Authors: Sara Hess
After examining it Evan called and placed our orders. Hanging up
he gave me a heated once over. “Can you do me a favor and change into something
less…accessible.”
Sheesh, I was going to combust by the end of the night if he kept
looking at me that way. “Sure. I was thinking about doing that anyway. Wearing
a dress really isn’t my thing. Go ahead and get yourself a drink while I
change.”
I scurried down the hall and into my bedroom. Removing the dress I
exchanged it for a nicer pair of my cropped sweats that were pink in color and
a white plain v-neck t-shirt. I felt instantly more comfortable and that loosened
a lot of my nervousness. Rosie watched me from the bed with interest and when I
went to head back she jumped down to follow.
Evan was in the living room going through our movie selection. He
twisted his head my way at hearing my return and even though I was now in
sweats the heat in his eyes didn’t diminish. That was good to know because I
was not a dress up girl.
“You guys don’t have many movies.” He commented.
There were almost twenty movies there. I didn’t think that was too
bad. “Most of those Nic bought. He bought that 52” television too. Set it up
one day when Carrie was at work. She complained about it but he ignored her and
said he couldn’t watch television on the small screen she and I bought
together. That one got delegated to her room instead.” I moved around the
kitchen getting my drink and grabbing some plates and silverware for when the
food arrived.
“Why not your room?”
That he thought about me after that explanation tickled me in an
odd way. “My computer monitor is set up for cable.”
He straightened from his crouch and I noted that he’d lost his
blazer and tie, rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and unbuttoned the top two
buttons. “So you’re telling me that Nic actually bought the Harry Potter
series?” He asked with a smirk.
“No, those are mine.” And I wasn’t going to be embarrassed about
it. I loved my Harry Potter. “The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and Stars
Wars, are mine as well.” I raised my brow daring him to say something against
them.
Leaning over the counter on his forearms his grin widened. “I’m
not going to diss your movie preference. I like all of those too.”
“You like the Harry Potter series?” I asked doubtfully.
He nodded. “Yep, and Star Wars is one of my all time favorites,
but I have to say I didn’t like the ending of The Hobbit series.”
“I didn’t either.” I confessed. “Killing off the two brothers and
the main guy made me want to hunt down the director and punch him out.”
He chuckled. “What other movies do you like?”
It was slightly weird having a guy in my apartment, my space, but
as I hesitantly named off several others movies Evan’s easy manner made me more
at ease. He was really good at doing that; making me comfortable. By the time
the food arrived we were having a heated debate on inconsistencies in the Marvel
movies compared to the comic series, and how they were all being filmed to play
off each other.
Evan insisted on paying for the food and I didn’t argue. The man
was making major paper working for Dan McKay. Minutes later we sat down on the
couch to watch the first Harry Potter film and eat our food. The movie just
ended up being background noise because Evan wanted to converse.
“So, I know you have a job that keeps you busy but no one, even
you, seems to be able to clarify what exactly you do?” He took a bite of his
food while staring at me inquisitively.
Dan and Evan had trusted me with their information so I could only
return the favor. “My job is confidential, so you have to keep mum about it.”
“Another secret…cool.” He leaned forward.
“I’m the creator of
Deceivers.com.
”
His forkful of food halted halfway to his mouth. “You created
it…like for someone else?”
“No, for me.” I stuffed a fork full of vegetables into mouth. Eating
more vegetables was one thing about my healthy diet I had no problem with.
Leaning back he stared at me hard. “You…” He stopped and frowned.
“How did you come up with the idea?”
Swallowing my food I answered him. “In the middle of freshman year
I was sick of Ford messing with my life so I began messing with his. You know
that other stuff I was doing to him. Well, Ford had a habit of lying to girls
about being monogamous. I made the girls aware that he wasn’t. I also did it
with a few of the other assholes in his Frat who bothered me and after awhile I
realized I could actually make some money at what I was doing.”
While Evan stared at me I grabbed a snow pea and nibbled on it.
