Page 130 of Fall Into Temptation
Eva straightened quickly and cracked the back of her head off the open cabinet door.
“Ouch!” She grabbed at the back of her head.
Summer dropped the laundry basket and hurried forward. “That looked like it hurt.”
“I’m fine!” Eva said, with more panic than necessary. “Everything is fine. Are you hungry? I’m hungry. Maybe I’ll run out and get us some lunch since you guys have been so great helping me…” she gestured helplessly around the mostly spotless first floor.
“About damn time,” Joey yelled from upstairs.
“I’ll get pizza. Or subs. Or pizza and subs,” Eva chattered on, wishing she could shut herself up.
“I want chicken fingers,” Joey yelled down.
“Let’s get something from Dad’s restaurant. He’ll probably sneak some dessert in with the order,” Gia called from upstairs.
“Why don’t I go pick it up?” Summer suggested, staring at Eva like she was crazy. “That way if you have, oh, say a concussion, you don’t go wandering around downtown all alone.”
“No! I mean, no. I don’t mind picking up food. It’s no problem. I’d be happy to. Otherwise one of you yahoos would try to pay for it, and it’s my treat and—”
The knock at the door saved her from herself.
Summer answered it, and Eva glanced back down at the pack of pills in her hand. She was overreacting. There was no way—
Donovan stepped across the threshold carrying pizza boxes balancing a slim wrapped gift box.
In a panic, Eva tossed the pill packet over her shoulder. It landed with a clatter in the sink.
Donovan’s gaze met hers from across the room.
“Sheriff Sexy,” Eva said in a voice two octaves too high.
“She hit her head on a cabinet door,” Summer explained.
“It seems to happen a lot here,” he said, winking at Eva. “I’m running delivery. Bobby heard you were handling cleanup today and wanted to aid your effort.”
“Did she also send a present?” Joey asked as she and Gia tromped downstairs.
Emma poked her head in from the sunroom. “I smell Peace of Pizza!”
“Present is for Eva from me,” Donovan said, handing over the shiny silver box. “It’s just a little something I thought you could use,” he said quietly to Eva.
Despite the hysterical tremors wracking her fingers, Eva pasted a smile on her face. “Aren’t you just the sweetest…”Boyfriend? Unsuspecting baby daddy? She’d just leave it at sweetest.
She shimmied off the lid and brushed back the tissue paper.
“Donovan,” she gasped. A brand-new laptop, two models newer than the one that had been stolen, was nestled inside the box. She’d been saving up for one, knowing that hers wasn’t long for this world. It had purple flower decals on the laptop skin.
“Whoa,” Joey said, snooping over her shoulder. “Cardona wins the gift giving category.”
“This is the most thoughtful…” Words were failing Eva.
“I’m going to get your old one back,” he promised. “But I wanted you to have something that no one else touched.”
She dashed around the island and threw her arms around his waist. “Thank you,” she whispered against his chest.
“You like it?” he asked gruffly.
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
