Authors: Codi Gary
“Dude, stop staring or he’s going to see you,” Eve warned.
“Too late,” Megan said. “He’s coming over.”
“What?” Eve turned in her seat, and sure enough, Oliver was heading their way with a gigantic grin on his face. Her heart did a little leap of joy as she noted that he’d ditched his companion the minute he’d spotted her.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” he asked. One of his hands rested on the back of her chair, and the brush of his hand against the bare skin of her shoulder sent shivers down her spine.
“Just felt like getting a drink. Oliver, this is my friend Megan.”
“Hey, Megan,” Oliver said. He leaned over Eve’s shoulder to hold out his hand to Megan. As he did so, he pressed against Eve, and it affected her—like pulse-racing, skin-on-fire, drumming-tempo-between-her-thighs affected her.
“Oliver, so nice to meet you. Eve just keeps going on and on about your b—”
Eve kicked Megan hard in the shin and glared at her furiously.
“You’ve been talking about me, huh?” Oliver asked. Eve glanced at him and caught his satisfied smile.
“I was just telling her about us working together,” she said.
“Of course, that’s what I thought she meant. Why else would you be talking about me?”
Megan laughed at his teasing, and Eve silently vowed revenge.
“Can I get you ladies a drink? You are more than welcome to join me and the guys downstairs,” Oliver said.
“Actually, I just remembered that I have to be up early tomorrow,” Megan said, hopping out of her chair.
Eve stared hard at Megan and mouthed
I’m going to kill you.
Megan mouthed back
you’ll thank me.
“Well, that’s too bad, maybe next time,” Oliver said.
“Definitely.” Megan gave her a little finger wave and took off, leaving Eve alone with Oliver.
“She set you up good, huh?”
Eve turned in her seat and smiled sheepishly. “Yes, she did.”
Oliver slid a piece of hair that had escaped from her headband behind her ear. “I’m glad you came.”
“I’m not crashing your party?” Eve hated asking, but the woman at the bar still bothered her.
The meaning behind her words seemed to dawn on him, and he shook his head. “There was never going to be a party. The plan was to stay a couple hours and go home to let Beast out of his kennel.” Then he went and shattered her, leaning over to whisper in her ear, “And then I was going to lie down and think of you until I fell asleep.”
His words were heady, and before she could think of the repercussions, she grabbed him by the back of the head and pulled him down for a kiss.
O
LIVER MET
E
VE
’
S
lips and took charge, stepping into her sitting form and sliding his tongue inside her open mouth. From the minute he’d seen Megan staring at him and recognized the back of Eve’s head, he’d hoped she was there for him. He wasn’t a romantic guy, at least, he never used to be, but Eve made him say things—feel things—he wasn’t sure what to make of, and at times, they made him want to run the other way.
But right now, he didn’t want to run. He wasn’t thinking of his career, his friends waiting for him downstairs, or even Evelyn’s dad. His mind, body, and senses were so filled with her that there wasn’t room for anything else. The noise from the bar faded to a dull roar as she gripped his shirt and pulled him as close as he could get and his hands settled on her hips.
Suddenly, a voice Oliver recognized broke through the hum. “Ow, Martinez, you are getting me hot, bro!”
Oliver pulled away and whispered, “I am so sorry.”
“Why?” she asked.
Oliver turned, keeping Eve behind him. “What’s up, Tate?”
Kevin Tate was an MP, and although Oliver worked with him, he didn’t like the obnoxious asshole. Oliver saw that most of his squad was with Tate and nodded at them.
“Nothing, just getting some beers with the guys,” Tate said, trying to look around Oliver. “Who’s your friend?”
“None of your business,” Oliver said. He was pissed at Tate for interrupting but more concerned with Tate knowing who Evelyn was. Everyone knew about the beef between the general and him, and he wouldn’t put it past Tate to think that Oliver was using Eve to get back at her old man.
And Oliver was scared as hell she might believe it.
“What’s the matter, Martinez, she ugly or something?” This came from Dwight Cameron, whose glassy-eyed expression said he’d had one too many already.
“Oh, jeez, this is ridiculous,” Eve said at his back. He felt her push at him so she could stand and come around to his side. “Satisfied, gentleman?”
The group of men stared at her, some in appreciation, but a few in surprised recognition.
“Eve?” a guy Oliver didn’t recognize said. He was medium height with blue eyes and sandy blond hair.
