Engaging Evelyn (4 page)

Black probably wasn’t the choice color to wear to make herself glow. It emphasized the paleness of her skin, which, for the coast, wasn’t a good thing. The men who frequented the area seemed to like their women tanned. Oh well. The girls were waiting, and she didn’t have time to contemplate what she was going to do, who she was going to be with, or what she was going to wear. One minute at a time, and if she decided to go to Bill or someone else, then she would, end of story.

Evelyn slid on her black stilettos to go along with the short black dress that hugged her curves. The open back was a little too much to wear into the cool weather, so she grabbed her black leather jacket, sliding it on. She had already transferred her makeup and ID into the black clutch and grabbed it as she walked out of the door.

The last person Evelyn expected to see was the golden-eyed stranger standing two doors down from her on the walkway. The keys stopped jingling in her hand as she froze.

“Now, now, where are you going looking like that?”

The look on the stranger’s face had her wanting to run down the stairs. My God, this guy was dangerous to her heart. He looked about ready to eat her alive. There was no hiding what his intentions were. He wanted her. That was evident from his eyes. Just thinking about the possibilities of how good they’d be together made her glance away from him. She couldn’t even risk thoughts leading in that direction.

The blood coursed like fire throughout Evelyn’s body. “I’m going out with friends. Have a great night.”

She spun around, locked the door as fast as she could, and headed right for the stairs. There was nothing to say, and she didn’t want to talk anymore. Panicked, her mind screamed for her to run. If she didn’t leave as fast as she could, she might just pull Mr. Drop-Dead-Gorgeous back into her apartment and never let him go.

As much as he would make a great boy toy, he was way too delectable. This stranger was someone a girl would fall in love with, and he wouldn’t think twice about breaking her heart. Well, that wasn’t going to happen to her again.

“Where are you and your friends going? Maybe I can meet you there.”

His words had Evelyn stumbling. She could feel herself pitching forward. Her air was suddenly cut off by a massive arm wrapping around her lower stomach.

“I told you I would catch you.”

The heat emanating from his skin was enough to warm her against the chill in the air. She still couldn’t catch her breath, which was ragged, at best. “Thank you,” she said, breathless. “You move really fast.”

The spikes of her stilettos were on the very edge of the stair. Leaning forward, she had never felt so safe. It was very disturbing. For a moment, she was sure she was going to fall down the stairs. She still could if he let go.

“Can you let me up now?” She groaned against his arm.

“Of course, although I have to admit, I kind of like you helpless like this.”

Evelyn was glad that she wasn’t facing him or she might have hit him. Plus, she would hate for him to drop her. Tumbling down the stairs in a short microfiber dress couldn’t end with a graceful landing.

The stranger spun her around in his arms, holding her against him. Without too much strength, Evelyn moved away and stepped down one step.

“So, are you going to tell me where you’re going tonight? I think I deserve that, with saving your life and all.”

“No, I’m sorry. I don’t think that would be a good idea. Plus, I have plans for afterward so…” Evelyn let her voice trail off in hope that he would catch the hint that she already had plans with someone else. Maybe he would give up and leave her alone.

“Is that right? Well, hmm. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at seven, then. I hope you have fun tonight.”

Once again, he had managed to shock her. There was not going to be a dinner date tomorrow! Dumbfounded, she watched him walk back up the stairs and never look back. The wind raced up her legs, which caused a chill to go down her spine while she thought about what had just happened.

She wasn’t sure how long he had been out of view. It seemed she was lost in her thoughts, once again. What part of her rejection hadn’t he understood? She wasn’t meeting him for dinner, damn it!

As fast as her stilettos would carry her, Evelyn raced to her car. The parking lot was dimly lit, but the light didn’t penetrate the dark shadows that lurked in the pools of darkness between the distanced light poles.

Scanning the shadows while she made her way through the deserted lot, she searched, hesitantly. There was a feeling she couldn’t shake of being watched. It caused chills to race down her spine. Without wasting any more time, she climbed in her car, locking the doors behind her. The cold leather bit into the back of her legs, making her teeth chatter.

Melissa had been notified earlier not to pick her up. Evelyn assumed that she knew she had plans for afterward, but Melissa didn’t question her, which she was thankful for. Without lying to her, which Evelyn didn’t feel good about, she wouldn’t have known what to tell her.

The engine roared to life, vibrating her whole body with the purr of the GT’s exhaust system. The heater came to life, giving her time to warm up before she drove the thirty minutes to Corpus Christi. The girls always met up at the Martini Bar and sometimes club-hopped until closing time at two in the morning. Just the thought of letting loose and having fun eased her tension.

Evelyn drove out of the parking lot and onto the highway that led to Corpus and let her mind play over the two new men in her life, for today. One, she didn’t even know the stranger’s name. He was, well…odd for one, and yet, he was gorgeous. There was no denying that. But something about him just didn’t sit right with her. It had to be his eyes. They intimidated her. Evelyn had never seen anyone with that color eyes before.

Bill was great to have sex with. As for his personality, well, who knew? She didn’t know the first thing about the guy besides him mumbling something about a fishing tournament he was in town for. Those things only lasted for what, a few days? Did that mean he was leaving soon?

