“How long have you been up?” Evie asked through a stretch and yawn.
“Not long,” he lied.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, sitting up, her tiny tank top straps falling off her shoulders, baring her breasts seductively. Whatever ethical dilemma had kept him from sleeping wasn’t going to keep him from touching her now. A man had priorities after all.
“Besides wanting you right now and knowing any second my mother is going to ring the bell for breakfast?” He leaned down and buried his face into her neck, kissing his way down her until he was tugging at the top of her tank top with his teeth.
“You have a bell for breakfast?” She laughed, pushing his head away playfully. “How rich are you guys?”
The ringing of a shrill bell seeped in from the other side of the closed door just as Emmitt parted her legs.
“Time to eat,” she said, drawing in a raspy breath as his mouth came down on the damp cloth of her thong.
“My thoughts exactly,” he growled.
“Emmitt,” a voice called from down the hall.
“Harlan?” he said, shooting his head up quickly.
“Emmitt, I swear to God you better not be defiling my bed, or I’m going to kick your ass.”
He sprang to his feet and shuffled to the door, quickly pulling a T-shirt over his head. “Chill out,” he said, as though she were being ludicrous. “No one is doing anything to your old bed.”
He swung the door open and kept his lower body, raging hard-on included, angled behind it. “What are you doing here?”
“Don’t tell her,” Harlan demanded in a low voice. “Don’t tell Mom that I saw Dad yesterday. He asked me not to mention it to her.”
“And since when do we take orders from him? He doesn’t get to decide what happens with Mom.” Emmitt had already decided his mother shouldn’t know yet, but he wouldn’t allow it to look as though that was some gift to his father.
“He was afraid it would upset her. He knows how she can be, and he didn’t want to make it any worse.” Harlan had a hand propped up on her hip as she made her case, but it meant nothing to Emmitt.
“You’re going to stop me from telling her?” He stuck his chest out and glared at her.
“Yes,” she shouted, then quieted again, afraid she might be heard. “You know it’ll bother her, and she doesn’t need that right now. Things have been under control. Dad had good intention with his visit. Why can’t you just accept that?”
“Dad didn’t want Mom to know he’s in town because when he got here last night he wanted to slip in and steal something without her thinking it was him.”
“Bullshit,” Harlan scoffed. “I already talked to Mom. She thought she saw something and opened the door setting off the alarm by mistake. There was no mention about Dad at all. You are such an asshole, do you know that? Why do you always have to play this side of it? It wasn’t any picnic growing up with Mom. You’d know that if you hadn’t gone from juvenile hall to the military. Running from one place to another made it easy to overlook what a shit show it was back here.”
“Mom never meant to be the way she is. What Dad did made it ten times worse. She wasn’t like that when Mathew and I were little.”
“Well, she was when I was growing up. I was here alone, and Dad was gone. I would have liked to have more of a choice in who I was raised by. You don’t always get to say what’s best for everyone.”
“Do you think I enjoy this?” Emmitt asked in a near shout as he heard Evie shuffle over to him, resting a hand on his back. But it did nothing to calm him. “Do you believe that I like being able to spot a liar or a con artist from a mile away. It’s a really handy skill and all, but when you’re the guy telling the girl her husband is a deadbeat, it doesn’t win you many friends. Even when you’re right. When you’re the guy telling the boss that the little old man who’s worked for you for years has been skimming money out of the register every day, you don’t win any popularity contest. Being able to see bullshit before everyone else isn’t as great a super power as you might think, but I still have a responsibility to call it like I see it when it comes to people hurting my family.”
“He is your family,” Harlan argued, but far more sheepishly now. “I just wish you would give him a chance.”
“You know what people do with chances? They blow them. God, how many men have to fuck up your life before you finally start protecting yourself? You deserve more than this.”
“Whoa,” Evie said, yanking the door all the way open and stepping out to stand by Harlan. “What the hell is your problem? You don’t get to say things, thinking your words don’t hurt people. If you’re so worried about people fucking with your sister, maybe you should take a look in the mirror.”
“Yeah,” Harlan said quickly. “Jerk.” She turned to Evie and flashed a half smile. “Sorry I was so rude to you yesterday. You didn’t deserve that. I was just upset.”
“Ugh,” Emmitt said, rubbing a hand to his temple as he stared at the two women causing him stress that he didn’t need. When neither of them softened their stare or backed down he reluctantly caved. “Fine. I won’t say anything to Mom until the need arises, but I determine when that is. And you don’t see him again.” He pointed his finger at Harlan, but she laughed him off.
“You don’t get to decide that. I want to see where it goes. You can’t stop me. I have two little girls to think about, and they deserve as much as I can give them. And if that can include a grandfather, I’d like to try to do that. I don’t want them to be alone.” She sniffled and it damn near bowled Emmitt over to see her tear up.
