Page 73 of Inflict

The woman behind the stall didn’t have a clue what to say to Evelyn’s random question. “Pardon, miss?”

Connor knew exactly what she was talking about—her sketch of him and the feather he had been holding in the drawing. “From idea or memory, yes.”

Evelyn pursed her lips. “It could have been better, though.”

“It was grand, lass. Feathers are magnificent, remember? All of them. For their purpose, not their appearance.”

She placed the dream catcher back on its hook. “So you say.”

Connor rested his hand on Evelyn’s lower back. “So I know.”

“Do you not want the dream catcher?” the woman asked.

“No,” Evelyn said, though her gaze kept traveling back to the feathers. “But thank you.”

Connor pulled the dream catcher back down. “How much?”

Once the dream catcher was purchased and packed up, Connor handed the bag to a smiling Evelyn. She didn’t question it at all as she hugged it to her chest, pleased and joyful. Her genuine gratefulness over something so damn simple made him both happy and troubled.

He brought her back into his side, this time keeping his arm firmly tucked around her waist as he directed them back into the flow of people. She wasn’t going to dart away on him again.

“What now?” Evelyn asked.

“Food, I think.”

It didn’t take long for him to find a pizzeria that specialized in a New York delight, with an old-world atmosphere inside the business. After getting them both food and drinks, Connor let Evelyn pick them a table to sit at.

Unsurprisingly, she picked one close to the windows. He might have chosen one that was more private, where less people could see them, and he could give her his full attention for the time being. Instead, he let her do what she wanted.

This was for her, after all.

It seemed Evelyn liked to people watch.

“New York pizza,” Connor said, holding up a slice for Evelyn to take a bite. “One of too many things this city takes pride in.”

She eyed the food. “There’s a lot of cheese on that.”

“There’s supposed to be, love. It’s a feckin’ cheese pizza. Open that mouth of yours, and take a bite.”

Evelyn cocked an eyebrow, but did as Connor demanded, her pink lips parting for the food. She let him feed her one single bite of the pizza, and chewed almost thoughtfully before swallowing. “Cheesy.”

“It’s supposed to be, I said.”

“It’s good.”

“Grand, now eat the rest.” Connor pushed the paper plate and slice of pizza toward his companion, reaching for his own to eat as well. “You could use the extra cheese, honestly.”

Evelyn pouted. “I eat.”

“Eat more.”

She wasn’t dangerously underweight, and she had gained at least ten pounds over the amount of time she had been with him, but Connor still worried. He worried that while she was probably healthier and at a better steady weight, her mindset was not catching up with her body. She could do without food if she needed, or if she was caught up in something else. She could ignore being hungry if she wasn’t in the mood to sit down and eat. He wouldn’t have that, even if he needed to demand she open her mouth and he be the one to shovel the food inside.

“Where’s the fork?”

Connor stared at Evelyn’s serious expression before barking out a laugh. “For what?”

“To eat.”