Thirty minutes later Joshua entered the kitchen soaked with sweat, no shirt, and he left his shoes at the door like he typically did. He had kicked them off on the back porch. The kitchen smelled like, like it was burnt. Burned toast, burned eggs. He watched Evelyn crack another egg in the skillet. She was furious, picked the skillet up and shook it, cursing words so fast he could barely understand them. She set the skillet down on the burner and put her hands in fists to both sides of her head.
"Scream.” Joshua smiled. The woman had a temper that was for sure.
Evelyn jumped. How did he keep sneaking up on her? Turning to face him she knew she looked a mess. Embarrassment flooded her while his eyes smiled, and that infuriated her.
"Oh wow, maybe I should scream.” Joshua looked at her. She was covered in flour like a paste, mixed with eggs and who knows what else. “What are you doing?"
"Fixing you breakfast!” Evelyn shouted it. Flustered and embarrassed she ran upstairs despite her ankle. “Jerk!"
"Well I'll be damned.” Joshua turned the burner off and looked at the stove and the counter. The trash was close at hand, and apparently she had attempted to cook several things. It was a mess. Just like her.
Evelyn stood in the shower and cursed herself for trying. She hadn't cooked anything since she was a teenager living with Stella. The woman did her best to teach Evelyn to be a lady, but Evelyn was sixteen by the time she got her and set in her tomboy ways. She did learn to cook though, and she tried to use manners, but she hadn't cooked in a long time, no need to.
Stella was so good to her, pulled her out of foster home after foster home trying to find her a good place to live. Finally she just took Evelyn home with her one day, and that's where she stayed until joining the Corps. It wasn't easy being a white girl in a black neighborhood, but Evelyn gained a reputation as a fighter and made friends fast. Stella let everyone know that she was her child.
Stella died two years ago. She was sixty-five years old. They said she had a heart attack from too much weight and bad eating habits combined with too much stress from her job. Evelyn thought it was because she was a big woman with a big heart. It eventually just gave out.
The tears came, and Evelyn tried to tune them out. She tried to think of something else.
Think about Joshua
. She smiled at that. Stella would have liked him. Yes, he looked amazing in the kitchen, hot, sweaty, like a real man. His broad shoulders pink from the sun, his face and chest flushed from the work. Her arms wrapped around herself and hugged. A long slow breath exhaled.
For the first time ever she wondered how a man's arms would feel around her. Not in that brotherly congratulatory way she hugged the few male Marines she worked with, but in the sensual compassionate way she watched them hug their wives.
Evelyn sat on the guest bed with the door open and waited for Joshua to finish his shower. Looking around the bedroom she noticed the pictures. That got her snooping, and snooping came natural, so it calmed her.
In the nightstand were some pictures. Grace looked beautiful, and the little boy with chocolate brown hair and hazel eyes was adorable. The man next to her, Ethan, smiled from ear to ear, happiness, a happy little family. With that thought something panged deep inside her. Evelyn shook it off and picked up the paperback book that was underneath the photos, a romance novel.
Joshua was surprised to see her sitting on the bed reading. He tilted his head trying to make out what it was, but she jumped and stuffed it under the pillow. Landing quickly on her feet she winced.
"You're very jumpy today. Are you all right?” Joshua narrowed his brow as he looked at her.
"Look, I'm sorry about the kitchen. I'll clean it up.”
Jumpy? I'm not jumpy. And I'm sure not getting caught reading a girly book.
Evelyn was aggravated that she could appear anything other than calm and in control. Of course he had already seen her lose control, and that made her want to regain ground even more. “I haven't really cooked anything in a long time."
"Already took care of it. You're my guest. You shouldn't be cooking anyways.” Joshua waved his hand in the air as if dismissing the whole incident. “Come on, let's get something to eat."
"See the thing is I messed up a lot of stuff this morning.” Evelyn looked at the floor. She wasted a lot of food was more accurate, but failing wasn't something she was used to. One burned pancake led to another, and the more determined she was to cook something, the worse it got.
"I have cereal."
Joshua held out his arm, and she wanted to run right under it and hug him, but he was clear this morning he wasn't going to touch her. Evelyn needed help. She had never really been in this position before, and nice wasn't her forte. She needed Grace. The nicest person she ever knew besides Stella. She passed him and walked ahead of him down the hall. It felt like he was checking her out, but her instincts were so off kilter right now, she probably just wanted to believe he would.
