Just a Kiss: The Bradfords, Book 5 (35 page)

“I suppose it was probably my arrest that made him the most nervous,” she finally said.

Mrs. Rosner raised an eyebrow. “Arrest?”

Eve sighed and nodded. “Accessory to felony embezzlement. I was found not guilty, but…” She trailed off and swallowed hard. “Kevin would still find that…lacking.”

“I see.” Mrs. Rosner made another note, then sighed and put her pen down. “I’ll need to look into the arrest. Actually, I’ll have to do a full background check.”

“That’s fine.” It made sense. Even though it meant opening up her past and information she’d rather never have
anyone
know, Eve was glad to know that Linda Rosner was so careful about the kids on her caseload. Someone needed to look out for them.

But Eve
hated
that Kevin had hidden this—had hidden
her
. He’d risked lying to the state of Nebraska, and not only getting in trouble if caught, but dealing with his conscience about lying in the first place.

Because she knew this had to be eating at him.

He’d taken a big risk not telling Mrs. Rosner about her. But if he had told Mrs. Rosner, her background check might have kept them from being together.

She got it.

But it still hurt.

She knew, on some level, she was overreacting a little. She couldn’t expect Kevin to be perfect. That wasn’t fair. Christian or not, in love with her or not, he was still a guy, a human—and humans made mistakes. Boy, did they ever.

But Kevin wasn’t like her father. He wasn’t turning his back on her just because she’d screwed up.

She pulled in a deep breath and watched Mrs. Rosner fill out another form.

Kevin had stood by Ryan, Eve reminded herself. The kid had messed up and Kevin had still been there for him.

He’d still be there for her too.

He just didn’t want the world to know it.

He’d sleep with her, let her help him out, take as many orgasms as he could get, just as long as no one knew about it…

Eve made herself stop and breathe again. She was definitely overreacting. Probably.

She wanted to be loved perfectly and unconditionally. By Kevin.

Maybe that was too much to ask for.

Drew came skidding into the kitchen. “I got it done,” he said, thrusting a folded piece of paper toward Mrs. Rosner.

“Wonderful. I’ll be sure she gets it right away.”

As the woman smiled at Drew, Eve realized she looked kind for the first time. Drew really was her primary concern.

“Do you think, from what I’ve told you, that there will be problems for Ke—Mr. Campbell?” Eve made herself ask. She didn’t want to worry Drew so she tried to keep the question generic.

Mrs. Rosner sighed. “I hope not. This is a good situation in many ways. Drew is clearly doing very well. I don’t have a reason to remove him tonight.”

Remove him? Eve’s gut clenched painfully. She hadn’t realized that was a possibility. Drew couldn’t be removed. He needed to be here with
them
. With Kevin at least. No matter what was between the two of them, Kevin was the best person to take care of Drew, no question.

“Your—” Mrs. Rosner glanced at Drew and clearly censored her comment, “—information is only part of this. The…omission of facts is a concern.”

Yeah, it sure as hell was, Eve thought. Still, she didn’t want Drew to be in the middle of any struggle or stress. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

Eve walked her to the door and said a final goodbye before closing the front door gently and resting her head against the wood.

She needed to think.

Kevin would probably like it if she made a cup of tea and curled up on the couch with her Bible to do some soul searching.

But she had a better idea.

Chapter Twelve

Kevin came through the door to the house at four minutes past midnight He was tired and not happy.

Ryan was out of jail and home with his two big brothers who had personally guaranteed Kevin that they’d be sure he stayed home and out of trouble. He’d also gotten hold of David and Anthony who promised to show up, with at least two other friends—big friends—the next day to be sure Ryan behaved.

Kevin knew Ryan. By Monday, he’d cool off and have control again. Kevin would get a phone call, no doubt with an apology and to set up a time to get together to talk. But right now, Ryan needed some people around to take care of him. He had that. Two brothers and good friends. He’d be okay.

Though Kevin hadn’t completely given up on the idea that he, Mac, Sam and Dooley should find the kid who’d jumped Ryan and have a talk with him.

But that would have to wait.

He’d left in the middle of an important time with Eve. He’d been going crazy thinking about how she’d been about to tell him everything.

“Eve?” he called softly, knowing Drew would be in bed.

The house was dark with the exception of the light over the sink glowing from the kitchen and the lamp on the table beside the couch.

Had she gone to bed? He’d certainly had a great time waking her up last night and wouldn’t complain about doing that again.

He leaned over the back of the couch to shut off the lamp, then froze. “Lacey?”

The blonde hair on the pillow on the couch was definitely not Eve.

“Lacey?” he said a little louder.

She rolled and blinked up at him. “Oh, hey, Kevin,” she said sleepily.

“You okay? What’s going on?”

She yawned and said. “Nothing. Yeah, I’m good.”

“Why are you here?”

She rubbed a hand over her eyes. “Eve went out so I came over to stay with Drew. He’s asleep. Doesn’t even know she’s gone.”

He glanced at the stairs. “Out? Where’d she go?” It was past midnight on a Saturday night. “Everything okay at the restaurant?”

“Yeah. I think so.”

“She didn’t go down to Sherry’s?”

Lacey yawned widely again. “Nope. She’s meeting Monica at Tony’s.”

“She went to the
bar
?” When she was supposed to be here with Drew? And him?

“Can you stay?” he asked Lacey. Drew was fine. He needed to talk to Eve. “Lace?”

But there was no answer. She’d already fallen back to sleep. He didn’t miss the irony. He’d assumed she and Libby were party girls and she couldn’t even stay up past midnight.

The truth was, the girls had stepped up for Drew more than once. He’d have to get them something nice. Like a case of silly string.

Lacey’s soft snore pulled him back to the situation at hand.

