Hot Pursuit by Lynn Raye Harris Read Free Book Online Page B

over
that comment. “I did indeed, but that wasn’t an invitation to ogle.
Focus on my eyes, Girard.”
    “Such pretty eyes. So blue they’re almost
purple.”
    Evie rolled said eyes. “Flattery? After all
this time? Care to tell me what’s up?”
    His expression changed, growing quietly
serious. “I wish I could.” He gave his head a little shake. “I’ve
seen a lot of bad shit in this world, Evie. You’re soft and sweet
and you smell good.”
    There was a lump in her throat. “It’s just
perfume. You should smell me when I’ve been picking crabmeat out of
shells all day. Or after a long shift on the line, standing over a
hot grill—”
    “Evangeline.”
    Evie blinked up at him. “What?”
    “You gave me one dance. Do we have to talk
about crabmeat and grills?”
    Heat slid into her cheeks. “No, I suppose
not.”
    He slid his hands to her hips and pulled her
tighter against him until she wanted to whimper. “Good. Because I
want to remember this the next time I’m on an op.”
    Evie dropped her gaze from the heated
intensity of his. They moved together silently for a few moments.
And then she spoke. “I heard you got shot. Did you really?”
    “Yes.”
    Her eyes flew up again and her heart pounded.
“Where?”
    “A flesh wound in the side, nothing life
threatening. Hurt like hell though.”
    She shook her head. “I can’t understand how
you ended up in the military. It’s not what I thought you’d
do.”
    His eyes glittered. “And I always knew you’d
do something with cooking.”
    She didn’t miss that he’d deflected her
comment, but she smiled anyway. “How could you know that? It wasn’t
like I ever cooked a meal for you when we were swinging from trees
or sneaking up on Christina with crawdads.”
    “No, but you talked about food a lot. About
the texture of cupcakes, the correct sweet-to-tart ratio of
lemonade, and the heat index of your mama’s jambalaya. And then you
went to work out at Charlie’s that summer before my senior year. I
brought Jeanine Jackson on a date there, remember?”
    Evie had to stifle a groan. “God, how could I
forget? I dumped a pitcher of sweet tea down her shirt. But that
had nothing to do with cooking.”
    Matt laughed. “No, it sure didn’t. What did
she say to you again?”
    “I think you bitch is about right. Or
some variation of that phrase.”
    “No, I mean before that. Before you ‘tripped’
and lost control of the tea.”
    Evie sighed. “She gave me a dirty look and
told me not to talk to her boyfriend if I wasn’t taking his
order.”
    “Was that it?” His brows drew down as if he
were thinking back. “I thought for sure it must have been something
worse.”
    “I didn’t like her tone.”
    Matt snickered. “Sounds about right. You
never did back down from a fight.”
    The song ended then and Evie took a step
backward. Matt’s grip on her tightened, but then he let her go, his
hands dropping to his sides. Evie swallowed. “Thanks for the dance.
It was nice.”
    His gaze was so intense she wanted to look
away, but she didn’t. “It doesn’t have to end here. I’m home for a
few days. I want to see you again, Evie.”
    Her heart ricocheted around her chest. “I
don’t think it’s a good idea.”
    He shook his head. “You keep saying that to
me, chère , but your eyes say something different.”
    She clasped her hands together and took a
deep breath. “I’ve always been weak where you’re concerned. But too
much time has passed and there’s too much drama when you’re
involved. I’ve got enough going on in my life without adding you to
the mix.”
    His expression sharpened. “Are you seeing
someone?”
    She wished she could say yes, wished it were
true just long enough to make him go away. And she didn’t, because
she didn’t want him to go away.
    Geez, way to be strong, Evie.
    “It doesn’t matter. Besides, you’re leaving
in a few days. What would be the point in spending any time
together?”
    “I think you