Arms of Promise (17 page)

Smiling, she patted her leg. “C’mon.”

Hunter moseyed into her old bedroom, probably to escape under her bed away from all the activity rumbling downstairs. Hard to blame him.

In the bathroom, Anna changed into her newest pair of dark jeans and a cozy scoop neck sweater. Mom always told her red brought out the color in her cheeks. As if she ever needed much help with that.

A quick touch-up to her makeup made a world of difference. Her hair, however, might be beyond rescuing. If she could patent some way to tame static electricity during the winter months, she’d never have to worry about another unpaid bill.

She rummaged through her bag for the bottle of Miracle Leave-In Mist that Reese had given her for her birthday. “You better live up to your name, Wonder Bottle. That’s all I gotta say.” She spritzed it over her hair and worked it in with her fingers.

After snapping on a pair of dangling earrings for a finishing touch, she smoothed out her sweater. At least she looked presentable. Maybe even attractive? She hoped. This might be one of her last nights with Evan. Time was running out.

Leaving her bag for later, she ambled down the steps and into the kitchen in her socks.

Beside the fridge, Evan looked up and stared, wide-eyed. The Coke he was pouring ran over the top of his cup. He held it away from him, huffing something under his breath.

Anna scurried over to grab a rag from the sink.

“I’ve got it.” He tore off a paper towel and bent down at the same time she did.

Another open gaze lingered over her features and fanned a tingle of self-awareness through her. She curved her hair over her shoulder. “What?”

Mopping the towel around in mindless circles, he blinked but didn’t look away.

“Is my hair still a mess? I tried to fix it. And I probably should’ve worn a dress like Reese, but—”

“Bells.” Evan set a solid hand on hers and lifted his gaze so slowly, her heart raced in his pause. “You’re beautiful.”

Enough to see her as more than a friend?

“Just like her mama.” Ms. Riza hurried around the corner on a path to the stove. She flipped on the light and peered inside at a dish of what looked like sweet potatoes. “I always knew one day you’d figure that out, Mr. Evan.”

Apparently, the entire household was short on filters.

Heat soared up Anna’s face, clear past her hairline.

Ms. Riza sent a completely unassuming glance from them to the spill on the floor and waved them off. “Go have fun. I’ll take care of this.”

“No, it’s my mess.” Evan tossed the sopping paper towel into the trash and rose to grab another one.

“Out of my kitchen. Both of ya.” Ms. Riza marched them backward to the edge of the tiles, her smile betraying her firm expression.

“Yes, ma’am.” Palms raised, Evan tossed Anna a knowing glance.

He didn’t have to prod. She knew better than to get Ms. Riza on a roll.

Down the hall, Anna leaned a shoulder against the doorway leading into the living room. Reese sat beside Mark on the ottoman in front of at least five tubs of Christmas decorations she’d already started sorting through. Dad lounged in his Lazy Boy with a mug of coffee while Megan hustled Mr. John in a game of pool.

“Aww.” Reese lifted up a handful of white snowflake decorations Mom crocheted back when they were around Megan’s age. “I’d almost forgotten about these.”

Evan and Anna joined her in front of the massive pine Dad had set up in the corner of the room. The biggest and best—Dad’s style all the way. At least they got to temper it with Mom’s softer influence.

“I can’t believe you still have this.” Evan lifted a round piece of wood they’d cut from the base of one of their Christmas trees ages ago. He’d sanded and stained it, so proud of the little art project Mom had prompted. Clutching his strong hands around it now, he ironed out another indecipherable look from his face.

“You made it for me. Of course I still have it.” Anna glided a thumb over the carving.
A. M. + E. O. Friends Always
. It was as true now as it had been when they were thirteen. He was a part of this family. A part of her.

No matter what happened after tonight, she’d always have that. But she couldn’t stop herself from hoping for more.

Chapter Seventeen

Simmer

Other than the fire’s slow simmer and the faint background noise coming from the TV, the Madison house had fallen still.

Evan and Anna should be asleep like everyone else. Instead, they kept riding the coattails of the past, staying up late like they used to as teens. It wasn’t fair to either of them to pretend things were the way they’d been then. But right now, Evan wasn’t ready to let the moment go.

He could hardly look away from her. Propped up against the base of the couch, Anna stared into the flames. The soft glimmer trickling over her toned muscles tantalized him the same way everything about her had tonight.

Evan groaned inside. Her vulnerability with him these last forty-eight hours had made things hard enough. But being back here together topped it off. His willpower hung by a thread. Craning his head back, he closed his eyes.

She’d said herself she was overly emotional right now. He had to be careful.

“Don’t tell me you’re getting sleepy, Gramps.” Anna nudged her shoulder into his and hiked up a brow.

He knew that look. Had seen it dozens of times. Another couple of minutes, and she’d get her second wind for the night. “Maybe you shouldn’t have taken that long nap after dinner.”