Joshua was checking her out. Evelyn was in some kind of fitness outfit, work out pants that hugged every curve and a shirt that looked like a tank top but fitted and had very good support. Her cleavage barely skimmed out over the top. Her wet hair was pulled back in a ponytail making her brown eyes look bigger and brighter, balanced only by those incredibly full lips.
When she stepped down the hall, he took in her hourglass figure, the muscles in her back, and a lush ass that made him stiff in the worst way.
No. No. No.
Then he noticed the scar, and it reminded him that he needed to protect her. What father could burn his child with a knife? It seemed inconceivable, but the man was evil, pure evil. He had to be. There was no other explanation for it.
At the kitchen table Evelyn tried to focus on being a lady, but it was hard. She had lived amongst rough grumbling mannerless men for so long. She wore her gym clothes because she was out of everything else. Her black outfit was in the dryer. With all the commotion yesterday drying clothes wasn't a priority. Evelyn hadn't planned on being here this time and didn't carry more clothes than necessary. It was supposed to be an overnight trip.
"I need to call Grace.” Evelyn was quiet and barely ate her cereal. It grew soggy and discolored the milk.
"Now?” Joshua wasn't sure, but he thought she looked ... sad.
"I would like to.” Evelyn nodded.
"Okay.” Joshua got up and dialed the number in New York. If Evelyn was on the phone to Grace, he could use his cell to call Stevens and get some business of his own done.
"I'll go upstairs. I have to check my e-mail anyways. That will give you some privacy."
"You don't have to ... Grace? Hey, it's me.” Evelyn looked at Joshua, and he pointed up and headed off. She didn't want him to feel like she was forcing him out of his own kitchen, but she was relieved that he had something else to do.
"Look, I need help.” Evelyn sighed.
"Help? Are you okay? You sound ... depressed.” Grace had never heard Evelyn sound anything other than sarcastic or occasionally humorous. The woman was never happy in the contented sort of way. She laughed at jokes, laughed at movies, and laughed at men, but a smile was rarely seen as a natural expression. Her job was fascinating, but her life was sad.
"Fabulous.” Evelyn rolled her eyes. “Grace, you know me, have known me for years. I have told you things that I have never told another living soul. You're the only one I can tell this.” Evelyn gulped a hard lump down her throat.
"God Evelyn, what is it?” Grace held her breath in anticipation.
"I think I like Joshua.” Her voice was a whisper, a shameful whisper.
"Oh.” Grace was silent.
Shit
. What could she say?
After being in New York for two years, Grace knew two things about her new family. Everyone was open, except Amelia Young. Joshua's mother was about the most demanding woman she had ever met. Both Joshua and Stephanie graduated early despite moving around. Unless you were society, Amelia didn't have time for anyone, even her own family. Apparently it was something she changed into, but it's who the woman was today.
"What? Is he spoken for or something?” Evelyn thought that would make sense. Joshua exhibited way too much respect and self-control to be a single man. He must have a girlfriend back home, explained the pink pajamas.
"No, he's single. It's just he went through a rough time here a couple years ago. His mother gave him hell. That woman is wicked.” Grace felt sorry for Joshua. “He is a really good guy, and Candace messed him over pretty bad.” Evelyn was right. Grace knew her, and now she was worried about them both. Evelyn had never liked a man, any man, and her idea of sex was a little, well ... Grace just couldn't see Joshua agreeing to it. “When you say you like him what exactly do you mean, E?"
"Hell, I don't know. I mean that's why I called you. Since I've been here, I haven't felt like myself. He carries me around. I cried in front of him. Grace, I am losing it here.” Evelyn twisted her ponytail nervously.
"Whoa.” Grace could have dropped the phone with all that. Joshua really wasn't like any other man. He had apparently sent a cool icy breeze to freeze hell over because that's what Evelyn always said.
I'll let a man touch me when hell freezes over.
“Um, ... so..."
"I know. When hell freezes over, right? Yeah. Maybe I should leave.” Evelyn twisted harder on the ponytail. Her only true friend didn't think she was good enough. Grace didn't have to say it. Evelyn could hear it. And why would she? Evelyn was a bounty hunter. Her life was dangerous, and her idea of men was well-known.
"What did he say?” Grace knew Joshua was an honest man who had a huge capacity to love. He was honorable, and that's what got him into trouble last time. He wanted to fix a mistake he wasn't really responsible for, and Candace used him and then ditched him. It was awful. Evelyn was an old friend, but Joshua was now family. It was his house, his rules.
"About what?"
"About you leaving?” Grace asked.
