Eye of the Storm (The Storm Series) (11 page)

“You know, I really had great parents. They were always there for me. Always encouraging me to try new things. I traveled the world with them as I was growing up. Later I traveled it on my own, but I always knew where home was; where
they
were.”

“How was it growing up in different countries?”

He shrugged. “It’s all I knew. I thought it was pretty great. The younger I was, the more I was confused by the different cultures. I was always getting things confused, or trying to explain to the other children what I was talking about.”

“So you spent most of your time in the U. S. and UK right?”

“During the school years, yes. But when I was on holiday, we were all over the place. That is how I was able to learn so many languages.”

The thought of him talking to her in a language she knew nothing about was a turn on. “How many do you know?”

“Five fluently, a couple of others enough to get by.”

“Wow. That is so cool.”

He chuckled at her. “Yes, it’s the norm outside of the States to know more than one language.”

“My upbringing was a little different. My parents loved to travel, but without children along. They made sure that they stayed near my grandparents so that Jackson and I had someone to watch us. That’s where Jackson gets his wanderlust from. He’s never been able to stay in one place for too long before moving on again.”

“It must have been lonely for you. Did your parents love you at all?”

“Yes, they did, I didn’t mean to give you that impression. They did, they just liked to travel more. When they were home it was all about us, but then they’d have to leave again. Lucky for me my grandparents were great. And the summers when Lexi was there were magical. We caused so much trouble.” She laughed and told Anthony some of their adventures. They had a good laugh over how Lexi and Evie had locked Jackson out of the house while he was naked when he was a teenager during the middle of the day.

They sat in silence for a few minutes before Anthony turned to her and said, “I don’t understand. Why are you doing this? Why put yourself in danger? Why subject yourself to seeing things you can never erase from your memory?”

Evie thought for a moment before replying. “Lexi has always been there for me. supported me. She followed me when I led us into trouble when we were younger. She always stuck up for me. No matter what. She was different after her first attack, anyone would be. But finally, finally she was getting back to her old self, and then she met Noah. You wouldn’t believe the change in her. I got my Lexi back; I could hear it in her voice when we’d talk on the phone.” She took another drink. “Then the second attack.” She shook her head. “I really don’t remember much of the drive to the hospital. I know I shouldn’t have been on the road. But to see her like that again, I couldn’t take it. She is so lucky to have Noah; they are really good for each other. She healed again. I really can’t believe how strong she is.”

“Then she got married. Everything was perfect. Except for all the extra security.” She laughed without humor. “Noah went a bit overboard, but really I can’t blame him. Their whole wedding day, which should’ve been a wonderful memory, there was a black cloud hanging over them. When we were getting ready, I’d see that look in Lexi’s eyes and know she was thinking about Jeremy. Then I’d see Noah and he’d be scanning the crowd making sure he wasn’t there. I can’t see them living their whole life that way. That’s why I e-mailed you. I was hoping we’d be able to work together to do something, anything, to catch Jeremy. It’s my wedding gift to them. She’s like my sister.” She shrugged. “And now there’s you.”

Anthony sat up straight in his chair. “What do you mean there’s me?”

The alcohol was making her bolder than usual. “Well, since we first heard about what Jeremy did I couldn’t get you out of my head. What you went through, everything you’d lost. If there was a way I could help both of you, it was just something I had to do. That’s how it started anyway. Then we started working together…”

They stared at each other, each trying to decide how much to say, or even what to say. Finally Evie spoke. “I can’t deny the pull I feel when I’m around you.”

She saw his eyes burn with passion before he closed them. When he opened them again after a moment the passion was gone. She felt he wasn’t feeling the same things as her and it made her sad.

After the internal battle, he finally said, “Tell me why you decided to open a bookstore.”

She let out the breath she’d been holding, not sure if she was relieved or sad they weren’t going to be getting into a serious conversation about their feelings. She went on to tell him how she had always loved to read and loved nothing better than recommending a book to someone who ended up loving it.

