Running Home to You (The Running Series) Read Free Page B

Evan laughs it off, but I’m burning with anger.
    Emmy tries to distract me with small talk, but I don’t hear a word she’s saying.  My attention is completely focused on Evan as I see one woman, a long-legged blonde, pulling down her top and exposing abundant cleavage bursting from her lace bra, while handing Evan a Sharpie marker.  She actually wants him to sign her boobs.  Adam takes one look at my reaction and immediately jumps into action.  “Stay right here.  I’m ending this.  Now.”  He makes a beeline directly towards Evan with a look of determination on his face.
    Adam is great.  He takes complete control of the situation, making apologies to the crowd, and whisking Evan away from the fray.  In no time at all, Emmy and I are joined by our men and off we go.  I do my best to put on a happy face, although Evan knows I’m not at all comfortable with what I just witnessed.  But he respects my feelings enough not to discount them.  Instead, he simply takes my hands in his and kisses me.  All worries are forgotten, and I find myself grinning once again.
    The restaurant is only a few blocks away, so we decide to walk rather than grab a taxi.  The streets are fairly crowded today, thanks to the beautiful spring weather and the start of the Memorial Day weekend.  The sidewalks surrounding Rockefeller Center are filled with tourists and much to our delight, none of them stop us or make a scene.  Evan and I walk hand-in hand along the streets of Manhattan much like any other young couple. 
    There’s really nothing that compares to walking the streets of midtown Manhattan.  I spent four years in Denver, and now it seems like a million miles away.  The downtown market in Denver is a lovely pedestrian promenade that is always clean, generally tranquil, and only occasionally exciting.  My favorite event is the Zombie Crawl every October.  It’s the only time the streets are crowded with thousands and filled with the kind of energy that is a constant here in Manhattan.
    As we walk, I notice Evan flexing his hand.  “Do you need more Tylenol?” I ask him.  He refuses to take any real painkillers, which I admire.  Unfortunately, he’s been popping Tylenol Extra Strength like it’s Pez.  He nods and I reach into my purse, pop two tablets from a bottle, and hand them to Evan along with my bottle of water.  I’m not comfortable with him taking so much acetaminophen, but I also don’t want to see him in pain.
    As we turn a corner, there’s a street performance going on, drawing people in to watch.  Evan and I stop to enjoy the show.  Two young, fit men are putting on an acrobatics show and they are mesmerizing.  Adam and Emmy stop, too, but they are too wrapped up in each other to pay any attention to the show.  They’ve only been dating for a few weeks, and they seem to be blissfully happy.
    Evan looks down at me with smoldering eyes and wraps his hands around my waist, pulling me close.  I reach up, draping my arms around his neck and find the hair at the nape of his neck.  I work my fingers through the strands while running my nails across his scalp.  Evan closes his eyes and releases a moan.  I love the sounds I can get him to make with the slightest touch.  He moves his hands down to my bottom and lifts me off me feet and onto my tiptoes.  Our lips meet for a soft sweet kiss.  When he squeezes my ass, I respond by opening up for him, allowing his tongue entry to explore and caress.  While Evan holds me in his arms, everything around us disappears, leaving us alone in our own world.  Evan has that effect on me.  He releases me and slowly the haze clears.  Emmy is staring at me waiting for an answer to a question I didn’t hear.
    “I’m sorry, Emmy.  What was your question?” I ask, slightly flushed and totally contented.
    “I asked if you two were ready for dinner.  I’m starving,” she repeats.
    “Oh, yeah, food.  Lead the way.”  And off we go, walking