Page 22 of The Love Hoax
“Everydetail?”
“Okay,” I say. “We can keep some things closer to the vest, but you get the idea. My sister is an FBI investigator.” So much for holding back.
“Literally?”
“Unfortunately, yes. She passed her exams a week ago.”
“Amazing.”
“Gets better. Steph inherited the ‘I can smell a rat a mile away’ powers from my mom, so if we’re not consistent, we’re going to be caught.”
Maybe I should ask the waiter to spike my coffee.
Evie says, “For arguments sake, what happens if you are caught?”
“Embarrassment, arguing, being called a liar. And worst of all,being subjected once again to a never-ending list of potential but completely incompatible women who?—”
She holds up a hand. “Wow. Sounds intense.” She yawns. Loudly. “Sorry. Long day.”
“Are you going to be all right driving all the way back to Merced?”
“I should be fine,” she says, yawning again.
I have an idea. “Listen, I know we just met, but close calls like the one on Cloud’s Nest tend to change things.” I know I’m coming off as sketchy. “Stay at my place,” I blurt out.
I must have hit my head on that cliff.
Evie chews the inside of her cheek. “Just for the night, right?”
“For as long as you want.,” I say, incredulous that she’s even entertaining the offer.
“I don’t know if that’s such a wise idea.” She yawns again. Heartily.
“The roads are dark. It’s at least forty minutes to your hotel.” For good measure, I add, “You’ll have your own space. I swear.”
She pauses, unsure.
“It will give us a chance to get the details down.”
“Okay, but if I stay longer I’ll need to get my things from the hotel.”
I try to hold in my excitement. “Sounds like a plan.”
We leave her car parked in The Rocky Roastery’s lot. Five minutes later, Evie is sound asleep in my car.
Chapter Fifteen
Adam
Idrive the dark, tree-lined roads carefully, even though I know them like the back of my hand. Night has settled over the mountain, a waning moon making little impact against the inky sky. The only illumination comes from the car’s headlights. I know once I turn them off, the sky will become a sea of stars. Maybe I’ll point it out to Evie when we arrive at the house.
Or maybe that would be interpreted as a come-on.Hey Evie, come this way. Let me show you the stars.
I glance at her. She’s sound asleep, her head leaning against the window. It gives me the chance to study her beautiful face. Her small nose, high cheekbones, long thick lashes. A lock of hair has come loose of her ponytail and hangs haphazardly down past her ear. Soft puffs of breath emerge from her full ruby lips.
I feel an odd tingle deep in my belly. It’s been many years since I’ve had such a powerful reaction to a woman. A fierce, all-encompassing attraction.
But it’s more than that. She looks so vulnerable. A feeling of protectiveness courses through me. A primal instinct.
