The Game Has Changed (22 page)

“No, not necessarily. It's not for everyone.
Like my mother, for instance,” she replied flippantly.

“Your mother?” he inquired,
confused.

“She left my father and me when I was
five.”

He quirked a brow in her direction. “That's
harsh. I'm sorry.”

“
Don’t be. It’s in the
past.”

“It still hurts, though, I’m sure.”

She chewed upon her lower lip in thought.
“Some, but it’ll pass, I’m sure. Just like everything else
does.”

“Jaim?”

He shortened her name, something no one else
had ever considered doing before. She found that she liked it. It
felt endearing and special.

“Yes?”

“Thanks for suggesting we do this. I feel
better,” he admitted.

A smile of delight tugged at the corners of her
mouth, her face alight with pleasure. “You're welcome.”

“I suppose we should hit the road again,
though.”

“Yeah.”

Without another word, Evan stood up and held
out his hand to her. She grasped it tightly, her happiness
overflowing. The atmosphere within the car was now palpable. The
heaviness had lifted. Yet she knew that his moods could return at
any given moment. His freedom was always touch and go, but she
wanted to make the most of the time in which he found himself in
good spirits and intended to take full advantage.

She sat there, watching the miles upon the
signs pointing toward Oklahoma City decrease. She tried to remember
her geography lessons and pictured a map of the United States in
her head. Once she did, she knew that they were a little more than
halfway to California already. The notion saddened her as she
became aware of the fact that there were only a few more days left
with the love of her life.

C
HAPTER 28

“Let's have a really nice supper tonight,” Evan
suggested. “No Denny's. No McDonald's.”

Jaime laughed, her eyes twinkling with delight.
“Sure. Whatever you want. There’s something I’ve been wondering
about, though.”

“What about?”

“You seem to have an endless supply of money.
Are you rich?”

He grinned. “Depends on what you mean by rich,”
he quipped.

“Rich means rich,” she replied. “Doesn't mean
anything else.”

“There are several degrees of richness,” he
said as his face twisted with derision. “That doesn't sound
right.”

“Oh. What is your degree of
richness?”

“It’s moderate,” was his answer.

“That tells me nothing.”

“That's all you need to know, trust
me.”

“Man of mystery again, huh?”

He burst into laughter. “I showed you that
birthmark. I’m not so mysterious, remember?”

She giggled shyly. “I know every detail of that
beautiful body of yours, but you never tell me anything about you.
Open up a little.”
“Did you forget? I told you about my childhood, remember? About my
five sisters.”

“I still don't know the real you. I know that
he was a troublemaker as a child and I know he's running from
something now, but that's it. I want to know more.”

“Why is that? Why do you want to know more?” he
asked as he pulled into the parking lot of an Olive Garden
restaurant.

Jaime sighed deeply as he parked the car. He
turned to her and waited for her answer. “Because,” she whispered,
“you already know that I care about you. Surely, you can trust me
with your secrets?”

Evan stared at his hands as they lay within his
lap. She knew he was still holding back, but what he had said in
his drunken state earlier was still tumbling through her head.
Turmoil filled every part of her. She wanted to scream out with
happiness in regards to what he’d said. Yet she also wanted a sober
confirmation from him, something she knew wasn't coming any time
soon.

“You shouldn't care about me,” he replied with
sadness, moments later.

“Why not?” she queried, reaching out to clasp
his hand.

He looked up, his eyes glistening with unshed
tears. “Because I won't be any good to you in prison.”

“I'll wait for you,” she whispered.

Her pledge of commitment took him by surprise.
Amazement clouded his beautiful brown eyes. She leaned toward him
and tenderly kissed his unshaven cheek.

Without hesitation, he turned his head and
captured her mouth in a fervent, hungry kiss. He curled his fingers
about her cheeks, deepening the kiss as he held her tightly. The
windows of their car began to steam up, obliterating their view of
the world outside as their passion rose by the second.

Evan held Jaime's head between his hands as the
kiss ended. They stared into each other's eyes, their breaths
heavy.

“Jaime?” he prodded.

“Yes?”

Her heart raced with anticipation. She sensed
that there was something he wanted to tell her, but was unable to
get the words out in order to do so. Deep inside, she hoped he’d
take her into his confidence. It would make things between them so
much sweeter.

Slowly, he let go of her head. “Nothing,” he
softly replied.

She knew, then, that the words weren't going to
come just yet. Yet she didn’t mind. Deep inside, something told her
that he loved her. The knowledge pleased her more than she’d ever
thought it would.

***

She's too young for me and an
innocent, at that,
he thought.
Why did I let her get involved in this? I have to let her go.
I just have to! Why am I being so selfish? Am I falling in love
with her?

He led her by the hand into the restaurant. It
was one of the nicest places they’d visited yet. It was also the
nicest Evan had ever been to her before. He was treating her like a
gentleman would treat his best lady. He held the door, her chair,
and he even asked if he could order for her. He made her feel very
special, as well as a little amazed and unprepared for such
treatment.

As they waited for their food to arrive, Evan
held out his wine glass to her in order to let her have a taste. He
was well aware that she wasn't of age, but that reality seemed to
be slipping away from him. It was as if he didn’t care anymore
about the fact that he’d kidnapped and had sex with a minor. By
legal standards, he was leading her astray. She accepted the wine
glass and took a sip, knowing that she'd do anything for him
now.

“I will tell you more,” he explained to her
over their dinner. “But not here. I’ll do so once we’ve acquired a
room.”

