Evan (Novella): 3.5 (A Carter Brother Series) (7 page)

“Hey, Nan,’’ I answer, not able to hide my discomfort.

“You got something to tell me, young man?’’

“I cannot believe she had the nerve to call you. I wanted to tell you myself.’’

“She called me in absolute tears. Now, I want to hear it from you,’’ she says sternly, not a tone I’m used to my nan using with me.

“Long story short, on my last job, before Denny’s case, I was drugged and used. Just over a month ago, the sister of the woman who used me came knocking on my door to me tell me about Imogen, my five month old baby. I didn’t believe it at first, but she came with a DNA test. We sent it off and wham bam, the baby’s mine. They’re both living with me, and the biological mom is dead,’’ I rush out, hating that I’m repeating myself. I’ve still got my dad to tell but I know Denny has probably called him by now too. The thought angers me. She knew I would want to tell the others but after her reaction I was going to put it off until she calmed down.

“Oh my, sweetie. You were raped,’’ she gasps and I hear tears in her voice.

“No, Nan. I don’t look at it like that. Yes, I was taken advantage of, but I don’t feel like a victim,’’ I tell her, looking at Kennedy and rolling my eyes. She gives me a small smile before settling down on the sofa with Imogen and a fresh bottle. I feel like shit that she’s the one feeding her. She needs a break. She still looks tired, worn and sore as fuck from the attack. Even after sleeping most of the day yesterday.

“Are you listening to me?’’ my nan snaps, causing my body to jolt.

“Sorry, I um... look, I need to go I have another call,’’ I lie.

“I’m coming round in the week. Don’t think of making excuses. I’ll come when you’re least expecting it,’’ she warns. Yeah, she’ll most likely turn up at five in the morning just so we don’t escape or make up a lame ass excuse.

“Okay, love you,’’ I tell her.

“Love you too and Evan?’’

“Yeah?’’

“I can’t wait to meet Imogen,’’ she says softly. A smile breaks out across my face at having her approval. She ends the call and I look down at the phone, still smiling. Only my nan could make me smile when I’m still feeling angry over Denny and the shit that came out of her mouth.

When my phone rings again I think it’s my nan again, but when I look down at the phone it’s William and my heart stops.

“Yeah?’’

“You need to come in, now!’’ is all he says before ending the call. My eyes immediately look to Kennedy. She’s here and she’s safe. But the feeling in the pit of my stomach has me twisted up inside giving me a bad feeling about all this Damon business.

The house is quiet now that Imogen has gone down for a nap and Evan has gone to the station to sort out all this business my sister has me involved in. I won’t lie; I’m scared out of my mind. Scared that this is going to make things worse for me and Imogen, but then I realise nothing could be worse than him taking her from me. Whoever Damon White is it’s definitely clear he’s bad news and if Evan is worried, then I’m terrified. He doesn’t seem like the person who gets worried over nothing. He’s strong, good looking and a fantastic kisser. He’s also incredibly attentive to Imogen and has been generous and kind towards me. Did I mention he’s a great kisser?

Holy-amaze-balls he is such a good kisser. I can still feel him on my lips. It’s amazing that in one moment, one kiss, my whole world can change in an instant. I knew then and there that Evan meant something to me, more than my niece, no, daughter’s father.

I’m still in shock over the whole conversation we had earlier out by his car. His words, the meaning behind them, will forever be embedded in my memory. For him to think of me already as her mom is just.... Let’s just say, I’ve never felt so overwhelmed in all my life. I’m ecstatic and want to scream ‘she’s mine’ from the top of my lungs, but then on the other hand I want to hide in Evan’s room and cry until the sun comes up in the morning. Everything just seems to be happening so quickly and it’s terrifying me.

My life was boring before Vicky turned up pregnant. We hardly spoke with each other before. The only time she’d answer my calls or call me herself is when she was in trouble and needed my help. I’d never give her money. I knew where it would go. I didn’t want to be a part of her killing herself.

I cook me and Evan some dinner while I wait for him. When he doesn’t turn up at six like he said he would I start to eat by myself, but my appetite seems lost with worrying about him.

It’s half eight when the door finally opens and he walks in looking grim and worse for wear. I immediately sit up from the sofa where I’ve been lounging for the past hour watching some soaps.

“Is everything okay?’’ I ask, my heart beating fast. The look he gives me tells me all I need to know. This isn’t going to be good news.

“I’ve got something I need to tell you,’’ he says grimly, sitting down on the sofa next to me.

“Oh, no! What is it? What happened?’’

“Damon got let out. He has an alibi that the police checked out and without any further evidence they can’t keep him.’’

“Oh my gosh. What is going to happen? I didn’t lie to you, Evan. It was him,’’ I cry, feeling tears sting my cheeks. I’ve had it with crying. It’s all I seem to do lately.

