Kiss Me Hard Before You Go (32 page)

“You still,” she said, and kissed him, “didn’t,” another kiss, “answer my question.”

He laughed and hugged her again.

“It’s not good, Evie,” he said with a frown.

She brought her palm to his cheek, running her fingers against his stubble. “What is it?”

He took her hand and kissed it, then laced his fingers in hers. He took a deep breath and exhaled. “We’re leaving,” he finally said.

Evie’s face was downcast. “Oh,” she said.

“The town isn’t so keen on our presence, and Kip decided it’s best to head out tomorrow,” he said.

She huffed. “It was McDaniels wasn’t it?”

He nodded. “How’d you know?”

“That sorry ass was on my property today ‘causing a ruckus,” she said.

“Seems like he was causing a ruckus all over town,” he said, enjoying Evie’s choice of words. “Stoney went to town to get some supplies, and McDaniels was seen talking to several people about how dangerous the carnival was. Stoney said it looked like half the town was on his side.”

“Why would they believe anything he has to say? Half of them don’t even like him,” she said with disgust.

“You start talking about kids being hurt, you change your tune,” he said. “I don’t know if we’ll be back next year. Stoney said he couldn’t even get service today in town. They wouldn’t even take his money.” He gave her a look of disbelief. “McDaniels is dangerous,” he said more seriously. “Evie, you need to watch out for him.”

She read the warning in his eyes. “He’s not a good man, but I don’t think he’d do anything to hurt me.”

“I mean it, Evie. He’s the reason there was an accident at the carnival,” he said.

“What?” She widened her eyes.

“He offered up Katie’s baby to Dmitri, our juggler, if he’d mess things up. Dmitri caused the fire and the accident,” he said, and she let out a gasp. “I’m worried he’s not done with his vendetta. He wants your land, Evie, and he wants it bad enough he’ll do anything. I think he’s the one who had those kids leave your gate open. He’s dangerous.”

“That’s just crazy talk. You make this all sound like a soap opera,” she said, trying to feign indifference, but deep down she was scared at the prospect that Nate was a man capable of doing such a thing.

“I’m being dead serious,” he said with a stern voice. “You’ve gotta be careful around him. I sure as hell don’t like leaving you with him around.”

“This is too much,” she said, closing her eyes and exhaling. “You’re telling me he caused the accident?”

“Yes. That’s what I’m saying. You need to be careful.” He looked at her seriously.

She thought about what he said and tried to keep herself from fidgeting. She bit on her lip and chewed, and she shut her eyes for a brief second. She let out a long-winded sigh and nearly whispered, “This isn’t good.”

He rubbed his hands on her chin and said, “No, Evie, it’s not. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

She stared him in the eyes and blinked. “I promise,” she said. “You could stay, you know. You could stay here. With me.”

“Evie,” he said quietly. “As much as I want to, I can’t. What would I do? Live off of you, taking care of your cows? That’s not right. I have a job with the carnival,” he said, but even he wondered why he said those words. A job? It was just a job, a job he didn’t care about. A job where he didn’t respect his boss and dreaded what he did. A job that meant nothing to him, not like Evie, not the way she made him feel – the way she gave him hope for a better life.

“You wouldn’t be living off me. I’d put you to work,” she said with a hopeful grin. “Just consider it. The offer is there...” her voice trailed off.

He’d think about it every minute of the day, but he wouldn’t tell her that. He didn’t want to get her hopes up that he would change his mind. But he wasn’t about to freeload off of her, to take what was hers and make it his. That’s what it would feel like, and he didn’t know if he could stand to look himself in the mirror if he did.

“Wanna go for a swim?” she asked.

“You and your subject changing.” He let out a loud, hearty laugh.

“I can’t deal with all this melodrama right now. It’s been a shit storm of a summer. First with Katie, then my daddy,” she sucked her cheeks in and took a breath and frowned, “then I hear that Mr. McDaniels is in cahoots with the Devil, and now you’re leaving.”

“Cahoots with the Devil?” he repeated with a laugh.

“Yeah. So.” A wrinkle formed on the bridge of her nose.

“So, you were saying you wanted to go swimming?” He tugged on her braid and wrapped it around her neck creating a scarf.

She flicked his hand away and frowned at him.

“And now you’re mad,” he said.

“No,” she pouted.

“You sure?” He leaned closer to her and peered into her blue eyes.

“So, do you want to?”

“Wanna what?”

“Swim,” she said with frustration.

“In the pond?” He made a face.

“Do you see a swimming pool?” she said sarcastically.

“I guess I can swim with you,” he said, trying to sound like it was the worst invitation he’d ever gotten.

“If you don’t want to.” She shrugged. “I just thought since you were leaving we could spend some more time together, and it’s so hot out,” she said, taking a few steps forward.

He ran to catch up to her, wrapped his hands around her waist and whispered in her ear. “I just wanna be with you, even if it’s in that nasty pond of yours.” He kissed her on the neck and smiled.

Chapter 31

Evie kicked off her boots and stuck her big toe in the water. “Feels good,” she said.

Finch bent over to unlace his shoes and rolled up his jeans. He walked to the water’s edge and placed his left foot in. “It’s nice.”

“It’s more than nice,” she said. “Turn the other way.”

He formed a confused expression.

She motioned with her hands. “Don’t peek.” She placed her hands on his arms and tried moving him. “A little help would be nice.”

He spun on his heels so he was facing the opposite direction.

“Okay.” She breathed. “Don’t turn around. I mean it,” she barked.

She pulled her t-shirt above her head and unbuttoned her shorts, tugging the zipper all the way down.

Finch swallowed. “What are you doing, Evie?”

“I can’t swim with all this stuff on, Finch,” she answered.

