“Careful. Your chin is a tempting target,” Dylan warned. “One day you might meet the kind of man who doesn’t think twice about hitting a woman.”
“What makes you think I haven’t already met him?”
Eve’s words were delivered in such a calm manner that Dylan felt his stomach clench. He knew from his research that she was twenty-seven-years old—twenty-eight next month. In less than three decades of life, what had she seen, what kind of experiences had she lived through, that allowed her to seem so matter of fact about something so unspeakable?
Dylan wasn’t sure he wanted to know.
“I won’t come in. Not tonight.” Remembering the long hours Eve spent on her feet, Dylan cut her some slack. “You must be tired from working late. Tomorrow. Two o’clock. Sharp.”
Turning to leave, Dylan stopped. He looked over his shoulder, making certain he had Eve’s attention.
“Be here. Or else.”
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
CHAPTER TWO
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“BE HERE. OR else.” Eve sneered the words into the mirror, mimicking Dylan’s voice. “Or what, jerk face?”
Eve slowly curled her fingers into a fist. Afraid she might break her hand if she punched the wall—and lose her security deposit—she relaxed her hand. Then, stomped the floor. Over and over again.
“Dance?”
“Ah, Petal.” Eve walked to where the little girl played with a set of soft, squishy building blocks. Kneeling, she smiled. “A man is coming to visit. I should warn you, he’s attractive.”
When the little girl blinked, Eve shrugged.
“Okay. He’s more than attractive. He’s too good looking for anyone’s good. A fact, I suspect, he knows all too well.
Eve wished she could tell Dylan Montgomery to go to hell. Too bad the pompous twit was right. She could run, but she couldn’t hide—especially with a small child.
Lack of money didn’t worry her; she knew how to stretch a dollar to the breaking point. What Dylan Montgomery had that she didn’t was the right connections. He knew people, who knew people, who could probably find a speck on the backside of a gnat if they wanted to.
“Grow up to be a powerful woman, Petal. Otherwise, you’re screwed.” Eve brushed a finger across the little girl’s cheek, amazed that any human being could be so sweet and innocent. “Forget what I said. Power corrupts. Grow up and find your happiness. If you want to raise goats in the Swiss Alps, I’ll support your dream. All the way.”
Eve checked her watch. One thirty. She looked around the furnished apartment and sighed. Though sparkling clean, everything from the faded sofa to the wobbly table and chairs was what most people would consider ready for the scrapheap.
Not that Eve was embarrassed by how she lived. Responsible for herself since she turned sixteen, she could say without equivocation that without ever asking for a handout, she always had a roof over her head and food in her belly.
However, Eve wasn’t without her pride, and the idea that Dylan Montgomery might look down his nose at her rankled more that she wanted to admit.
The clothes Eve wore might not contain designer labels, but she knew the difference between high-end fashion and bargain-basement specials when she saw them. From the top of his head to the tips of his polished boots, everything about Dylan practically screamed money.
While Eve took care of trimming her hair every few weeks, she imagined Dylan spent hundreds of dollars at an exclusive salon to get his glossy dark mane to appear messy chic.
Eve only bought clothing that was marked down to rock bottom prices. Dylan wore a jacket that cost more than her rent for an entire year. And when she thought about what he must have paid for his black leather biker boots, she shuddered.
“We live in different worlds,” Eve mused. “No. Different universes.”
Rubbing her eyes, Eve's head fell forward as she thought of all the things Dylan could do for Daisy Juniper, things she could never dream of giving her. Money might not buy happiness but worrying about every nickel and dime could wear a person down to the bone.
Taking a red lacquered box from the small bookshelf, Eve sat on the floor, legs crossed, and opened the lid. The memories inside didn’t belong to her. They belonged to someone who hadn’t been strong enough to shoulder the pain and disappointment life handed her.
Pictures. A blue satin ribbon. One red-stained popsicle stick that still carried the faint scent of cherry. A ring with a band made of plastic and a glass stone set in the center.