Eve looked unhappy to see him. “Andy.”
“It’s been a long time,” he said.
“Not nearly long enough.”
The guys snickered and coughed, and Andy’s cheeks flushed angrily. “I see you still got a thing for guys in uniform.”
Oliver didn’t like the guy’s insinuation that Eve was a uniform chaser and barely resisted the urge to pop him.
“Actually, I don’t,” she said.
A twinge of disappointment pinched Oliver’s chest, but to his surprise, she took his hand. “But I’m making an exception for this guy.”
Andy’s smirk melted away.
“Wanna get out of here?” she asked, her tone flirty and seductive.
Oliver squeezed her hand. “Lead the way.”
E
VE
’
S
HEAD SPUN
as they walked along the rows of old buildings, neither of them speaking. Part of her had been humiliated when Andy had alluded to her infatuation with him, and she’d wanted to tuck tail and run, to get far away from all of them and never look back.
But then she’d seen Oliver’s face. He’d been staring at Andy as if he’d wanted to separate Andy’s head from his shoulders, and she realized it was because he cared about her. He’d been ready to protect her, and suddenly, she hadn’t cared what Andy or his goons thought of her.
All that mattered was how she felt about Oliver.
“So, you and that guy . . . ”
Oliver’s unfinished question was hesitant, as if he was afraid to ask, and she smiled. “We snuck around one summer, before I found out it was some kind of challenge his bunkmates and he came up with. Part of the reason I avoid military guys as a rule. They either want me because they want to get at my dad or to prove something to their friends.”
Oliver stopped and pulled her into him, leaning against the front of a darkened clothing store. “You know that this thing between us has nothing to do with your father, don’t you?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I thought that.”
Oliver cupped her face and brushed her lips gently with his, liquefying her insides and setting her knees to melt-down mode. She gripped his arms as he deepened the kiss, coaxing her sweetly to rest her body against his. His hands moved down to encircle her waist, his big palms resting on her lower back, just above her butt.
Pulling her mouth away from his, she gasped, “Maybe we should take this someplace a little less public? After all, we haven’t exactly had the best of luck making out in plain sight.”
“Oh. God, yes,” he groaned. Taking her hand, he strode down the sidewalk, dragging her along with him.
Eve laughed, thrilled he was as caught up in her as she was in him. “Let’s go back to your place.”
“I wanna see yours,” he said.
Nope, bad idea. Not only was her apartment looking a little worse for the wear, again, but it would be just her luck if her dad showed up while Oliver was there.
“But you said that you had to let Beast out,” she said.
“Well, I’ll go let him out and meet you back at yours.”
“There’s no point in you going home, just to drive back out again,” she said.
Oliver stopped, staring down at her with suspicion lurking in his eyes. “Are you a hoarder or something?”
“What? No.”
“Then why don’t you want me to come over?” he asked.
“Because I haven’t had a chance to pick up and there could be things I don’t want you to see.”
“Like?”
“I don’t know, dishes in the sink? Bras hanging over doorknobs? It just isn’t company-ready,” she said. His persistence, while usually endearing when it was in the pursuit of her, was irritating now.
Suddenly, he swung her up in his arms and gave her a smacking kiss to cover her squeal. “Fine, I’ll give you some notice before I invite myself over. But for the record, you can leave the bras anywhere you want.”
Her good mood restored, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and raised her eyebrow. “You’re kind of a pervert, aren’t you? I bet you go through panty drawers, too.”
“Is that an invitation?” he asked.
“As long as you don’t try any of them on, I’m okay with it,” she said. His startled expression set her off into peals of laughter. When he set her on her feet, she had to lean against him she was so overcome with mirth.
“For the record, I have never worn women’s underwear.”
“Just one more thing I like about you,” she said breathlessly.
“So, wait, are you saying you like-like me?” he teased.
“No, but I’m toying with the idea,” she said.
“Why you gotta be so cold?” he asked.
Raising herself on tiptoe, she gave him a kiss so heated the air around them turned humid. “Take me back to your place, and I’ll show you how hot I can be.”
O
LIVER PULLED INTO
his driveway and practically jumped out of the car. He had probably broken the speed limit and performed several California rolls, but he’d wanted to let Beast outside and get him all squared away before Eve got there.