“C’mon, it’s Thanksgiving.” She squinted at the clock on the wall. “Okay, technically, it’s already Black Friday, but still. We should be having fun.”

It’d be a lot easier if fun didn’t include torturing himself.

Anna crawled over to the brick fireplace, added two more logs, and yanked her hand back. “Ow.”

“You burn yourself?”

“No.” She lowered her finger from her mouth. “Splinter.”

He reached into his pocket. “Let me get it.”

“A Swiss Army knife?” A lopsided grin overrode her cheek. “Don’t you think that’s a little cliché, Sarge?”

Cupping a hand under hers, he dished her expression right back. “Thought I was supposed to be the one with all the jokes.”

“Guess you must be rubbing off on me.”

His brow slanted. “Can I have that in writing, ma’am?”

“Shut up.”

He opened the knife, and she recoiled like he was about to drive the blade through her palm.

“You kidding me? I’ve seen your toes after some of your pointe classes. You push your body through levels of pain that’d make grown men cry. And you’re freaking out over a tiny splinter? Give me that hand.”

She held in a breath until she must’ve given up trying to think of a comeback. The air seeped out of her tight lips. “Not all of us are big, tough Rangers, you know.”

“You’re tougher than you think.” He held her still to guide the tiny shard of wood out of her skin. A quick upward glance met an open appraisal fixed on his face. “What?”

Without releasing his eyes, Anna brought her thumb to his cheek and gently traced the indent left from a close combat fight. “New scar.” A note of sadness tainted her words. “It’s too bad life can’t be like our make-believe games in the attic. Always the heroes. Never walking away with a mark from the enemy.”

The pensive look on her face sawed through overlapping layers of yearning and honor. Evan lowered her hand from his cheek and dug inside for a teasing tone. “I thought battle scars were supposed to be sexy.”

“Only if you know how to rock ‘em.” She rolled up her T-shirt sleeve and pointed to a chickenpox scar she’d earned in the fourth grade. “See this? It was a close call, but I made it out alive.” She winked. “Sexy, right?”

As if her infectious laughter weren’t enough on its own. “Very.”

A flicker of doubt shadowed her expression.

Hunter trotted into the room before Evan could assure her. Beside the Christmas tree, he sniffed the air and scratched his ear with his hind leg, red fur floating all around.

Evan stifled a laugh, picturing Ms. Riza going crazy earlier making sure no dog hair ended up in any of the dishes. She should be thankful she didn’t have a cat to keep off the table. That reminded him. “Is Mrs. Santos watching Bailey?”

Anna shook her head. “I saw her light on this morning, but I never got a hold of her. It’s just one night, though. I left out extra food. Bailey will be fine.”

Hunter lolled beside Anna with a heavy sigh.

Staring into the fire again, she ran the dog’s wavy ears between her fingers while rubbing one socked foot over the other.

Evan couldn’t help grinning. Right in front of the flames, those suckers were still probably freezing cold. At some point, the girl seriously needed to get her circulation checked.

His inward laugh tapered at the sight of her sobered expression.

“I hope Megan had a good time tonight.”

That’s what had her lost in thought? “It’s on her top ten list.”

“You think?”

“I know.” Evan leaned an elbow against the brick ledge beside them. “She told me herself when I tucked her into bed earlier.”

The contented glow beaming over Anna’s face dissolved as fast as it came. “I hate thinking of her mom being alone on a holiday. She looked bad when we stopped by, didn’t she?”

“Going through withdrawals can get pretty ugly. It’s probably a good thing Megan’s not there to see it.”

“Withdrawals?” The pieces visibly fused together. Anna face-palmed herself. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.” She scrambled over to the couch for her cell. “We shouldn’t have left her. I mean, what if she needs to go to the hospital. Or—”

“Relax, I already called Harris.” Evan scooted toward her on his knees. “He checked on Heather earlier and has someone scheduled to stop by in the morning.”

Anna gawked at him.

“Why are you looking at me like you’re shocked?”

“I thought I was supposed to be the one with all the sympathy.” The corner of her mouth hiked to the left the way his had when he’d said he was supposed to be the one with all the jokes.

He pressed his tongue against his cheek. “Guess you must be rubbing off on me.”

She shook her head. “You’re something else, Evan O’Riley. You know that?”

“Just be sure to tell Reese I’m smoother than she thinks.”

“Sure.” Anna rolled her eyes. “Right after I tell Casanova you stole his nickname.”

He chucked a throw pillow at her.

A moment of being caught off guard morphed into a trained reflex. She swiped the other pillow from the couch. “Oh, you don’t want to start this, Sarge.”

Not with
that
look on her face. He knew where this was going. He clambered to his feet and backed up, about to turn.

“Uh-huh. You better run.”

A two-second head start didn’t help.

In the kitchen, Anna cornered him beside the fridge and clobbered him with both pillows at once. He dodged a second swing, scooped her up at the waist, and reversed their positions. He pinned the pillows to the cabinets with his knees.

