by Cara North
“You need to save your strength for standing.” Joshua knew there was no way she would allow him to help her bathe. He wouldn’t if the roles were reversed.
Joshua sat Evelyn on the commode seat and kneeled in front of her. He looked at her swollen lip and black eye and swallowed the fury that was growing inside him. Her big brown eyes were soft and innocent. Who would do such a thing to a woman?
“Okay, I’ll help you get undressed. Turn my back, you can take off your underwear and use my back for leverage till you get in the shower.” He spoke gently. In his mind he started to worry that maybe she had been raped. He had seen rape victims. It made him sick, literally, he threw up. That’s when they moved him to handle narcotics instead. “No one has touched you, right?”
“Touched me?” her words were like venom. “No. I did this to my own fucking face. Yeah someone touched me, but I touched them, too. Don’t worry”
“No, I mean.” He took a breath. She was a hellion all right. Angry, confused. Maybe even a battered wife? “Touched you touched you.”
Her laugh hurt. It was a relief though. This oversized bear was a big ole pussycat. He was worried about her virtue, like she had any.
“No. No one has touched me.” Evelyn tried not to snort but really. This was part of the job. Granted, she had never been beat up this bad on the job before, but she had when she was a child, worse. And then, yes, someone had touched her, or rather had her touch them. Where was prince charming when she was eleven? The buried memory took her by surprise, and she needed to get in the shower before she could fight the tears no longer. She was tough, but after a fight, when she was safe, she cried. “Pull.”
Joshua grabbed the sleeves on the long black shirt she wore. Evelyn drew her arms back, and he could tell she was hiding her pain.
“I’m Joshua, by the way,” he said as he lifted the shirt over her head.
“My personal angel. I’m Evelyn. But you already know that. How long was I out? Did you touch me?” Evelyn snickered. Her sense of humor was crude, but that comes with the job as well.
“Hell No!” Joshua’s voice was low and serious. She must be nuts. He didn’t look a thing like an angel. A devil, yeah, he had been called that a time or two. “I’m no angel. Stand up. But no man should put his hands on a woman like this.”
Evelyn pressed her hands on his shoulders and pushed up to her feet. She had made a mistake insulting him, but she always insulted men. It was a habit. Her ankle started to burn under the weight, and her fingers started to warm.
“I was just fucking with you, lighten up.” Evelyn realized something right then, as her hands touched smooth flesh. Joshua was almost naked himself. She looked down and watched him gently unfasten her black jeans which were covered in mud and realized he was muddy now, too. He had carried her upstairs. He had carried her into the bathroom. Shit. His black hair had mud in it. It was all she could do to keep from touching it.
“Your ribs look pretty red. You get hit with something?” Joshua knew she had been in one hell of a fight. He kept trying to force that out of his mind, but the longer he looked at her, the more he turned back into a cop.
“A two by four,” Evelyn said in a whisper. Then her eyes opened wide again. Why was she whispering? She was awfully comfortable to be getting naked in front of a strange man, but the heat from his shoulders was pressing through the palm of her hands. Up her arms. Around her shoulders. Through her abdomen. And down to her toes.
“Who did this?” Joshua pulled the wet jeans tugging one side and then the other. They were stuck to her hips, and that was distracting enough. Evelyn was lean. Her abs defined. She wasn’t muscular like a body builder, but she had definite muscle tone all over. What kind of job does this woman do?
“Some jerk in a bar.” Evelyn thought back to the hours before she ended up here. She was set up, and she knew it now. Of course hindsight was twenty-twenty. She couldn’t go home. There was no home to go to, so she set out for safety. This was her safe house. Grace was more trusting than she was. But Grace had grown up with a loving mother. Evelyn’s mother was murdered when she was eleven. She witnessed it.
Joshua had worked the wet pants down to her ankles. His mind was focused as much as he could keep it on the task at hand. This woman needed his attention and not the kind that kept flickering into his thoughts. Alone for over two years now, it had been a while since he’d been with a woman. Damned if she wasn’t perfect, with a figure like an hourglass. He wanted to kick his own ass for thinking about it, but her body was too much to ignore completely.
