12. To the Rescue

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"I hopetonight didn't overwhelm you." I slid a hand on Eve's warm thigh, caressing it, as we finally left Joe's place. "You were a real trooper reading three stories to Oliver for his bedtime." I liked her interactions with my nephews and niece, maybe a little too much.

A little drizzle sprinkled the windshield. I drove slow and easy through the valley with it late and dark. You never knew what critters might jump into the road.

Eve yawned next to me in the passenger seat. Despite her odd claims about Heath Arnault, she handled tonight so well, getting along great with everyone. Molly even pulled me aside as we'd headed out the door, singing Eve's praises and begging me not to fuck this up with her. Whatever that meant.

A languid and soft curve donned Eve's lips, and she covered my hand. I threaded our fingers together. "Oliver's adorable. I couldn't resist him if I tried."

"Like you can't resist me?" I brought her hand to my lips, kissing the back of it while paying attention to the road. There's something about her that made me want to claim her, keeping her as mine. With a month to go, I really needed to figure things out between us—fling or something more. "Sleep with me tonight, Eve."

"Is that a question or a command?"

"I want you in my bed tonight. Or yours, either one. Our time we spend in the lake is amazing, don't get me wrong, but I'd like to have my way with you all night long in a bed and wake with you in my arms."

She left me hanging, not responding, and looking out the window away from me as if this took monumental decision-making. I agonized, replaying every word I just said. I knew she was tired, but why the silence?

With all my patience, I waited for her to let me in. This was one of those moments where I really wished I could read her mind. What the hell was there to work out in her head about this—about us?

"Look, are you angry I didn't tell you about how famous Joe is and how much money we make?" I asked.

She shrugged, still gazing out the side window. "We all have secrets, Wyoming." My forehead furrowed at that.

"Being in business with the famous Sizzle Joe put women in my path that were only interested in my money or what being associated with me could do for their career. I'm just a regular guy, Eve. I've always loved science and the money kind of came along with that, especially with Joe as my brother."

"I don't care about any of that." She snorted.

"Okay. So, I didn't tell you the entire truth at first. But everything else about me, you know. My life's been an open book to you."

She didn't respond. How could she judge me for that when I was certain she still wasn't letting me fully in? And why the hell did this matter so much to me?

"Or are you upset that I didn't ask you to the ball before tonight?" I rolled my eyes. "Honestly, I didn't think much about it, and I definitely didn't have plans to ask anyone else."

"I'm not mad about anything. Not with you, anyway," she admitted, and it was like she spoke in code. This woman confounded me like no other.

"Who then? Have you been truthful with me, Eve?"

Her head snapped to me, and she drew her hand away from mine. "What do you mean?" The entire mood shifted in the car.

"I'm not trying to start an argument here. It's just something in my gut tells me you're holding back, like you don't trust me, yet. But—" I took a big gamble here. "It hasn't stopped me from starting to fall for you."

A gasp or a whimper full of sadness escaped her throat, and she crossed her arms, staring out the windshield. "Take me to my cabin, please. I'm too tired to deal with this tonight."

My hands tightened on the steering wheel, and I stole glances at her, searching in the dark for her eyes. "Eve, talk to me. What's going on?"

"Look out!" Her hands flew forward, grasping the dashboard, fear flashing across the side of her face I could see.

I slammed the brakes; the tires skid on the wet pavement to a stop. A bear and two cubs crossed in front of us. The surge of adrenaline set my pulse racing, continuing long after they entered the woods, out of sight.

I let out the breath I'd held. Once I proceeded cautiously down the road, we stayed silent, and I stewed until I pulled up to her cabin. When her hand reached for the door handle, I pulled her arm, bringing her back to me, welcoming the usual zing that passed between us.

"Eve, wait. Don't end our night like this." My other hand reached up, fingering through her hair, cupping the back of her neck. "Let me in tonight. Don't you want to be with me?"

"Wyoming," her voice trembled, and in the dark of the Jeep, I was pretty sure she was crying. My thumb tested as much, caressing under her eye, swiping a tear away. "I just… I'm not feeling well. Give me space tonight. We'll talk tomorrow."

She slipped out of my hands and out the door, rushing up her porch steps. A heavy sigh unloaded from my chest and my shoulders fell as I waited for her to get inside. I could run after her, but it was no use. The whole situation left me exhausted, too.

Back in my cabin, I stretched out in bed, unable to sleep, replaying my time since I came to Steele Valley. With no expectations, not thinking I'd find someone like her at all, she appeared in my life, in all her natural beauty, stealing my every waking moment, confiscating my dreams at night. Something magnetized me to this woman the second I stepped foot on this soil.

What the hell was happening to me?

I must have drifted off, finally, only to awaken sometime later to my phone buzzing like crazy. The Wi-Fi must have hit on a good wave and suddenly downloaded notifications. I shouldn't look, but I reached for it, anyway.

I bolted straight up, seeing a few calls from Eve had come in, but no voicemail. I called her back.

She answered on the first ring. "Wyoming? I think there's someone outside my cabin. Maybe the bear. I keep hearing footsteps and movement. I-I peek out the windows and can't see anything, but I'm scared."

"Get your things together. You're staying with me. I'll be right there." I hung up, giving her no room for excuses, and threw on a t-shirt and my slides. The fact she called me when terrified had to mean something.

I flew out the door with my keys. A few seconds later, I pulled my Jeep close to her porch so the passenger door was right there.

She opened the door in nothing but a t-shirt with a bag in hand, but protested. "I'm sure it's nothing, and I'll be fine."

I picked her up and flung her over my shoulder, very caveman like. Eve needed to believe I'd be there for her, if only she'd just tear down her wall. So I'd show her. She yelped, and I deposited her into my passenger seat, then slammed the door.

"Really, this isn't necessary," she tried again as I drove.

"Then why call me? Huh? I think you know why. So just let me in for once." At my place, I launched out of the Jeep and ran to her side of the car, picking her up like carrying her over a threshold, parting the night air, rushing inside with her.

I set her down, shaking her shoulders lightly with a warning. "Stay here. Lock the door behind me."

"Where are you going? Wyoming, no!"

I grabbed the bear spray and a flashlight and left out the door.