Relenting, she released them and squirmed to break free. Not happening. He gripped the counter on either side of her. “Where ya going?”

Laughter bubbled up. “Don’t think you won.” She braced her palms against his stomach, and her sassy grin turned to something else. Something that drilled into the center of his chest and latched on to the nerves spiraling in every direction of his body.

Hunter’s nails clinked on the hardwood floor and kick-started Evan’s breathing again. He let go of the counter, releasing the pillows and a situation he shouldn’t have put them in.

Anna studied his face as though trying to interpret his reaction.

But the second he stepped back, she hustled toward the opposite end of the counter. “You know what we need?” she said way too quickly. “Life cereal.”

What
?
Where’d that come from
?

She withdrew two bowls from a top cabinet and stalled in front of the counter with her back toward him. “Like old times.”

Back when he didn’t try to cross any lines.

He warded off the effect she left on his voice. “We’re not twelve anymore. I doubt Ms. Riza keeps kids’ cereal on hand.”

“She knew we were coming. She bought some. Trust me.” Rifling through a bottom cabinet, Anna gave a satisfied grunt. “See?” She swiveled around with the white box in hand.

Evan nodded in concession while she fixed two bowls.

Crunching noises infiltrated the thick silence he’d inadvertently created between them. She ran her toe along the grout between the tiles, looking lost in thought.

He should say good night right now, walk away. Instead, he soaked in the sight of her under the warm light above the oven. Hair wound up in a mess on top of her head, cropped pajama pants exposing her dainty ankles, the tip of her upside down spoon resting against her bottom lip.

Lying to everyone—including himself—didn’t change the fact he was more in love with her now than ever.

With a slow exhale, he released the tension knotting his muscles. It didn’t matter. Regardless of what happened after this week, he’d always share her past. That was enough.

Anna scrunched her brows together while munching on the cereal, probably disappointed it wasn’t stale.

His chuckle elicited an upward glance. She lowered the spoon. “What’s so funny?”

“This.” He held out his bowl. “You. Us, standing in here like teenagers. All you’re missing is that cherry Chap Stick you always carried with you.”

She unburied a teal tube from the tiny pocket in her pants. “At least I’ve upgraded to Blistex.” She set her bowl in the sink and rolled the balm over her lips. “Guess I haven’t changed much.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Evan placed his dish beside hers.

“You can’t live in the past.”

He swallowed the sting. “That doesn’t mean you have to let it go.”

She wiped strands of dog hair off her shirt. “What do you do when you have no choice?”

The ache in her eyes seized him as much as it had the day of her mom’s funeral when she’d turned to him for affection.

“Then you build a future worthy of its memory.” Evan pulled out the folded-up flyer he’d been carrying in his pocket.

“What’s this?”

“Something I came across the other day.”

The audition information for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago unfolded as Anna smoothed out the creases on the page.

“I know you’re auditioning for Chicago Dance Crash, but Hubbard Street was your first choice once. I just want to make sure you’re not settling now.”

“Settling would mean I have an option.” Shoulders crestfallen, she returned the flyer. “This is sweet, but I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because.” She strode into the living room.

He caught up and turned her around by the arm. “Because why?”

“Because I’m not interested in reliving my mistakes.”

“That audition was five years ago.”

Anna sank onto the couch. “Not everything changes with time, Evan.”

The dejection in her voice weighed him down beside her. He raised her chin in search of the right thing to say. But instead of words, the pulse he’d failed to keep under control all day took over again.

His gaze glided down the slender slope of her neck and back to her mouth. If he slipped his fingers into her hair, he wouldn’t be able to turn back.

Her green eyes found his, wide and luring. The same transparency she’d shown last night and this morning invited him in. One breath closer, and there’d be no space left.

She traced her fingertips over his hand and brought his palm to her lips.

His muscles pulled taut against her softness, his skin reflecting the heat radiating off hers. “
Anna
.”

But instead of heeding his warning, she prodded him closer. Past the limits of his willpower. Cupping both her cheeks, Evan swallowed hard—wanting this to be real but even more afraid it was.

“
You think she cares for you? Wait till she finds out what you’ve cost her
.”

Dad’s voice joined flashes of holding Anna in his arms while she came undone after her mom’s burial. He searched her eyes. Same as then, the emotional havoc going on drew her to him for comfort, confused her into thinking she wanted more than friendship. But even if she truly did this time, it’d end the minute she knew what his failure had cost her.

He bolted up, raked his hands through his hair, and ordered his erratic breathing to slow. This was exactly why he didn’t go through with being her full-time security detail from the beginning. His role in her life mandated boundaries, self-control. Her safety was too important to compromise. He couldn’t keep messing things up.

A flicker of disappointment moved through her eyes and gutted him down the middle.

“Bells, I’m sorry.”

Alone on the couch, she closed her arms across her torso and wouldn’t look at him.

“It’s not—”

“What you want.” She clasped her elbows. “Yeah, I got that part. Please don’t make it any worse.”