~*~

She’d lost track of how many drinks they’d had while talking about the differences in their upbringing and Lexi. She giggled as she came back into the room. All the drinking was making her have to use the bathroom frequently. He still seemed like he was sober, especially compared to her. As she got closer to their chairs, she tripped over the rug and landed on his lap.

“Sorry.” she laughed. “But I couldn’t have done so well if I wasn’t drinking.” She tried to get up but his arms closed around her and held her there. Turning to look at him with a puzzled look in her eyes hoping him keeping her here was because he wanted her.

“Stay. Right here. Stay. I’ve been caged for so long. You’ve brought me back to life, given me a reason to do more than just put one foot in front of the other. I need you.” With their eyes locked, he leaned in to gently kiss her.

Wrapping her arms around him, she let herself go and fall into the kiss. She couldn’t keep her hands off of him and started running them over his hard muscles, she felt the heat build within her. Wanting more, she straddled him. When his hands moved under her shirt, she moaned into his mouth. Her head tipped back when he lifted it up moving her bra with the shirt out of the way, his mouth capturing her nipple. She started grinding on him, wanting more. She tried to get his shirt off. Since that wasn’t working, she settled for taking her shirt and bra off giving him unlimited access.

He picked her up and moved closer to the fire and laid her down on the rug. She whimpered when he moved away but it was just to take his shirt off. He lay back down on top of her, the feel of skin on skin overwhelming. Looking at the shadows of his muscles in the firelight, she felt the fire burn in her. Grabbing him by the hair, she pulled him back to her mouth. Wanting dominance, she rolled them over so she was on top. It felt as if hands and lips were everywhere. When she felt his fingers along the waistband to her pants, she wanted to scream.

He tortured her by slowly removing the rest of her clothing, kissing all the way down then back up again. When he reached where she was dripping wet, his tongue and fingers flew at such a pace she went over the edge quickly. Looking at him through half closed eyes, she wanted more. She wanted to feel him inside her. When he took his pants off, she told herself to calm down and not tackle him. Once the condom was on, he moved like a predator towards her positioning himself between her legs.

Looking deep into her eyes, not yet inside, he paused. “Stop me now. Once isn’t going to be enough. I’m going to want you forever. If you don’t want that, stop me now.”

There was nothing else she wanted more than him. “There is nothing that could make me stop you.”

Feeling him slowly slide into her and fill her up, her eyes rolled back in her head and he captured her lips with his. Their pace picked up until the frenzy of their love-making shocked her. She loved the fact that he was so strong, he could move her from one position to another with little effort. When they both finally came, she was shocked at the intensity of it. Laying there shaking in his arms, she’d never felt so complete.

~*~

The last thing Evie remembered was Anthony carrying her up from the study to his room and putting her into bed. As his arms came around her, she fell into a dreamless sleep. Waking up and not feeling those arms around her made her heart fall. She feared he was having second thoughts. Rolling over she saw him sitting, fully clothed, in a chair by the window looking at her. They stared at each other for a few moments before he finally spoke.

“Our plane leaves in four hours, we’d better get moving.”

“Well, good morning to you too.” She threw the covers off and got out of bed. Naked, she stalked out of his room and went into hers. Throwing clothes into her suitcase, she called him every name she could think of.

“Very colorful language.”

“What can I say? You bring out the best in me.”

“Evie, last night…”

“Don’t say it. Don’t you dare say it.” She whirled towards him and poked her finger in his chest.

“A mistake.”

“No, it wasn’t, there were two of us there. That isn’t something that happens every day.” She felt like her whole world tilted and she was no longer sure of anything.

“No, it’s not. But think about it.”

“Obviously, you have.”

“Yes, I spent all night thinking about it. Being with you was the best night of my life but it can’t happen again.”

“Oh, now that makes perfect sense.” She turned back around and started throwing the rest of her stuff in the suitcase with shaking hands trying not to scream.

Coming up behind her he grabbed her arm and turned her around, anger burning in his eyes. “Yes, it does. Think about it for a minute. Jeremy kills women that I am connected to. Now I’ve added you to the list. Do you think I want to see you end up like the others?” He gave her a little shake. “It would kill me if something happened to you. I can’t risk that.”

