Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(41)

“It is.” But he’s not looking out the window. He’s looking at me. “Come.” He holds his hand out for me to take. Pulling me toward him, he nuzzles into my neck. “When can I see you again?”

“Wednesday after dance lessons with you is my next free night. That’s if you are still having them.” I look at him hopefully and he nods his head.

“I’ll be there, Sunshine.” He goes back to kissing my neck, leaving a blazing ribbon of heat across my skin.

“Ella is looking after the boys for me in the evening. I can ask her to look after them for longer. She won’t mind.” Wednesday seems like a lifetime away.

He needs to stop kissing my neck or little Archie will be left standing at the school gates.

“That’s too long, but it will have to do, for now.” His voice is heavy with disappointment.

I shoot my shot. “If I asked you to cancel your date on Saturday night, would you?” I don’t want him to go out with another woman.

He stands tall and studies my face. “There is no date. I was winding you up. Although I was looking forward to fucking my imaginary date in every orifice.”

I snort at my in-the-heat-of-the-moment comment. He squeezes my ass.

“You are something else, Eva.” He shakes his head in surprise.

I change direction. “What is more? This thing, me and you?”

He smiles easily. “I don’t know yet. What I know is I want to see you. More time. More of everything.”

“Exclusive?”

“Just you, Sunshine.”

“Okay. Just checking. Friends with benefits?”

“It’s more than that, don’t you think?”

I’m too surprised to do more than nod.

“But our secret, Eva. For now.”

I do not know how we plan on telling my father and Lincoln, if we ever do, because even the thought of it makes my chest tighten.

Without realizing, I’ve placed my hand on my heart.

“What’s that?” Knox eyes my bruised wrist.

I quickly cover it with my other hand and look away. “Ewan,” I say in my stage voice. “Last night. He asked me where I had been all weekend. I wouldn’t tell him.”

With his pointer finger under my chin, he turns my face to look at him, his expression now thunderous. “Pick up Archie. Drop him off at your parents. I know Hamish goes there today. Go straight to the police station. I will meet you there. It stops. Today, Eva. That bastard will not lay another finger on you ever again.”

“You don’t have to come with me.” And how does he know Hamish goes to Mom and Dad’s on a Monday?

“I want to. I am. Sergeant Taylor is a good friend of mine.”

I’m shocked by the depths of his concern for me.

“Plus, I get to see you again today.” He winks suggestively, trying to lighten the mood.

“Okay. I need to go.” I check the time on my wristwatch. “I’ll meet you at the station in half an hour. Give me time to buffer my parents. I don’t want to tell them what I am doing. Not Yet.”

As if it’s the most natural thing in the world, I push up on my tiptoes and steal a quick goodbye kiss. “Thank you.”

“Eva, I want to help you. You’re not doing this alone.”

Taking my hand, he walks me to the door. “Just to clarify, Sunshine. I make you happy? I’m phenomenal in the bedroom? And you had the best weekend of your life?”

A rush of color flushes my cheeks. “Yeah, all true. But it was also the worst.” I hesitate.

His questioning narrowed eyes can’t hide his confusion.

I put him out of his misery. “Leaving you was the worst part of my weekend.” I wished I’d had the ladyballs to tell him that yesterday.

His shoulders grow broader with pride. “Good. Glad I checked.” He grins. “You’re in a lot of trouble and owe me big time. I now have to come up with a reason for your uninvited barge in. My secretary probably does not know what hit her today. She’s of retirement age. You could have given her a heart attack.”

Oh, Lord. My mom knows Mrs. Kinnear. “Sorry.” My toes curl in my shoes.

“I was maybe too hasty with my choice of nickname for you. Westie may be a more suitable choice.”

“Westie?” I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear.

“West Highland Terrier? Little fluffy dog? Looks cute, but fuck me, do they have some sass and their yapping is brutal.”

Oh, I like teasing Knox. He’s funny.

“Any more of that, and it will be another week before I can fit you in for dance lessons,” I drawl. I’m not at all serious. If I could, I'd make plans to see him tonight. I scoop my purse up off the floor.

Unlocking the door, he drops my hand as he swings his office door open wide to discover Lincoln on the other side of it, hand mid-knock.

Oh boy.

Lincoln smiles at me with sparkling eyes. “Ah, Eva, it’s lovely to see you. Was my dad filling you in on his idea for our joint venture?” He puts his arms above his head as if he’s a ballerina.

Lincoln’s default setting is continually set to festive. Such a jovial guy. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him and was always known as the class clown in his year at school.

Chin up, chest out, fighting desperately to hide my confusion, I summon my inner businesswoman to make an appearance.