished her business and returned to the bedroom. Jeans and a shirt it was. She quickly pulled on some underwear, followed by her clothes. Brushing her hair, she was done and ready to go.
Makeup was never her thing, so she made her way downstairs to fin
d Dalton already in the kitchen.
The scent of bacon was heavy in the air.
“I’ve chopped some fruit, and there’s some fresh-squeezed orange juice there. Bacon and eggs will be ready in a minute.”
This man was like a woman’s dream. Sexy, and he cooked—she really couldn’t get over it.
“You have bacon?” she asked.
“Yes. I can handle crackers and cheese at night because I don’t like to go to bed on a full stomach, but I have to have bacon in the morning. It’s a must-have, and I don’t go for that turkey stuff either. If I’m going to go naughty, I’m going to go all the way.”
Oh, my.
Would he go all the way naughty in the bedroom?
Okay, her own sexy thoughts were going to drive her crazy again.
Even as her cheeks heated and her nipples tightened, she forced a smile to her face, ignoring whatever was going on in her head or with her body.
“I can handle bacon.”
She took a slice of apple, biting into it as she took a seat at the kitchen counter. There were two glasses of juice, and she sipped at the one closest to her. “We’re heading to work today?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’ve got to go and investigate some of the sites that we’ve recently had to deal with. One of them was an old abandoned warehouse out near the main road. It didn’t cause damage to anyone apart from maybe some rats, but since then we’ve had four other fires. We need to check if all of them were started by the same accelerant and where the point of the fire began. Three people were hurt from the last one.”
She saw the anger in his eyes. “You don’t like it when people are hurt?”
“I don’t like it when I can’t stop innocent people from getting hurt, no.”
Eva decided to change the subject. She didn’t want him feeling uncomfortable on account of her. “And I’m allowed to ride with you?”
“Of course. You’ll have to stay in the truck for the most part, but it’ll give you a chance to get to know some of the people around Hope Springs, get used to the area. We’ll also head to the small grocery store after my shift and we’ll stock up on all of the essentials.”
“Sounds perfect,” she said.
He put the bacon and eggs on her plate, and she watched as he loaded up his own plate, which for some reason made her smile. She hated it when she felt like the pig in the room being the only one to have a decent-sized portion. Dalton looked like he needed the protein and calories to maintain all those muscles on top of muscles.