“Hey, babe, I know you’re not lying. The police know you’re telling the truth, but Damon, he’s conniving. He knows how to manipulate everyone around him. He has always managed to stay one step ahead of the police. I think he knew you would go to the police.’’

“So, what happens now? I wait around for him to do something to me, to Imogen?’’ I cry. “Could today get any worse,’’ I sob into my hands.

“Um, yeah, it can. That’s not all I needed to talk to you about. I may or may not have gone postal on his ass, and he knows you’re here, with me.’’

My head flies up to Evan and I gasp. He looks apologetic and I know he’s sincere, but I have to get Imogen somewhere safe.

“I need to get Imogen safe. He can do what he likes to me but I can’t risk Imogen, Evan,’’ I tell him frantically. I stand up ready to go, but he pulls me back down and I land on his lap. At first it doesn’t register, I’m too busy having a panic attack over this Damon guy and getting Imogen safe. So when I feel him harden underneath me I squirm, my breaths coming in short, fast pants. “Oh gosh,’’ I whisper, but it comes out as a moan.

Evan makes a noise at the back of his throat, the sound sending a tingle between my legs. It’s been so long since I’ve been with anyone sexually. Having him this close, this turned on, is doing nothing to keep my mind focused.

“I’m not going to let him hurt you or Imogen. I think he knows that and will hopefully back off. He should know by now not to fuck with anyone on my team,’’ he says with conviction.

I turn, looking into his beautiful eyes. “But what if you can’t? I honestly don’t care what happens to me, but if anything happened to Imogen, I’d never be able to live with myself.’’

His face moves closer, his breath fanning across my face causing my breath to hitch. “I don’t know what the future holds, Kennedy, but you and Immy, you have already come to mean something to me. You might not care what happens to you, but I do.’’

I sit on his lap stunned completely speechless. I’ve never had anyone talk to me like that, or tell me that they care for me the way he just did.

“We don’t know each other,’’ I whisper honestly. Although, I can’t deny the fact, I feel like I’ve known him my whole life. The rugged, tattooed, handsome man has brought me to my knees. I shouldn’t be so shocked. He caught my attention the second I laid eyes on him.

“We know enough, that’s all that matters,’’ he tells me, but then does something else that shocks me more, he kisses me. And just like earlier, my body sags into his embrace and clings onto him with a death grip. His lips are fuller than mine and cover them in a hard, deep kiss, his tongue sensually moving in sync with mine.

My body turns when his hands on my hips move me, and now instead of sitting across his lap, I’m straddling him, both legs bent on either side of him. He lies back against the couch and I follow, my lips never pulling away from his. It feels so good.

My hands move up to his strong, broad shoulders and I can’t help but admire the strength and hardness as I do. He’s built of stone, I swear. I already knew he was well defined in the muscle area, but to feel it with my own hands causes a flow of wetness to gather between my legs.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,’’ I mumble when I pull away, my eyes never moving from his swollen lips. They look inviting and I find myself moving closer, my lips yet again touching his. I can’t get enough. I’ve never felt such satisfaction from just kissing someone, not that I’ve had a ton of experience, but the bit I do, kissing has always bored me. Until now.

My last boyfriend smoked and he tasted how I assume an astray would taste. That’s how bad my experience with kissing is.

He pulls away, his eyes filled with desire and clouded over with lust as he looks to me. “This is a brilliant idea,’’ he grins just before he moves in, capturing my lips again. His hands at my hips glide under my t-shirt, the rough pads of his finger tips run up against my ribs, until his thumbs are lightly touching underneath my breasts. My back arches into his touch, wanting him to pull down the cups of my bra to release the ache he’s caused in my breasts.

Imagining him touching me so intimately causes a gush of wetness to leak from between my legs, and I begin to rub my sex against his hardness when the ache down there becomes too much to bear.

“We have Imogen to think about. If it goes wrong it could cause a rift between us,’’ I tell him across his lips. He pulls away and I feel my shoulders sag. Even though I know he’s doing right by Imogen, I can’t help but feel the sadness that creeps in. We’ve not known each other long. Who sleeps with someone they barely know, but then I think about the people who have one night stands. I mean, most couples don’t know each other when they first get together romantically, so what’s saying they didn’t start off just as fast at the beginning. Everyone has to start their relationship somewhere.

“Yes,
we
have Imogen and like I said to you earlier, I can’t predict the future, but I can promise, no matter what, we’ll both be in Imogen’s life. You’re thinking too hard. Just feel what you feel for me, Kennedy. Don’t play what if, because I’ll just throw some more back at you. What if this does happen and it happens because it was meant to be? What if it happens and everything works out for the best? There are always other choices to go along with, Kennedy, but I need you to make your choice and mean it. I’m hard as rock and have been since the moment you knocked on my door over a month ago,’’ he grins, looking up at me.

