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She came closer, looking at him with big doe eyes. “So why not you?”
“Lots of reasons,” he said in his best matter-of-fact voice. Although his body longed to live out those fantasies of his youth, he backed farther away, refusing to let her near.
Unfortunately, she kept pace with him, thwarting his attempts. “Name one.”
“I can name twenty.”
She lifted a stud-pierced eyebrow with the knowledge of a woman who knows she has a man by the libido.
“You hate the corporate types,” he said.
“I’m willing to put my political beliefs aside.”
He backed a step farther, but the luscious woman kept coming. “Your New Year’s resolution involved swearing off men.”
“That was twenty-four hours ago.”
He struggled to focus. “Dan asked me to look after you.”
At the mention of her brother her steps faltered and a flicker of emotion crossed her face. Fleeting, but strong enough to suss out the worry, the anxiety, and the woman who was desperate for approval. The realization slammed into him, putting her high school years into perspective. Evie Lee Burling had refused to compromise her beliefs, but that hadn’t stopped her from longing to be accepted.
“And I’m fairly certain that looking after you didn’t include us sleeping together,” he went on drily.
She blinked, and her hesitation disappeared. “Dan knows I’m a big girl.”
Wes edged back, getting closer to the bar and the end of the room. The situation now critical, he scowled. “I won’t be seduced by you, Evie.”
“You know the saying,” she said simply. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
The scoff that burst from his mouth was harsh, because the platitude was garbage. All the will in the world didn’t matter. If it did, as a kid Wes could have saved his family from the painful indignity of his father’s embezzlement scandal. And he certainly would have spared himself the ridicule of his classmates that followed. Wes couldn’t betray the only friend who’d steadfastly stood by his side.
Loyalty was important.
“I’ve heard the platitude,” he said. “But I don’t believe sheer will alone overcomes all obstacles.”
But, for the first time, he hoped to hell it was true. Because the only thing that was keeping him from taking this sassy woman was his will. Wes tried to suppress the memory of a tipsy Evie, her body boneless against his. The clumsy come-on had been adorable, her beautiful face flushed from the alcohol and a genuine longing. But the woman who stood before him now was stone-cold sober, with a determined look in her eye. And an unrelenting desire.
Evie adopted a falsely innocent look. “Apparently I mentioned kitchen utensils during my drunken stupor.”
She passed the liquor cart—her face an incredible mix of sweet seduction, determination, and the tiniest hint of nerves—and picked up the ice tongs.
He was totally screwed.
His hips hit the marble counter on the bar behind him, halting his attempts at keeping her at a safe distance. Wes thought his heart would pound its way out of his chest.
“I think this qualifies,” she said smoothly as she held up her tool of choice.
And what the hell would she do with it?
Body screaming to find out, he ignored the response and made the only argument that had a hope of swaying Evie. “Dan would skin me alive for taking advantage of you.”
She tipped up her chin. “He thinks I’m a reckless little girl who doesn’t know her own mind.” She held up the tongs with a plea
sed light in her eyes as she stepped close enough for him to smell the citrus soap. “But I do, you know.”
His brain was having trouble functioning. “Know what?”
“Know my own mind,” she said calmly. “Like the fact that I want to make love to you tonight.”