"He said I was his guest, and that I shouldn't try to cook anymore.” Evelyn let out an exasperated sigh that was almost a growl.
"Huh.” Grace paused for a moment, perplexed by the entire situation.
"What?” Evelyn sat up straight and felt the tension in her gut.
"Well, he obviously wants you to be there, or he would have put you out. He was a cop, you know, a detective. A damn good one, he's not afraid of you, Evelyn. He helped catch Ethan's stalker, probably saved our lives.” Grace remembered how Joshua put it together before anyone. He wouldn't let people get hurt, and he would take care of someone who was hurt, like Evelyn. He wouldn't judge her or mistreat her, probably why she had a crush on him. It made sense.
"He, he said he's a school teacher. He lied to me?” Evelyn's voice became rich with hurt and anger.
"No, he is, now. I can attest to that. I got him the job. He was sick of the force, the crime, wanted a change.” Grace giggled at that.
"What?” Evelyn tried to get her head around it. Why didn't he tell her? Unless he was getting involved. She couldn't let him get involved, no way.
"Well, he had hoped to teach high school, coach football, something more his size, but the only thing open was at the elementary school. God, it was funny the first year.” Grace continued to laugh. “Oh, E, I gotta go. Gray is waking up. I'll call you back, okay?"
"Okay.” Evelyn set down the phone and stared blankly at the television. He was a cop. A detective. Saved lives. Not afraid of her. That strange conversation yesterday made sense to her now.
Joshua hung up the cell phone and in perfect time. He heard her footsteps in the hall. Stevens would run the searches on the men and get back to him when he could. Joshua was in no rush. Evelyn wasn't going anywhere. She couldn't, not after what he just found out.
"I'm leaving.” Evelyn was dressed in her black outfit, the one she wore when she first arrived. “I have to get back to...” She cleared her throat. “Work."
"I thought you needed to recover. You're still pretty banged up, and that ankle isn't healed.” Joshua was stunned. This morning she was throwing herself at him, and this afternoon she's out the door. That wouldn't do. He needed her to stay at least until he sorted this out.
"I'm fine.” Evelyn was direct and cold again.
"Where will you go?” Joshua stood and moved closer to her but cautiously. Her body language was defensive. Her big doe eyes were intense, sad, and angry. Had he done something?
"Home."
"And that's in...” He dragged that out hoping she would tell him but knowing better.
"Why don't you call one of your friends back on the force and see if they can track that down for you? I'll bet a thousand dollars they can't."
"Mmmm, Grace told you I was a cop.” Joshua shook his head up and down this time instead of side to side. “Yes, I checked you out. Do you blame me?"
"No. I would have done the same thing. And for all you know I have.” She hadn't, and that's what burned her the most. Since she had been here, she had slipped. He could sneak up on her; he could touch her. He was more dangerous than she was because he kept his head while she lost her senses.
"So.” He shrugged but he really never thought about it. She was well-known and had to have connections on both sides of the law to do her job as well as she did. He had dealt with his demons. Evelyn hadn't faced any of hers.
"So, I have work to do.” Evelyn realized he was closer, and her breath began to chop. Her senses faded. It
was
him. He
did
affect her. She had absolute control until this moment. “Joshua, you're getting too close to me."
"Not nearly close enough.” Joshua took another step and reached out placing his hand on her cheek. His palm almost covered the whole side of her face. Her eyes went soft again, and he knew she didn't want to leave. He didn't want her to go, not until she was safe.
"Don't touch me.” Inside she screamed it, loud and forceful, but it came out as a whisper. She wanted to pull his hand off her face, but the heat from it made her dizzy. She reached up and grabbed his forearm, but her strength was gone. She just held it, clung to it for life.
"Evelyn, I won't hurt you.” His eyes narrowed on hers as he bent toward her placing his lips on her forehead. She whimpered.
"You, don't ... can't.” Evelyn felt like she would faint. His lips were soft, and as they placed baby kisses on her forehead, she felt weak and incoherent. She felt his right arm slide around her waist. Was he hugging her? God, he was holding her, and not because she had stumbled or fallen, but because he wanted to.
"Evelyn, I promised to keep you safe. Until you're safe, I can't let you go.” Joshua had both his arms around her; He wasn't coming on to her. He was hugging her, and it felt good. He rested his chin on her head, and slowly her arms slid around him. Her face pressed into his chest, and she began to sob. For a big bad bounty hunter, she sure cried a lot. He needed to talk to Grace next week at the birthday party. “Besides, you haven't seen Grace yet. Gray's party is next weekend. Don't you want to go?"