A picture of a blue-eyed woman with delicate features and long dark hair sat on top of the pile. Ellie York. The photo had been taken three years ago. Before Eve knew her. Before she met Tanner Montgomery. Before she gave birth to Daisy. Before she took one too many sleeping pills and never woke up.
The coroner ruled the death an accidental overdose. Eve agreed. Ellie loved her daughter too much to deliberately leave the little girl behind. She used the pills to escape the memory of the man who seduced and abandoned her.
Eve blamed the doctor who prescribed a solution to his patient’s sleepless nights without trying to treat the root of her problem. She blamed Tanner Montgomery for seducing a young woman with promises of a lifetime of love then abandoning her without a backward glance.
And, Eve blamed Ellie. When she took her own life, she left behind someone who needed her. Someone who loved her. An accident? Yes. Also, thoughtless and selfish.
Thumbing through the other items in the box, Eve stopped when she found what she was looking for. She held the photograph in her hand, thoughtful as her gaze took in the men smiling back at her.
The second Eve saw Dylan, she recognized him from the only photograph Ellie had of Tanner Montgomery. Dressed in shorts and t-shirts, their hair wet, the brothers stood near a cabin; a lake and trees in the background.
With just a glance, you could tell the men were related. Tall, well-built, with dark hair and the same nose. Ellie used to sigh and sometimes weep over Tanner’s good looks. Eve couldn’t argue. But when she looked closer, next to Dylan, he looked like a slightly faded copy of his brother.
“He’s older, but you’re the strong one,” Eve said to Dylan’s image. “Have you always cleaned up after him or is this the first time? My guess is you have a lot of experience.”
The wrong brother showed up on her doorstep and Eve cursed her luck. She could have handled Tanner with a flick of her wrist and a twist of her nimble mind. Ill-prepared and unwilling to be a father, he ran at the first sign of conflict—or threw money at the problem.
Two brief meetings—one at the bar, the other at her door—and she knew Dylan was no pushover. He was stubborn. Authoritarian. Obnoxious. Used to getting his way. He had a face that women swooned over. But unlike his brother, he was smart enough to know that good looks could only get you so far.
“If only you were dumb as a fence post,” Eve lamented as she returned the photo to the box. Standing, she stretched her arms over her head as her brain ran through her options. “Why travel to a nothing town in New Mexico if all he plans to do is throw money at me. He wants Daisy. But why now?”
Eve met Ellie long after her brief fling with Tanner Montgomery had ended. Just passing through—as always—she planned to stay in Trident just long enough to make a little money and recharge her batteries before sliding into her vagabond shoes again.
A year later, Eve wasn’t as settled as she appeared. The open road still called to her with its siren’s song, but when you had a fragile human life to care for, taking off for places unknown at a moment’s notice wasn’t practical.
One day, when Daisy was older, they would travel together. Instead of flying by the seat of her pants, Eve would curb her restless heart with weekend trips and longer vacations during school breaks.
Unfortunately, Eve knew that the best-laid plans were easily derailed and though she prided herself on being prepared for any contingency, Dylan Montgomery was a
potential train wreck she hadn’t seen coming.
A quick, sharp knock made Eve jump a foot and effectively brought her out of her thoughts. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
“You’re here,” Dylan said.
“You have a gift for stating the obvious,” Eve countered, determined not to let Dylan’s size or attitude intimidate her. “Come in.”
Dylan stepped into the apartment. He was one of those men who was insanely photogenic, then somehow managed to look even better in person. As he took in the details of the room without comment, Eve could swear she felt the superior sneer seeping from his pores.
“Where’s your handsome friend?” she asked when Dylan continued his silent perusal of her home.
“Levi has a wife,” Dylan said.
“I remember.” Annoyed, Eve crossed her arms. “Even if I were the type to seduce a married man, he could easily turn me down.”
“Some women don’t know how to take no for an answer.” Dylan looked her up and down, leaving no doubt what kind of woman he judged her to be. “Levi is a newlywed. When his wife called to say she’d returned from her business trip a few days early, he hopped the first plane back to Seattle.”
Eve couldn’t say she believed in happily ever after. But even her slightly jaded heart was a sucker for a love story.
