Evolve Series Box Set

by S. E. Hall

  “The air’s broken and my landlord won’t answer.” I blow the hair out of my eyes, a complete waste of effort since it’s plastered to my forehead with sticky sweat. “Don’t!” I hold up my hand when his mouth pops open. “Dressing me down won’t fix it. What are you doing here, anyway? How’d you know which apartment was mine?”

  “Brought you a car, checked your resume, get your shit.” He stomps over to the window, slamming it closed and attempting to lock it, figuring out quickly the latch is broken. He turns his head slightly, one eye glaring at me. “Your air doesn’t work and your window doesn’t lock. Lemme guess, you have to walk down to a well and pail out water?”

  I glare at him. “Not helping.” So it’s not the Hilton, but it’s mine.

  He’s clomping through the place like an angry bear, flipping light switches on and off, grumbling something about “lazy slumlords” when I step in front of him.

  “Stop it. You’re making me feel worse than I already do.”

  “I’m not trying to, but shit, woman, no dishwasher, no microwave.” He sighs, clamping a hand on the back of his neck. “Where do you do your laundry?”

  I shrug. “Laundromat.”

  “Emmett, I really don’t want to lose my shit in front of you, but so help me God, woman, if you do not grab whatever you need in the next five seconds and head to the door, I’m gonna do it for you.”

  It’s official, I’m suffering heat exhaustion. I’m obviously hallucinating him talking to me like that. Who does he think he is?

  I’m still trying to figure it out, frozen in place in open- mouthed shock, when my arm is damn near ripped from its socket.

  “Got your purse and phone, that about it?” he asks as he pulls me toward the door.

  As much as I don’t want to let him boss me around and get any bright ideas that I might actually be the kind of girl who lets a man tell her what to do, I really don’t want to stay in this hot box another second. “That’s it,” I concede, still at odds with my own cooperativeness.

  He ushers me out the door with his hand, so large it spans it almost completely, on my back. “How long were you in there like that?”

  I shrug again, complacent and exasperated. “Since I woke up. I’m sure the landlord will call me back soon. I would’ve been fine.”

  He takes his hand from my back and lifts all my heavy hair off my neck, the fresh air on my overheated skin refreshing. When he leans over and blows on it, I’m no longer hot, but covered in goosebumps, chills coursing through me. “You have anything you need to do today?” he asks in between blowing upon my neck and shoulders.

  “No,” I hum, immersed in every wonderful sensation his breath is causing.

  “Okay, let’s go.” He leads me down the stairs to a shiny red four-door car that looks brand new.

  “Did you get a new car?” I ask him, thankful he’s not about to try and force me on his bike.

  “Actually,” he grins, digging a set of keys from his pocket and dangling them in front of me, “it’s yours. Will you give me a ride?”

  “No, no, no.” I shake my head, backing away from the keys like they’re a live snake. “I’m not accepting a car from you! It’s too much and I’m not a charity case. I told you not to get too close, Sawyer! Would you buy your other friends a car?”

  “Simmer down, Shorty, wouldn’t you trust your other friends? Gotta say, you don’t seem to trust me any more now than the day we met. I didn’t buy you the car. It’s Dane’s, on lease, until you’ve saved enough to get one.” By this time he has boxed me in against the side of the car, my back against the warm metal as I look up and up into his eyes.

  “Lease? I can’t afford to pay to rent a car, Sawyer. You have to stop. You can’t—” Too frustrated to even finish a thought, I let my head sag, tears welling up in my eyes.

  In another life, I could have a great friend who happens to makes me feel funny in every part of my body with his endearing, hot as hell, sexy way…but this is this life. I’m no fool. Men don’t arrange for your job, a car, or check to see if you made it home all right if they don’t want something more.

  And I have nothing more to give. At least not anything anyone in their right mind would want. I have to tell him, to stop this madness before I hurt an innocent man who doesn’t deserve the pain my life can bring.

  “Sawyer, I appreciate it, I really do, but—”

  He leans me back over the car, using his sizable body to make my own do his bidding. “Okay, don’t panic on me, Shorty. We’ll talk about the car later. For now, let’s get out of the heat, get you in some air, and figure everything else out later. Sound reasonable?”