“Three men actually.” Evelyn snickered at the memory. Three fucking men, and yet she still escaped. No wonder Nikolai hated her; he was always two steps behind in the chase. But never had she expected him to retaliate like this. And never the other two, she had helped them before. Something was wrong with the whole thing. Nothing made sense.
Joshua swallowed her words hard. A man had done this to her; men had done this. Hit her with a two by four and she seemed to take it on the chin like it happened every day. That seemed crazy. He looked up and realized she was watching him. Her eyes were lighter now, more relaxed but no less intent on him. She still didn’t trust him. He couldn’t blame her after that last disclosure.
“Do you know who they are?” Joshua held his tone low and gentle. He didn’t want to scare her. He wanted to know because he wanted to go scare them. He had pulled her shoes off and set them aside. “Lift your foot.”
“Nah, like I said. I was at a bar.” Evelyn lifted her left foot and then her right as he freed her from the wet jeans. His focus went to her feet as she moved, and suddenly she wanted his eyes on hers again. His eyes were mesmerizing, sincere. She saw something in them. Compassion maybe? She was now in her bra and panties. She couldn’t remember the last time she was alone with a man. It had to of been at least three years.
“Where?” Joshua stood as promised. Evelyn still held his shoulders, and her hands slid to his bare chest as he stood. She didn’t move them. “Where were you? Were you drinking?”
“No, I wasn’t drinking, and my whereabouts are not your business.” Evelyn couldn’t believe how many questions he asked. Sure she was a stranger, beat up and in his house, but damn. Then she realized something; there was no way her arms would reach back and unfasten her bra without disclosing how bad she really felt. And there was no way she was going to look that weak in front of a man. “Can you unfasten me?”
“What?” Joshua was processing her belligerence when he realized what she was asking. Maybe she needed a shower and some rest; she could answer questions later. He would try to hold back. “Uh.”
“What you never saw breasts before?” Evelyn had no choice. It was take a shower with it on or have him take it off. She wanted to be free of the strap and the pressure it was putting on her ribs, damn underwire bras.
“Only on T.V.” Of course he had seen breasts before, lots of them, multiple pairs at once. He was a dog in his youth. Joshua flipped the strap loose effortlessly with two fingers. His eyes were up to the ceiling, and all she could see was his long neck and the bottom of his chin. The material went loose. “I’m turning around now.”
“Learn that from T.V. too?” Evelyn couldn’t believe he had a shot at looking at her bare breasts, even permission, yet he didn’t. She also couldn’t believe he popped that strap with two fingers. She can’t get the damn thing undone without both hands. It was an unexpected jolt that hit her right in the groin. How could she possibly think of sex at a time like this? Her hands slid around his chest to his back as he turned. His warm skin was like silk beneath them.
The feel of his body was like nothing she had ever felt before. Warm, soft, the silky hair that spread over his chest, well, that’s how. She answered her own question. How could she not think about sex? He was gorgeous, tall, dark hair, green eyes, a body that went on for days.
“Tell me when to move.” Joshua hung his head low now and Evelyn’s soft hands were on his back. He could se
e his own body dirty with mud and blood, and who knew what else was on her. He should have used gloves. Her hands seemed to press harder and then softer. It almost felt like she was trying to rub his shoulder blades rather than lean on him for stability. He could use a good back rub. He bit hard clenching his jaw, swallowing his thoughts. His boxer briefs would betray any wayward thoughts. Think of your mother, think of your sister, think of any woman you would hate to see naked.
“Okay, I’m ready.” Evelyn had pushed her panties down as far as she could and loosened her legs so they would fall to the floor. She stepped out of them as she leaned heavily on his back and felt her ankle give under the pressure. She had forgotten about that till now. No doubt it was swelling now her shoes were off. “Shit. Shit. Shit.”
