Evie's Knight by Kimberly Krey Read Free Book Online

exhilaration that shot through her body as she admired the sculpted shape of his mouth.
    Calvin moistened his lips as his gaze fell on hers. He released her hair and reached his hand around the bend in her arm, cupping her elbow in his palm.
    Her blood rushed to his touch, pulsed longingly beneath his fingertips.
    “You know, we really shouldn’t be doing this,” he said, his voice low and hushed.
    “Doing what?”
    His thumb traced over the tender skin along her inner arm. “Getting acquainted. Spending time together.”
    “Why not?” A sick thump pumped at the base of her chest while she waited intently, watching as the look in his eyes changed to something she couldn’t place.
    “Because we’re partners now, in art. We were supposed to pair with someone–”
    “Oh, someone we’re not acquainted with, that’s right. Geeze.” She brought her hands to his chest, intending to give him a playful push, but Calvin caught her wrists and held them in place, allowing her to feel the sculpted contours beneath her palms.
    “Don’t tell me you’re a rule breaker,” he said.
    I’m not. “Maybe I am.” She squelched the ruffled energy that nudged at her nerves, disturbed by the darkness that snuck in with Calvin’s suggestion–the mere idea that perhaps they shouldn’t be spending time together.
    He released her wrists. “I think in this case, we’re alright.”
    With a hint of regret, she pulled her hands away and secured the bag over her shoulder. “Well, thanks again. I really had fun.”
    “Me too. And maybe you’ll give me an answer to that question soon.”
    “What question?”
    “What kind of guy gets a second date with you.”  With that, he backed down the steps and strode to the Jeep.
    Evie’s smile grew wider as his Jeep slipped from view. Once he was out of sight completely, she spun in place, releasing a squeal of excitement. She couldn’t believe her night had been real; it all seemed more like a beautiful dream.
    After stepping inside, she slumped into the couch, eyeing the paper in her hand, wishing she could simply walk away from it and cure herself of the dreaded habit. Instead, Evie slid the elastic band off the crisp roll and spread it over the coffee table, her heart working up to its frantic rhythm. Let’s get this over with.

Chapter Six
     
    As Calvin approached the stoplight, he fisted the sweatshirt Evie had worn and pulled it to his face, inhaling the lingering scent of sweet honey, warm and inviting, like her. She was magnetic. Intriguing and beautiful. Fragile and innocent. Never had he been so drawn to a woman the way he was to her.
    While staring at the red traffic light glowing before him, his mind shifted–moved like rusty gears to a dark place in his head–the ominous dream he’d had about Evie loomed there. A cold chill crept up his neck, rippled over his body, and caused him to shudder.
    The light changed and he sped onto the open road, recalling the poem Grandpa used to recite. Like a rhythmic echo the words played in his mind, carried out by the sound of his grandfather’s voice, deep and foreboding. The final lines stood out above the others:  Robbed by murder–is the one you love most. A victim of–the Raven-haired Ghost.
    He shook his head in frustration. It’d taken years to assure himself those words were nothing more than a wild tale. And now, after one miserable dream, the gripping fear was sneaking back into his life.
    He wouldn’t let it. He was too interested in Evie to let some silly family legend distract him. He wanted to know more about her. Everything there was to know. It was odd; the waitress had mentioned her father, but not her mom. And when asked about her family, Evie hadn’t brought up an ugly custody battle or tragic loss. She’d offered only the simple statement that her mother wasn’t in her life. Of course, Calvin hadn’t revealed a whole lot about himself either.
    Still, he hoped to discover more about Evie. He was glad he’d