Page 12 of Fall Into Temptation
“Aha!” She rose triumphantly and smacked her elbow off her side mirror. “Son of a—”
“Car trouble, ma’am?” Donovan’s shadow, cast from the porch light, fell over her.
“No, officer. Everything is just fine.” Nerves played over her skin as he took another step closer.
“Have you been drinking, ma’am?”
“You sat next to me and watched me drink exactly one point five glasses of wine, Sheriff. And it’s dark out here, so let me verbalize the fact that I’m rolling my eyes at you in case you missed it.”
“I’m going to need you to walk over and back to that tree. Straight line, please.” The serious sheriff was playing with her. And that only made Eva want to play right back. She sauntered first, then strutted, and when she reached the tree, she got a running start and landed a perfect one-handed cartwheel followed by a curtsy.
“Smartass,” he teased.
“Shameful. Wasting the taxpayers’ money interrogating poor little old me,” Eva tsked, tugging her ponytail back into place.
“I get the feeling that an interrogation with you would get me nowhere,” he predicted.
“I have no idea what you mean by that.” She knew exactly what he meant by that.
“You’re sneaky. You’re distracting. I bet you lie really well.”
“And you can tell all this from dinner with my parents?” Eva asked.
“I like that you call Phoebe your parent,” he said, switching gears, his voice softer.
“If I could have handpicked a wife for my dad, it’s that woman in there,” Eva said pointing back at the house.
“They seem happy together. I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time.”
She smiled up at him. “I was just thinking the same thing about my dad. I love seeing him like this. It’s like all his dreams finally came true.”
“It’s a shame that you don’t feel like you can open up to them,” Donovan said casually.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eva’s guard came up with her chin.
“Can’t even admit that you got taken out by a cabinet door.”
“Oh, that.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “And, hey! Who’s the sneaky one now?” Eva crossed her arms.
He grinned at her, and even in the dark, it was blinding.
“Fine. It’s just yet another oops in a long line of distracted accidents that only serves to reinforce their opinion that I’m the klutzy baby of the family.”
“Youarethe baby,” he reminded her.
“I’m the youngest. There’s a difference. I’m still an adult. I just don’t pay as much attention as I should. I’m in my own head too much.”
“So they think you need a keeper.” His tone made it clear that he agreed with her family.
“If anyone needs a keeper, it’s Gia. She can’t find Lydia’s diaper bag or her car keys on any given day of the week.”
“Gia has a keeper. Beckett. Who do you have?” Donovan’s voice had that rough edge to it that sent delicious chills up her spine.
“I’m still interviewing for the position,” she told him, looking up through her lashes. They were closer than she realized. She could just reach out and touch him…
He leaned in, stopping just inches from her face. Her breath caught and her body revved in anticipation.
“Good to know,” he said quietly. And just when she thought he was going to kiss her, Donovan reached for the door handle and opened her car door. “Drive safely. Good night, Evangelina.”
