Love Bites Read Free Page B

leave?”
    “Yup.” He kissed her temple. “Keep me posted, okay? Let me know if they catch the bastard who hurt you.”
    She patted the hands laced around her waist. “I’m sure they will.”
    Brick released her and, as she turned, Jesse drew her in for a hug. He carefully lifted her right off her feet. “Take it easy, okay? Maybe consider letting Evan coddle you a little.”
    She’d been smiling over the embrace—until he mentioned Evan. Looking toward Evan, she saw him standing back, arms crossed, gaze attentive.
    And damn it, she blushed.
    “I keep telling you guys, I’m fine.” She pushed away from Jesse with a frown. “I don’t need to be coddled.”
    “He doesn’t mind, do you, Evan?”
    “Be my pleasure,” Evan said in a low, suggestive voice that sent her pulse skittering into overdrive.
    Her face went hotter still. Lord, now they were all three scrutinizing her, but she did not want to be forced on Evan. “You’re all a bunch of old ladies.” She shooed them away. “Go home. But drive carefully. It’s storming again.”
    There was another round of hugs, and then she stood alone with Evan. Doug watched her, waiting to see if they would leave or stay.
    Evan remained near the kitchen doorway, arms still crossed, his attention burning.
    What did that mean? Was that hot stare out of concern, or something more? “I’m going to help pick up before I go.” She straightened a cushion, turned off a lamp, went back to the kitchen—passing close by Evan.
    He didn’t move. If it was one of the other guys, she’d give a hip bump or a playful push, maybe even make kissing noises at him.
    But with Evan, given her hidden feelings, she always felt awkward and obvious and sort of exposed. So she squeezed past him without a word—and he let her.
    After she went to the sink, Evan came up beside her. She froze as he reached around her…and took a doggy treat from the container on his counter.
    Her breath escaped in a sigh.
    “Here you go, boy.” Evan handed the treat to Doug.
    Until then, she hadn’t realized Doug was dogging her heels so closely. She turned and gave him a pat. “My shadow,” she teased. “I should have realized you were there.”
    “He’s worried about you.”
    She did not want to feel guilty for making her dog worry. “He always follows me.”
    “Not like this.” Evan again touched her hair. “He’s probably picking up on things you want to hide.”
    “What do you mean?” She knew exactly what he meant. “I’m not hiding anything.” Such a big fib.
    Evan stood so much taller than her that when he stared down at her that way, she felt small, and incredibly…feminine.
    In truth, she was neither. She was far too chubby, a tomboy who preferred sweats to skirts for everyday life.
    “Cinder,” he chided, and his hand curved around her jaw.
    He had such big, warm hands that her toes curled. “Hmm?”
    “There’s no one here but us now.”
    She was all too aware of that. “I know.”
    “We’re good friends, right?”
    Sadly, yes, they were only good friends. She nodded.
    His mouth quirked at the way her hair bounced around. He smoothed it before continuing. “I don’t expect you to fall apart, because that’s not you. Hell, the world could start coming down around you, and you’d take charge.”
    “Thanks.” That made her sound sort of…bossy. And cold. “I think.”
    “But you were attacked. No way will I believe you’re blowing that off.”
    He knew her too well—except he didn’t know that she’d fallen hopelessly in love with him only days after meeting him. “Okay, so I’m a little jittery. No big deal. I’ll be fine.”
    “’Course you will. But with me, you don’t have to put on a front.” His other hand lifted to her face, too, so that now he held her caught in his gaze. “Okay?”
    He had such a piercing, sexy expression that she felt herself swaying toward him. Doug leaned into her side, breaking the impact of that awesome stare.
    To cover