Evie's Knight (7 page)

“When did this happen?” Evie pushed open her car door, an ugly sort of energy nudging at her insides. Why hadn’t Kelly told her? And since when was she so close to Tawny Clark?

Kelly looped arms with her as they stepped onto the sidewalk. “Just yesterday in class. Who knows if it’ll even go through. Or if my mom will ever agree to it.”

Evie nodded, relaxing just a bit. Her wild friend was always restless; this was just one of her whims. Still, an entirely different set of nerves kicked in as she scanned the cars lining the street, failing to see Calvin’s Jeep along the way. Hopefully he would show.

“Told you we came at the right time,” Kelly said. “Not too early, not too late.”

The chill in the air added to Evie’s nerves as they stepped along the path leading to the house. The pounding rhythm of a fast-paced beat rattled the windows, promising the perfect party vibe. A crowd of rowdy guys walked ahead, joking loudly and shoving one another. They held the front door open, appraising the two with loaded smiles. “Ladies,” one said as they walked through the door.

“Thanks,” Evie said. Kelly introduced herself as Evie eyed the giant foyer and adjacent rooms. Standing as a centerpiece in the kitchen, a row of tables held towers of red, plastic cups. Two liters, six packs, and tubs of ice stood close by.

“And this is my friend, Evie,” Kelly said, gaining her attention. The men shook her hand one by one, each stating their name in turn.

The tallest of the bunch motioned to a spacious dance floor just off the kitchen, before leading the way. “Let’s party!”

The high vaulted area looked just like a dance club–complete with a DJ, flashing lights, and mechanical fog.

“Do you see him?” Kelly asked.

Evie eyed the faces in the crowd, shook her head. “Not yet. It’s possible he won’t come,” she said, realizing the truth of it. “It’s not like he has my number. He couldn’t have called if his plans changed.”

“Glad you ladies made it,” Tawny said, putting her arms around both Evie and Kelly.

“Thanks for having us,” Evie said. “So how is it living in this amazing mansion?”

The tall brunette smiled. “Nice. It’d be even better if I wasn’t sharing it with over twenty roommates.” She nudged into Kelly. “Are you still serious about moving in here?”

“Very. Is she really moving out?” Kelly snagged her lip ring with her teeth.

Tawny grinned. “The outlook is promising.”

Evie had to fight back an eye roll. Kelly wasn’t dependable. But Tawny would figure that out soon enough.

“Oh, my boss wants to know if you’d be willing to work Saturdays,” Tawny said.

“Yeah. You guys close at like, eight o’clock, don’t you?”

Evie shot a glance at Kelly, who looked like a guilty child. “I put in an application at the Tarot House,” Kelly said. “I’ll need a job if I’m going to move out.”

Who the hell was this person? A small dart of pain pierced at Evie’s chest, but she forced a smile. “That place would be perfect for you,” she said. And though her best friend stood mere inches away, it felt as if there were oceans between them.

“Where do you work, Evie?” Tawny’s question was innocent enough, but Evie sensed an edge in her tone.

“I did some telemarketing over the summer, but I’m not working right now.”

“So how do you pay for anything? I know Kelly’s having a hard time.”

Evie didn’t like the challenge presented in the girl’s eyes. “I got a scholarship.” She shrugged. “My dad gave me the money he set aside for school. He said that as long as I keep my grades up, I won’t have to work my way through college.” The look on Tawny’s face made Evie feel like a criminal. She resisted the urge to elaborate. It was none of her business.  

Tawny looked over her shoulder. “I’ve gotta help Mark. Uh, we’ve got some tables set out back in the gazebo for when you guys want to take a breather.”

“Sounds good. Thanks.” Kelly grabbed Evie’s hand and led her through the crowded dance area. Random bodies nudged and bumped against her as she followed Kelly through the crowd.

“Why didn’t you tell me about all that?” Evie asked.

Kelly shrugged. “I’m not even sure any of it’s gonna happen. I mean, Tawny brought the work application to school so I filled it out. Same thing with the tenant papers. I doubt either will go through.”

Hearing Kelly’s explanation made Evie relax a bit, but she still didn’t like the way Kelly had been so secretive. As they settled into a preferred spot on the dance floor, a new song kicked up–one of Evie’s favorites. She smiled and let the loud music lure her away from the unpleasant musings. The familiar smell of sweetly scented fog wafted through the air. She breathed it in, enjoying the moment. Even if Calvin didn’t show, she’d still have a good time.