I stare at him, shocked by his honesty. Who would have thought it, aye, Evan, wanting a girl like me. But it’s more than that. He’s willing to work at us. I can tell he means every word. The look in his eyes is pure honesty. And he’s right. I could choose not to see where our attraction leads and lose what could be the best thing to ever happen to me, or I could lose myself in our attraction and end up with everything I’ve wanted.

I nod my head agreeing with him and I pray hard that I don’t screw this up, whatever this is building between us. It’s not like he actually mentioned a relationship, but I can’t dwell on anything. My need for him is just rising with every brush of his fingers.

Kissing me deeply, I sigh into his mouth. I need more. Thinking we were going to move further than kissing, I’m surprised when Evan pulls away from me, looking at me with a soft expression. He kisses the tip of my nose before pulling back to look at me.

“How are you feeling?’’ he asks with concern.

“Horny,’’ I blurt out, then groan, leaning forward and hiding my face in the crook of his neck. “I cannot believe I just said that out loud.’’

He’s still chuckling when he lifts his hand, bumping my chin so I can look at him. “Don’t ever be shy to tell me what’s going on in your mind. But as much as I love that I’m turning you on,’’ he chuckles, and my face heats. “I’m on about the whole Damon business.’’

“Oh...’’ I chuckle, feeling my cheeks flush red. “I guess I’m okay. I’m pissed and scared that he’s going to get away with what he has done and I’ll worry about what he’s going to do next, but I also know there’s nothing I can do. I don’t have the money he wants no matter if I sold everything I own. All I can do is wait around and see what happens. If he’s as bad as you say he is then hopefully he gets picked up for something else and gets put away for a long time.’’

“Just promise me that whatever you do, you keep an eye on everything around you. You’ve not been to work the past few days, so I’m guessing you have to go back soon.’’

“Oh, I have the week off. I thought I mentioned that to you,’’ I tell him, thinking back to some of conversations, not able to pull up a memory of me telling him.

“Oh, so I have you to myself for a few more days? Want to do something with Immy? I know she’s young but we’ll take pictures so she can see them when she’s older,’’ he grins like a kid and I can’t help but smile back. I nod my head ‘yes’, but before I have chance to do anything else, he grabs me by the hips and moves me so we’re both lying down on our sides facing the television. “Now, let’s watch something before Immy wakes up.’’

Silently, because I’m too stunned from being in such an intimate position, I grab the remote, clicking on the menu to see what’s on. When I come across C.S.I. I click on the channel. Evan squeezes me on the hips, leans in and kisses me on the neck before leaning back against the couch.

It may seem weird to some, but lazing around and watching television like this with Evan could be my new favourite thing to do. His large body encircling my small frame makes me feel tiny, safe and protected. He feels like a giant wrapped around me. It’s a feeling I could get used to after living on my own for years feeling scared of what will happen to me. The neighbourhood I live – lived - in wasn’t the safest. It caused some anxiety over the years.

*** *** ***

Three days later, with only one more day before I have to go back to work, there’s another knock on the door.

I’m stunned for a second, worried why someone would willingly come out in this weather. It’s been raining, thundering and lightning on and off the past two days. It’s why we haven’t been able to go out to the zoo as planned with Imogen. It had closed due to the weather.

Not that I’d take her out in this, she’d catch a death being out in it. It was freezing out there and the winds were terrible. Bins have blown over outside and rubbish is blowing all down the street.

Evan has popped to the shop to stock up on some nappies, wipes, and other essentials that we’ll need for the next few days, so I don’t have to go out in it.

The door knocks again and with Evan gone that leaves me to open the door, something I’m not overjoyed with doing after everything with Lexi.

When I open it a small woman with white hair is standing there with a handful of bags. She’s getting soaked and I feel bad, but I don’t know who she is.

“Um, can I help you?’’ I ask gently.

“My, aren’t you a hot piece,’’ she tells me, shocking me stunned. What on earth is going on? I look around for any hidden cameras, or maybe Damon. He could use this cute little old lady to lure me out, and it would work because I know I wouldn’t say no to her. But her attitude? It makes me want to giggle. You’d never expect a woman her age to come out with such a blunt comment.

“Excuse me?’’ I ask over the pouring rain. Imogen starts to cry from her cot and I turn to the woman, torn about what to do. I don’t want to shut the door on her in this weather. But like I said, I don’t know who she is to just let her in.

“Is that my grandbaby?’’ she coos, pushing past me. The stacks of bags she’s carrying hit me in the stomach where I’m still hurting from Damon’s attack and I wince in pain.