Ten minutes later he strode into Tony’s.

Greetings erupted, several hands slapped his back, but he didn’t stop or even pause as he waded through the crowd. He’d zeroed in on Eve immediately.

But it wasn’t hard. For one thing she’d changed clothes.

He briefly noticed that Monica looked hot too, in tight jeans and a shimmery silver top, but it was Eve who really shone. She wore ass-hugging jeans with pink heels that boosted her another three inches into the air and a pink sequined top that left one shoulder bare, molded to her breasts and waist and, most of all, showed off her cleavage.

And he wasn’t the only one noticing.

But more than the shiny top and the cleavage, Eve was drawing attention because she was squared off with another woman in the middle of the bar, encircled by a crowd of spectators.

“You should be careful what you say, Abby. Someone might take offense to the way you’re talking about one of their friends.” Eve’s hands were on her hips, her chest out, chin high, eyes glittering.

Abby, the blonde glaring at Eve from a distance of about two feet, sneered. “Lucky for me she hardly has any friends.”

“Unlucky for you, you happened to open your huge mouth in front of one that’s in the mood to hit something,” Eve took a menacing step forward. “You need to shut up now.”

Abby laughed. “If Heather didn’t want people talking about her, she should have put down the bottle and picked up a condom.”

With a rush, Kevin realized that Abby was talking about Heather Dawson. Drew’s mom. Oh, crap. He shouldered past a few more guys as he heard Eve say, “Put your drink down, Abby. I don’t want to break any of Tony’s glasses when I smack you.”

“Oh, sure, I’ll put my drink down,” Abby said.

Kevin was almost to Eve, but wasn’t in time to prevent the contents of Abby’s glass from splashing in Eve’s face and down the front of her shirt.

The crowd gasped as Eve wiped her eyes and glared at Abby. “I think you’re mistaking me for the sweet girl in high school who would never do something like kick your ass.”

“Yeah, if you’re hanging with Heather than I’d say drunk and slutty were a lot more accurate than sweet,” Abby said.

“You’re basing that opinion on the fact that she has a kid she’s completely devoted to, a job that she gives a hundred and ten percent to, and that she had the balls to admit she’d made some mistakes and needed help?” Eve asked, taking another step forward.

Abby backed up until her butt hit a table.

Eve kept going. “At least she’s
trying
to do the right thing and be a good person. I’ll take a woman who likes men and margaritas and screws up once in awhile over an opinionated, judgmental, whiny
bitch
who’s never done anything worthwhile in her life.”

With that, Eve pivoted on her heel and started to march away.

Unfortunately, Abby’s exclamation of “Never done anything?” followed her. “As if working in your crappy diner, ending up in rehab and raising a weird kid were such huge accomplishments.”

Eve froze halfway across the circle of space the crowd had provided for the scene.

“Eve.” Kevin tried to grab her hand, but she spun away too quickly.

“What did you say about Drew?” she asked Abby.

Oh, boy. Kevin started forward, but Abby made the mistake of repeating what she’d said.

“He’s weird.”

Eve got right in Abby’s face. “Too bad for you I don’t go to church anymore so I’ve totally forgotten about turning the other cheek and all that bullshit.” Then she drew her hand back and slapped Abby so hard that people fifty feet away heard it.

Abby cried out in shock and pain, then stood staring at Eve’s enraged face. Five seconds of shocked silence hovered, then Abby lunged forward, claws drawn.

Not again
. That was all Kevin could think as he stepped between them. His mother and Heather had been bad enough. What was it with these Grover women and their cat fights?

“Stop it,” he ordered, blocking Eve from Abby’s attack.

“Get out of the way, Kevin.” Eve tried to push him out of the way, but of course didn’t succeed.

When she couldn’t get to Eve, Abby shoved the table next to her hard into the next one, sending three glasses crashing to the floor.

“That’s it!” Tony grabbed Abby while Kevin picked Eve up and started for the door.

“I can’t believe I pulled Eve Donnelly out of a bar fight.” Kevin deposited Eve on the sidewalk ten yards from the door to the bar.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, straightening her shirt.

“Protecting Abby seemingly.”

Eve didn’t smile. Kevin shifted his weight, feeling like he needed to tread lightly with whatever he said or did next, but he had no idea why.

“What are
you
doing here?” he asked instead.

She didn’t look angry—exactly. She seemed sad. Or disappointed. Or something.

“Having a drink with my best friend after a stressful night. We do this. Often.”

Okay. “Stressful night?” he asked. “Did something happen with Drew?”

“Nope. Drew’s great. Mrs. Rosner, on the other hand, is a bit confused. And irritated.”

Kevin felt shock ripple through him. Oh…shit.

Eve read his reaction on his face. “Yeah. Mrs. Rosner. The woman you lied to about me.”

The emotion in her eyes became clear in that second—she was hurt.

He’d denied her. He’d lied about their connection, their relationship, what she meant to him. And she’d found out about it.

“Eve…”

She backed up as he reached for her. “Too soon, Kev,” she said. “Way too soon. I’m really trying not to compare this to my dad telling me he wanted nothing to do with me if I wasn’t exactly what he wanted me to be. But I’m still about three beers from being numb enough to
not
lump you together with him. So touching me isn’t a good idea.”

Before Kevin could respond to that, the door to Tony’s banged open, music and voices spilling out, as Wes Mitchell stormed out onto the sidewalk. He saw Eve and Kevin immediately and started in their direction.

Dammit
. Kevin clenched his jaw. He needed to concentrate on Eve and what she’d thrown at him. She was hurt. She was feeling rejected. She was… But he couldn’t concentrate. Wes was bearing down.

“What’s your problem, Eve?” he demanded as he approached. “You
hit
my little sister?”