“So you’ll just throw all of this away?” She gestured with her arms.

“If I have to. And God willing, it’s not forever. Just until we catch him. I want you back at your grandmother’s with extra security. I won’t risk you. I can’t lose you. Don’t you understand?”

“I do, but you are completely wrong. You
need
me. Not just for this.” She pointed to the two of them. “But for the investigation. I can help. Don’t you dare push me away.”

“You aren’t going to back down are you?”

“Hell no. Are you?”

“Hell no.”

“Fine, we’ll just have to see who wins.” She smacked him on the ass and walked into the bathroom to finish getting ready, making plans to break him first.

~*~

The trip through security at both airports was not as bad as it could have been. Anthony had set up with the local authorities to escort them to the airport with documentation that it was him and not Jeremy flying back to the States. There were more people waiting for them in Boston to make sure it was still him.

Their faces might look the same but at least their fingerprints were different. It was going to make traveling difficult, but they were willing to do whatever was needed to prove Anthony wasn’t Jeremy so they could find the answers they needed.

Evie moaned and rolled over, pulling the pillow over her head, wanting the person invading her sleep to go away.

“No way Sweet Cheeks, time to rise and shine!”

“Grandmother,
go away
.” She didn’t want to think of the fact she’d called Anthony Sweet Cheeks.

“Nope, you’ve got to get up.”

Glaring at her smiling grandmother she said, “It had better be worth it.”

“Oh, it is. Totally. Now come downstairs for something to eat. You’ve slept long enough.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

“No sass. Now move it!” Evelyne laughed as she left the room ducking the pillow Evie threw at her head.

“Fine.” She tossed the covers off and tried to make herself presentable. She saw her open suitcase still sitting there waiting to be unpacked. She walked over to it and bent down picking up the shirt she was wearing when she and Anthony made love. Bringing it up to her face, she could smell his scent on it. Closing her eyes, she wanted to remember that scent forever.

~*~

Evelyne wouldn’t tell Evie what was going on until she ate something and filled her in about what had happened overseas. Her grandmother was very upset about adding three more murders to Jeremy’s growing list.

“I think you should stay away from Anthony.”

“Why?”

“Why? Gee, I don’t know. Maybe because I don’t want to see you added to the list.”

“Anthony says the same thing.”

“Oh, he does. Well, that’s good.”

“You weren’t expecting that. Ha! That is awesome.”

“Shut up. Can you please stay away from him?”

“No, which is what I’ve already told him. When have you ever known me to back down?”

“Never. Damn it.”

Evie leaned over and kissed her grandmother on the cheek. “You should know better. I’m too much like you.”

“Stop. Are you ready for the big news?”

Pushing her plate away Evie bounced in her chair. “Yes, tell me!”

“Lexi and Noah are back.”

Evie was torn. She sat there quietly looking at the crumbs on the table.

“I thought you’d be more excited.”

“I am. Just wondering what I’m going to say to her about Anthony.”

“Yeah, you should worry about that.”

“Not helping.”

At the sound of the doorbell, her grandmother jumped up. “Too late. There she is. Jackson is taking me to meet the ladies. That will give you some time to talk to Lexi without everyone around.”

“Thanks, Grandma.” Evie walked to the door and opened it to her best friend. Marriage agreed with her and with a squeal they hugged each other tight. “Looking good, you old, married woman.”

“Hahaha! Evelyne have anything sweet to eat? I’m starving.”

“You know she always does.” Evie turned to the quiet woman who came in behind Lexi. “Kat, would you like anything?”

“No, thank you. I’m fine.” Kat said as she stood at the back of the room.

“Have a seat, I’ll be right back.” Evie walked out of the room and got them something sweet to eat and to drink.

“Tell me all about your honeymoon. Well, not all of it. I’m not as bad as the Troublesome Trio.”

Lexi laughed. “It was so wonderful. I can’t believe Noah rented out a whole island for us. It was so wonderful even if the place was crawling with security. And we were able to get some sightseeing in.”