Page 126 of Fall Into Temptation
“You don’t have to. Not until you’re ready.”
“It’s embarrassing. I’ve known since before kindergarten what kind of a person my mother was, and yet I’m surprised that she’s found a new way to hurt me. It’s pathetic. I’m letting her ruin yet another home for me.”
“Well, sooner or later you’ll be ballsy enough to stop letting her ruin anything for you,” he said.
Eva poked him in the chest. “I know exactly what you’re doing.”
He grinned. “You mean enjoying my post-orgasmic bliss?” he asked innocently.
“You’re getting me riled up to prove you—and me—wrong.”
“Now, why would I go and do a thing like that?”
“Because whining and feeling sorry for myself gets me nowhere. And it’s about damn time I take back what’s mine.”
“You better keep it down. If the B.C. hears you talking like that, they’ll be picketing Ellery’s wedding tomorrow.”
Eva laughed. “Once the wedding is over, I can be cured of all my hang-ups and baggage. And this planetary nonsense will be all over.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Maybe then I can take you out on a date?”
She smiled, happiness pooling in her chest. “I’d like that.”
He kissed her softly, lips warm and gentle against hers.
Eva pulled back. “Mmm, I can’t believe I finally get a date with Sheriff Sexy.”
“It’s about damn time.”
“Hey. Do you want to hear another secret?” she asked. She laughed when he flinched. “It’s not mine,” she promised. “Emma’s pregnant. Sounds like it’s going to be a pretty big surprise since they were just starting to talk about kids.”
“When arewegoing to start talking about them?” he teased.
Eva snorted. “How about we discuss that sometime after our first date?”
His phone rang from the depths of his discarded pants. “Shit. It’s dispatch. Hang on a second. Cardona,” he answered.
He tensed. “Uh, you know what. I’m real close to there. Why don’t you let me check it out first before you call the fire department?”
Donovan jumped up and made a grab for his pants.
“No, I don’t think the neighbor needs to break down the front door. I’m thirty seconds away. I’ll check it out and call it in if there’s a situation.”
Donovan hung up and grabbed Eva’s dress.
“We gotta get dressed real fast. Someone just reported a fire hazard at Gia’s yoga studio.”
“We’re in Gia’s yoga studio.” Eva reminded him.
He pointed at the flickering electric candles. “Neighbors apparently keep an eye on the place, and someone saw candlelight in an empty building. Got someone waiting outside to break down the door and save the day.”
Eva yelped and grabbed the dress. She put it on and did a frantic search for her discarded underwear.
“Well, well, well. I guess you owe me an apology, Beckett.”
Gia stood in the doorway, arms crossed looking smug. Donovan yanked his pants up over his hips.
Beckett peeked in and grinned. The swelling around his eye had gone down, but the shiner was still prominent.