Random men drifted in and out of their circle, some lingering a while. One in particular had his sights set on Kelly.

“This guy doesn’t take a hint,” Kelly said, speaking up to her ear. The clueless creature stood dancing behind her, paying no mind to her attempts to break free of him.

Evie tilted her head. “I know. I’ve never seen anything like it.” 

The exasperated look on Kelly’s face told her she was tired of being polite. She turned to speak to him. “Dude, not to be rude, but I don’t want your crotch against my rear end anymore, got it?”  Though Kelly had spoken into his ear, she’d yelled it, and Evie hadn’t missed a word.

With a dismissive shrug, their unwelcome guest shuffled away while she and Kelly broke into stifled laughter.

“Nicely done,” Evie said.

“Thank you.” Kelly put a hand on Evie’s shoulder. “Major hottie at two o’clock.”

Evie glanced to her right and noticed the handsome stranger approaching, his gaze set directly on her. His golden hair, recklessly loose, was complimented by his tanned complexion. He remained focused on her as he made his way through the crowd.

Evie made an effort to look elsewhere, pretending not to notice his intent. Calvin might show soon, and she didn’t want to tie herself down. Still, as the beautiful new guest scooted beside her, Evie gave him a smile and danced along with him. 

After a few beats, she motioned for Kelly to join them. Once her all-too-willing friend was dancing close by, Evie slid away, hoping to pass the attractive stranger onto her. The handsome blond danced with Kelly for a moment, but then came back to Evie, dancing up against her from behind. Before she saw it coming, fast hands gripped hold of her thighs, slid up to her rear, grabbing handfuls of her flesh through the denim.

Evie spun around and shot him a loaded glare. “Don’t touch me like that again.”

He looked directly at her with a confused expression, then spoke into her ear, “Say that again?”

Evie leaned forward, found the words once more, heat still burning from the unwelcome grope. “I said,” she put some sting into the words, “I don’t want you to touch me like that again.”

“Sure you do.” The fast-moving punk slid one hand up the back of her leg, quickly rounding her curves.

Evie shoved him against the chest. “You’re a jackass!” she yelled over the blaring music. She took off into the crowd, not missing the way Kelly had given her offender a half-smile and shrug.

She pushed her way through the bouncing mass and bolted for the narrow hall, glad to find a bathroom close by. Kelly followed her in, the music muffling as she closed the door behind them.

“Did you
see
that guy?” Evie asked.

“Yeah, he was
hot.”

“Not his face–his hands. He was all over me.” 

“Well, when they look like that…” Kelly left it there, grinning like the devil herself.

Evie shook her head and laughed. “You are so bad,” she said. “If it doesn’t bother you then you can have him.”

“It wasn’t me he was after,” Kelly said.

Evie glanced in the mirror, wondering if her clothing selection for the night was sending the wrong idea. “Well, I’m going to keep my distance. This is worse than the club.”

Noise flooded the bathroom as they pulled open the door once more. “Let’s grab a drink and check this place out,” Kelly said over the music.

Evie glanced toward the front door as they approached the tables. “It’ll really suck if he doesn’t come.”

“He’ll come,” Kelly said, filling her plastic cup.

After pouring herself a Coke, Evie looped her arm around Kelly’s. “I can’t wait to see more of this house.” As they headed up the steep, winding staircase, she eyed the balcony above, the many doors along the hallway. Several of them were closed.

“Do you think it’s too early to worry about interrupting people?” Evie asked.

Kelly shrugged. “It’s probably never too early.” They toured the top level of the home, peeking only in the rooms with open doors.

“These rooms are huge,” Evie said, enjoying the old fashioned charm of the home. As they headed back down the staircase, Evie saw the front door creak open. A large group of gabby girls stepped in from the dark night, and Evie sighed.
Where is he?

Kelly gripped her arm as they rounded the foyer, answering her silent question. “Calvin’s here.” She motioned toward the kitchen.

Dressed in black denim and a grey polo shirt, Calvin strode toward them. There was no hiding her smile as she saw him. The gentle kindness on his face, the spark of mischief in his eyes, everything about him was entirely alluring.

Elated to see him, Evie wrapped her arms around his neck, inhaling the heavenly scent of crisp, woodsy pine. “You’re here,” she said, not caring that she’d hugged him so boldly.

