Evie's Knight

Evie’s Knight

Kimberly Krey

AMAZON KINDLE EDITION

PUBLISHED BY

Kimberly Krey

Copyright © 2012 Kimberly Krey

All Rights Reserved

Amazon Kindle Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. The ebook contained herein constitutes a copyrighted work and may not be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, or stored in or introduced into an information storage and retrieval system in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This ebook is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Formatting by

Bob Houston eBook Formatting

http://about.me/BobHouston

ISBN: 1475177194

ISBN-13: 978-1475177190

DEDICATION

To my constant, loyal, and loving family.

I thank God for each one of you every day

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A major thanks goes out to my alpha readers; namely, Bec, Mom, and Deanne. Your encouragement helped me to stay on the path, and I’m forever grateful. Another thank you goes to my beta readers. Your enthusiasm about Evie’s Knight fueled me with renewed dedication.

To Jamie, for being a true friend and a constant cheerleader, and Marilyn, for your unfailing honesty. Thank you for the many critique sessions that pleasantly veered from our manuscripts each time.

I had a blast with you ladies.

A big thanks to Dad for your constant help, love, and support.

And to Mom for not letting me give up.

Kids, thank you for your faithful prayers about “mommy’s book”. You enrich my life in every possible way.

Rob, your generous, loving support has not gone unnoticed. You are my best friend, my love, my all.

FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to thank my wonderfully talented husband (@ SnapUtahPhoto) for the awesome cover art and photography. Also, a big thanks to Brecklin & Katelyn for being our models.

“Fear not death;

for the sooner we die,

the longer we shall

be immortal.”

Benjamin Franklin

PROLOGUE

1918

Jocelyn’s anguished soul inspired the words of warning she’d leave behind for the man she loved. The man she believed had driven her to such madness. With cold, quivering fingers, she addressed the parchment, placed it snuggly in the deep pocket of her gown, and set to work.

Generous moonlight spilled over the frigid night, yet Jocelyn ignored the chill. Hatred boiled within her, heated her blood as she dragged boulders, stacked stones, and created the perfect place for the sacrifice. Her heart gave protest, yet she wouldn’t stop until her work was complete—the one thing she was certain of, her destiny.

Like a huntress hovers over her captured prey, Jocelyn hunched protectively over the gold dagger—her ticket to the next world. Her dark eyes grew large as she climbed upon the altar, kneeling proudly at the center. With the throw of her head, she pushed her chin towards the sky, the raven tresses of her hair creeping down her back. The hefty weight of the cool, steel blade added to her thrill as she centered it high above her heart.

With fervent conviction, she chanted the spell three times. As her final words echoed throughout the canyon ground, Jocelyn thrust the dagger deep into her breast with a wrenching scream and passed into the underworld.

Chapter One

Evie was dying to lay on the horn; to shove her palm into the chrome-covered center of the wheel and force a roaring screech over the quiet neighborhood.

“Come on, Kelly.” She mustered her restraint, gave the horn two quick bursts, then opted for the phone instead. The second ring came, and Evie gritted her teeth. When the fourth ring sounded, she flung open the car door and stomped a leather pump onto the pavement.

A mess of slurred words spilled through the receiver. “Don’t kill me, Evie, but I just woke up.”

“I’m not going to kill you,” she said, slamming the car door shut. “I’m going to leave you.” She cranked the gear into reverse and peeled out of the driveway. 

“I’m so, so sorry, Evie. I’m the worst friend ever.”

“I called to wake you up an hour ago.”

“I fell back to sleep.”

Evie glared at the narrow road. Shafts of morning sunlight pierced through the leafy trees overhead, but she refused to be softened by their beauty. “We’re not in high school anymore, Kelly. You can’t just skip class half the time and expect to still pass.”

“I know.”

“If you can’t get it together, we’re going to have to stop carpooling.”

“I know.” Kelly’s voice was repentant.

Evie sighed. “I only nag because I love you. You get that, right?”

“Right.”

Her gaze darted between the rearview mirror and the gas meter, a fresh wave of guilt spurring within her. “I’m clear down the street already, and I’m about to run out of gas.”

“Go on ahead. I’ll drive myself. And if I see you stalled on the side of the road, I promise to pick you up.”

Evie rolled her eyes. “Thanks.”

The gas gauge sunk impossibly lower as she idled at the light. Speeding cars cut through the crowded intersection. Beyond the traffic, at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, stood the university. She drummed her fingers on the wheel, glancing at the station down the road.
Please make it there.

She hit the gas when the light went green and coasted through the next two intersections without a pause. As she pulled into the station with a triumphant smile, relief washed over her in a soothing wave. Yet once she spotted the black Jeep Wrangler parked snuggly up to one of the pumps, tension tightened her limbs once more.
Calvin Knight owns a Jeep like that.

Evie eased forward at a slow crawl and settled on the pump furthest from the Jeep.  With a quick glance, she surveyed the tall, lean stranger in question. His olive skin basked in warm contrast to the white polo shirt hugging his masculine chest. A thick leather belt allowed his khakis to hang perfectly low on his hips.