Eventually he spoke again. “Your career is not constructive to a
healthy relationship.”
His deadpan tone had me busting a gut. Before I could cover my
mouth a small bit of snow pea went flying onto the floor. It was mortifying but
at least Rosie covered for me by scampering over and cleaning it up off the
floor.
A look came over Evan’s face I couldn’t quite identify. “You
should laugh more often, Shaw, because it looks dazzling on you.”
I had no idea how spitting out food could be dazzling, but his
expression was so intent it added to my embarrassment. All I could think to do
was stuff more food in my mouth.
“So are you telling me that you stalk guys and what…take pictures
of them with other women?” Evan asked with a frown.
I shrugged. “It’s not just guys who cheat, you know.” I thought he
would appreciate that I wasn’t completely prejudiced against males. “Sometimes
all I had to do was hack into their phones and print out text conversations
they had with other people.”
He sighed. “I know I’m going to get flack for this, but I really
don’t like the idea of you sneaking around attempting to get incriminating
photos of people cheating. So many things could go wrong with that entire
scenario. Do you do this at night; go to hotel rooms and peak in windows?”
I couldn’t help laughing at his imagination. “Evan, we’re talking
about college kids here. They hook up at parties, not hotel rooms. It’s easy
getting a photo of a person cheating with someone at a party. Yeah, sometimes I
had to be sneaky and go outside to peak through a bathroom or bedroom window,
but most of the time I was able to get one where people kissed right out in the
open.”
“I heard several past tense words in there; are you not taking
pictures any more?” He asked sounding hopeful.
The man was sharp. “I hired someone from the photography
department a few months ago to take over that part for me if I needed it. Most
people settle for sexting evidence.”
He actually blew out a breath looking relieved, and his evident
concern was like a warm embrace. I wasn’t accustomed to people caring. I know
Carrie and David cared about me, but his concern was different.
His lip twisted. “It’s a no wonder you were able to get that shit
on my stepfather so easily; you’re an expert at it.”
This was a perfect seg-way to move the subject away from me. It
was also something I was interested in knowing. “Speaking of your mother; can I
ask how everything is going for her?”
He took a bite of his food before answering my question. “She’s in
the process of divorcing him. The pre-nup he had her sign is void because of
his infidelity so she won’t be left high and dry.”
“Is she okay emotionally though?”
He nodded eyes suddenly dark and grim. “She’s great. She’s happier
than I’ve seen her in a long time.” He looked down at his plate stirring his
food broodingly. “I know now that she was miserable with him but most likely covered
it for my sake, stayed with him because of me, and that digs at me. I didn’t
need the assholes money.” He stabbed at his plate angrily.
I played with my plate of food as I watched him thoughtfully. “It
sounds like you’re mad at her because of what she did for you?”
Head still down he snorted. “I am. Her being miserable is not
something I wanted; not for any amount of money. Unfortunately, I can’t get it
off my chest by criticizing her for it because it would hurt her and make me
feel like a jackass. She gave up a large chunk of her life for me staying with
that ass and I’m not going to heap more unhappiness on her. I just have to suck
it up.”
A lump the size of a baseball took up residence in my throat and
it took me awhile to get past it. I had to blink through the haze in my eyes
too. “You’re really lucky.”
Evan raised his head and guilt washed over his face. “Shit, I
can’t believe I’m complaining about having money when you grew up with barely
any.”
I shook my head. “That’s not what I meant about being lucky.
You’re mom loves you so much that she was willing to do whatever it took, deal
with whatever hardship, so she could give you what she thought you deserved…”
My throat closed up again making it hard to get out the rest of my words.
Evan’s eyes widened and he made a move toward me but I jumped up
in agitation carrying my plate over to the kitchen. I heard him right me behind
me though.
“Fuck, Shaw, you have to think I’m the biggest jackass. I’m
complaining about money and my mom when you…I didn’t even realize that was
building up inside of me until it spilled out.”
I shook my head again and took a deep breath to calm myself.
