Chapter 23
It turned out that an interruption wasn’t necessary.
Even before Tai got close enough to physically separate the two by making himself a third wheel, Evangeline had already shut Aiden down.
The man didn’t look too dejected, however.
He reached out and gently squeezed her arm, then turned to walk away.
He paused when he approached Tai. “No hard feelings, man. I had to try.”
Tai couldn’t blame him. Only an idiot wouldn’t make a move on a woman like Angel. She was everything a man could ever want. Unpredictable enough to keep him on his toes. Sweet and sassy at the same time. She had a way about her that enchanted him. Mysteries that he wanted to explore.
Aiden clapped him on the back. “Good luck.”
Evangeline glanced at Tai over her shoulder. “You still here?”
“As you can see.” He leaned against the laminate countertop and folded his arms over his chest. The sleeve of his black tee rose to the top of his bicep. He opened his mouth but then shut it when he noticed her go still. Her eyes trailed the length of his arm, her cheeks flushing.
Well, well, well. Wasn’t this an interesting development. He’d noticed her curiosity over his tattoos before. Each time her gaze raked over one of the artistic pieces on his body, it felt like sweet torture. A caress without being touched.
He flexed his muscles and was inordinately pleased when her throat bobbed and her breath hitched. She was not as unaffected by him as she would like him to believe. On the contrary, she seemed to be just as drawn to him as he was to her. The only difference was, she was fighting the attraction.
“See something you like, Evangeline Aphrodite Kelly?” he asked in a low, husky voice.
She licked her lips, blinked, then tore her gaze away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He chuckled. “Sure you don’t, sweetheart.” He leaned closer to her and whispered, “Ask nicely and maybe I’ll let you see more.”
She pushed her shoulders back and gave him one of her prim Southern belle looks. “I’m not your sweetheart, and my middle name isn’t Aphrodite.”
“Seems to me your parents missed an opportunity.”
“Why do you say that?”
He reached out and traced a finger down her jaw in a featherlight touch. “You definitely should’ve been named after the goddess of love and beauty.”
She flushed and pulled away. “Save your flirting for a woman who will fall for such malarky.”
He only heard her with half his brain. The other half was processing the feel of Evangeline’s skin. He’d never felt anything so soft and smooth. Almost as if . . .
He tracked the contours of her face. The soft swell of her cheekbones down to the outline of her jaw. Every inch of skin was sleek and silky.
Tai worked on bodies every day. He knew the shape of people, the feel. The touch of coarse hair and of fine and the fact that the human form, even women’s, grew the slightest amount of fuzz on their faces.
Not Evangeline.
Without thinking, Tai reached out and gently cupped her upper arm, letting his hand trail down her elegant limb until he gripped her fingertips.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Her voice was thick and breathless.
Smooth as butter, every inch of her.
But now wasn’t the time to puzzle out this new piece of information about his Angel. Not when she was staring at him with wide eyes, equal parts accusation and poorly concealed longing.
“Tell me your middle name.”
He wasn’t sure why he was so hung up on knowing her full name.
There wasn’t any rational reason, although there wasn’t any rational reason why she’d keep it a secret from him either.
Which was maybe why it was so important?
Her middle name seemed to be more than just a name between them now.
It signified a wall. When she finally told him, it would mean that she finally trusted him.
She took a step back in answer, and he sighed. He pushed off the counter and pivoted to stand square with her. “Just so you know, you’re wasting your time trying to match me with someone else.”
Her mouth opened and closed a few times before firming into a thin line.
“Fine.” She picked up an unused mug and replaced it on the shelf in one of the cabinets.
“But if you had showed Bella even an ounce of interest, maybe turned on the charm that you so love to shower on me, then you would’ve had her eating out of your hand.
” Her hair bounced along her shoulders as she slightly shook her head.
“I’m not sure why you didn’t,” she muttered under her breath.
“I’ve told you why.”
Her brows furrowed, the pinched edges drawing Tai’s attention.
The shape of them was lovely, but the texture . . .
He could’ve kicked himself for not noticing before. How had he missed it? His tattoo license should be revoked for his lack of observation. Evangeline’s eyebrows were tattoos. Temporary ones, at that.
She stared at him, confusion written on her face. For goodness’ sake, he needed to stop letting these revelations about her derail him so much. She was going to think he’d missed the plot completely.
He lowered his gaze to delve into the depths of her green eyes, the jeweled tone so rich an emerald would be jealous. “Despite what you think, I’m not a flirtatious man by nature. I only act this way with you. You bring out whatever charm you see in me.”
He let his words sink in, hoping that she heard him this time.
“What about you?” he finally asked.
She tilted her head. “What about me?”
“Aiden seems like a nice guy.” Maybe it was petty to emphasize the word nice. Draw attention to the fact that she didn’t think Tai could claim the character trait. “Why don’t you take your own advice? Why don’t you turn your matchmaking energy on yourself?”
The same look of longing he’d noticed in her expression earlier returned, dampened, however, by a veil of hurt and fear.
Tai recognized the look. He recognized it because it was one he’d worn himself once upon a time.
When he’d first considered defying his mother’s wishes.
When he’d contemplated living in the moment instead of by the fears of what could happen.
He’d yearned for the freedom and independence to try new things and gain new experiences while simultaneously being held back by years of ingrained anxiety.
But he’d had to let that fear go. He’d had to take a leap into the living instead of watching from the safety of the sideline.
“I already told you. I don’t date.” She said it with such finality, as if slamming the door not only on the conversation but on her love life. Forever.