Yep, that’s him.
Her heart sped up to a wild flutter. She yanked down the rearview and gave her cheeks a pinch, forcing a bit of color into her tan-deprived face. After stepping out of the car, she turned her attention to the back fender, scanning the silver body once. Twice.

“Wait, where’s the …” She took a few steps as realization sunk in. The gas cap–it wasn’t there. “Crap.” In her attempt to steer clear of
The Mute,
she’d pulled the wrong side of her car up to the pump. While releasing an annoyed puff of air, she shot a quick glance in Calvin Knight’s direction. Though she couldn’t be sure, it seemed as if he was looking her way.

Great. She couldn’t get back in the car and move it now. She’d just have to make it work. The voice in her head warned it wouldn’t reach, but Evie ignored it and grabbed the nozzle, flicking her blonde hair behind one shoulder with the whip of her head.

The outlook was promising. She’d made it to the back of her car without the slightest resistance when she felt the dreaded tug. “No way,” she said under her breath. She tugged back, trying to gain slack, hoping it was simply snagged on the bumper.

It wasn’t.

The older man at the front pump snapped his frail-looking fingers. “Darn that. You were so close.”

“Yep.” Evie replaced the nozzle and slunk back into the car, wondering if her morning could get any worse. With a bit of angst behind the action, she restarted the engine and circled into the adjacent slot. She turned the key, killing the hum of the engine, and replaced the sound with her horrified gasp, realizing she’d done it again. Wrong side.

“You are
kidding me
,” she mouthed more than spoke. A bit of mental cursing ensued while she snuck another peek in Calvin’s direction. He stood leaning against his Jeep. The nozzle rested in the tank. His gaze rested on her. An odd trace of heat scurried over her body as she tried to decipher the expression on his handsome face. The only word that came to mind was
amusement.
He looked like he was enjoying her little mishap.  

Of course he was.
Calvin Knight probably lived for stuff like this. Women doing stupid things in front of him so he could feel even more superior.

She was hesitant while considering the open spot behind his Jeep. Yet taking the dreaded pump would be easier than turning around in the cramped space, and at this point she didn’t trust herself not to back into some poor, unsuspecting pedestrian. With a defeated eye roll, she fired the engine once more, shoved it into drive, and rolled up behind the black Wrangler.

She stepped out of the car, expecting to see Calvin next to his. He wasn’t. A quick sting of disappointment gave way to relief. Soon he’d drive away and she wouldn’t have to witness his lame attempt to pretend he hadn’t even noticed her. She jammed the nozzle in the tank once and for all, vowing to never take the simple act for granted again, and listened to the rhythmic click as her total added up.

“First time at a self-serve?”  The deep voice, warm and masculine, echoed from behind. She stiffened before turning to look at him.

Slight waves of cocoa graced the strands of Calvin Knight’s rich, brown hair, catching glorious tints of sunlight. A splash of gold swam in the dark pools of his eyes while his lips–those full and perfect lips–toyed with hints of a smirk. He looked so beautifully mischievous that she nearly forgot to answer his snide little question.

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Warmth spread up the front of her neck and settled in her stupidly pinched cheeks. A dose of pride crept in and whispered an equally snide remark that flew from her lips before she could give it a second thought. “Is this
your
first time? Talking to someone from art class, I mean.” She steeled her gaze, eyes boldly focused on his dazzling face and honeyed skin.

He lifted his drink, took a pull at the straw. His penetrating gaze burrowed so deeply into her soul that she looked down to fidget with her skirt before looking up once more.

“Not at all,” he murmured.

She wondered what he meant by that.
And what was that look on his face?
His lips were closed, but she could tell he was fighting back a grin. He turned from her then. Began walking away. Not bothering to speak any further. Not even saying goodbye.

Evie set her attention back to the gas pump, refusing to watch as he drove away, and heard her cell phone buzz. She reached for the phone and saw it was Kelly on the line as she put it up to her ear.

“Are you
kidding
me? Was that Calvin Knight you were talking to just then?”

Evie searched the nearby intersection. “Where are you?”

A series of beeps blared, and Kelly’s black VW sped by.

“You better not beat me to school,” Evie said.

“Looks like I will. How long did it take to gas up? Or were you too busy finally sparking up a conversation with
Mute Boy
?”

Evie knew Kelly couldn’t see her smiling, but her silence said enough.

Kelly gasped. “That
was
him, wasn’t it?”

“Yep.”

“Get out! I want every detail.”

Chapter Two

The sight of the art building tangled Evie’s nerves into knots. Daydreams of Calvin had intruded on her every thought, making it nearly impossible to focus.  As she headed to her final class of the day–the one class she had with Calvin–she mused back on the gas station incident, wondering if he’d speak to her in class too.

Familiar scents of paint and lead greeted her as she stepped into the spacious art room, one of the first students to arrive. Golden beams of sunlight poured through the oversized windows, warming her skin as she stepped quietly over the hardwood floors.