“The girls have family. Mathew and I are here for whatever they need. And Mom—”
Harlan cut him off. “Mathew is in Texas, and I don’t think he’s in a rush to get back here now that he has Jessica. Who can blame him really? All he ever does here is keep everyone’s life from falling to shit. Mom is in her own world, and you,” she gestured up at him like he was a lost cause, “you might be able to spot bullshit, but you usually raise the alarm and then leave. I need people who are going to be around for my girls. People who will come to the recital they have tomorrow and help put the star on the top of the Christmas tree. You aren’t that guy. So don’t blame me for trying to find it in someone else.”
Emmitt ground his teeth together to keep himself from saying anything else. There was no winning this fight right now, even if he was right. The best he could do was what he always did, protect. It was harder to do when the people said they didn’t want your help, but he knew it was still possible.
“Mom’s waiting,” Harlan said, spinning away from him. “I won’t tell her you guys were in the same room last night.”
“Thanks,” Evie said softly as she adjusted the sweater she had hastily buttoned. Emmitt watched as the two women exchanged a few kind words and headed to the kitchen, paces ahead of him.
He took a quick inventory of how fucked things were. His father was in town. He agreed, against his better judgment, not to tell his mother. Harlan was still considering letting that asshole back into her life. Evie had shown the little broken pieces of herself last night and was met with his poorly thought through promise to repair them. This was why he kept to himself. It’s why he could head out in an instant with only a bag and a good pair of boots. He didn’t like to consider it running away, more like strategically avoiding.
“Emmitt,” his mother called down the hall toward him when the girls had arrived and he hadn’t.
“Coming,” he shot back, shaking the frustration of his situation off. He’d sit down with his mother, sister, two nieces, and Evie and eat breakfast. The rest of the day, all the unknowns and trouble would be waiting on the other side of the bacon and eggs, no need to rush right into it.
Chapter 19
“I’m letting you off the hook,” Evie said gently as she stood in the doorway of his hotel room.
“What’s that mean?” he asked, furrowing his brow and folding his arms across his chest. H
e was standing there shirtless, his workout shorts hanging low on his hips. He’d locked himself away in his hotel room since they got back from his mother’s. He’d claimed he was doing some research on the Barrington security plan as well as his father’s whereabouts over the last six months. Emmitt was determined to prove to Harlan that their father was still gambling, still losing, and was only around for one thing. Money. But Emmitt couldn’t fool her. Evie knew damn well what hiding looked like; she was doing plenty of it herself lately.
“That thing you said last night about helping me with my mom. That’s not what I want. I appreciate the thought. Let’s just pretend we didn’t talk about it.”
“You’re talking to the king of ignoring the elephant in the room so if that’s really what you want I’ll go along with it. But if you need money to help your mom, it’s nothing for me to give you some.” His arms unfolded, his posture relaxing, and she knew she’d done the right thing. Emmitt had enough people depending on him, and he had his own idea of how to treat an addict. She was just muddying the water with her request.
“Thanks, but I’ll figure something out. You’ve got your hands full. I just wanted to pop in and tell you that.”
“That’s the only reason you came?” he asked, curling his lips into a playful smile. “You could have called up from your room. There must be another reason you’re here. Something that couldn’t be done quite as well over the phone.”
A tingling heat pulsed through her body. She could see his firmness growing under the thin shorts, and her eyes darted away quickly.
“Yeah,” he remarked, sliding the shorts down off of him, his excited dick springing up quickly. “There must be another reason you’re here. Your hair’s still damp. You just got out of the shower, didn’t you?”
Her cheeks blazed as though a deep dark secret had just been unearthed, but she still didn’t speak.
“You took a nice hot shower for me, baby?” he asked, but to her dismay he wasn’t moving any closer. She thought by now, he’d be closed in, bearing down on her. “I bet you smell like that purple soap.” He licked his lips and stared at her. “Are you coming over here?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her lips moving but the word practically too quiet to hear.
“I’ve been thinking about this almost every second since the last time I slid inside you. I’ve been waiting for the next time.”
“Me too,” she admitted as she inched closer to him.
“On the balcony,” he commanded, moving away before she could touch him. “I’m going to fuck you under the stars.”
“But people will see,” she protested, her heart beating in a terrified yet excited rhythm as she thought about the night air kissing their bodies.
“We’re the highest floor for any buildings on this block and facing east. There’s no one to see. I don’t want anyone to see you but me.” He clicked off the lock on the door and slid it open. The far-off noises of the city below crawled slowly inside the room as he stepped out, not waiting for her. Standing alone in the hotel room now she felt silly, turned on, and lonely. There was only one thing to do.
Evie crossed the room with intent and stepped out onto the balcony, assessing the space. A plush lounge chair and glass top table were the only things she saw, besides the long metallic railing that enclosed the space.
“Do you trust me?” he asked, and she lost her breath before she could answer. “I’m serious Evie, do you trust me?”
“Yes,” she said, forcing as much confidence as possible behind her words.
“I want to have you up there,” he said, pointing to the railing. “I want you on the edge of the world, looking out over the skyline.”
“On that?” she asked, pointing at the metal railing that was no more than four or five inches wide and the only thing that separated someone from plummeting twenty-six stories toward the ground.
