Chasing Joshua (23 page)
Evelyn thought about his pledge. He would keep her safe. He promised no one would touch her again. He made sure of it, almost died for it. But now she was safe, and no one would touch her again. Would he want her now? He had seen her in action. Would he still think of her as a lady after watching her plow through men and breaking them?
Evelyn waited until Noel left. She closed her eyes. Sleep, just the thought of falling asleep reminded her of Joshua. It reminded her of crawling into his bed that first night. Her nook, right there between his shoulder blades. The way he smelled. How could she sleep without feeling him next to her?
New York, New York
Joshua finally woke up for more than a brief flash. Damn he felt like shit. His eyes focused, and everyone was standing around his bed talking to each other like they were at a funeral or something.
Shit
, he thought, a
m I dead?
The thought was frightening. His mouth opened but felt parched. Nothing came out.
"Joshua?” Megan gave him a serious look of concern.
"Where am I? What's going on?” It took his brain a few seconds to process how he got here. As the memories flooded in he answered his own question. Of course everyone in the room was a buzz.
"Do you know who I am?” Megan leaned in to look at him.
He could hear his sister say she was going for the doctor. He looked around the room and realized only the women were there. Grace was now at his other side. His Aunt Katherine stood at the foot of the bed and his mother next to her. Women were all around him, except the one he wanted to see the most.
"Where's Evelyn?” Joshua asked.
"She's safe, Joshua. Ayden took her home.” Grace pushed Joshua's hair back and kept stroking his hair, like a mom would a little boy.
Joshua's face flattened. His heart broke. Ayden, the Wolf, took her home. He should have known something was there between them. She had let him in the house. Now, Ayden took her home. Ayden would keep her safe. That was his job, not Ayden's.
"Oh.” Joshua looked at the women at the foot of the bed. “When can I go home? Has anyone called the school?"
"I called.” Amelia Young gripped the foot of the bed hard. “I told them you'd be home next week. The kids want to see you, and I said we would set it up."
Joshua took a weary look around the room at the women smiling down on him. Maybe he was dead. The Wolf had his woman, and his mother was being nice.
"I'll go with you until you heal up enough to get back to work.” Amelia cleared her throat. “I love you, Joshua. I know I don't always tell you and I haven't done a good job of showing it. That was pointed out to me by Evelyn's sister and your buddy Wolf. But I do. They were right. You're an honorable man, and I'm proud of you."
Yes, he thought, he had to be dead. He closed his eyes and didn't want to open them again until he was home. Home in his bed. But as soon as he thought about sleeping in that bed, he thought about Evelyn. The way her hair smelled. Grace helped. She bent down and kissed his forehead. Her hair smelled the same. It was too much, all of it, too much to take right now.
"Damn, Gracie, why don't you just marry him,” Ethan teased his wife.
Joshua smiled. Ethan always had a sense of humor about things.
"Big Dog! How's the shoulder?” Ethan kissed Grace who scowled at him for the joke.
"Good. I guess. How long have I been here?” Joshua went to sit up and realized his ribs were wrapped. His leg was sore. Even his lip, his lip reminded him of Wolf. Again his chest ached for Evelyn.
"Two days. You spent a day in West Virginia. They patched you up, and then we moved you here. Doctors there weren't happy, said you stood a chance to get one or more of those wounds infected. We reminded them you were going to another hospital, not the local strip club. They let you go.” Ethan wiggled his brows. “So you ready to go home yet?"
"I guess.” Joshua closed his eyes again. “I need to talk to Ethan."
"Joshua, he's right there.” Megan pointed. “I think he may have a concussion."
"Megan, where's Chase?” Joshua smiled.
"Watching the boys at home, I'll go switch out. He was here earlier. I came with Grace.” Megan looked at Grace. “He needs the guys, Big Dog that he is."