Calvin wrapped his arms around her waist in return. “I’m glad to see you too.”

“Not to interrupt you lovebirds, but I’m going to go dance,” Kelly said.

Evie released her hold on Calvin. “Alright. We’ll be in there in a minute.” She turned to him. “Where’s your brother?”

He looked over his shoulder. “That’s a good question.”

“Light of day, or dark of night?” Evie tossed the slip of paper onto the heap of others and looked at Calvin expectedly. “Well?”

Darkness loomed around him. Crickets nearly quit chirping as if waiting for him to answer as well. She was certain he’d say he preferred the dark of night to the day.

“It depends,” he said. “I like them both for different reasons.”

Kelly piped up. “Yeah. That one’s not very revealing, anyway. Draw a different one.” A mild wind kicked up, made warm by the space heaters surrounding the deck.

Evie reached her hand into the jar of scraps once more, snagged a folded edge between her fingers, and opened the tiny slip. She felt her face heat up as she read over it silently. “I thought these were supposed to be simple ‘getting to know you’ questions. This one’s intense.”

Kelly leaned across the patio table, her blue eyes wide with interest. “What does it say?”

Evie looked at Calvin. “Highly virtuous, or slightly promiscuous?” Whispers were sent around the canopied porch. Her past with Tyler flared up in her memory like the stinging of a bee, seeping doubt and suspicion into her mind. “So which do you prefer, Calvin?”

He seemed to consider it, eyeing the several ladies seated at the round table among them. His magnetic gaze locked on Evie’s as he responded. “Virtuous.”

A few of the girls at the table gushed in oohs and ahs. One threw out a bitter
yeah right
. Evie held back her own comment, wanting to believe him, wondering if she could.

“Then you’ve got the right girl.” Kelly said to Calvin. “In fact, it’s a good thing you’re here. Evie’s virtue was nearly compromised in there tonight. She was being groped against her will.”

Evie crunched the melting ice cube in her mouth. “Hey, I held my own,” she said, offended.

Calvin rested an elbow onto the table, looking at Kelly. A menacing spark flared in his dark eyes. His words came out low and even. “Who was bothering her?”

Kelly shrugged. “Some guy, but Evie’s right. She put him in his place.”

He turned to her, anger tensing his brows. “What happened in there?”

Evie shrugged. “It’s a party with a bunch of drunk guys. He grabbed my butt. I pushed him away. That’s it.” She never would’ve pinned Calvin as the fighting type, but there was no need to get him all worked up. “Seriously. I’m fine.”

He seemed to relax, but only slightly, a disturbed frown pulling at the corners of his lips.

The mood lightened when Kelly spoke up and shared her tale of the clueless dancer. The one who’d been glued to her rear end. Calvin even laughed when he heard about the way Kelly told him off.

“Women put up with a lot, don’t they?” he said.

Kelly laughed. “That’s for sure.”

The patio door behind Evie slid open, and Calvin looked up. “Oh, here’s Parker,” he said. I want to introduce you.” He scooted his chair back and came to a stand.

Before Evie could turn around, she noticed Kelly’s eyes widen.

“What?” Evie mouthed.

“Ladies, this is my brother, Parker. Parker, this is Evie and her friend, Kelly.”

The first thing Evie saw as she spun around was Tyler.
Great. Calvin’s brother is hanging out with my ex-boyfriend.
That thought was wiped clean from her head as she eyed the handsome blond next to him, who was shaking hands with Kelly.

“Charmed,” Kelly said.

Parker took hold of Evie’s limp and lifeless hand as she came to a stand. “Hellooo, Evie,” he sang smoothly.

“Parker,” she forced out the word.

He leaned closely to her, a wry smile on his face, and spoke just loud enough for her to hear. “You can call me Jackass.”

Evie could hardly believe the groping perv was Calvin’s brother. She puzzled over whether she should tell Calvin they’d already met, in a way, but quickly decided against it. From the way Calvin spoke, he already had enough to worry about when it came to Parker; she certainly didn’t want to throw herself into the mix.

When she glanced back at Kelly, giving her the
let’s pretend that didn’t happen
look, Kelly flashed her a wink.

Evie put her hand on Calvin’s arm. “You mind if we go inside for a bit?”

He looked at her as if trying to dissect her request. “Sure. We’ll catch up with you guys in a bit,” he said, lifting his chin toward his brother.