“Must be nice,” she said. When Dylan gave her a questioning look, she shrugged. “I can’t remember missing someone enough to jump on a plane. Or a bus. Heck, I don’t know anyone who could get me to cross the street.”
“You haven’t met Levi’s wife.” For the first time, Dylan’s expression relaxed. “Piper is special.”
Jealousy, unwanted and unexpected, trickled along Eve’s skin. Just once, she wished a man would look at her with the kind of wistful longing she saw in Dylan’s eyes.
“Are you in love with her?” Eve asked. “Your friend’s wife?”
“Everyone who meets Piper falls a little in love.” Dylan shrugged. “Guess I’m no different.”
“You have my sympathy,” Eve said. “Unrequited passion is the worst kind of frustration.”
“To be clear, your opinion means less than nothing to me.” Dylan pinned her with his gaze. “However, because rumors tend to travel, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. Piper is a sweetheart. Levi is a lucky man. But I consider her a friend. There is nothing unrequited about my feelings for any woman.”
“Not sure why you felt the need to add any woman, but okay.” Eve snorted. “No need to get your boxers in a twist.”
“Are you finished?” Dylan asked.
Unsure why she felt chastised and unhappy with the feeling, Eve gave a short nod. Frowning, Dylan looked around.
“Where’s the girl?”
“Her name is Daisy.” Eve nodded toward the bedroom. She grabbed Dylan’s arm before he could barrel through the door. “She’s taking a nap.”
“I won’t wake her,” he said with more understanding than she expected.
Still dressed in her best romper, Daisy lay on her back, sound asleep and blissfully unaware of adult matters. She was as pretty as a picture and though Eve wasn’t thrilled by Dylan's presence nor the upheaval he represented, Eve felt a burst of pride when, seeing his niece for the first time, he smiled in bemused wonder. She knew the feeling.
“She’s a beauty,” Dylan whispered. “I can’t see Tanner in her.”
Praise or rebuke? Eve couldn’t tell but if the shape of Daisy’s nose or the color of her eyes bothered Dylan, too damn bad.
“Petal favors her mother.”
“Petal?” Dylan paused. “Isn’t her name Daisy?”
“Daisy Juniper.” Eve left off the Montgomery because she didn’t consider Dylan’s brother to be anything but a sperm donor. “Petal is the nickname Ellie used while she was pregnant.”
“Cute.” Dylan nodded. “Accurate.”
“I need to break the habit,” Eve said. “I’m afraid Daisy might reach an age when she’ll be embarrassed if everyone calls her Petal. Teenagers can be sensitive about such things.”
“Not only teenagers.” Ever so lightly, Dylan brushed the hair from Daisy’s forehead. “For now, she’s Petal. When she’s older, she can decide what she prefers.”
Surprised by Dylan’s sensitive words, Eve started to warm to him—just a bit—and felt a burst of hope. She wasn’t ready to let him take Daisy without a fight, but if the day came when she was forced to concede custody, he seemed willing to step up in the uncle department.
“I need to have a DNA test done.”
“A what?” Eve blinked. Maybe she spoke too soon.
“DNA.” Dylan took something from his pocket. “Swab the inside of Daisy’s mouth. I’ll express the sample to a lab in Seattle. We should have the results in about four days.”
“Ellie had the test done when Petal was born,” Eve told him. “She didn’t want her daughter to ever question her paternity. I can show you a copy.”
“I’d rather have a doctor I can trust to take care of the test,” Dylan said.
“Do you think Ellie doctored the results?” Eve exclaimed. “How could she?”
“Where did she get a sample of Tanner’s DNA?” Dylan wanted to know.
“From a clump of hair from the brush he left behind,” Eve said with a smug smile. “So there, jerk.”
“Can you prove the hair belonged to Tanner?” When she didn’t answer, Dylan’s smile was just as smug. “My brother might take a one-night stand’s word as the gospel; I’m not as trusting.”