Katherine Young kissed Joshua's forehead and gave Ethan a look that meant only one thing. Take care of him. Katherine always thought of Joshua as a son. He was in her home every summer. She watched him suffer through losing his partner, comforted him through Candace, and would have gone to North Carolina herself if Amelia hadn't finally woken up. Amelia wasn't always like she had been the past fifteen years, but a little taste of society life had led her astray. She forgot where she came from and took it out on her kids.
Amelia pushed Joshua's black hair off his forehead, snuggled her nose to his like she did when he was a child. Tears fell from her eyes and onto his cheek. Every woman in the room sobbed. Stephanie pulled her mother away and squeezed her big brother's nose. He was starting to tear up. She couldn't watch her hero crumble.
Joshua knew his mother loved him. His father told him so, but it had been a very long time since she showed him it was true. Ethan sucked in a stiff breath of his own. The women left the room.
"Evelyn.” Joshua sniffed, regained composure. “How is she?"
"Safe. Ayden is no longer with the FBI, so I can only assume he will get back to us with news.” Ethan looked down on Joshua and realized he had no way of contacting Evelyn. Maybe there was a number in all her gear at the house. “The number he used to call is no longer in service, must have been a company phone."
"She doesn't want me.” Joshua heaved a painful breath. “I don't know why I thought she would."
"Huh. Well, time will tell, Big Dog. Women are complicated.” Ethan smiled. “Evelyn's a little more complicated than most. She's tough."
Joshua snorted. It hurt to snort.
"Did you tell her you loved her?” Ethan raised a brow. “I told Grace right away."
"What makes you think I love her?” Joshua was trying to stop loving her beginning the moment he knew she left with Ayden Wolf.
"Big Dog, lie to yourself, but don't lie to me.” Ethan crossed his arms and looked down at Joshua. “I thought you were smarter than that. Why didn't you tell her?"
Joshua remained silent.
"You slept with her. You haven't had nookie in years. Even I knew you were in love. You telling me you hadn't figured it out?"
"She's gone back to her life. She doesn't love me.” Joshua wanted to go back in time. He should have told her. If he ever got the chance again, he would. But no one knew where she was. She had no address. He didn't have her voice message number and neither did Grace.
"Rest, Joshua, I'll take care of it.” Ethan left the room shaking his head. He would indeed take care of this. Joshua was like his second little brother. He was in pain and not from his body wounds. He didn't know Evelyn loved him, and Ethan wasn't the one to tell him. Evelyn had to if it was going to mean anything. Joshua had heard secondhand his mother loved him for too many years. The love of your life should hear it from your own lips. Ethan flipped his phone and placed a call.
Two weeks later, Joshua was home. Amelia Young babied him to sickening degrees. It was nice to have his mother there, but he needed to get on with life. It was around three in the afternoon. The crisp breeze filled the air. He wasn't sleeping. He was hardly ever sleeping anymore. He had to try though. His body needed sleep to heal.
"Joshua, do you need anything else?” Amelia walked into her son's bedroom and placed a glass of water on his nightstand. It was killing her to see him like this. Joshua was always full of life and happiness even though she had made his life hell for years trying to make him into something he wasn't. He always sent her flowers for her birthday and never forgot to take her out on Mother's Day.
"No, mom. I'm fine thanks.” He sighed.
"You know it's only been a month, honey. She had a few injuries herself, remember? I know Stevens’ death was hard to take, but Ethan is still trying to track down Ayden.” Amelia knew what a stupid woman she had been.
She wanted to control their lives, Joshua and Stephanie's. She wanted to ensure they were successful and would never have to suffer pain, but it did no good. Here he was hurting, and she had no control over it, and nothing in her power could stop it. Not one resource, not one member of any association or club.
"Mom.” Joshua closed his eyes. He didn't want to talk about it, any of it, anymore.
"Okay.” Amelia Young swallowed hard and fought back tears. She left his bedroom closing the door. God, she hoped this Evelyn would get here soon. She expected her any day now, any second to come walking up to the door. How could she leave Joshua?
It was three in the morning, and Amelia Young was watching television on the couch in the living room. Something she never did. But somehow she couldn't sleep. So after tossing and turning for hours she checked on Joshua, who was finally asleep with the help of a sleeping aid, and headed downstairs for some tea.
