Sins from Her Past (Scandalous) (3 page)

Evelyn smiled; a faint pinkness stained her cheeks. “I’m still amazed and impressed—you own a multimillion dollar empire, have been featured in
Forbes
and
Fortune 500
magazines and voted one of
People
’s Sexiest Men. Twice.”

“I’m ambitious and driven.”

“And oh so humble,” she joked.

“Money is just a part of me,” he defended. “It’s no big deal.”

She laughed. “Obviously, or you wouldn’t still own that old Chevy truck, circa nineteen seventy. Which is ironic considering you own your own jet.”

“Keeps me rooted to my past,” he defended with a shrug. “At any point in time I could be back there again.”

Evelyn crossed her legs, forcing his eyes to follow her movements. Did she have any idea that her poised, polished looks did nothing to hide the sex appeal she radiated? He’d never seen her look anything less than flawless. Even at seven this morning when he’d picked her up, she’d come out of her small cottage wearing a floral scarf tied over her hair, large deep-red sunglasses, black capris, a white, silky shirt and simple red sandals. Always polished, always sexy.

And for the past few years, always on his mind and unattainable because there was a slight edge of ice that surrounded her. He just couldn’t put his finger on why. But now that she was moving back and working for him, he’d hopefully be able to uncover more of her layers.

Miss Evelyn Banks may be a bit private, but he’d been close enough to see her playful, humorous side. He’d also gone toe to toe with her on everything from sports to politics…especially politics.

After her parents were killed, Dylan headed off to college and Evelyn went to live with her guardian, Rick Carter, who, a year later, was elected as a state senator. Rick was the father of their other best friend Alan. So politics had been a part of her life from when she was little and her parents and Alan’s parents spent so much time together. Between Alan, Dylan and Evelyn, he didn’t stand a chance at winning an argument when they were all together.

But he loved hearing her side of the argument, even if he disagreed. She never backed down, always stood her ground. He admired Evie for being passionate, even if some of her views were different from his.

Evelyn was also a woman who was used to men doing any and every pitiful thing to gain a moment of her time, a glimpse of her smile. He’d seen it often and was shocked at how closed off she became when men approached her. Finally, he’d met his match and he loved facing challenges head-on.

Working with Evelyn might be a favor to Dylan, but damn if he wasn’t going to have fun doing it.

“Is that all that makes the man?” she questioned, drawing him back. “Business and the next investment?”

“Trying to get into my head again, Evelyn?” This could get interesting. “If there’s something you want to know, just ask. Though I doubt there’s much else for you to find out about me.”

She leveled her gaze, a trait that most women didn’t possess, but one he knew she’d acquired from her older brother. “I need to know how to make my business really launch. Not that I want all the financial success and responsibility you have, but I figure I could learn something. What drives you?”

He shrugged, her compliment warming him more than he wanted to let on. Sometimes he wondered if he’d be as interested in her if she didn’t pose so much of a challenge, but he knew there was no way in hell he’d ever turn away from all those amazing curves. No man could deny she was a walking wet dream.

“Right now this resort drives me,” he told her, pushing aside his fantasy. “Dreams push me forward every day until they become my reality, then I pursue the next.”

A flicker of understanding, as if she had her own dreams, flashed through her dark brown eyes. So, Miss Banks had secrets. Interesting. He couldn’t help but wonder if she’d share them with him. Pillow talk, perhaps?

Yes, he fully admitted that he hadn’t wanted to get involved on a deeper level with most women, but the more time he spent with Evelyn, the more he wanted to be around her. She’d always been different, special. And the only woman who wore deadly curves that could bring him to his knees.

As she glanced back out the window, Vincent kept his eyes on her face. The way she worried her bottom lip with her teeth, her eyes cast downward, a subtle sigh, he knew she had a great deal on her mind.

“Thinking about work?”

Evelyn smiled, turning those exotic eyes back his way. “Always.”

“Let’s not work.”

He didn’t know what made him say that, but suddenly he wanted her to know that just because they were working together didn’t mean they weren’t still friends first. And maybe more later.

But Vin also knew he needed to be cautious. While he messed around with other women, he didn’t want Evelyn to be just another woman. If anything happened, he wanted it to be mutual. He knew she wasn’t a fling type of girl, but that wouldn’t stop him from trying to get closer to her on a deeper level than friendship. He was older and had enough experience to know she was attracted to him, but something held her back.

He didn’t get where he was in life without taking chances, and Evie was most certainly worth taking a chance on. The only worry he had was what he would encounter once she let him in…if she let him in.

To his knowledge, she hadn’t had a serious relationship…ever. He couldn’t help but wonder why. What kept her so guarded with her feelings? If she didn’t do flings and she didn’t do long term, what did she do?

“We’re on a work trip, Vincent.”

“We’re friends, Evie.” His gaze held hers as he kept his voice low, his meaning clear. “The plane hasn’t landed yet.”

The tip of her pink tongue moistened her lips. “Tell me about your tastes.”

He eased deeper into his wide leather chair, crossed an ankle over his knee and pushed his phobia of flying to the back of his mind. “Sexy, sophisticated, flawless.”

“Are we talking about your resort or your women?”

With a wide smile, he held her gaze and said, “Both.”

Oh mercy.

Was the man purposely toying with her? She would not be a cliché and fall for her boss. Technically they were friends first, but right now he was her boss.

“How about if we turn the tables and discuss the woman behind the new design business?”

She laughed. “Okay, Vincent, I’ll let you dig deeper into my professional life for a bit.”
But not too deep.

The water bottle popped as he squeezed it a bit too hard, so he settled it into the cup holder and screwed the cap back on. “What can you offer me?”