Setting my half eaten plate down I gripped the counter edge. “I don’t think
you’re a jackass. That’s not why I’m…” I waved my hand in front of my face
instead of explaining my state of emotions. “Knowing what your mom did for you
and how upset you are that she was unhappy…it just makes both of you lucky to
have each other.”
His hand settled on my shoulder. “I’m sorry. You’re right; I’m
completely selfish whining about a mother who loves me.”
I picked up the tone in his voice and my spine stiffened. He had a
perfect mother, and while I wasn’t jealous in a-kill-him-to-have-all-of-it kind
of way…okay, no, I was actually. My parents had thrown me away, but his mother
had sacrificed herself so she could give Evan everything.
Spinning around I glared at him. “Why do you say that? Because I
didn’t have one you think you can’t talk to me about yours? That leaves out a
lot of your life we can’t talk about, Evan.”
Slashes of red streaked his cheekbones and he was looking up at
the ceiling. “Shit, I really need to take my foot out of my mouth.”
I socked him in chest irritated he wasn’t looking at me, but he
only grabbed my hand and looked down at it; holding it palm up rubbing his
fingers over the lines like a palm reader.
I tugged, but he didn’t seem inclined to let go, so I tried
ignoring the burn of his touch and finish what I wanted to say. “Even people
with parents didn’t have your luck, Evan. Look at Carrie and Nic; they have
shit parents. I didn’t say what I did to make you feel guilty or shamed. I just
wanted you to appreciate how lucky you are, and to not…” I halted trying to
find the right words and Evan’s gaze rose to lock on mine finally. I scowled at
him knowing my face was flushed with heat, mostly from the casual touch of his
hand on mine, but he didn’t have to know that. “Don’t let whatever resentment
your feeling spoil what you and your mother have. It’s special.”
I punched him again with my other hand to drive my point home. It
wasn’t a hard punch because I wasn’t really angry with him, just envious. He
should know how fortunate he was.
“I’m sorry.” He squeezed my hand.
“I don’t need an apology. I just want you to realize what you
have.” I grumbled.
Evan stared down at me and I didn’t miss the fiery blaze in his
serious gaze. He wasn’t attempting to conceal it at all. “You are so damn hot
when you get riled up.”
Desire rushed south. Mild annoyance, and maybe a little bit of
amusement, climbed north. “I may pimp slap you if you insist on talking.”
Lip twitching, his knuckles brushed over my hot cheeks. “This
blush tells me I’m getting to you.”
“I’m red because you make my blood boil.” I glowered.
His sinful smirk grew. “You’re blood is boiling because you’re hot
for me.”
The rough, gravely quality of his tenor rolled over me, making my
stomach clench and my sex pulse. His head lowered to my neck and without
thought I tilted the other way to allow him to press kisses down the side of my
throat.
How did we go from arguing to this? I was so freak’in weak were he
was concerned.
Fingers slid under the edge of my t-shirt, stoking lightly over my
belly. “The only time you fully loosen up for me is when I have my lips on you;
why is that, Red?” I shivered at both his hot breath in my ear and his touch.
My hands clutched desperately at his biceps and I struggled to
understand what he meant. “What do you mean?” I gasped.
His hands traveled upward to the undersides of my swollen breasts…teasing
me. “There’s always a slight rigidness to your frame when I first start
touching you and it doesn’t go away until I’m right here; hands stroking, lips
sucking.” His mouth did just that to my collarbone. “Why can’t you relax wholly
with me before this point?”
I inhaled a ragged breath as his lips journeyed over my flesh.
“I’m not accustomed to being touched; not as a baby, not as a child, and not by
a man.”
He growled into my neck and I heard both arousal and anger. “What
about those other guys?” He gritted out nipping at my ear and finally cupping
my aching breasts.
Normally I would have stiffened up at the mention of
‘those
other guys’,
but because his lips and hands had me under his spell all I
could do was whimper. “They barely groped me. They were more interested in what
I could do for them.”