Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

Later that same night…

“Okay, so be honest. Does this dress make my ass look big?”

Evie rolled her eyes with a chuckle and smiled at the woman filling her computer’s screen. “You look amazing, Lo.” She gave her best friend’s fashion choice an honest review. “As always.”

The two women had been friends since attending the same college orientation course their freshman year at Columbia University. Right away, Evie had appreciated Lo’s down-to-earth vibe. She’d also recognized how, despite the other woman’s wealthy upbringing—which practically mirrored her own—the sweet and sassy Lo acted as much like a regular Joe as anyone Evie had met since.

And she hadn’t lied when she told her friend she looked amazing. Even from this side of her laptop’s screen, it was plain to see the little black, strapless dress Lo had purchased for an upcoming date hugged the woman’s toned curves with perfection.

It didn’t hurt that the garment’s hem stopped a few inches above the knees, perfectly showcasing Lo’s long, former-model legs.

Subconsciously, Evie glanced down at her shorter, curvier legs, which were currently outstretched atop Lo’s plush white comforter. With her laptop balanced on her jammie-clad thighs, she wondered not for the first time what it would be like to be five-ten rather than only reaching her God-given height of five-five.

“That’s what you always say.” Lo’s long, wavy blonde hair swayed across the woman’s bare shoulders as she spun back around to face her computer’s camera.

Evie simply grinned as she responded with, “That’s because you always look amazing.”

“Whatever. Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m putting so much effort into this date. It’s not like anything will come of it.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Uh…yeah. Actually, I do.”

Evie’s head tilted slightly to the side as she pretended to reach deep inside her memory bank. “That’s odd. I don’t remember seeing ‘psychic’ listed on your website bio. And I’m pretty sure I’m the one who proofed it for you, so…”

“Hardy har har.” Lo rolled her pretty blue eyes. “Seriously, Eves. This is such a waste of time. I’m only going to be in town for a couple more weeks. After that, I’ll be back home to, hopefully, hang out with you before you have to go back to Portsmouth. So it’s not like there’s even enough time to get to know the guy, let alone try to start something serious.”

“Who says it has to be serious?”

“Plus, there’s the whole long-distance thing,” Lo continued as if Evie hadn’t spoken. “Which, as you know, I’ve never been a fan of. And then there’s—” She cut herself short before releasing a fairly loud sigh. Lo’s gorgeous face filled the computer’s small screen as she reached for her previously propped-up phone. “God, I’m such a shit friend.”

The unexpected comment sent Evie laughing. “You’re not a shit anything, Lo.” Far from it. “Where the heck did that come from, anyway?”

“We’ve been on the phone for like twenty minutes, and I’ve been whining this whole time about going on a date with the hottest guy I’ve met in like…forever. Meanwhile, you’re stuck watching my place, twelve hours from your own home, and you have nothing but my plants to keep you company.”

“Well, first of all, you can always whine to me about anything. You know that. Second, the whole point of my offering to house-sit for you while you’re gone was so that I could be away from home for a bit.”

“I guess so.” However, Lo didn’t sound convinced. “I still don’t get why you wanted to stay at my place in Charlotte after having already been out of the country for two months. Speaking of which, did you ever find out why they cut your teaching program over there short?”

Shards of guilt assaulted her in droves, and Evie’s chest tightened from the knowledge of the lie. She hadn’t told Lo anything about what had happened in Afghanistan, but that was because she’d been… encouraged …to sign an NDA, or Non-Disclosure Agreement, upon returning to U.S. soil.

Apparently, the U.S. Government wanted to keep Tac-Ops’ rescue mission top-secret. At first, Evie had been completely thrown by the suggestion that the team responsible for the save be kept quiet from everyone. Including her best friend. But after hearing Homeland Security’s explanation for the secrecy, she better understood…

Tensions between the Taliban and the United States are already at an all-time high, Miss Mitchell. If those currently holding power over the citizens of Afghanistan were to discover we sent Americans into their country, and those Americans caused the deaths of their members—regardless of their extreme beliefs and actions—they could see it as permission to retaliate in an even larger fashion. And by signing this, you’ll also be protecting the identities of the men who saved you and those little girls.

Evie probably would have agreed to the NDA even without the bureaucratic explanation because that’s what her government had asked her to do. After all, going down in infamy as the woman who started World War III wasn’t exactly on the list of things she hoped to accomplish in life.

