Evolve Series Box Set (87 page)

“Seven?” My eyes search frantically over what of him I can see… nothing. “That’s a lot of tattoos.” I have to find as many ways as possible to get him to apologize. This man and the mystery rolling off him is my new fascination. I could so easily breathe him in and let myself become intoxicated. This enigma becoming my reality, but no…no regrets, Emmett.

“I got you ranch.” He hands me my salad and unwraps my silverware for me. “Everybody likes ranch, right?”

Forgive me for the trickery.

“Eh, it’s okay. I’ll eat around it.”

“Oh shit, I’m sorry, you didn’t say, so I guessed.”

“Why seven?”

He looks at me, puzzled at first, but when he sees the coy smirk of my own, realization hits and a grin the likes of which I’ve never dreamt catches up to his dancing sapphire eyes. “You like ranch, don’t you?”

I nod, biting back a giggle. “Why seven?”

“All right, sneaky girl, but remember you switched it up when I start deciding what facts you get to reveal.”

“Fair enough.” I take a bite, full of ranch and delicious. “Mmm, so good.” I wipe my mouth. “Thank you.”

“Oh, you are sooo welcome, Miss What Were You Writing In That Little Notepad?”

Well shit, the teacher became the student.

“Free writing. Whatever falls out. I put the pen on the paper and go numb. Sometimes I can’t even make sense of what it says.”

“Do you write anything else? Poetry?”

“I dabble.” I take another bite to excuse myself from saying more.

He lets my answer settle in, nodding as his mind wraps around it. “You know that game in school, Heads Up Seven Up?”

I shake my head no since I’ve never heard of it and continue my assault on my salad.

“Seven people go to the front of the room and everyone else puts their head down with their eyes closed and their thumb poking up. The teacher says go, and the seven chosen ones go tap a thumb. When everyone’s done, the class lifts their heads and if your thumb got tapped, you try to guess who did it. If you’re right, you get to go up and be one of the thumb tappers next round.”

Mouth full, I wave my hand for him to continue.

“I hated that fucking game. No one ever picked me. So, I like to do things in seven, kinda like my big “fuck you” to all of them.”

“No one ever picked you? Not once?”

“Nope,” he pops his answer, refusing to meet my eyes.

“Why not? Were you a bully, a mean kid?”

“Not at all.” He pauses for only a second, seemingly instinctually. “I was a poor kid.”

I picture Sawyer as a sweet little boy anxiously waiting, with his thumb up, praying that would be the round someone finally picked him. Kids are so cruel, and yes, that hurt sticks with you forever—Sawyer was the proof of that. I don’t even realize tears are welling up in my eyes until Sawyer reaches over and gently rubs my arm with his timid fingers.

I didn’t flinch. Odd.

“Hey, don’t cry for me, angel. It’s not a big deal; just bullshit kids. It’s stupid actually, a weird hang-up I have. Shhh,” he dips his head to catch my watery eyes and pleads with me, “dry those eyes. You’re breaking my heart.”

“I would have.” I sniffle, somewhat embarrassed. About to cry in front of the boss on training day, nice, Emmett. “I would have picked you. I promise.”

“You think so, huh? And how can you be so sure?”

“Because my friends were in my books. We’d have been the perfect pair. I could’ve tapped your thumb at least once a day and told you wonderful stories of the lands we could disappear to where everyone was nice to everyone. And you, you could have said you thought my glasses and buck teeth were beautiful and helped me climb that huge tree behind the library. That thing was so big and tall and strong and all I ever wanted to do was disappear way up in it and read.”

“Emmett?”

“And I’m not a crybaby, I swear. I don’t know what came over me, really.”

“Emmett?”

I lock on his gaze, no other words needed from me. Of one thing I’m sure; this is the part where he talks and I listen. One certain look from this man, the one he’s giving me now, makes that crystal clear.

“I’m going to kiss those beautiful lips of yours.”

Don’t let him, Emmett. Say no, turn your head. You need this job and things will get real messy real quick if you kiss him.

“Now?” I squeak, obviously forgetting the pep talk I just finished having with myself.