She nodded with understanding. “Thanks,” she
replied softly. “You know, I was really miserable last
night.”

“Were you? Why?”

“It was the first time we didn't sleep
together,” she admitted shyly. “Not even in the same room. I – I
missed you.”

He laughed. “I was drunk. I'd have been no good
to you anyway.”

She smiled demurely at him. “Just feeling your
warm body beside me is enough for me, drunk or
otherwise.”

“Sweetheart . . .” She stared back at him with
apprehension. “I don't want to hurt you, but . . .” She moaned
softly. “We probably shouldn't sleep in the same bed together
anymore.”

“Why not?” she asked, heartbroken.

“I'd be too tempted, my love. Way too tempted.”
A small sob escaped her. “I know how you're feeling, Luv, but it
really isn't right for me to continue on . . .” he paused. “To keep
doing that with you. You're really still a child.”

“But . . . if I say yes, shouldn't that count
for something?”

He shook his head. “Not in a court of law, my
dear.”

“Oh, Evan,” she sighed with sadness. “Does it
really matter anymore?”

A slight frown marred his forehead. “So what
you're saying is . . . that I'm in such deep shit anyway, why be a
good boy now?”

She paled beneath the onslaught of his words.
He had somehow misconstrued her words. Her trepidation was
short-lived as she saw a teasing grin upon his face. A sigh of
relief escaped her.

“I think you may be right, my
sweet.”

His response intrigued her. Did that mean they
had license to make love again? “Am I?” she asked with
wonder.

“I'm doomed to eternal damnation, anyway. I
might as well glean all the pleasure that I can out of life,
right?” He laughed as she visibly trembled with excitement.
“However, you’re not doomed to eternal damnation, Darlin'. You
should try to stay good and pure.”

“
I think it's too late for that,”
she quipped and winked mischievously in his direction.

CHAPTER 29

As they walked out of the restaurant into the
cool night air, Evan grasped her hand again once more. Before
heading to the car, he took a short detour through the strip mall
nearby. Jaime was a tad overwhelmed when he took her to a flower
vendor in front of a small shop and bought a large bouquet of mixed
flowers for her.

There was no longer any doubt within her mind,
she was head over heels in love with him and there would be no
turning back. Clutching the flowers tightly to her chest, Jaime
smiled and inhaled the sweet fragrance.

“Thank you.”

He returned her smile and patted her hand
gently. “You’re welcome. Shall we?”

She nodded and slipped her hand in his. “Yes,”
she said, allowing him to lead her in the direction where they’d
left the car earlier.

***

“Well, blimey!” Evan murmured when they entered
their new motel room and found only one queen-sized bed before
them. “I guess we have no choice but to share now, do
we?”

Jaime gave Evan a pleased grin. To her delight,
he smiled and gave her his signature sexy wink. Her heart swelled
with emotion as her knees buckled underneath her. He caught her
within his arms in hopes of steadying her.

“You ok?”

“Yes, thanks,” she said, her cheeks flushed
with color.

“Good,” he murmured softly.

“Shall we prepare for bed?”

She nodded, enjoying the feel of him pressed
against her. “I’d like that,” she replied, her voice husky with
desire as she anticipated sleeping beside him later on.

He held her against him far longer than he
intended, staring deep into her eyes. They remained that way for
awhile before they broke apart and headed for the bathroom. Jaime
wanted to take a quick shower and he cited that he needed to
shave.

***

Jaime let the rush of warm water from the
shower course soothingly over her entire body. She felt warm and
content all over. Evan was also in the bathroom with her, standing
in front of the sink shaving. Things felt more comfortable between
them than ever before. She was in love and deep down, she felt that
Evan was falling in love with her, too.

Pulling back the shower curtain, she saw him
lean toward the mirror, slim razor gently moving across his skin.
He seemed to be getting the hang of using the safety razor after
taking her suggestions to heart. He turned toward her for a moment
as she smiled at him with adoration. His sexy wink in her direction
made her tremble with pleasure.

“You done?” he asked as she turned off the
shower.

She nodded, brushing her long, wet hair off of
her face. To her absolute surprise and delight, Evan wrapped the
towel around her.

“Come on, then,” he whispered and lifted her
into his arms.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and her
arms about his neck and kissed him as he carried her into the
bedroom. She squealed as he dropped her upon the bed and dropped
down hard on top of her.

His passion bordered on aggression as his body
slid against hers. Though he was passionate and loving with her, he
stopped short of the act the second time around. His worry about
her innocence kept him gentle and careful with her. Never-the-less,
she felt as if she were in heaven as he simply caressed and kissed
her as he lay against her. Despite Evan's hesitance, Jaime felt
fulfilled.

***

They lay awake in a comfortable silence late
into the night. Jaime was curled beneath him as he lay with his
head propped upon his arms atop her naked chest. She tenderly
caressed his forehead, brushing her fingers across the healing scar
that traversed the length of it before pushing his silky brown hair
from out of his dark brown eyes.

“I hope we never get to California,” she
whispered, breaking the gentle silence between them.

“Yeah,” he sighed softly, “but we can't run
forever.”

She groaned with discontent. “Why
not?”

“Someone's missing you, I’m sure,” he replied
as a matter-of-factly.

“My aunt and uncle have been watching me since
my dad died. It's only been a month or so. I don't miss them at
all. I've known you for six days and you . . . you, I would miss
tremendously after just one day!”