“What point was that?”
Her gaze knocks back to mine, determination steely in her green eyes. “That I can take care of myself.”
The argument I shared with her sister rushes back to me. The protectiveness she showed for Evie mirrored my own. But now, facing the memory tilts me off balance. I agreed with Tori then. About me. But the look of resentment on Evie’s face makes me wonder if allying with her sister is really a good thing.
I know it’s fucked up, considering everything I’ve done and said to push her away, but I don’t want her to hate me.
I bring the cup to my lips and drain it. The taste of tequila is stronger this time. It’s been a while since I’ve had its smokey nectar on my tongue. Or in my blood for that matter. And with the emptying of the cup, I can feel the liquor hit my system. It’s been a hell of a long time.
As soon as I set it down, she tops off the cup again.
“Evie, I don’t think—”
“I told you I was bringing the party to you,” she says, but the lack of festivity in her tone is almost funny.
I give her a hard stare. “It doesn’t look like you’re having such a good time.”
Her tense expression wavers. Anguish and vulnerability peek out. I clench my hands against the urge to reach for her. Comfort her.
“Because you don’t seem glad to see me.”
It’s as though my chest unzips, and my heart falls to the floor. It may even bounce a few times. I want to drop to my knees.
I ache to tell her how it is.
Seeing you’s the best thing that’s happened to me all week.
I’ve missed you so much I’m ready to bash my head against a wall.
If I were a different man, I would have carried you upstairs already.
The ache is so bad, I can’t bring myself to do what needs doing. Tell her something ugly and untrue that would keep her away for good.
Hell, I probably couldn’t pull it off if I tried. And then what? Walk her home afterward?
You don’t do it for me... but I have to walk you to your door to make sure you’re okay or I won’t sleep tonight. Or any night after that…
Yeah, that would be a disaster.
So I tell her something true. “I’m glad to see you, Evie.” I try to keep my face even, detached, but she must hear some of the understatement in my voice because she lets go a breath she was holding, and those lovely bare shoulders settle lower.
“I’ve missed you,” she says, and I have to close my eyes. God, the ways she’s looking at me. I might die.
My only refuge is in the cup in my hand, so I drain half of it again. I open my eyes, but I can’t meet hers. Instead, I stare at the Supra’s rusted cylinders.
“Mrs. Vivian is okay?” she asks a moment later.
I nod, relieved she’s moved to something else. Something besides what lives and breathes between us. “She’s better.” Then I shrug. “Not quite back to full steam, but better.”
“She’ll be back to normal in no time.” The smile I hear in her voice makes me look up.
Big mistake. That sweet smile is kryptonite. I may never be able to look away again.
“Oh, she’s still got it where it counts,” I say, tapping the side of my head. Evie’s smile grows, and without even thinking about it, I take a step closer to her. The corner of the Supra’s front end is still a wedge between us, and even though that must make up hundreds of pounds of steel, it may as well be nothing.
“The two of you are so adorable.” When she says this, her eyes glint with joy. “The crone and the warrior.”
This catches me off guard. “Excuse me?”