The door knob turned, and her heart jumped. Amelia stood facing the door. She didn't have to ask who the woman was. She looked just like the little girl who had given her the what for back in West Virginia.
"You must be Evelyn.” Amelia smiled.
Evelyn nodded. A little shocked that someone was there, waiting. Joshua had his mother's nose, her smile. “I..."
"Come in, dear, I've been expecting you.” Amelia reached for the bag Evelyn had. “I'd love to chat your ear off, but I know you want to see Joshua."
"I...” Evelyn couldn't believe his mother was being kind to her.
Grace told her to come, not to worry about anything. Just get her ass to North Carolina as soon as possible. It took a while to recover. She had her leg to deal with and then accounts to close, identities to dissolve, and a name to change. Evelyn Wolf had learned a lot in the past weeks. Something she already knew; she had to be with Joshua.
"Go on, honey, he's sleeping. I know he won't mind if you wake him.” Amelia was so thrilled to see her, she couldn't resist. She hugged her. “Don't make my mistake, honey, tell him, tell him everyday."
Evelyn smiled as a tear threatened to fall from her eyes. She slid her shoes off, walked past the wall. It had been repaired and repainted like nothing had ever happened there. She climbed the stairs. Her heart was pounding, and her hands shook with anticipation. At his door she took a deep breath.
Joshua heard the door open and smelled the jasmine. He smiled. This would be a good dream. Maybe he could actually sleep tonight. He felt the bed dip just a little, and then he felt it. A cold nose, then lips. His eyes snapped open.
"I thought you were sleeping,” Evelyn whispered.
"Evelyn?” Joshua felt his chest ache. “What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you.” She wanted to touch him. “I told you, I can't sleep without you."
"What about Wolf?” Joshua swallowed.
"I am a Wolf.” Evelyn didn't understand. What did her brother have to do with this?
"You married Ayden?” His voice was a low painful growl, and he rolled almost crushing her. He should have known better. Wolf was in her league. He was dangerous, full of adventure.
That bastard!
"I'm from Kentucky, yes, but marry my brother? No.” Evelyn moved to look him in the eye. God, she wanted to hug him, but she didn't want to hurt him. She had no idea what was or was not still damaged.
"Your brother?” Joshua drew his brows together. That was interesting news.
"Yes. What else...? Oh God, Joshua, you thought?” Evelyn hurt for him. She didn't realize no one had told him she was coming. No one told him anything.
"Fair assumption.” Joshua was relieved but still a little miffed. Evelyn hadn't called or written. When Ethan lost contact with Ayden, it was like she disappeared.
"You're mad.” She smiled.
"No. I was worried about you. You didn't call. You didn't write, nothing.” Joshua inhaled. He was a man. He wouldn't cry. Not from a broken heart. And Evelyn had broken his heart. “Ayden never called to say anything."
"They had to debrief him. They took all his gear, and that included the phone, the phone with the phone numbers in it. He just got home last week. I've been in Tennessee with Noel. This number is unlisted, and my cell phone is here, with all my contacts in it."
Joshua realized that by not going in that room, the room she had left all of her things in, he had caused them both a lot of pain. They were snatched out of the house. All of her stuff was here. Everything except what she had in storage.
"I'm sorry, Joshua. I finally got to my storage locker and all my back-up gear. I called and got the number to the gallery today. Ethan called me, and they said you were fine, to get my shit together and get down here. I had to clear my accounts, my identities. I didn't want to have to leave you again.” Evelyn searched his green eyes for something, anything that would forgive her.
She was on the verge of tears, and he was still fighting to hold on. He had to know she would be here forever. He couldn't bear to lose her again.
"Ayden snatched you out of my arms to get you to the hospital. When I got there, he sat on me so they could X-ray my leg and get the knife out. When I woke up, you were gone. Ayden took me home, to his mother's house in Tennessee. If I knew no one had told you, I would have been here before now. I swear it, Joshua, I thought you knew I was coming.” Evelyn didn't bother to hold back her tears any longer. “I love you. God, I love you, please Joshua."