Evelyn nodded with her face against him. Her arms were around him and his around her. He didn't do any of the things she thought a man would do. He didn't touch her ass, didn't squeeze her hard and grind against her. No, Joshua held her with his chin on her head, his arms around her back, and his hands, she didn't feel his hands at all, but she desperately wanted to.
"It's okay, Evelyn. You're safe here. No one will hurt you, especially not me.” Joshua had wrapped his arms around her and placed his hands on his arms instead of on her body. He wanted to touch her but not like this and not now. “Stevens would die before giving me up. He's very careful, but no one knows you're here. I told him you left this morning. When we go to New York next weekend, you'll have to go by Eve, and not Blade."
"Why?” Evelyn wasn't sure what was going on, but Joshua's heart was beating fast. He had made plans for her to be here, to go to New York even. He was hiding her. Just as she feared, he was getting involved. She couldn't risk hurting him, no way.
"Stevens said one of the people got back to him and asked if he had located you. There's a bounty on your head.” Joshua was speaking softly, but inside he was scared for her. He was hoping he hadn't made a promise he couldn't keep.
"WHAT!” Evelyn pushed back and almost fell. He reached for her and caught her. She stumbled again and hit the wall. Joshua was right against her his hand behind her head.
"Don't panic. It's okay.” Joshua's fingers hurt but not as much as her head would have if it hit the wall. “Take a breath, Evelyn."
"This is ridiculous. I haven't committed a crime.” She was weary. Maybe he would turn her in. Maybe he was going to turn her in. But to who and for what? “You believe me, don't you?” Her breathing was frantic. “Joshua, you believe me. I haven't committed any crimes, I swear it."
"They say you killed Nikolai. His body was found in a barrel not far from a bar in Eastern Kentucky.” Joshua searched her face. He knew she wouldn't have been able to lie to Grace, and that the tale she told was true. She didn't kill the man. She had no reason to, and in the physical condition she was in when she got here, she couldn't have stuffed a man in a barrel. No way. He searched her reaction to the news.
"Oh God, I didn't ... he was alive I swear.” Evelyn slid down the wall. Joshua kneeled in front of her. If he believed she killed Nikolai, she would burst. She had night terrors over the men she had killed though she had no choice at the time. “I knew him, and now he's dead."
"Tell me what happened.” Joshua hated this for her. Her life kept getting worse, and he kept getting more involved. In fact, he knew there was no turning back. He would see this through to the end.
"Joshua, I tried to find my sister. I was supposed to meet a contact. It was afternoon but dark from the storm. The bar was closed of course. Nikolai was there, said he had to talk to me. I went out back. Sure, I caught a couple people he was unable to track. He hated me for that, but when he reached in the car and swung the two by four, I wasn't expecting it. I defended myself, but he was alive when I left. All three of them were alive."
"I believe you.” Joshua put his hand on her face, and she jumped like she thought he was going to smack her. “Evelyn, look at me."
Her big doe eyes looked up into his clear green eyes and saw the concern he couldn't hide. She jumped; it was a natural reaction. Men didn't raise their hands to comfort her, so she wasn't used to it.
"Evelyn, you have to trust me, implicitly. You have to tell me everything. I won't hurt you. And I'm not turning you in. I told Stevens you were headed to West Virginia. That was for his safety and yours. You have to stay here with me, and I have to trust that you will."
"I'll try.” Evelyn really wanted to stay, but he was putting himself at risk. She didn't want that.
"No, woman, you'll do, or I'll tie your ass up everyday before I go.” Joshua meant it. He had the key to her car, and she had enough gear in there he could contain her if he had to.
Evelyn laughed. It was a stressful laugh, the kind you would hear at a funeral or another inappropriate place. The thought of him tying her up should have made her furious. She could easily be out the door right now. He was vulnerable. His body language showed how much he trusted her because she could knee him in the groin just by lifting her leg, and without any real tactical effort. But the thought of being tied up by a man just seemed so far fetched and unreal she could only laugh.
"Evelyn, are you all right?” His gaze grew wary, and his brows drew together.
"I'm fine.” She collected her senses. “I'll stay, but I'll have to go shopping."
Joshua shook his head, stood, and held a hand out. When she took it, he pulled her from the floor. The woman boggled his mind. She went through her moods so fast no man could possibly keep up. He thanked God for the psychology classes he filled his electives with. He thought about his therapist Bob who had helped him deal with his partner's death and understand Candace's actions. He might give him a call, get some advice on this.