“Ankle?” Joshua knew as soon as he took the boot off it would begin to swell. At this point he had two areas to bandage, one busted lip to disinfect, and an eye to ice. Hell, she reminded him of himself once upon a time. That was a scary thought. No woman would be out there fighting like that. He was a trained professional. She was, well, he didn’t know who she was. But the women he knew on the force who really ran with the big dogs, well, they didn’t look like Evelyn. That’s for sure.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” She stepped into the shower and braced herself on the wall.
Joshua lowered himself with his back still to her and turned the water on. Sitting at the side of the tub he knew that ankle was killing her to balance on. He would have her put the towel around herself, and he would lift her out instead when she’s done. He pulled the shower knob, and the water burst through.
“I’ll get you some dry clothes and bandages.” Joshua left to Evelyn’s cursing words, carrying her muddy shoes and clothes in his hands.
“Damn. Damn. Owe. Damn.” Evelyn cursed at every little pain. Now the water hit the busted lip and all the little scrapes and scratches she wasn’t aware of until just now. She wanted to look in the bathroom mirror but thought better of it. Nikolai was a big name for such a little man. That’s why he needed the two by four. He won this battle, yes, but not the war.
* * * *
Joshua opened the laundry and dumped her clothes in. The phone rang.
“Hello?” It was about five a.m. now and Joshua was tired. Evelyn was in the shower, and Grace was on the phone.
“Josh, I’m sorry you have to deal with this.” Grace was sincere. “I never imagined she would show back up. For all I knew she could have been dead.”
“Well, in all fairness I almost shot her. Then when I saw her, I just couldn’t.” Joshua thought back to the moment he realized it was a woman in his kitchen. When he turned on the light, he was both startled by the gun pointing back at him and amazed that she was still standing. The woman looked like she had just walked through hell to be there, and he couldn’t take the shot.
“What about you?” Grace asked with a knowing smirk. “Not many men would survive a surprise drop from Evelyn Blade.”
“She’s beat up, remember. Besides, I’m one of a kind.” Joshua wanted to know what this woman did for a living and why Grace knew she would have the drop on him. She didn’t have the drop on me. It was weird. And he didn’t like it. If Evelyn Blade was on the wrong side of the law, she would be out his door in a minute.
“How bad?” Grace sounded concerned.
“Still waiting, she’s in the shower.” Joshua started the laundry and shut the door. He set the only thing in her pocket—a key, presumably a car key—on the washer. He would figure out what car later.
“She does some secret job that keeps her in danger. Tracks people down or something. She was a Marine, you know, military police. I receive postcards now and then letting me know she’s alive, but...”
“Is that right?” Joshua understood a lot of things more clearly now. Her movements, her discipline. He wanted to know more. “Is she still in? How do you know her? I’ve received several blank postcards. No name just the address here. I thought it was an advertisement.”
“No, that’s Evelyn. She’s been out of the military for a while, I think. I met her in college. We both hated art appreciation and were both redheads. Us redheads gotta stick together.” Grace made a weary laugh.
Joshua could hear his cousin remark about that last statement. Ethan was an artist, a well-known, well paid artist, and his wife just confessed to hating art appreciation in college.
“Well look I have to help her get out of the shower. I’ll have her call later. I’m sure she’s going to need sleep.” Joshua took a breath. “Don’t come right now, Grace. Wait until she asks for you.”
“She’s letting you help her?” Grace sounded very skeptical.
“She has no choice.” Joshua grimaced at the way Grace asked that.
“No, I mean, that’s good. I never thought I would see the day, but hey, if you say so.” Grace really needed to talk to Evelyn because apparently a lot had changed for them both in the past few years.
“Grace, if she’s committed a crime, I can’t keep her here.” Joshua felt awkward. It was still Grace’s house, but he lived in it.
“It’s your home, Joshua. You’re my family. She’s my friend. But she hasn’t committed a crime. I wouldn’t think.” Grace lifted a brow at that thought.