But it was that last part of the Homeland agent’s speech that had put her hand in motion. The minute that guy began talking about why it was safer for Beckett and his teammates if she never mentioned their existence or the “incident”, as he’d referred to the kidnapping, Evie had already begun signing her name.

Beckett had literally risked his life to rescue her and the girls. Same with Digger, Apollo, and Falcon. So if keeping her mouth shut about them and their heroic actions would help to ensure their safety, then that was exactly what Evie would do.

Even if it meant lying to the only real friend—the only family —she had left.

“Budget cuts,” she forced out the untrue words.

“That sucks.”

“Yeah, maybe. But I was okay with coming home when we did. It was just such a different world over there.” She kept her additional comments vague. “I don’t know. I guess it was just a much bigger culture shock than I expected. And going from rooms with dirt floors and wearing a burka every time I went out into public back to having all the luxuries of home…”

When Evie’s voice trailed, Lo astutely pointed out, “But you have those same luxuries at my condo, right? So, what’s the difference?”

Her gut tightened as she attempted to defend what she’d hoped was a plausible excuse for having yet to return to her own apartment in Rhode Island or, God forbid, her father’s home.

“I know it doesn’t make much sense, but I just wasn’t quite ready to return to my normal life.” She used air quotes for added effect. “Not to mention, the teacher who’s subleasing my studio will still be there for weeks, so I wouldn’t be able to stay there, anyway.” Not unless she kicked the other gal out early, which wasn’t something Evie would even consider doing. “This way, you can rest assured that your plants will all be lush and green and still living when you get back.”

With a soft chuckle, Lo thankfully seemed to take the lame excuse at face value. “Well, thanks, but I can’t promise I’ll be able to keep them alive after you leave.” She twisted her face into a humorous look of discouragement. “I really do appreciate you watching over things for me while I’m gone, though. It’s a great neighborhood, and nothing bad ever happens there. But I still feel better knowing it’s not just sitting dark and empty and ready for the taking.”

“I totally get it.” The tension in her shoulders started to ease. “Now. Back to this date…”

Lo groaned, falling dramatically back onto her bed. “ Fiiiine …” She drew out the word. “I’ll go. But if I fall totally and completely in love with this man just to have to leave him behind when I come back in two weeks, you’re on the hook for the obligatory ice cream and wine.”

“Deal,” Evie agreed with a laugh. “What time is this mystery date picking you up?”

“He’s not.” Lo pushed herself back up into a sitting position. “I’m meeting him at the restaurant in…” She gasped when she saw the time on her watch. “Shit. I have to go. I’m supposed to meet him in less than an hour, and I still have to do my makeup and hair.”

“So you’ll be fashionably late. I hear that’s making a comeback.”

An unladylike snort rose from Lo’s throat as she jumped up from the bed and rushed into the attached guest bathroom. “Thanks again for keeping an eye on things while I’m away. And…” Her friend stopped what she was doing to focus solely on the screen. “It wouldn’t hurt you to get out there, too, you know?”

Evie’s brows bunched together with confusion. “Get out there?”

“You know…date.”

“I date,” she countered defensively.

You’re getting pretty good at stretching the truth, eh, Eves?

“When was the last time you went out with a guy?”

“It’s not as easy for me as it is you,” Her defenses remained engaged. “You work for yourself, so you can set your own schedule. It’s kind of hard to meet someone when I spend all my days at school and my evenings grading papers or making lesson plans.”

It sounded like a plausible enough excuse for not putting herself out there. Lo, however, wasn’t buying it.

“This is me you’re talking to remember?” Her friend’s expression went totally deadpan. “I know for a fact you could very easily carve out a couple of hours a week to go out and do something fun. Or better yet…” A corner of Lo’s full lips curved upward. “You could go out and do some one fun.”

“Lo!”

“I’m serious. I bet you haven’t even slept with anyone since Preston.”

Now it was Evie’s turn to let her face fall dramatically flat. “I thought we agreed never to speak of him again.”

“Sorry, sweetie.” Lo brushed her broken promise away. “We’re in desperate times, here, and that calls for desperate measures.” The other woman gave a slight pause and then, “Look, Eves. I know that whole thing with… He Who I Shall Not Name …ended badly, but dumping his pretentious ass was the best decision you ever made.”

“You’ll get no argument from me on that front.”