Seeing her headlights in the distance, he rushed inside, but as soon as he stepped through the door he knew something was wrong. The metallic smell of blood was strong, and as he came around the side of the couch and flipped on the light, he saw the mangled bars of the cage where it looked like Beast had bitten through the metal. Only he hadn’t chewed the hole big enough, and his large head and neck were stuck. His flat, brown muzzle was covered in blood, and he whimpered softly, hardly moving.
“Fuck,” Oliver said. He knelt on the floor, and blood seeped into his pants as he studied the way the metal had scraped and gouged into Beast’s skin, cutting into the muscle. It looked as if he’d been struggling for hours, and his movements had just further embedded the sharp, broken metal.
“Okay, buddy, I know it hurts, but you need to stay still, okay? I’m going to get something to cut the wire.”
“Oh, God,” Eve said behind him.
He hadn’t even heard her come in, but as he stood up, he whispered, “Keep him calm, and don’t let him move. Those wounds in his neck are deep, and I don’t want him puncturing anything.”
Eve nodded and knelt down in his place, talking softly to Beast. Oliver ran through the house to the garage, raiding his tool box for wire cutters. When he found what he needed, he grabbed a bunch of rags and headed back inside.
He settled next to Eve and realized his hands were shaking as he started cutting the wires around Beast’s neck. Every time the dog whimpered, he winced and tried to calmly reassure him. He heard Eve’s sniffles and knew she was crying, but he couldn’t comfort her now. All he could think about was getting his dog help.
Fifteen minutes later, he cut through the last wires and was able to move Beast’s head back into the cage while Eve opened the front of it so he could step out. Blood oozed from the raw, pink wounds, and Oliver didn’t hesitate before picking Beast up in his arms.
“Can you look up the nearest twenty-four-hour veterinarian?” He didn’t like the way Beast’s head and neck seemed to be swelling.
“There’s one on Watt Avenue I’ve taken Matilda to,” Eve said. “I know how to get there. You hold him, I’ll drive.”
Oliver didn’t argue, just followed her outside, climbed into her passenger seat, and settled Beast on his lap. He realized that as much as he’d resisted bonding with Beast, it had happened anyway. Despite how crazy Beast made him, he’d come to love the big, stupid mutt.
Once Eve pulled into the veterinarian’s parking lot, Oliver could hardly wait for her to get the door for him. They entered the office, and Eve called out, “Can someone please help us?”
A stocky woman with short brown hair came around the desk. “What happened here?”
“I left him alone in his metal kennel, and he chewed through the bars. I came home, and his head was stuck, there was blood all over his face and neck. I cut the cage off him, but his neck and head seem to be swelling, and there are these deep gouges—”
“How long was he alone for?” she asked.
“About three hours.”
“Let’s carry him into the back. Is there anything wrong with his limbs?”
“No, I just didn’t want to put a leash on him,” Oliver said.
“Well, let’s get a look at him.”
They followed her through the door, and she pointed toward a stainless steel table. The sound of yipping dogs agitated Beast, and he started to struggle against Oliver. Eve reached out and touched Beast’s head, whispering to him. Oliver set him down on the table gently, keeping a hand on him and stroking his back.
“Hang on, dude. I know it’s scary, but we’re gonna make you feel better,” the technician said kindly. Oliver caught sight of her name tag.
Karen.
“Is he allergic to any medications?”
“I don’t know,” Oliver said.
“How about a history of separation anxiety?” she asked.
“I’ve had him less than two weeks and haven’t really left him alone. At least, not since he destroyed my couch the day I brought him home,” he said.
“Well, it definitely sounds like the big guy does not like to be separated from his person. We’re going to give him a sedative and let our vet get a better look at these wounds to make sure there are no punctures or other concerns.” Her matter-of-fact confidence reassured Oliver. “Hey, Josie, can you help me get . . . What’s his name?” Karen asked Oliver.
“Beast.”
The tech grinned. “Like from
The Sandlot
? It’s fitting. He looks like he might have some mastiff in him.”
Josie, another technician, came over and laid a calming hand on the dog’s back. “Shh, it’s okay, big guy.”
Oliver and Eve stepped back, and Beast started twisting to sit up.
“Hang on, Dad and Mom, we’re gonna need you to stand up by his head and talk to him while we get his weight and prepare his drugs.” Karen disappeared, and Eve rubbed her hand over Oliver’s back as he stepped around Josie, kneeling so he was eye to eye with Beast.