  His nose brushes the end of mine, his huge, finely-toned arms surrounding me in comfort. Nothing could get past Sawyer, and for once I pinpoint one of the new feelings that’s been stirring ever since I met him—I feel safe.

  “Fine, but it’s not my car. You drive.”

  “My pleasure,” he whispers in my ear before standing back to release me and taking my hand to help me in the car.

  “WHERE ARE WE GOING?” I ask him as we zip down the highway.

  This car is very nice, better than anything I can ever hope to have, and Sawyer looks like my knight in shining armor behind the wheel of it. Behind those sunglasses, I know his eyes are full of pity, brimming with sympathy for the scattered woman he sees when he looks at me.

  He turns to me, his full mouth pulling up at one side. He has to quit doing that. And grow long, gross hair, rather than tempting me with that dark, cropped look. And take out that damn eyebrow ring, you wicked man. And what is the name of that cologne you can’t stop wearing— Tempt Emmett Off Track in a bottle?

  “My house, that cool?”

  “No, no that is not cool. Sawyer, I can’t go to your house.”

  He chuckles…he has to stop doing that, too! It’s a mesmerizing sound, like my ears have been blessed by the gods, my nerve endings plugged into electricity.

  “And why is that, Short stuff?”

  Nicknames—the devil’s tool, created to help men make woman feel special. A clever word or phrase they created only for you, because of you, having devastating effects on your ability to walk, talk and or breathe regularly. I gotta get out of this car, far away from him, my will power is waning and my mind is racing, succumbing to his trickery.

  “Because,” I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose, willing the tears to stay at bay.

  “Because why?”

  “Because you…” Deep breath, Emmett. “You—I—we can’t. Take me to The K. I’ll do inventory or something. Or the mall. I’ll people watch in the air conditioning.”

  “Not happening.”

  “Yes, Sawyer!” I yell, tired from the heat, overwhelmed by my thoughts, and just plain beat down by life. “Please don’t do this! Don’t be so goddamn wonderful, reminding me every time you smile at me, and rescue me, and do something amazing for me, that I can’t have you!”

  He reaches over, taking my small hand into his own large one, swallowing it up all at once like everything else about him, swallowing me whole, taking over, taking control, making my small stature and weakness seem like an attribute, a compliment to his differences. “You can have me,” he whispers onto the back of my hand, placing a kiss behind his words. “All you have to do is take me.”

  “You can’t possibly mean that.” I sigh, pulling my hand from his. “You don’t even know me. I-I have to tell you something, Sawyer, and then you’ll understand.”

  “I’ve never meant anything more.” The car stops in front of what I’m guessing is his house, well, duplex, but adorable and a castle compared to my ratty apartment.

  “Sawyer,” I turn in my seat to face him, “I’m—”

  Loud thumps on the top of the car interrupt me and I look past Sawyer to see a pretty face shining behind him. “Hold that thought.” He taps my nose and rolls down his window. “Hey, Bennett.”

  “Hey, stranger, get out and hug me!” The pretty girl steps ba
ck from the door so he can open it.

  He wraps her up in a hug, twirling her around then setting her down. “Bennett, this is—”

  “Emmett?” she cuts in, giving me a friendly wave. “Nice to meet you. I’m Bennett Cole. My boyfriend, Tate, and I live next door to Sawyer.”

  I climb out of the car and walk over to her, extending my hand, thankfully not shaking anymore. “It’s nice to meet you. I am Emmett.”

  “Tate’s at work, but I think the rest of the Crew’s gonna take a dip, maybe grill some burgers. You guys gonna join us?”

  Sawyer looks to me, thoroughly enjoying this, waiting for me to speak for us.

  “I don’t have a suit,” I manage, “and I’ll only be here for a little while.”

  “Pssh,” she waves her hand at me, “Laney or I can loan you a suit. Come on, stay. You’ll have fun, I promise.”