“That being said, you dumped him because you wanted better for yourself, right? That’s what you told me, anyway. You said you wanted more out of life than some hoity-toity husband dragging you off to the same kind of fancy-ass parties our parents always forced us to attend.”

“Your point?”

“My point is, you’ll never find more if you don’t look. And…now, I mean this with nothing but love, but…I’m pretty sure you weren’t going to find your happily ever after in some desert village that’s halfway around the world.”

The comment hit her square in the gut, and it took everything Evie had not to outwardly react. Lo had been less than thrilled about Evie’s decision to go to Afghanistan, and now she understood why.

Not only was her friend worried about the obvious risks to an American woman traveling to that part of the world, but apparently, Lo was also convinced the trip had been a way for Evie to avoid facing her newly single status.

Well…is she wrong?

Regardless, Evie insisted, “I didn’t go to Afghanistan because I was running from something. I went because I believed in the cause and thought I could help.”

And yeah, okay. So maybe she was also hoping to find some sort of clarity on where the rest of her life was headed.

Instead, I almost ended up dead.

“If you say so.” Lo didn’t sound convinced. “As I was saying, this is the perfect time to go out and try something new. In fact…” Her friend cleared her throat and changed her tone to one far more formal and pretended to straighten a necktie that didn’t exist. “I hereby challenge you to go on at least one date before I get back into town.”

“What?” Evie stared back at her friend as if the other woman had lost her damn mind. “That’s in like two weeks, Lo. You can’t seriously expect me to meet a single, non-creepy, self-sufficient, halfway-decent-looking guy and go on a date with him that quickly.”

If I was tall, blonde, and supermodel gorgeous like you, maybe. But not this chick.

“Oh, come on, sweetie. It’s not like it has to lead to anything serious. Hell, you could even start the whole thing off by letting him know up front that you’re not looking for strings. It could at least get you over that dreaded rebound hump. And then maybe, after a few good, sweaty rolls in the hay with some massively hot stranger, you’ll be ready for something a little more serious when you do meet a man you really like.”

Evie couldn’t help but laugh at the “roll in the hay” bit. But on the inside, her heart ached with the urge to tell her friend the truth…

That she’d already met someone she was interested in, and he was tall, dark, muscular, and sexy as sin. Yes, the man she was thinking of—the man she always thought about—was the epitome of strength and masculinity.

A true hero in every sense of the word.

But she couldn’t tell Lo about Beckett “Bones” Stone. She couldn’t tell…anyone.

Right on cue, Beckett’s handsome face suddenly filled her vision. It was the same face that had occupied her thoughts to the point of distraction ever since she’d last seen him.

The car. The kitchen. The shower… It didn’t matter where she was or what she was doing. Out of nowhere, a barrage of questions would hit without warning. And Evie was defenseless against them.

Where is he?

What’s he doing?

Is he okay?

Is he on another rescue mission?

Is he in danger?

Does he already have a woman he loves?

Not a single day had gone by since they’d parted ways that she hadn’t found herself thinking about the man who’d saved her life. Not a single night had passed when he hadn’t been present in her dreams.

The man gave you his number. You could just shoot him a text. Or, you know…call him.

“I’ll think about it,” she spoke to both her inner self and to Lo. “In the meantime, have fun tonight, and be careful. Oh, and promise to tell your sister I said hi.”

“Okay, I will, and I promise.” Lo grinned. “Don’t worry. I’ll call you tomorrow to share all the deets.”

“Not sure I want to know all the deets.” Evie chuckled. “Just kidding. I can’t wait to hear how your first official blind date went.”

A stretch of silence passed before the other woman asked, “Seriously, Eves. Are you doing okay? You seem…I don’t know…different somehow.”

“I’m good.” The positive response was automatic. “Just tired.”

Though she looked like she wanted to say more on the subject, Lo ended the conversation with a soft, “Love ya, sweetie.”

“Love you back.”

The two shared a parting smile before Evie reached up and pushed her laptop closed. Letting her head fall back against Lo’s cushioned headboard, she closed her eyes and blew out a long, slow exhale.

She really hated having to lie to her best friend. Or anyone, for that matter. Aside from the nightmares she still suffered on a nightly basis, that had been the worst part of the whole ordeal.

Now, more than ever before, Evie needed to talk. She was still trying to process what had happened and working to make sense of everything.