Joshua realized that Ethan knew she was coming, and he didn't tell him. He wanted to choke him right now, but he understood why. Saying I love you isn't something you do over the phone. It's something you say face to face, and Evelyn said it. How could he say no to a woman begging him to love her? Especially since she was the very air he breathed.
"You love me?"
"Yes.” Evelyn sniffed, wiped at her tears. “I'd die for you."
"So on principle alone you no longer hate me?” Joshua smiled. His green eyes lit anew with a fire. The world was right again. He felt better already. The ache in his chest finally left him. The scars were healing, so were his ribs. Aside from the bruises, and she couldn't see those, he was good as new. Evelyn was home.
"Joshua.” Evelyn pouted. He was toying with her. Like nothing had ever happened. Like it was a long nightmare that they both had just woken up from.
"You're beautiful, Evelyn, inside and out. I've loved you since the moment I hit that light switch and you threatened to kill me.” Joshua pulled her to his chest. “I'm alive, but without you, I felt like I was dying."
"I don't want to hurt you.” Evelyn tried to balance over him as his arms pulled her in. She knew it still had to hurt, but she really wanted to be under his skin right then, a part of him.
"You will anyways.” Joshua couldn't help himself. “I've never done this before."
"What are you...?” Evelyn was silenced by his lips. For an injured man he sure felt good to her. His hips lifted against her. He wanted her. It was not going to happen.
"We have to stop this right now.” Evelyn ran her thumb over the scar on his bottom lip.
"Why? I feel better now.” Joshua pulled her back for more. Sure it hurt, but it also felt good. Evelyn was in his arms where she belonged. She loved him, and he loved her.
"Because your mother is almost at the door.” Evelyn heard the woman walking, her shoes against the wood floors. The knock on the door came right after. “See."
Joshua smiled a devilish smile. Evelyn moved to his side. The knock sounded again.
"You can open it, Mom. I'm awake.” Joshua adjusted himself quickly as he spoke. Last thing he needed was his mother walking in on him and Evelyn like Katherine had caught Ethan and Grace.
Evelyn went to push away, but he locked her into his side. “Don't you dare move away from me, woman. You've been away far too long."
"I just wanted to tell you I love you, Joshua, and good night.” Amelia smiled a knowing and blushing smile at her son. He was happy. He smiled. His face was flushed and so was Evelyn's. She looked like such a sweet girl. Amelia decided then that all the stories must have been exaggerated. There was no way that child had killed anyone.
"I love you, too, Mom."
"Good night, Evelyn."
"Good night, Mrs. Young."
"I have earplugs. They help me sleep.” Amelia Young closed the door and walked back to her bedroom satisfied. Joshua was alive again. Thank God for Evelyn.
Joshua's jaw dropped. His mother had really come full circle in her views. As long as she didn't tell Stephanie, he wouldn't have to kill Malcolm. His little sister was still at home, still a virgin, and until her wedding she better stay that way. Then Joshua realized he was a lot like his mother. He wanted control. He wanted to keep the people he loved safe, and he hadn't told Evelyn he loved her because he was afraid it would put her at risk.
"I should have told you.” He collected his jaw and looked at Evelyn in the moonlight.
"Me too. But I promise I will tell you every day from now on."
Joshua pulled her back on top of him. He stared into her eyes with new appreciation; she was his. But would she be safe?
"I don't want you to keep your job, Evelyn."
"I told you I dissolved all my accounts and identities. I'm here, and I don't need a job. My real father was a smart businessman. He left each of us a nice nest egg."
"Really? Because I made a good investment in a little art gallery once and have it on good authority that I could afford to take care of you."
Evelyn laughed. Again they were trying to save each other.
"You have taken such good care of me I may just combust from it.” Evelyn licked her lips.
The Big Dog growled, pulling her down to him. Yeah, it hurt, but not nearly as bad as not holding her hurt.