“Right fucking now.” He leans his face into mine and brushes his words across my lips. “I’d rather die than wait another second. Are you gonna kill me or kiss me?" His pools of midnight blue flick nervously waiting for my answer, which never comes. "I'll take my chances," he grumbles and then kisses me. No, not kisses me. He reaches in and steals every ounce of strength I had left with his soft, strong lips. It's slow and tastes like all that I can't have and I whimper. "Emmett," he opens his eyes and sucks as he slowly pulls away, "you may have just been the death of me anyway."

"Sawyer, I—”

“You what?” he husks out, face still very close to mine.

“I need this job,” I whisper, staring straight into his eyes, hoping like hell mine are conveying to him all I can’t say. “I'm sorry and not sorry at the same time, but that can’t happen again.”

“Why not?”

“The fact that I work for you should be reason enough. The other pertinent tidbit, the fact that I barely know you, should excuse me from any other explanations, not that I’m even saying there are any.”

“There are.” He sounds positive; smart guy.

“Maybe.” I again try to plead with my gaze only for him to leave it be.

“Are you sick?”

“No, I’m not dying, Sawyer.”

“Are you married, in the witness protection program, and/or scheduled to have a sex change operation in the near future?”

“No,” I snicker, unable to stop it. 

“Then I’m liking my odds.” He tries for another kiss, but I stop him with a finger against his lips.

“Eat your lunch, boss.”

CHAPTER 6

Missing the Scent of a Woman

***
Sawyer
***

"Where are you going? We're doing Crew Night here." Laney catches me before I make it out the door.

"I have to work tonight."

"No, you don't. I specifically had Dane check the schedule before I planned it." She pouts, hands on hips in a classic Laney pose. "David works tonight."

"Who the fuck is David?"

"The other guy," she argues. "As in, not you."

"David? Do you mean Kasey?”

“Okay,” she holds out her hands, palms up, and shakes her head, “Kasey works.”

“I think I’m caught up. And Kasey bounces, which means I tend bar. Dane knows this."

"I know what?"

Where the fuck is he always hiding that he keeps popping up like a creeper? This place isn't that big.

"That I work even when Kasey does. Gidge is mad I'm missing Crew Night."

"Baby," he wraps his arms around her, "leave him be. He's smitten."

"No!" Her jaw drops. "Are you really? You?"

"Fuck no," I laugh mockingly. "It's her first night on the floor. I need to make sure she's all right. That's my job." Truth be told, I’ve thought of nothing but the taste and feel of her kiss since it happened and how I can make it happen again. I’ve retold her cute little stories in my head a thousand times, recapturing the image of her big, curious eyes alight with fascination as I told her mine.

Let the record show—I knew the minute I saw her that she was amazing and I was right. Oh, and I’ve definitely edged precariously close to actually growing a vagina. I can’t help it and, to tell the truth, I don’t want to help it; I fucking like her. A lot. I think about talking to her as much, if not more, than I think about sliding into her sweet body. Even I know that means something.

Dane scoffs into Laney's neck, which he's currently eating. "Doing a helluva job, man. Very thorough."

"All right, go on, Saw Saw, be happy. But next Thursday night there are no excuses." Laney points at me and glares. "You will spend time with us."

"Promise." I air kiss her. "Have fun tonight. You too, Daney."

He flips me off, never lifting his head.

Evan and Whitley are coming up the walk as I'm heading down it. "Hey, stranger!" Evan gives me a bro hug and then I kiss Whitley's cheek. "Where you been?"

"Same place I've always been; here, work, or school. How are you guys?"

"Real good. Are you not staying tonight?" Whitley pops out her bottom lip.

"Nah, I gotta work. But I'll be there next Thursday, I swear. This fool taking care of you?" I punch Evan's shoulder when I ask her.

"You know he is," she snuggles into his side, "and I'm taking care of him right back."

All right, I've had enough. I’m starting to get a fucking toothache.

"I'm late, so I'll see you later.” I start walking and wave behind my head. “Thursday!”