“One-night? One night?” Eve poked Dylan in the chest, emphasizing her words with each jab. “Ellie was seduced. Sweet talked into bed by a man who for two weeks, made a lot of big, shiny promises he never intended to keep.”
“Two weeks?” The shock he didn’t try to hide flashed through Dylan’s dark eyes. “Fuck.”
“Watch your language,” Eve warned, nodding toward the still sleeping baby. She nudged him out of the room, closing the door with a soft click. A second later, she rounded on Dylan. “Ellie was the gentlest soul I’ve ever known. When Tanner said he’d be back for her, she believed him.”
“I did my homework. Ellie was twenty-nine when they met,” Dylan said. “Old enough to understand that sometimes there are consequences when you invite a man to your bed.”
“Unbelievable,” Eve scoffed. “You plan to defend your brother at every turn?”
“Just stating the facts,” Dylan said with a shrug.
Eve rarely let her temper get the better of her, but nothing would have made her happier than to slap the smug off Dylan’s face.
“Let’s say you’re right,” Eve said. “I know the price Ellie paid. What about Tanner? After he slithered out of town, what kind of consequences has he suffered through?”
“None,” Dylan admitted without blinking an eye. “I thought you already knew. The world isn’t always fair, Eve.”
Eve understood what Dylan said was true. Her mother pounded the fact home from the moment she was born. She continued to do so right up until the day she tossed her only child out on the street. Why? To quote her mother, just to prove her point.
“You don’t believe Daisy is your niece?” Eve jumped on the fact and ran. “Good. Great. Leave her alone. I’ll take care of her. When Daisy is eighteen, if she wants to find her father, I’ll give her the information I have. The rest will be up to her and Tanner. Until then, consider your duty done.”
“Are you Daisy’s legal guardian?” Dylan asked.
Eve could summon up an argument for any situation. She could out-talk anyone. However, when the moment was right, she knew when to keep her mouth shut. Like right now.
“Take a sample from Daisy’s mouth.” Dylan handed Eve the sealed swab. “Unless you want me to do it.”
“When she wakes up,” Eve said in defeat. “Let me know where you’re staying. I’ll send the sample over when I’m done.”
“I’ll wait.
” Dylan took a seat. “Not that I don’t trust you to give me Daisy’s real DNA, but would you?”
“Would I trust you? Do I trust you?” Eve let out a derisive snort. “Not in this or any other lifetime.”
“Finally,” Dylan said. “We agree about something.”
“Mark the date,” Eve grumbled. “Chances are, we’ll never see it happen again.”
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
CHAPTER THREE
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ONCE DYLAN HAD the sample of Daisy’s DNA in his possession, Eve was sure she wouldn’t see him until the results of the test came back. She was wrong. For the next four days, he was everywhere. She couldn’t turn around, in the grocery store, at the laundromat, without running into his annoyingly well-build body.
Dylan even showed up at Miller’s Dairy where she mucked out stalls twice a week. He didn’t stay long.
“Can’t you find a better job?” he asked looking fresh as a spring meadow in his designer jeans and leather bomber jacket.
Without looking up, Eve accidentally sent a shovel of manure sailing in his direction. Dylan might have possessed an athlete’s superior reflexes, but he wasn’t fast enough to avoid the plop of cow poop that landed with a splat on his fancy high-top sneakers.
Grimacing, Dylan shook the shit off his foot and walked out of the barn. Certain she’d finally won a round in their ongoing battle of wills, Eve returned to work, whistling a happy tune.
Several minutes passed when Eve heard the familiar sound of a shovel scraping cement. Frowning, she stopped and looked over into the next stall. Her eyes widened in shock when she found Dylan cleaning out the next stall.
“I thought you left.”
“Put my jacket in the car and borrowed a shovel and a pair of gloves from Mr. Miller.” He held up his hands. “Nice man.”
“I… You…” Frustrated by her sudden lack of vocabulary skill—a deficiency that continued to worsen the longer Dylan was around—Eve barely controlled the urge to stomp her feet. “I thought you wanted to spend time with Daisy.”
The Last Honest Man: A Sports Romance (One Pass Away: A New Season Book 3) Page 4