Page 35 of Cowboy of Convenience
“Should be an interesting day for her then.” Grady’s hand settled at the small of her back as he led her to the door of the SUV she was considering trading in for something cheaper. He opened the door, waiting while she climbed in. Once she was set he leaned into the open door. “Should we have a goodbye kiss?”
Her stomach fluttered, reigniting that damn throb. “I would imagine she’s peeking out the window.”
“That’s what I figured.” Grady didn’t hesitate. He grasped her chin and pressed his mouth to hers in a sweet and disappointingly chaste kiss. He leaned away, tapping her on the nose. “Have a good day, Ev.”
“Yup.” She pressed her tingling lips together. “You too.”
Grady closed her in and then went to his truck, sliding into place before starting the engine and backing out, continuing farther than needed before flashing his lights.
The damn flutter roared to life as she backed out in front of him and headed for her studio with Grady following behind her, making sure she got where she needed to go.
He lingered while she parked in front of the studio and let herself into the space, offering a honk and a wave as he drove away, leaving her feeling cared for and protected in a way she’d never been before.
Sure, there had always been people around to do things for her in New York, but all of them were paid to be there. None of them genuinely cared about her or her well-being. And not a single one of them would have ever stood up next to her against her grandmother.
Evelyn watched Grady’s truck disappear down the street as the butterfly occupying her insides started to breed, amping up both the tickle in her belly and the heat collecting just below it.
She pressed one hand to her belly, trying to ease one of the problems she had where Grady was concerned. She liked him. Genuinely. Honestly.
Had for longer than she’d been willing to admit.
But liking him was one thing.
Wanting him was another.
And it might be her undoing because there was no way she would survive another night in bed next to that man.
CHAPTER TWELVE
GRADY
“LOOKS LIKE SHE survived.” Grady peeled off his vest, hanging it in the small closet before working down the buttons of his shirt. “I have to say I’m a little surprised.”
“Me too.” Evelyn sat on the bed, fresh from her shower, dark hair full and soft as it fell over her shoulders and against the silky robe wrapped over her pajamas. “I kind of expected the house to burn down while we were gone.”
“Me too.” Grady grinned. “That’s why I made sure someone came past every hour.”
“That was really nice of you.” Evelyn’s dark eyes hadn’t left him since they came into her room.
Hell, they hadn’t left him since they pulled into the driveway, timing their arrival perfectly.
“Did you have a good day?” Evelyn’s gaze locked onto his hands as he peeled away his shirt.
“Decent enough.” He gripped the front of his undershirt and dragged it up, moving a little slower than he normally would have. “What about you?”
Evelyn’s lips pressed together as her eyes followed the hem of his rising shirt, unblinking as he peeled it away from his body. She swallowed, the delicate line of her throat working as he tossed it into the laundry hamper.
“Ev?”
Her eyes snapped to his face. “What?”
He already knew Evelyn found him attractive—there was no missing the way she drank him in the night before—but finding him attractive and wanting more from him were two different things.
Two very different things.
Grady made quick work of his pants, unfastening them before adding them to the basket. “Your day? How was it?”
“Oh.” Evelyn cleared her throat, eyes drifting back down his mostly naked form. “It was good. I taught a couple classes and then spent the rest of the day cleaning and working on the books.”
