Eve

“I like to cook. It relaxes me.”

“Another thing your uncle taught you?”

He nodded. “He never got married. He had to do for himself. I’d like you to meet him someday.” His gaze was on the wall beside the window. “That’s a nice sketch on the wall. It’s Manuel, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I did it when I sat with him while Rosa went to the store. I’m going to give it to her when she starts her GED study. It’s sort of a bribe.”

“It’s good. Is that what you’re going to study?”

“Art? No way. I’ve heard too much about starving artists. And people who starve end up in places like this. I’m going to study engineering. That’s solid.”

“You have something there.” His gaze was still wandering. “One bedroom. Where do you sleep?”

“On the couch. It’s pretty comfortable.”

His gaze went to the paisley-covered couch across the room. “Cushy. Yeah, I can see you lying on it.” His eyes shifted back to her. “I’m glad I’ll be able to picture you there.”

Heat again. Out of nowhere. Just a few words, and that tingling tension was back.

“You’d better leave.”

“I’m going. I knew I said the wrong thing. I was making headway. We’ve gotten to know more about each other. You’re not thinking of me as a threat to you any longer. I should have let it go at that, but I couldn’t do it.” He added, “But I didn’t want to let you forget what’s going to be important to us.” He turned toward the door. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow night.”

“Don’t you ever give up?”

“If I’d taken you at your word tonight and left you when you handed me my walking papers, then it would have been a hell of a lot more difficult for you.” He opened the door. “You can never tell when I might come in handy.”

“One-in-a-thousand chance.”

“When it comes, I’ll be there.” He looked back over his shoulder. “Do you know how I’m going to be thinking of you lying on that couch?” he said softly. “Naked, Eve. Naked and moving.”

He shut the door.

Damn him.

A wild kind of chemistry.

Searing hunger, mindless need. She was feeling all of those emotions that very moment.

Her hands were clenched as she stared at the door. The hell he was no longer a threat. Yes, they had gotten to know more about each other. Though he had become more knowledgeable about her than she was of him. He had caught her at a susceptible time, and she had revealed a vulnerability that she had shown no one before.

All she had learned about him was that he could be even more brutal and dangerous than he had shown her with that encounter with Larazo. That he had effortlessly made himself a necessity to Sandra and her during this hellish night. That he had read her mind and emotions with a cleverness and sensitivity that made her uneasy. That he had a patience that was almost intimidating. That his worst fear was of being trapped.

And that he was able, with one look or sentence, to make her body respond.

Naked and moving.

She knew as she lay on the couch trying to sleep tonight that she would be thinking, feeling, imagining John Gallo’s vision of her… and of him.

Damn him.

* * *

SHE TOOK AN HOUR OFF FROM work the next day so that she’d be gone when he reached the restaurant.

The next night he showed up at the restaurant three hours early.

“I was worried that you weren’t here,” he said as he sat down on the chair. “Until Teresa told me that you’d left early. Is Sandra okay?”

“I guess so. She only stayed at home one day. When I got home from school today, she was gone.”

“Then it wasn’t trouble at home. You were running away from me.” He added quietly, “You shouldn’t do that, Eve. I know you can’t afford to miss any hours.”

“I wasn’t running from you. I had homework.”

He looked at her skeptically.

“What’s wrong? Didn’t Teresa entertain you?”

He shook his head. “You keep pushing her at me. If I wanted a substitute, I’d choose my own.” He studied her. “And you’re changing the subject. You must have had a reason to panic.”

“I didn’t panic.”

“Too strong a word? Maybe just a couple of really bad nights?”

She didn’t answer.

“I had them, too.” He got up from the stool, and said curtly, “And it’s time you brought this to an end. I’ll be waiting outside every night until you decide to either call the cops on me or give me my shot at convincing you that I’m not going to do anything to hurt you.”

He walked out the door.

And he would do exactly what he said, she realized. She had already gotten a taste of that patience. He was right. She would have to settle this in some other way because he wouldn’t be avoided.

And she wouldn’t run away from him again.

* * *

“LET’S GO.” SHE OPENED THE passenger door and got into John’s Chevy. “I’m tired of the people I’m working with thinking I’m being stalked.”

“I guess you could say they’re right. Except stalking implies violence, and there’s no way I’d be violent with you.” As he started the car, he said, “Unless you wanted it. You don’t have the experience, and I’d shy away from it. But we could try it if you-”

“Shut up.” That heat was rising within her again. She only had to be near him, and it started. “I don’t want to try it. I don’t want to try anything.” She moistened her lips. “You said we had to put an end to this. That’s why I’m here. You helped me twice in some really bad situations, and I’m grateful. But now I want you to go away. You make me feel… I don’t like to feel like this.”

“Yes, you do. Or you would, if you’d let yourself. It’s the sport that makes the world go round. You’re feeling what I’m feeling, and there’s nothing more exciting. You’re just scared of the consequences. There wouldn’t be consequences, Eve. I’d take care of you.”

“And you think I’d trust you?”

“I think we’re going to have to trust each other. We need it too much to do anything else.”

“I don’t… need it.”

“The hell you don’t.” He drew a deep breath. “And I can’t talk right now, or I’ll end up wrecking this car. Give me a few minutes to get you home.”

He didn’t speak again until they were parked across the street from the housing development. His hands were clenched on the steering wheel, and he was looking straight ahead. “You may not need me, but you want me.” He turned and slid across the seat until he was touching her thigh-to-thigh. “Do you think I can’t feel it? I know damn well you can feel me. We’re both sending out signals that are basic as hell.”

She couldn’t breathe. Her hand reached out for the door handle.

“No, stay.” His hand was suddenly covering hers. “Let me show you just a little of what we’d have. I’ll stop whenever you say.” His hand moved slowly up her wrist to her upper arm. “You feel so good… Silky, and yet every muscle tense and ready.” His hand moved up to cup her throat. “And your heartbeat…”