"There are shops on the waterfront, and a few places in Morehead. I can go get you what you need.” Joshua exhaled. He hated shopping, except for groceries, and he needed to do that, too.
"I can take care of that myself.” Evelyn straightened herself and pushed her hair back undoing the ponytail and then refastening it.
"You're not going into town with bruises on your face, Evelyn.” Joshua wasn't about to have a battered woman on his arm.
No fucking way.
"I'll hide them.” Evelyn knew he was concerned. She didn't want to walk around town looking like she just got beat up either, but she had makeup and knew how to use it. “One trick of the trade, disguise."
"With what? Sunglasses? I don't think so.” Joshua crossed his arms and huffed.
"I'm a woman, hard to believe sometimes I know, but I am. Trust me.” Evelyn patted his crossed arms and headed into her bedroom. “Can you pull my car up closer and change the plates to North Carolina? I need stuff out of the trunk."
"Sure. Why the hell not?” Joshua threw up his arms in exasperation and went to do the woman's bidding. The phone rang as he entered the kitchen.
"Young."
"How's it going, Big Dog?” Ethan was teasing and in far too good a mood for Joshua's taste right now. Ethan was always in a good mood.
"I'm in a living hell. How about you?” Joshua replied with impatience.
"Whoa, shit. What's going on there?” Ethan was genuinely concerned.
"You haven't told anyone she's here, have you?” Joshua was direct, all business.
"No, Grace told me a little about her. Megan and Chase know, but Megan knows her, too. Everything's on the down low. It's weird. Are you all right? You need me to come down there?"
"No. Just, I don't know. I have to figure out some things. You did a portrait for the FBI director last year, right?” Joshua's mind was already turning with ideas.
"Y-e-a-h.” Ethan drew that out slow and cautious.
"Do you think you could arrange a meeting next weekend? When we come up. An art thing?” Joshua needed to talk to someone big, find Evelyn's father and figure out his part in this. He had a hunch he had something to do with it. He needed to figure out if her sister was dead or alive. He needed someone on the inside, way on the inside but couldn't take the chance of tipping anyone off.
"Well, that sounds a little ... Joshua.” Ethan turned it over in his head a second.
"Yeah?"
"What the fuck is going on?” Ethan wasn't angry just unsure.
"I need to talk to him, but if I make the call and ask for business reasons, it could leak, and right now one leak could sink the whole damn ship. I wouldn't ask if I didn't have to. You know that.” Joshua was serious. His voice made no bones about it.
"I'll see what I can do.” Ethan took a moment. “So how is Evelyn anyways?"
"Eve. We have to call her Eve from now on. Eve...” Joshua drummed his fingers on the counter now.
"Eve Alexander, you can pass her off as a cousin from my mother's side.” Ethan wanted to help. After all Joshua had saved his life once.
"Good idea. Let me know when you get a solid on that meeting. I have to unload her car now before she kills me.” Joshua knew that was a poor choice of words.
"Josh?"
"I didn't mean that, like that. She keeps me hopping around here though. I'll tell you that off the record.” Joshua let a slight laugh escape.
"Ah, I see. Okay, Big Dog, I'll see what I can do.” Ethan went to hang up. “Joshua."
"Yeah?"
"Be careful,” Ethan said.
"I'm always careful.” Joshua hung up the phone and headed out to Evelyn's car.
So careful a woman got the drop on me at three in the morning.
Ethan knew how much he loved it here. He felt safe. No one knew anything about him other than he was related to Grace and Megan and now he lived here. That was good enough. He was accepted.
With everything unloaded and in the guest bedroom, Joshua saw no point in keeping her weapon anymore. If she wanted to hurt him, she had more than enough tools to do it with now. He played with the crossbow, inspecting it, held it up and aimed with an imaginary arrow. Evelyn stepped in the room.
"Wow.” He let the imaginary arrow go and dropped the bow to his side. She had covered the bruises. Her face was made up. Her lashes were now long and black accenting her big brown eyes, her lips shiny and kissable.
"You like?” Evelyn noticed how much he enjoyed the crossbow.
"Yeah, you look great.” Joshua quickly ran his eyes over her. “I might just take you out for dinner tonight."
Evelyn blushed. He was talking about her. Damn, he was talking about her. He noticed her not the bow. A sharp pain hit her chest almost knocking her down. She swallowed, gripped at her heart.