I adore my friends, but if one more of them blocks my path to Emmett, I may lose my shit. If you're not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem, people! I haven't seen her in three days, and...I miss her? Shit, I really do. I want to talk to her, ask what she’s been doing, what does she need, did she miss me too?

At least two traffic laws are broken by the time I pull up to at The K in perfect time to see Emmett climbing out of a cab. The driver watches her walk away and I'm making my way to claw his fucking eyes out when Emmett steps in front of me.

"Hi!"

I give Shit Sack a glare, memorizing his cab number, then lower my eyes to her. "Hey, Shorty, your car broke down?"

"I don't have a car. And I'm not that short," she punches my chest, "you're just really tall."

She is that short, but I like it. She's tiny and precious...and not taking a taxi ever again.

"You don't have a car? You must spend a fortune on cabs." I open the door for her, using one hand on her back to guide her in. As she brushes by me, I take my sniff, immediately missing my dose of Red. Did she forget or is she out?

"Not really. The bus runs everywhere I need to go but here. The raise in pay more than makes it worth it, though."

I give Kasey a quick nod as we walk in, still listening to her. "I'll meet you at the bar in a minute if you wanna put your stuff up."

“K.” She hurries toward the break room, turning back once to catch me watching.

I’m not ashamed I was caught gawking, but I’m curious as hell what made her look back. Could it be possible that I dented that fucking wall around her? A big enough dent that I can lecture her on how I feel about her mode of transportation?

Yeah, probably too soon.

Stomping up the stairs, I take deep breaths and start shooting Laney texts. If she took a taxi here, that means she'll take one home. At the end of her shift. At two in the fucking morning. Hell. No.

Sawyer: Do you know a spray or perfume or wtf ever called Red?

Sawyer: How much for that Accord you never drive?

I'm pacing, watching my phone like it holds the meaning of life. The thought of that angelic creature in a cab at 2 am being eye fucked by a greasy driver like the one who dropped her off has me wanting to smash shit.

Laney: Bath & Body Works. Y?

Sawyer: Where's that?

She does know who texted her, right? She may as well have answered in Chinese.

Laney: The mall.

Sawyer: Thnx G.

Laney: SMITTEN. I think it's great. Bring her Thurs?

Sawyer: We'll see.

Dane: If you need a car, it's yours.

Sawyer: I need a car. Take $300/month from my check.

Dane: Or you can have it. Her car a POS?

Scary fuck. He’s freakier than that Copperfield guy on TV. He’s a lot like me; when we decide it’s ours, God help anyone who stands in our way or “tells us how.” Except he’s much worse and damn near crazy with it, so I know I don’t have to explain to him why the bold play so early in the game. In fact, Dane’s probably wondering what took me so long. I can almost hear him screaming “interweave all the fuck up in there and conquer!” at his phone.

Sawyer: Or non-existent.

Dane: All yours. I'll give Laney the key. Do not demand sexual favors in return for helping her.

Sawyer: No? Damn, Plan B then. Lil credit, fuckwad?

Dane: He was kidding. Love you! xo Gidge

Sawyer: One more favor?

Dane: Anything

Sawyer: Will you go get the Red and maybe a bag? I'll owe you.

Dane: Yes! We can give it to her Thurs. night!

Or not, crazy woman.

Sawyer: Easy Gidge...we'll see.

Dane: Go talk to your own woman. I'm taking mine back.

Sawyer: Last thing…Dane?

Dane: It’s me

Sawyer: When did you first catch yourself missing Laney?

Dane: Remember the night we met her and B and they ran into the bathroom to strategize their exit?

I think back…was that before or after Laney threatened to take a bat to Whit? I shake my head and chuckle, knowing it doesn’t matter.

Sawyer: Yeah

Dane: Then

Yes! Mine was three days, his three minutes. So even if I’m a whipped pup, tail wagging, with his tongue hanging out, Dane’s worse!

***

"Hey," I say as I sneak up behind her.

She jumps and spins around to face me. "You have got to quit that!"

"Sorry. Listen, I'll drive you home tonight, okay?"

She tilts her head in the way I've seen her do before, trying to figure me out. "Why would you do that?"