  I can’t get in a bathing suit in front of strangers, in front of him. I give Sawyer a look, pleading with him to get us out of this, but he doesn’t. Instead, he moves his eyes up and down me, then licks his lips. “Yeah, Em, grab a suit from Ben here. A cool swim sounds real good to me.”

  Hiding my aggravation, I force a smile and look back to the welcoming redhead. “Sounds great, thank you.”

  “Yay!” She grabs my hand and pulls me towards the other side of Sawyer’s duplex, flowers and flags of all colors decorating the walkway and porch. “Come on, I’ll get you fixed up. We’ll be over in a sec, Saw.”

  “Looking forward to it,” he says with a chuckle. “Pick a bikini,” he whispers in my ear, placing a soft kiss right below it.

  ANOTHER SWEET DAY

  THESE ARE THE GREATEST PEOPLE in the whole world, almost unreal. Each one of Sawyer’s friends is more kind, welcoming and down to Earth than the last. The girls aren’t catty, gossiping and whining, but rather fascinating, interesting and funny. I’m having a great time, but I can’t help feel a bit sad, knowing I won’t become a permanent fixture in this “Crew” as they call it; which will truly be my loss.

  Sawyer walks over, slinging one leg over the chaise I’m sitting on and placing himself behind me, his legs surrounding me on both sides. “Having fun?” he whispers into my ear.

  “So much,” I reply honestly, turning my body slightly back towards him. “You?”

  “I always have fun with them,” he nods his head to his friends, “and with you here? In a bikini? Yeah, I’m feelin’ good.”

  I try not to look at his bare chest, especially not the dark trail leading down to his swimsuit or any further. “WXYZ,” I hear in a breathy moan inside my hormone-induced brain.

  “Now you know your ABCs?” He laughs, making his whole glorious chest shake.

  Crap, I should’ve stopped at his V and certainly not have finished out loud.

  The glare of the bright sun off his tanned, ripped abdomen and pecs has my mind spinning in circles. I’ve never seen anything like him, not even close. I hope he doesn’t notice that I notice the miniscule holes that tell me his nipples are pierced, or his rock hard biceps, or my anything-but-ambiguous examination of his tattoos.

  Truly, his ink is amazing, the canvas of his body a work of art in itself. His right bicep proudly boasts a compilation of colorful, merging tattoos that almost dance before my eyes, starting at the slope of his shoulder and ending right below his elbow. The main focal point is a gothic cross with faint wings behind it, thick black tribal lines branching down his arm. To the left, the lines seamlessly transform into tree roots. To the right, the thinnest line breaks into a scripted “Semper Fidelis,” which I already know means “Always Loyal.” It fits him perfectly.

  On his left bicep, as large and intimidating as the right, is a lone “7,” surrounded in big “fuck you to them all” flames.

  And then there’s his ribcage. The left side says, “Beckett,” and the right, “Courage.” I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s something…

  “They’re ambigrams. Check it out.” He’s careful to swing one leg over and around me to get up and stand in front of me. He turns and contorts, bending down and placing one hand on the lounger, and his “Beckett,” upside down, becomes “Sawyer.”

  “Holy—” I gasp, fascinated.

  “And,” he stands and swivels, bending once again to show me the “Courage” is now “Strength.”

  It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I decide right then and there, an ambigram tattoo is going on the bucket list. I reach out my hand, looking up and seeking acceptance, which he readily gives with his eyes, before running my fingers over the words. I hear him suck in a hiss of a breath when I make contact, his muscles tensing under my touch.

  “I love them,” I whisper.

  “So now you’ve seen them all.” He takes his place behind me and I shift to face him. “Cross, wings, roots,” he’s pointing as he lists them, my eyes eager to keep up, “seven, flames, and two ambigrams.”

  I don’t know if I ever consciously thought tattoos weren’t sexy, or never thought about it at all, but I officially have a stance now. Hot. As. Hell. Yeah, I tried not to notice any of it, or at least convince myself over and over in my head that my chemical reaction is simply that, but I think the fact that I’m still staring back and forth between every tattoo and inch of his body, maybe panting, might have blown my cover.