Tremors raced, one after the other, through her body. She knew he meant business but, mercy, his words had a whole other meaning. Almost sexual and for the first time, she wanted to explore that underlying passion, but that damn fear kept her from doing so. Still, she was thankful and almost relieved at these normal feelings of desire.

Evelyn ran a finger over the stones of her single-strand diamond bracelet. “I have an eye for details and am a perfectionist. I take the work off my clients so they can relax and enjoy the process.”

“From working with you and the team at Marshall’s I can see how much you love your work.”

“Every minute.”

“That’s what will set you apart from the rest.” His eyes held hers, his tone softened. “When you love something it comes through without any effort.”

Smile frozen in place, Evelyn eyed him with a tilt of her head. “Don’t tell me you love your work. Money clouds the vision.”

“There you go assuming you know the business side of me,” he corrected. He glanced out the side window, then quickly back at her. “Yes, money is nice, but I love what I do just as much as you do. I wouldn’t be in this business if I didn’t. You know how hard I work. Money is a side benefit of doing something I love.”

“Didn’t mean to lump you into the category of rich snobs,” she told him, batting her lashes.

“Oh please. You love knocking me down a peg.” He laughed. “Seriously, I won’t let the money change me.”

“It hasn’t,” she assured him, taking in his faded jeans and black, fitted T-shirt. “I promise to smack you back to reality if it does.”

“I’m afraid you’d like smacking me a little too much,” he told her.

Yes, he owned a jet and two homes, but the man was generous with his time and money and constantly donated to children’s charities and women’s shelters. While he never bragged or boasted about it, Evelyn had witnessed firsthand the people whose lives he’d touched with his generosity. And he didn’t just donate money—often he donated his time.

“Dylan seemed excited we were working together,” she told him. “But he’s a little bummed I just got home and left again.”

“We won’t be gone long.”

Vin gripped the arm of the seat as the plane hit an air pocket. He held his breath for a moment, then blew it out as he focused on her.

“You okay?” she asked. She’d never seen him act so…scared almost. What was up with that? “You seem a bit shaky.”

“I’m fine.” He gripped his bottle in the cup holder, cracking the plastic. “I tried calling him, but he was busy. I guess with fixing up your old house he’s got his hands full.”

“I just hope he doesn’t regret staying there during the process.”

Vin shrugged. “The memories will be there no matter when he goes back. Don’t worry about him.”

“The memories of our parents will certainly be the hardest,” she told him. “But there’re also the memories of Corinne. There’s so much heartache in that house, Vin. I just hope he doesn’t regret purchasing it.”

Evelyn hated the girl who had broken her brother’s heart and nearly killed his spirit in the process. But Vin was right. Dylan was a big boy and he’d be fine…even if his world-renowned model ex-girlfriend returned to their tiny town.

“It’s understandable that you’d want to protect him,” Vin told her. “Especially after what he did for you when your parents died. Between him, Rick and Alan, you were fortunate to have people to take care of you.”

She refused to give an ounce of gratitude. Rage toward the man who murdered her innocence and continued to plague her life bubbled up in her.

Evelyn straightened her shoulders, tilted her chin. “I never needed anyone to care for me.” She came to her feet to look down at him. “I’m more than capable—”

Another air pocket jerked the plane, sending her stumbling onto his lap.

Vin merely quirked a brow and smiled. “You were saying?”

Oh no, she couldn’t be in his lap, not with that sexy mouth so close. Not with that thick, muscular body molded to hers with only their thin layers of clothing separating them. And certainly not when she was seething with anger on top of these newfound urges of desire. How could she trust her own judgment?

His heavy-lidded gaze dropped to her lips.

“Vincent.” Her plea came in a whisper, not strong like she needed it to be. This couldn’t happen. On so many levels this spark of intimacy was wrong.

But on the only level that mattered right now, this feeling in his arms was so, so right. They’d hugged countless times over the years, but nothing like this. No hold had ever felt so…safe and electric at the same time.

With one arm firmly around her, he brought his other hand to her lips, stroking the bottom one with the pad of his thumb. Without her consent, her breath hitched. The man had too much power over her. Power was something she couldn’t lose control of. For her own peace of mind, she needed to stay in control at all times.

Cupping the side of her face in one strong hand, he closed the gap between them. As his lips claimed hers, he stroked the side of her face. Evelyn couldn’t recall what her fantasies of kissing Vincent were like, which just went to prove that reality was much, much better.

Silken lips slid against his, the soft trail of her fingertips slid up his arm. He didn’t rush, didn’t pressure, but relished in the gentleness of this woman and yearned to uncover her passionate side.

God, he’d waited years to touch her like this, but what right did he have? This was the baby sister of his best friend and Dylan only asked Vin to give her a chance at a job, not practically molest her before they could even get started.

Before he could wrap both his arms around her, she pulled back and struggled off his lap. Shock now replaced that desire he’d seen, tasted. Her perfectly polished fingertips settled against her mouth, her eyes were huge and her skin had lost color, much like it had at his home two days ago.

“I’m sorry, Vincent,” she rasped. “That wasn’t…I-I…”

He watched her struggle for words, annoyed that she felt the need to apologize, amused that he could get her so flustered in such a short time, with so little effort.

Coming to his feet, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “Are you sorry we kissed?”

With only a slight hesitation, she shook her head.

“Then there’s no need for apologies,” he told her in a soft tone because she still looked mortified. “I kissed you and I’m not sorry I did. I’ve been wanting to for a long time.”

He took her hand from her lips and held it between them. “You’re not dating anyone, are you, Evie?”