Page 21 of Fall Into Temptation
Eva was enjoying herself and not just because of the background she was collecting. Donovan was charming, smart, and his heart of gold—as shiny as that sheriff’s badge—shone through in the stories he shared.
The man had climbed into the sewer to rescue Mr. Garcia’s ferrets for God’s sake. If that didn’t say “good guy” Eva didn’t know what did. With a few hours of work in front of her, she’d switched to water, and he’d done the same. Responsible, sensible, practical. It shouldn’t be sexy, but damn it, everything Donovan Cardona did was hot.
She did her best to dance around his dogged attempts to draw her out. She couldn’t understand them. Usually when she told people she was a technical writer who lived in her sister’s backyard, they immediately changed the subject. Not Donovan. He worked every subject back around to her, and she found herself revealing more than she usually did.
He was the fascinating one and unexpectedly candid, too. He spoke of his parents with affection and admitted he never felt like an only child growing up. Not with the Pierces just down the road.
“Blue Moon must have been an interesting place with all four of you single,” Eva smiled at the idea. She could just imagine the women fanning themselves when the infamous Pierces and their sheriff friend walked in the door. “Were you surprised that they all settled down and got married?”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Not with knowing their parents. Phoebe and John and my parents, too. They had something. They made marriage look not just easy but fun. I think we all grew up expecting to find that.”
“Three for four,” Eva said, tapping his ring finger. “Are you lining up a Mrs. Sheriff?”
When he lifted his gaze to hers, she felt something sweep through her like a hot summer breeze. She swallowed hard and sat up a little straighter. “I mean, is the Beautification Committee chomping at the bit to get you married off?”
“I’m off limits to the B.C. It’s a long-standing understanding. They can’t mess with town officials.”
She laughed. “I hate to point this out to you, but Beckett Pierce is mayor… and married off.”
“Yeah, but I have a gun and handcuffs. I’m much scarier than Mr. Mayor.”
Now that he mentioned it, she was feeling a few nerves with him looking at her like that.
“Donovan!”
Eva leaned back, breaking their gaze as Ellery rushed up to their table.
Her usually pale face flushed with rage. Her black cardigan had batwing buttons and a scythe embroidered onto the chest. She wore a checked, pleated miniskirt and black lace tights. Her lips were painted a deep purple. “I need you to arrest someone,” she announced breathlessly.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” Donovan asked, laying a hand on her shoulder.
Ellery closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I need you to arrest the Beautification Committee,” she said.
“The entire committee?” Donovan clarified.
“They kicked me off the committee!” Her voice rose two octaves.
“Oh, boy,” Lila said, coming onto the scene. “Sounds like you could use a drink.”
“Can you bring me the usual, Li?” Ellery asked, her dark eyes watering now. Eva patted Ellery’s shoulder.
“One corpse reviver coming up,” Lila said.
“You can put that on my check,” Eva told her. “I’ll take care of it when you come back.”
“Hang on,” Donovan argued. “You’re not paying.”
“I asked you here, remember?” Eva reminded him.
“Guys, can we please talk about who we’re going to arrest first?”
“Why don’t we talk about why you want them arrested first?” Donovan suggested amicably.
Eva loved seeing him slide into his sheriff’s pants—though she’d prefer to see him slide out of them…
Ellery grabbed Eva’s napkin and dabbed at the corners of her eyes.
When Donovan looked at her, Eva mouthed “Uranus?”