Deep down, she knew she probably never would. Not fully, anyway. But it sure would be nice to be at least able to talk through some things with someone who’d understand.

Her lids lifted, and she glanced at where her purse hung from a decorative wall hook near the door. She thought about the small, rectangular business card still tucked safely away inside. Thought about the number that had been hand-scribbled in black ink on the back.

Evie recalled the moment Beckett had handed her that card, and then she thought about what he’d said…

My personal cell is on the back. You need anything…even if it’s just to talk…feel free to text or call it anytime.

She could still hear the deep rumble of his voice. Could still feel the tingling in her lower belly the arousing sound had created.

I don’t give that number to just anyone. And for what it’s worth, I really hope to hear from you again soon. Even if it’s just to let me know how you’re doing.

At first, she’d been incredibly flattered by the gesture. After all, there’d been a moment there—right before Petty Officer Billings had walked back into the exam room—when she was almost certain he’d been about to kiss her.

You take care of yourself, darlin’. Talk soon, yeah?

Those were the last things he’d said to her, and then…he was gone.

At the time, Evie had fully intended to text him when she returned to the States. Just to let him know she’d made it back into the country safely and that she was doing okay. But then she remembered those bastards had purposely crushed her phone, and she’d been forced to leave it behind when she was taken.

The more time that passed, the more Evie became convinced that she’d imagined the heat in Beckett’s eyes and the electricity that had arched from his soft, sweet touch. Soon, the fear of rejection had become so real she decided it was best to put it all behind her—including him.

If that’s really true, why do you still have his card?

Evie glanced at her purse again. It was just a text, right? There wasn’t anything scary about one of those. It would just be a few simple, typed-out words to let Beckett know she was still alive.

There was no harm in that, right? No suggestion of expectations or anything remotely romantic. Just a simple, purely platonic-intended text.

She could practically hear Lo’s voice in her head now…

Come on, Eves. What’s the worst that could happen?

What was the worst, indeed?

Before she could change her mind, Evie set her computer on the mattress beside her and swung her legs over the edge. She stood, her bare feet sinking into the room’s plush white carpet as she marched toward her hanging purse.

Once there, she unzipped the brown leather crossbody, stuck her hand inside one of the bag’s interior pockets, and found the card right where she’d left it. Purse forgotten, Evie flipped the card over on her way back to what was her bed for the next couple of weeks.

When she settled back in, with her back against the headboard like before, she reached for her new cell phone resting on the nightstand to her right. Nerves danced in her belly as her thumb brushed lightly across the penned digits.

It’s just a text. A simple, friendly, no hidden-meaning text.

Evie drew in a deep breath, filling her lungs to their capacity before exhaling the steeling breath and tapping her phone’s slick screen. She brought up the messages app and began entering the number as it was written on the card.

Her right foot bounced anxiously as it lay over her left ankle, and Evie’s lower lip became trapped between her front teeth. She stared at the empty space and the blinking cursor, trying to figure out exactly what she should say. After a few seconds of thought and another forced breath, she brought both thumbs to the screen and began typing out the message…

Hey, Beckett. It’s Evie Mitchell. I was just sitting here, thinking about you and ? —

No. That sounded far too personal.

Evie deleted the last chunk of words and started that part over.

I know it’s been a bit, but I thought I’d let you know I’m still alive and kicking. Hope all is well with you and the team. Thanks again for all you did.

She read over the message as a whole, double-checking for any typos or parts that required revision. Deciding it sounded perfectly friendly and not at all like how she felt—like a desperate woman in lust with a man she barely knew—Evie threw caution to the wind and hit “send.”

And then…she waited.

At first, she kept sitting there, staring at the phone as if she could mentally force him to respond. When the waiting became too nerve-wracking, she set the phone down and went into the bathroom.

Evie began her nightly routine of washing her face and applying her preferred skincare. She’d showered earlier, so she’d already changed into her PJs. But then Lo had called, so she’d put off the rest, and since there wasn’t anything else to do at the moment...

She grabbed her toothbrush and the tube of toothpaste and proceeded to brush her teeth with vigor. Once that task was completed, Evie glanced around the room, tidying up whatever messes she’d made before turning off the light and walking back into the other room.

When she was halfway between the bathroom and the bed, Evie heard the telltale dinging coming from her phone.

A new text.

