“Okay,” I tell him before leading him inside. I had hoped he would find out who it was and it would be over with, but apparently that’s not going to be the case.
He’s looking around my small but cozy living room. “I like your house.”
I feel pride looking around. I had to save for a long time to get this house, and even though it’s small, it’s mine. “Thank you.” I walk a few feet away. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything. Do you want a soda or water? I may have a beer.”
“No thanks.” He gets to work, and instead of the usual flirting, he seems to be all business. I could curl up on the couch and just watch him work, but I know that would be weird. So instead I go to the kitchen and see what I can fix for dinner. I get lost in cooking when I turn at a noise. Evan is leaning against the doorway, watching me work.
“Hey, are you done already?”
He nods. “Something smells good. I missed lunch today.”
I know he’s hinting, and I figure it’s the least I can do. “Do you want to stay for dinner?”
He walks into the room, and I turn back to the stove. He’s hovering over me, and I can feel the heat from his body at my back. “Mmmmmm. Spaghetti. It’s my favorite.”
I plate the food and slide away from him and set it down on the table. “Have a seat.”
He sits down, and I grab drinks and silverware before sitting across from him.
He takes a bite and moans around the mouthful. “This is good.”
My face heats. “Thanks. So I’ve been meaning to ask, you okay after this morning?” I’m worried that I may have brought up a sore subject, but I’ve been worried about him all afternoon.
“Yeah, I’m good actually. I called my doctor, and there’s a new drug that just came out. He said I needed to get on it, so he called it in, and Sam went and picked it up for me. I took it this afternoon and already I feel like a new man. Or well, the same man before I started having vertigo.”
“Oh, Evan. That’s great! I’m so happy for you.”
He stares at me, and his gaze is heated as he tells me thanks.
“So uh, how’s it been being back?”
He shrugs. “I sort of avoided everyone the first month I got back, just trying to get my feet under me. I’m doing good now. I saw a girl I knew in high school, and she’s pretty much all I’ve been thinking about lately.”
Jealousy surges until I look up at him and there’s a twinkle in his eyes. He must be able to read my expression. “You, Sierra. I’m talking about you.”
Pleasure hits me in the chest, but I still can’t trust it.
“Go out with me? To a movie and dinner?”
Before he even finishes his sentence, I’m shaking my head. “No.”
He huffs, dropping his fork on his already empty plate. “Do you want more?” I ask him, and when he shakes his head, I grab both of our plates and take them to the kitchen. He follows right behind me. “Why? Why won’t you go out with me?”
I turn on the hot water and start washing dishes. He grabs a towel off the hook and stands next to me, gesturing for me to hand him the clean dish in my hands.
I hand it over and decide I’m going to be honest with him. “Because you’re just going to hurt me.”
“Hurt you? I’d never hurt you,” he says fiercely.
I turn to the side and put one hand on my hip. “Look at you and then look at me. We’re different. Too different. You were the prom king. You dated the head cheerleader. The sooner that I get you out of my head, the better off I’ll be.”
I go to turn back toward the sink, and he stops me. “Sierra, we’re not in high school anymore.”
When I don’t respond, he asks, “Was I mean to you in high school?”
I shake my head. “No. Never.”
“Have I given you any indication that all I want from you is sex?”
My face flushes. “No,” I squeak. “But you’re just back in town. I’m sure you haven’t heard yet, but Jessica and her husband are getting divorced.”
He shakes his head, confused. “Jessica? Who’s Jessica?”
I barely resist rolling my eyes. “Your prom date.”
He laughs. “Are you kidding me right now? I’m not interested in Jessica or anyone else that you want to match me up with. I’m interested in you.”
“I...” I start to tell him I can’t, but he leans down until we’re nose to nose.
“I want to kiss you, Sierra.”
Because I’m weak, I nod my head, and he smiles at me. He leans in, and his lips briefly touch mine before he pulls away. I go up on my tiptoes to follow him, and his smile gets even bigger. His hand goes to the nape of my neck, and I angle my head to the side. His lips cover mine, but instead of a peck this time, he devours me. His tongue mates with mine, and I wish right then for it never to end. My nipples harden, and there’s a pull in my lower belly, an ache inside me that is building. And just when I’m sure I’m going to beg him to take me to the bedroom, I surprise both of us. “I can’t.”
He pulls back slowly. I don’t know which one of us is more surprised.
“Let me show you the alarm system.”
I follow behind him and stop next to the panel on the wall. He shows me everything and then downloads the app on my phone so I can see the yard and front door from the camera.
“Thank you for this. How much do I owe you?”
He shakes his head. “We’ll send