But Tai wasn’t ready to let the topic drop. “Why?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“I disagree. I think it is very much my business.”
“You presume too much.”
“I’m sorry to have to disagree again, but from my perspective, I presume just the right amount. No matter how much you play that you don’t understand what I mean, I know you do. Because you are one of the smartest, cleverest people I’ve ever met.”
Tai stepped in front of her, blocking any escape. He could see it in her eyes, the desire to flee. From him. From the conversation. From the truth right in front of her face.
She took a step back, but her retreat was halted by the counter.
Their bodies lined up in perfect symmetry only inches apart.
Enough space to keep things professional in her place of work but close enough that he could feel the heat coming off her.
The exhale of her breath across the sensitive skin of his lips.
When she moved her hand to press it against her stomach, the back of her fingers grazed his own middle, causing his abdominal muscles to tighten in response.
Thickness built in his throat, but he wasn’t done saying what he needed to say.
“So,” he finally continued once he got himself under control.
“You know it’s my business why you choose to date or not because you know that’s what I want.
A relationship. With you. But you say I’m bad and, heaven help me, maybe I am.
Maybe I am bad because I’d do anything to be with you, to spend time with you. ”
He had more to say. More in his heart that he was willing to split open and lay bare for her.
But her lips parted, and the small movement scattered his thoughts with the force of a tornado.
He could focus on nothing but the plump fullness in front of him.
The swell and curve of her mouth. His heart was knocking that familiar rhythm again, chanting mine, mine, mine.
A sharp knock sounded, causing Evangeline to squeak and dash around him.
“Evangeline? You in here?” an unfamiliar female voice said from the direction of the door.
“Penelope? What are you doing in Little Creek?”
Tai ran his fingers through his hair, tugging at the ends. He took a few deep breaths before he turned around. He felt he’d been thrown in a wood chipper, and he needed a few quiet moments to put himself back in order.
A woman who resembled Evangeline in the shape of her face and the slope of her nose stood in the threshold, her eyes wide as she flicked her gaze between Evangeline and Tai.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” her mouth said while her look with Evangeline communicated so much more.
Evangeline flushed. “You didn’t interrupt anything.”
Tai vehemently disagreed, but he stayed silent.
“This is Tai, by the way.” She waggled her fingers in his general direction.
Taking his cue, Tai stepped forward and held out his hand. “Tai Davis.”
“Penelope.” She placed her hand in his. “Evangeline’s sister.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
She took his measure in a single glance as if she were accustomed to weighing and sorting men within seconds of their introduction.
As always, he knew the conclusions people jumped to when they first laid eyes on him, heavily inked with a preference for dark clothing.
He expected Penelope to follow along the same line of thought her sister had, so when she responded by saying, “It’s very nice to meet you as well, Tai,” and then gave her sister a knowing and approving grin, Tai was stunned.
“You know I always love seeing you, sis, but I didn’t expect you here today.”
“I can see that.” Penelope waggled her brows not so subtly in his direction.
He held in a snort of laughter. Looked like he had an unexpected ally on his side.
Evangeline squirmed a little where she stood, obviously uncomfortable with the implications her sister was hinting at. Taking pity on her, Penelope opened the large purse slung over her shoulder and pulled out a gallon-sized Ziploc bag filled with what appeared to be old letters.
Evangeline sucked in a breath. “Are those Grampie and Granny’s love letters?”
Penelope handed over the storage bag, and Evangeline cradled the aged envelopes with the care a newborn baby would receive.
Penelope pulled out a folded sheet of paper and handed that over as well.
“And this is the guest list. I thought I’d bring them both by and drop them off so you can get started on the invitations and decorations.
” She turned to Tai. “We’re planning a big party to celebrate our grandparents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary. ”
Evangeline looked up from the list of names. “You didn’t have to drive out here. I was planning on coming to visit this weekend.”
Penelope shifted her weight. “I was going to be in the area anyway.”
“Really? You? In Little Creek?”
Tai got why Evangeline was incredulous. Her sister had on a pair of expensive-looking stilettos, a pantsuit that was probably tailor-made for her, and the oversized purse hanging from her shoulder was definitely designer.
The residents of Little Creek usually shopped for their clothes at the nearest Walmart.
“I have an appointment later today, if you must know. And before you ask, no, I’m not going to tell you where. I don’t want a preemptive lecture.”
“You aren’t going to one of your and Grampie’s murder sites, are you?
Tai choked on his spit. Murder? He looked at Penelope again, trying to picture her with some sort of weapon in her hands.
“No, and you’re scaring your friend,” Penelope chided her sister.
“Good.” Evangeline grinned unrepentantly.
Penelope rolled her eyes and turned to Tai. “Don’t worry, neither my grandfather nor I are hardened criminals. We just have an unusual hobby.”
Evangeline snorted as she pulled out her phone, unlocked it, then opened her camera app and scrolled. She tapped the screen, then turned the device so Tai could look at a picture. “They re-create real crime scenes in miniature.”
So many thoughts crowded Tai’s mind, but what he managed to squeak out was “Impressive.”
“Thank you.” Penelope clasped her hands in front of her. “I’m not going to tell you where the appointment is beforehand, Evangeline, but I am going to ask you to go with me. I might need some support while I’m there.”
“Way to make me die of curiosity.”
“Sorry.” Penelope smiled before rotating on her heels to face Tai. “It was nice to meet you. Maybe we’ll run into each other again sometime.”
“Maybe we will.”