Recognizing the notification as the receipt of an incoming text, Evie picked up the pace and hurried to where she’d left her phone. She stopped short of reaching for it, hating how badly she wanted it to be him.

It’s probably just Lo.

The new mantra was her lame attempt to avoid getting her hopes up. But when Evie finally picked up the phone and looked at who the new message was from, her heart nearly leaped into her throat.

It’s him! He wrote back!

Despite her thirty-one years, Evie felt like a teenager experiencing her first major crush. Her heart was racing, her palms felt sweaty, and a million butterflies danced wildly in her belly.

Unable to wait, she opened the message and began to read what Beckett had sent…

Hey, Evie! Good to hear from u! How r u? Bet ur glad to be home.

Her lips spread into an instant smile. The teacher in her rarely allowed for slang spellings or improper grammar. Occupational hazard and all that. But for some reason, seeing it come from Beckett made her smile grow even wider.

Definitely.

She hit send. Belatedly, she expanded her response with a quickly typed out…

Technically, I haven’t actually been home yet. I flew a bit south instead. I’m house-sitting for a friend.

Three little dots appeared inside the tiny bubble at the bottom of the feed. They moved in waves, letting Evie know Beckett was typing back.

Really? Figured u would go straight to ur dad’s.

Evie’s thumbs hovered over the screen as her mind raced to create a valid reason to explain why she hadn’t. Something other than the heartbreaking truth.

He’s out of town on business.

She quickly deleted that and started over.

He’s out of the country on business.

Before she could convince herself otherwise, Evie sent the bold faced lie to Beckett, praying he didn’t press the topic further.

Those three little dots appeared once more. Seconds later, his return text came through.

This place ur house sitting. Anyone else there with u?

It wasn’t the question she’d expected, but he hadn’t asked anything else about her dad, so Evie took it as a win and started to type.

Nope. It’s just me. Safe neighborhood, though. Quiet, well-kept, and virtually no crime.

He wrote back almost immediately.

Good deal. But still be careful, ok?

Evie’s heart melted just a little.

I will. Don’t worry.

More dots appeared, but then they vanished. A breath later, they were back, as if he’d started to type something out again. And again, they disappeared.

The pattern repeated itself twice more before another text finally came through.

Where in the south?

Evie frowned.

Huh?

Beckett immediately wrote back…

U said south. What city?

Which city. Right. Of course, that’s what he’d meant.

Charlotte.

Evie sent the text and waited.

At first, there was nothing. No bubble. No typed words. But then those three little dots reappeared, and after what felt like an excruciatingly long wait, Beckett finally sent another message.

Can I call?

The breath in her lungs ceased to exist, and her eyes remained glued to the screen. He wanted to call her?

Her pulse spiked, and her stomach twisted itself into knots.

Evie was torn between elation and trepidation. For weeks, she’d wanted nothing more than to hear that deep, masculine, slightly southern voice. But in order for that to happen, she’d have to actually talk back.

The nerves firing deep inside left her momentarily frozen. Apparently Beckett grew tired of waiting, because her phone notified her once again of a new incoming message.

U still there?

The question kickstarted her brain back into motion. With her thumbs moving rapidly across the screen, Evie quickly typed out her response.

Sorry. Still here. And yes, you can call.

She hit send and blew out a breath, letting her back fall against the soft headboard mounted to the wall behind her. There. It was done. Now there was nothing left to do but?—

Her phone began to ring. The sound seemed much louder than normal, making her jump as the default tone echoed off Lo’s bedroom walls.

She pulled in a deep breath to calm her erratic nerves and then…she answered the call.

“Hello?” Her greeting was soft and a bit unsure.

“Well, hello to you, too.”

Evie’s eyes fell shut, and she reveled in the man’s drawled greeting. God, it was good to hear his voice again.

It was as deep and rumbly as she remembered. Like a gentle balm to her restless soul, just hearing him again immediately putting her more at ease.

“H-How…” Her words became stuck, and she was forced to clear the sudden dryness from her throat and tried again. “How have you b?—”

“Are you really in Charlotte?”

The unexpected question took her by surprise. “Uh…yeah. It’s where my friend lives. The one I’m house-sitting for. Why?”

There was a noticeable pause, and for a moment, Evie thought maybe the call had been lost. But just as she was about to pull the phone away to see if that was the case, she heard?—

“Because, darlin’. I’m in Charlotte, too.”