“That makes me all warm and fuzzy inside, Grace, thanks.” Joshua smirked. “I’ll have her call you.”
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 2
Joshua knocked on the door announcing his presence. He carried in the first aid kit and a pair of pink pajamas. Silk, pink pajamas. It was all that was in the box. No undergarments though her clothes were in the washer downstairs and would be ready when she needed them.
“Here.” He handed her the towel over his shoulder as he turned off the water. He started to wonder where she came from. “Let me know when you have it on.”
“Ready.” Evelyn was tired, and the shower relaxed her once it stopped hurting.
Joshua stood looking at her. At least she smelled better. Of course he smelled worse now. She looked better, too. Once all the mud and gunk was off she really wasn’t in as bad of shape as he thought. But being beat up at all was still worse shape than she should have ever been in.
“Hang on.” He reached into the shower and picked her up. She wasn’t expecting it and flinched like she was going to swing on him. “It’s all right. I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Like you could.” She wanted to sound mean and tough, but her eyebrow pulled at the black eye she was sure she had and it backfired. “Tssssss,” she hissed.
“Uh, huh. See, be nice.” Joshua shook his head. It was like he was talking to a child or a stray dog. Evelyn seemed feral, untouched by man. Like at any minute she would turn on him and bite. He should be running, fast and hard, in the opposite direction of this woman. But here he was playing nursemaid and growing more drawn to her by the minute.
“That’s not my strong suit,” Evelyn confessed. Meanness was in her nature. She was tough; she had to be. It wasn’t because of her job; actually it made her job easier.
“Well give this suit a try.” Joshua handed her the pink pajamas and enjoyed the look of disgust on her face.
“You’re fucking kidding me, right?” Evelyn had a mouth like a sailor, but he didn’t seem phased by it at all. As a matter-of-fact, he didn’t seem rattled by any of this. Who the hell is this guy?
“Have you heard another woman around here? It’s what I found. It’s what I got, unless you want some of my boxers and a T-shirt...” His patience was beginning to wear thin as the morning drew long. The sun would be rising and, awe hell, who was he kidding? He couldn’t go to work today.
“That would be great.” Evelyn set the pink pajamas in the sink. She wasn’t about to tell him her car was just outside and in it her clothes. At this point he may toss her out, and she needed the place to stay. To recover. To plan.
“Fine.” Joshua rolled his eyes and huffed down the hall. He returned with a pair of boxer briefs
and a T-shirt. “Anything else before we get started?”
“Started with what?” Evelyn again winced. That eye was going to be a pain until it healed. She needed to consciously stop narrowing her brow. It seemed impossible to do. Her natural face was a state of scorn.
“Bandages, disinfectant, you know first aid. Or didn’t they teach you that in the Corps?” Joshua wanted the upper hand, so he took it. She wouldn’t be expecting him to know anything about her. Maybe if he rattled her cage a bit, he could get her to talk.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Evelyn looked at him with suspicious eyes. How could he know that? Grace. He had to have talked to Grace while she was in the shower. “How’s Grace?”
“Concerned. How does this feel?” He pushed two fingers along her ankle. She winced. “I thought so.”
Joshua went about bandaging the ankle. Her foot seemed small in his large hands. Soft, no nail polish on her toes, he hadn’t met a woman in years that didn’t paint her toes. He didn’t want to think of that. He didn’t want to start measuring her up to his list. She was here to get help and once she was well enough he would boot her out the door.
“She told you I was in the Corps?” Evelyn surrendered that factoid. She didn’t like people knowing too much about her, especially a man. It was enough to know she was lethal and got the job done. “Look I know what this must look like, but I’m not in any trouble.”
“Really? Because when a woman breaks into your house at three a.m. covered in mud, blood, and God only knows what else, points a gun at you and threatens your life, a man starts to think she REAKS of trouble.” Joshua shook his head and laughed a little laugh. “I’m going to go call out from work, pull the boxers up, and I’ll be right back.”