  Time to pull it together. I close my eyes and shake my head. Ground zero, Emmett, knock it off. What were we even talking about? Oh yeah, he asked if I was having fun and I may have answered him. “It’s beautiful out today, and everyone’s great. Thank you for bringing me.”

  “You’re welcome, Shorty pants. And with that thank you,” he lifts a finger to my face and slowly traces my jawline, “I would like to know, why a butterfly tattoo?”

  Ah, seems I’m not the only one with wandering eyes…and we’re back to tattoos.

  So he had seen it; I didn’t even think of makeup today. “Butterflies have very short lives. The minute they reach their full potential, become what they were meant to be, their clock is ticking,” I explain. “If they’d never emerged, never taken flight, they’d have postponed their end. So technically, their quest for life kills them.”

  “Emmett.” He searches my eyes back and forth, his thumb resting now on my chin to hold my gaze in place. “If you’re sick, I’ll help you,” he whispers. “Please, let me help you with whatever you need. Whoever it takes, the best in the world, I’ll find them.”

  I cup his face, the words caught in my throat, my thoughts momentarily lost to his beautiful face. “I already told you I’m not dying, Sawyer, I swear. But my destiny’s been chosen and I’ve accepted that as my path and happiness.”

  “What does that even mean? Just tell me, Emmett. Wherever you’re going,” his lips brush my own, flavored with longing and hope, “I want to go with you.”

  “Oh yeah, is that right?” My green eyes glitter with mischief as I throw his words back at him. “How can you be so sure?

  “Because from the day I first saw you until the day I saw you again, I didn’t like where I was. Now you’re here and I do. So it stands to reason that staying with you, wherever it is we’re going, is my best course.”

  “You got any ideas?” I touch his arm. “Cause I’m a little lost.” I am getting lost, every minute I spend with him making it harder to remember why I’m not allowed to enjoy it, crave it, need it like my next breath. Maybe I’ll start leaving myself sticky notes or put a snap band around my wrist as reminders of why it’s simply a bad idea to think he’s a good idea.

  A splash of cold water on my back makes me jump with a loud shriek. “Damn, that was cold!” I laugh, turning to see who got me.

  Evan is pointing at Zach, who’s pointing at Laney. I think they all three pushed each other in the pool in one giant jumble.

  “Sorry.” Evan smiles at me. “Ya’ll wanna play Chicken? Hummingbird, get in here, woman, let’s take these punks down.”

  I feel like I’ve fallen into the Pla
net of the Hot Guys…none of them are anything short of perfection physically, and they all treat these women like queens. I want to stay in this world, build a small cottage and move in forever…why can’t I stay?

  I’m saved from having to talk myself out of playing when Laney pipes up. “Punks, huh? Oh, we got you, come on, Dane!”

  I lean back against Sawyer, his hands rubbing up and down my arms, as we watch the teams go all out in some merciless games of Chicken. The methodic slide of his hands on my skin, coupled with his solid form, the perfect back pillow, and the hot sun, and I’m soon fighting to hold my eyes open, even amongst all the commotion.

  “Hey,” he leans over me, his hot, smooth voice in my ear, “let me carry you up to my bed for a nap.”

  “I’m fine, really. Little longer.” I turn to my side and curl into him shamelessly. I can’t help it, his skin is hot, and there’s enough of it with his enormous body to warm up every part of me. “Tell me something else, without the game, because you want to.”

  “Like what? Gotta tell ya, this is a lot easier when you tell me the question. I’m a guy; I don’t store up random facts and memories.”

  “Yes, you do; you’ve already proven that’s a lie several times. But I’ll let you slide this once. Tell me about your parents.”

  “No, pick something else.”

  That refusal was adamant and I want to know why, my head perking up. “You don’t have to tell me,” I run my hand gradually up his chest, warm, slick with suntan oil and hard as stone, “but will you tell me why you won’t tell me?”

  “Too ugly. I don’t ever want you to look at me like the people who know do. Ever.” He takes a few deep breaths, so deep from such a large body, and I feel my body lift up and down with his lungs. “What about your parents?”

  “Very ugly.” I lay my head back down but leave my hand beside it. “Man, we need some happier questions.” I chuckle, and he joins me.