“I’d never let you fall,” he asserted, putting one hand out to her, letting her close the space between them if she chose to.
The only thing that took the sheer terror out of the moment was trusting Emmitt enough to know she didn’t have to do it if she didn’t want to. He’d give her pleasure anywhere, anytime, and never fault her for saying no to something. But the skyline was magnificent, the stars, though dimmed by the city lights, were still twinkling. What would it be like to stare out over them while he plunged inside her?
Evie was in his arms and he was stripping her down before another word passed between them. When she stood in just her lace bra and thong, the night air blowing gently against her, he smiled.
“You can have anything out there Evie,” he said, gesturing toward the vastness of the city before them. He slid the chair over toward the railing and lifted her on to it. She had to balance her feet for a moment on the plush cushion but once she did, his hands on her hips made everything steady. He placed her hands on the railing and leaned her forward as he stood on the long lounge chair with her, his firm excitement brushing her ass as he bent her over. She stared down the twenty-six stories at the tiny lights and people below. It was like flying, the safety of his hands gripped to her hips all she needed.
“You can have anything Evie. You’re that type of woman,” he continued to talk as he slid himself inside her slick and anxious folds. She drew in a sharp breath at the pressure of him filling her. Every time he thrust forward her body would spill over the railing, and he’d pull her back as he readied for another strike.
“Emmitt, don’t stop,” she begged as she parted her legs more and arched her back, trying to give him room to go deeper, as deep as he could. She knew the excitement of this, the sheer wild nature of what he was doing and where he was doing it would bring her to ecstasy quickly. “Harder,” she begged but so quietly she feared he didn’t hear. But a moment later she knew he had. He was thrusting hard against her as her hair cascaded over the balcony and danced into the darkness of the night.
“I’ll never let you go, Evie,” Emmitt assured as his pace grew frantic, and her panting turned to screams of pleasure. Maybe he was being literal. Maybe he truly just meant his grip would not loosen, and she was safe as she burst open with the fireworks of an orgasm. Or maybe he meant, after tonight, for as long as she wanted, he wouldn’t let her go.
Chapter 20
“I better go,” Evie said reluctantly, rolling off the bed and gathering up her clothes.
“Why?” Emmitt protested, sounding like a pouting child. “You have plans?”
“I do actually.” She smiled as she tugged her shirt back on. They’d rolled into bed after their fun on the balcony and slept through half of the next day, waking up occasionally to pleasure each other, practically like they were keeping score, neither wanting to lose.
“What plans do you have?” he asked, looking a little worried.
“I’m going to your niece’s recital.”
“What?” he asked, sitting up on one elbow. “Why would you do that? Did Harlan guilt you into it? You do not have to go.”
“I offered. I know I’m not family, but I don’t know anyone in town really and if your sister is looking for a cheering section, I can understand that. Every kid deserves one.”
“I’m busy,” he said brashly, now fully sitting up and looking like he’d been tricked. “So if you told her I would go too—”
“I didn’t. I figured you’d be working. She didn’t expect you’d come.”
“Meaning, I’m such a jerk of course I wouldn’t come? I care a lot about my nieces. I make sure they are taken care of and safe. It’s why I can’t go tonight. I want some concrete evidence to show Harlan that our father is still gambling, and he’s just using her.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t sound so excited when you say it,” Evie suggested as she wiggled back into her jeans. “Even if you’re right, you should understand it’s going to crush Harlan to hear.”
“How do you think she’ll feel when she gives him money and doesn’t hear from him again? I’m trying to save her from
the pain, not cause it.”
“I agree,” Evie said with a nod, “but how you tell her matters.”
“You’re really going to this thing tonight?” Emmitt asked, changing the subject without much finesse.
“I really am,” she said, pulling open the hotel room door and blowing him a kiss on her way out.
“I’ll come too,” he groaned. “Meet me out front at seven.”
“Oh,” she said with a knowing smile. “I didn’t expect that.” Her lie allowed the truth to be written all over her face.
“Sure you didn’t,” he huffed. “But you’re going to owe me after this, and I intend to collect. Let’s hope your body can take it.”
“Even if it can’t, do me a favor and promise you won’t stop,” she said, closing the door behind her, catching him make a primal and hungry noise.
Chapter 21
“Emmitt,” Harlan said with a giant smile as she crossed the parking lot with her daughters, holding tight to their hands. “You said you couldn’t make it. You were adamant. Mom couldn’t make it either. She’s not here, right?” The smile melted away as she looked over her shoulder nervously.
“Evie made me,” he lied, and Evie considered correcting him, but she wasn’t about to stick her nose any deeper into the Kalling family’s business. She’d gotten a front row seat the night before and realized she had enough of her own drama. No use piling on any that wasn’t hers.
“Come with me,” Harlan insisted, lifting her smallest daughter, Anna, and flopping her into Emmitt’s arms. “Help me get them ready. I need to talk to you about something. Don’t be mad.”
“What did you do?” Evie heard Emmitt groan as Harlan tugged him away.
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