She’d have to ask when she stopped by his room later, if she stopped by. Evelyn doubted that he would care since he left her the key to begin with. But if he was indeed leaving so soon, then how was he going to become her boy toy? Damn, that would pose a problem.

She jumped the Mustang to ninety on the deserted highway. Nervously, Evelyn looked at the clock, which read ten-thirty. She was already late and still had a good fifteen minutes before she got to the bar. Glancing over at the black scenery surrounding her, she couldn’t help but think about how it seemed to be almost closing in on her. A heavy feeling settled in her chest. The minutes rolled by while she fought to breathe.

The sound of the phone ringing without a song playing for a ringtone made her want to groan. The number was private. The thought crossed her mind whether to answer it. It could be a prospective client, but with it being so late at night, she doubted it.

“Hello?”

“Evelyn, this is Sarah. Where are you? We’ve been waiting for ten minutes. You’re usually one of the first ones here.”

“I’m a few minutes out. Whose phone are you on? It’s a private number.”

Sarah’s rich laughter echoed. “I have no idea, but he’s hot.”

“All right, give me a few minutes. I’m coming up to S.P.I.D.” The term was the abbreviation for South Padre Island Drive. It was so much easier than saying the whole damn thing.

The deserted highway turned into a cluster-fuck. It seemed everyone was going out tonight. All three lanes on each side were jam-packed with cars.

After weaving out of the endless traffic—safely, of course—Evelyn managed to exit and get on Everhart Street. The traffic wasn’t any better there, but after what felt like endless minutes, she managed to find a place to park in the crowded lot.

The large bar was crammed with people. Loud music pumped through her body while she maneuvered around the large crowds. Working her way to their regular booth, she almost got a beer spilled on her by a stumbling blonde.

“Evelyn!”

Julie ran up to her and almost knocked her down. The smell of Jack Daniel’s and Coke on her breath was enough to take Evelyn’s breath away. Jesus, she prayed that her friend wasn’t already wasted.

“Ev, there’s someone I want you to meet,” Julie said, pulling Evelyn a few feet away. “Paul, this is Evelyn.”

She gestured with her hand to a large, toned blond. The moment Evelyn looked into his eyes she gasped. They were the same golden color as the man who was staying two doors down.

For a color so odd, seeing two different people with the same uniqueness in the same day was a little shocking, to say the least.

“Ev, this is Paul,” she said, raising her eyebrows.

The movement caught Evelyn’s attention, and she watched as Julie’s finger rose to her and in slow motion pointed toward Paul. It was their initial signal.

A wicked grin crossed Evelyn’s face. This was what she needed to get her mind off the growing anxieties. Seductively, she looked back toward Paul and put on her most dazzling smile. Well, if she couldn’t have one of them with golden eyes, she might as well have the other. Paul was safe. The stranger wasn’t. At least Paul wasn’t staying practically next door. And, as attractive as he was, he didn’t have that weird pull to her.

“It’s nice to meet you, Paul.”

Evelyn shook his hand while he smiled back down at her. His hand was warm to the touch, almost too warm. It reminded her of the stranger next door. Heat rushed through her at just the thought of him. What was so special about him that her mind couldn’t push him out no matter how hard she tried?

Paul held her hand for a few seconds longer than etiquette required, which was all right with her, but he broke the connection as soon as her mind acknowledged the thought. She took a step back, right into a brick wall. The abruptness of the stop had her spinning around, and looking right into another pair of golden eyes.

“Paul, I see you’ve met my neighbor. This is the one I was telling you about earlier.”

“Evelyn’s your neighbor, really?” Paul asked, raising his eyebrows, as if they shared a secret she didn’t know about.

This wasn’t happening. She looked back and forth between the two men, so different, yet so alike. By the color of their eyes and their build, they could have passed for relatives. Both of them had to be at least a few inches over six feet. But somehow, she didn’t think they were related.

“Yes, she really is,” he said, cutting his eyes toward Paul. “So, Evelyn is it? Since we were never properly introduced, I’m Brandon,” her stranger said, grinning.

He held out his hand and Evelyn paused in taking it. Against her better judgment, she placed her hand into his and squeezed it a bit harder than she probably should have. His laugh had more than one head turning. The sound caused her body to react. Damn it!

All of the girls looked over, and their eyes froze on Brandon. Evelyn silently laughed to herself. This stranger was becoming a quick pain in her ass. An idea popped into her head. She could bet one of the girls to take care of him. Maybe then he would get off her back.

Evelyn raised her finger and stopped. For the life of her, she couldn’t point to anyone in particular, and she wasn’t sure why. Perplexed, her brain couldn’t interpret what to do.

Evelyn felt puzzled. Her lips parted while she looked toward the girls. They were just as confounded as she was. What in the hell was wrong with her? Still, she was standing there with her finger pointing halfway in the air.

“Will you gentlemen please excuse us ladies? We’ll be back shortly.”

Melissa’s voice penetrated through Evelyn’s stupor, but she still remained frozen. Hands grabbed both sides of her arms. Hazy, she could feel herself moving, yet it felt more like she was floating across the room.

The door flung open, thanks to Sarah’s frantic shove. “All right, what in the hell is going on with you, Evelyn? You’ve been acting weird all day.” Agitated, she flung her blond hair over her shoulder.