“Hey, dude. Look, I’m sorry I didn’t figure out that you really couldn’t be left alone. I feel like a tool, but I promise, if you come out of this I’ll share my eggs with you every morning for a week.”
He heard a wet laugh behind him and looked up at Eve, who was brushing at her eyes rapidly.
Beast whined, and his big, pink tongue snaked out, catching Oliver right on the nose, but he didn’t care.
Karen came back and drew up some clear liquid in a syringe. “All right, buddy, now this might sting a bit, but Dad’s right here and he’s going to talk you through it. Josie is just going to keep you still.”
Beast hardly flinched as she administered the sedative, and within moments, his whole body relaxed.
“If you want to go to the front desk and fill out a new client form, we’ll call you with an update as soon as the doc finishes,” Karen said.
“Can’t I just wait in the lobby?” Oliver asked.
“You can, but it might be awhile, especially since Beast will be a little groggy from the anesthetic. I promise, as soon as he starts waking up, I’ll give you a buzz and you can rush back over.”
Oliver didn’t argue, and with one last stroke of Beast’s big head, he walked through the doors to the lobby. Eve caught up to him and slipped her hand in his, giving it a squeeze.
Thirty minutes later, they arrived back at his place, and he was surprised when she asked to come in.
“I figure I can help clean up the cage, and the floor, and, well, you.”
Oliver looked down at his shirt and pants, which were covered in blood, and nodded. “Thanks, I’d appreciate it.”
He opened the door and let her in first, hardly knowing what to say. Guilt swirled inside Oliver, berating him for not having realized that there was something more going on with Beast than simply adjusting to a new environment. There was something Oliver could or should have done, and it pissed him off that he had gone to the bar tonight. He should have been home with Beast.
“This wasn’t your fault,” Eve said, practically reading his mind.
“Well, it’s somebody’s fault, so it might as well be mine.”
“Have you ever had a dog? Not just when you were a kid, but one that you were solely responsible for?”
“No,” he said.
“Then how were you supposed to know what to look for, let alone realize that Beast had a serious disorder? I mean, dogs chew things when they’re bored. It was a simple mistake,” she said.
“But if Best had entrusted Beast to someone with more experience, they might have caught his issues and . . . ”
“And what? Sent him back to the shelter? You actually think he’d be better off there than with someone who cares about him?” Eve said.
“I just think that he deserves more than I can give him,” Oliver said. Picking up Beast’s cage, he carried it outside and set it in the backyard. Tomorrow he’d take it to the dump, but for right now, he just needed it out of his sight.
When he came back through the door, Eve was rummaging through his cupboards.
“What are you looking for?” he asked.
“A bucket and floor cleaner, so I can mop up the . . . blood,” she said.
“There’s no bucket, but the cleaning supplies are under the sink,” he said.
Eve bent out of sight and popped back up with a bottle in her hand. She set it on the counter and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“Look, I know tonight was scary, but I’ve seen you with him. I’ve heard the way you talk about him. You love him. That’s all he needs. He’s not going to get better than that, anywhere.”
Oliver wished he could agree with her, but he was completely out of his depth here.
“The dog’s not really mine anyway,” Oliver said. “I’m supposed to be training him to be a military dog, which means he’ll go from me to someone else, but after this, Best probably will need to replace him.”
Eve tipped her face up. “So adopt him.”
“If he’s not in the program, I highly doubt Best is going to let me cart him back and forth to the facility, and besides, what happens when I go back to full MP duty?” Oliver shook his head, wondering how he’d never thought of this before. “This was supposed to be a temporary thing.”
Eve pulled away, and Oliver could sense her hurt even without words.
“What did I say?” he asked.
Eve didn’t answer. Frustrated, Oliver took her shoulders in his hands and turned her to face him again, but she avoided his gaze. “Hey, answer me.”
But still she said nothing, and he felt his frayed nerves unraveling.
“Eve, what in the hell is the matter with you? I am in no mood to play games right now.”
“Okay, fine,” she said, her green eyes blazing up at him finally. “When you were talking about this only being temporary, did you mean the job, Beast, or—by extension—were you talking about me?”
“Of course I wasn’t talking about you,” he snapped.
“So, it was the job, then,” she said. “When you get back to your real job, what hours do you usually work?”
Oliver didn’t like where this was going but he wasn’t going to avoid it, either. “The night shift, but depending on what we’re working on, the hours can be longer.”