He heard something fall to the ground and felt a piece of fabric graze his ankle. He closed his eyes and tried to think about anything: math equations, ducks in migration, the last mission to space, anything that would get his mind off what was standing right behind him.

“You done yet?” his voice cracked as he said it.

He heard a splash. “Yeah. It feels good. Come on in,” she said with a giggle.

He turned around and looked down at the ground and saw a pile of clothes. Her clothes.

“Come on!” she shouted.

“Okay. If I couldn’t peek, you can’t either,” he said. “Turn around, Evie!”

She shot him a look and begrudgingly swam the other way, facing the other side of her property.

He tore off his jeans and t-shirt, and then finally, his underwear. He heard another giggle and peered over his shoulder.

“I see your hiney. It’s all white and shiny,” she sang.

“Quit peeking,” he said, feeling her eyes burning on his backside. “And how old are you anyway?” he shouted. “That’s a song five-year-olds sing!”

“You’ve got yourself a Coppertone tan line, Finch.” She laughed again.

He covered his front side with both of his hands as he made his way through the water and swam to Evie.

“You cheated.” He splashed water at her. “You weren’t supposed to look.”

“You flaunted it like you wanted me to,” she said with an impish grin. “No reason to get all cheeky.” She laughed at her pun.

“You’re a riot. ” He rolled his eyes, and then ran his fingers across her shoulders, yanking on her bra strap. “What’s this?”

A trail of goosebumps formed from her neck to her shoulders. “My bra. Women wear them you know.”

“I know what a bra is. Why are you wearing it?”

“I didn’t say I was skinny dipping.” She flashed him a big grin.

“You little sneak,” he said and grabbed her by the waist, feeling her bare stomach, and then dunked her under water.

She came back up for air. “That wasn’t nice.” She scowled at him and splashed water in his face.

“You just wanted to see me. All of me.” He cocked an eyebrow and smirked. “Admit it.”

“There’s that dumb smirk,” she complained. “As if I’d want to see all of you.” Even she could hear the lilt in her voice. That was a bold faced lie. She liked his muscular chest well enough the night before. She sure as hell didn’t mind a peek at the rest of him. Any girl with half-sense would agree.

He gave her an incredulous look.

“You liked my chest well enough last night,” he said. It’s like he was reading her thoughts.

“No, your chest is stupid,” she said, failing again at a witty response. Once she saw the trail of hair from Finch’s chest down to his navel she couldn’t help but run her fingers along it, feeling the soft dark brown hairs brush against her fingertips.

Without saying another word, Finch swam up to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He leaned in close and kissed her gently on her wet lips. “Eventually you’re gonna have to get out of this water,” he teased and waggled his brows.

“And?”

He tapped his index finger against his wet chin and smiled. “And... I can swim faster than you.” He started swimming toward the shore with Evie trailing behind him, trying hard to keep up.

Finch raced out of the water, grabbed Evie’s and his clothes off of the ground in one swoop and ran behind a nearby Blue Cypress tree.

Evie swam to the shore and saw her clothes were missing once she got out. “Finch!” She quickly ran back into the water.

He laughed as he put the rest of his dry clothes on. He shook his wet hair and walked from behind the tree.

“Looking for these?” He held her clothes in his hand.

“Give them back,” she said, standing in the pond. The water hit her mid chest.

“Why should I?”

“Give them back or else,” she threatened.

“Seems to me like you’re in no position to threaten me,” he teased.

“Fine. If that’s the way you want it,” she said in a huff and stomped out of the water, facing him.

He tried to dart his eyes in another direction but couldn’t help but stare at the beautiful sight in front of him: Evie in her bra and underwear, sopping wet.

He cleared his throat and caught himself ogling. At her. He was gawking shamelessly and he couldn’t make his eyes stop.

“You see something you like?” she said being coy and grabbed her clothes from his hand before he had time to comment. “Close that mouth of yours, Finch, or else you’ll end up eating some horseflies.” Her hips swayed as she sauntered behind the tree and got dressed.

It took her a while to get her clothes on, and Finch appreciated the break. He needed to compose himself. He smoothed his hair; pulled up his loose jeans, and every few seconds peered at that darn tree. She had just done the unexpected, but that’s what he liked about Evie – that she made things interesting.

She came out fully clothed and with a look on her face that read “Ha, got you, dummy!” She stuck her tongue in her cheek and smiled. “You closed your mouth,” she said as she approached him.

He sighed and formed a soft grin. “Come here.” He stuck his fingers in her belt loops and brought her to him. He placed his palms on the soft damp skin of her cheeks and said, “You’ve got quite the mouth on you, you know that?”

“Ditto,” she said.

He placed his hand on her lower back. “I’d like to kiss that mouth of yours,” he said, breathing into her. His lips met hers, and she willingly surrendered, letting their tongues inter mingle as she felt his lips pressing harder against hers.

She let go and looked at him, flustered. Her chest rose and then fell flat, and he could hear the sounds of her heavy breaths expelling from her mouth as she pointed her finger at him and said, “You have to stop doing that.”

“Ditto,” he kidded and kissed her at the nape of her neck and whispered in her ear, “serves you right.”

She backed away. “For what?”

“For being you,” he said.

She playfully hit him on the arm. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You started it with your dreamy eyes and expert kissing,” she said.

“Expert kissing?” he repeated and patted his chest with a confident grin. “Dreamy eyes, huh?”

“Don’t get smug,” she said.

“Can’t help it. You all but told me I am the best kisser you’ve ever known and that my eyes are beautiful,” he said.

“I said nothing of the sort,” she said with frustration. “Quit putting words in my mouth.”

He placed his hands on her hips and said with a wide smile, “Oh Evie, you make my heart smile.”

“Hearts can’t smile,” she argued.

“Mine can, and you’re the cause of it.”