Page 52 of Inflict

“Liar, you do. You know exactly what I’m talking about—your show earlier. That bit of shifting before you bolted like a scared kitten.”

“Shifting?”

Connor laughed under his breath. “Aye, the kiss, love. That’s what I meant.”

“Interesting word for kiss.”

“Stop trying to change the subject.”

Evelyn blew out a slow breath. “Maybe I shouldn’t have done it.”

He didn’t believe her.

Not for a second.

Her voice wasn’t nearly strong enough.

She’d done it, and she’d meant to.

“Evelyn.”

“Yes?”

Connor let the pads of his thumbs stroke the sides of Evelyn’s bare arms, before he leaned in a bit closer, enough that his lips were ghosting over the shell of her ear. “Lying is not a pretty trait on a woman, and you’re not very good at it, where I’m concerned.”

He felt her cheek heat under his lips. “You would be the first and only to think so.”

Connor smirked as he stood straight, and let his fingers drift over her freckled cheeks. “Let’s not pretend like that’s a bad thing. You’re welcome to do it again, love.”

“Do what?”

“The kissing. Next time, try not to run right after.”

• • •

Killian Kelly was the only man Connor trusted to keep an eye on Evelyn, and if needed, protect her while he was gone. So, when he had called his friend earlier, he’d not given Killian any indication of what waited for him at the brownstone, simply stated that he was needed.

His friend came, without question.

Now, with Killian standing in the doorway to the studio workshop, Connor was wondering if he had made the right choice. Killian had ties to Sean as a Lieutenant of one of the crews that worked the streets of Jersey, but he’d also found a kinship with Connor over the years. They were close in age, with Killian having a couple of years on his friend, and similar, arsehole fathers.

“Well, well,” Killian muttered, peering inside the studio. “Didn’t know you had a friend, Connor.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call her that.”

Though, it was better than the alternative.

Evelyn worked at a table, her hands dusted dark with charcoal as she kept her attention on whatever she was drawing. She’d pulled on a pullover sweater and a pair of running shorts from Connor’s closet, but she hadn’t spoken a single word to him since their earlier encounter.

He wanted that to be a good thing.

He needed her to learn he was being truthful.

“Quiet thing,” Killian noted.

Connor shoved his hands in his pockets. “Don’t take offence if she doesn’t talk to you—she’s got better things to do.”

Killian nodded. “Got it.”