Page 30 of Keeping Eveline

A tiny snore filled the cab of the car, and Ox smiled, in spite of himself. What would Eveline think if he told her she had a cute snore?

She’d probably deny it like most people did when someone said they snored.

The last thing he wanted to do was wake her, but they were at her apartment. He scanned the area.

While she didn’t live in a bad part of LA, the building severely lacked good security.

Each apartment was easily accessible by the staircases that connected the floors. There were no cameras on the corners of the building monitoring the front and entrance. He suspected the back would be the same.

Ox couldn’t, in all good conscience, leave her here unprotected.

Eveline wouldn’t like what he was going to suggest, but that was just too bad. After listening to her recount her attack again, he was convinced that someone knew she had the information on Triple Z’s security business.

Why else would she be warned?

Glancing over at the sleeping woman, he couldn’t stop himself from trailing his fingers down her arm until he reached the top of her hand. Lightly he stroked the soft skin, hoping this time, his touch would awaken her.

Her hand twitched beneath his, and Ox smiled when her face screwed up in annoyance.

“Time to wake up, baby,” he whispered.

Baby.

What the fuck was he doing?

The word kept tripping off his tongue as if he’d always called her that.

Ox didn’t do endearments. Had never done them with the two long relationships he’d had. Yes, he shortened their name, but never an endearment.

“Not a baby,” Eveline mumbled again, like she had at the hospital.

“True, but you still need to wake up. We’re at your place.”

At his announcement, her drowsiness disappeared, and she pulled her hand away from his.

He wanted to snatch it back, but he didn’t.

“Right. Well, sorry for falling asleep again. I’ll just go now. Thanks for bringing me home.” The words rushed out of her like popping corn.

Was she even fully awake?

Ox moved quickly when she went to open her door. “If you think I’m letting you walk into your place by yourself, you can think again.”

Eveline rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I haven’t done this by myself the last three years I’ve lived here.”

“Yes, but you hadn’t been mugged like you were last night.”

She reared back as if he’d slapped her, and he cursed. He could’ve made his point without being crass.

“Evie, I’m sorry I shouldn’t ha?—”

“No, it’s fine. You’re right. Things are different now.”

If it were possible a few simple sentences could freeze the inside of a car, then that was exactly what Eveline’s response had done. The temperature in the cab of his vehicle had dropped.

Tiredness pervaded his soul. He could do with some sleep. It’d been a long time since he’d pulled an all-nighter like had had the previous evening.

Ox was well aware too, that if he tried to placate Eveline, she wouldn’t appreciate it.

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