Page 162 of A Little Tempting

“Can I help you?” I try again.

“You’re, uh, you’re Reeves, right?”

I nod.

“I’m—”

“You can take the glasses off,” I interrupt. “I’m not buying the bullshit.”

With shaky hands, she lifts the glasses to the top of her head and forces herself to meet my gaze. Muddled purple and brown spreads across the bridge of her nose and along her left cheekbone. As I stare at the damage, my muscles tighten.

“I, uh, I heard you might be able to help me,” she whispers.

“I’m retired.”

A divot forms between her brows, and she shakes her head. “But I heard?—”

“I know what you heard, but I’m retired.”

“Oh.” Somehow, the girl manages to curl in on herself even more, and my heart fucking cracks.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

With a frown, she looks up at me, and I give her an encouraging nod then disappear back into the locker room.

“Ev!” I yell.

Cameron’s attention snaps to me. “What?”

“Where’s Everett?” I demand.

Glancing around the corner, Everett comes into view, rubbing a towel over his dark, straight hair, dressed in a pair of jeans but no shirt. “What’s up?”

“Come out here.”

“Why?”

If the asshole keeps asking questions, I have a feeling the girl will bolt. She looked spooked enough already.

“Come on,” I push.

He strides toward me, the towel hanging by his side. “What is it?”

“Remember our deal? There’s a girl outside. She needs your help.”

His expression falls. “Fuck, man. I don’t have time?—”

“And I don’t give a shit.” Grabbing his arm, I shove him out the door and follow. Adrenaline pulses through me as I search the corridor, thankfully spotting the small-framed girl in a black jacket at the end of the hall.

“Come on,” I repeat. Jogging toward her, I call out, “Hey, wait up!”

Her body freezes, and she slowly turns to face me. “Look, I’m sorry I bothered you.”

“You didn’t bother me,” I argue, glancing over my shoulder as a shirtless Everett catches up. His muscles are tense as he scans the girl up and down. “This is Everett,” I add, introducing him to her. “And you are…?”

“I’m Raine.”

“Everett, Raine. Raine, Everett,” I repeat as my attention catches on my girl at the end of the hall. When she sees me talking with Raine and Ev, her walking slows to a snail’s pace, and she quirks her brow.

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