Page 24 of Engaging Evelyn (Blissful Bets)

Brandon watched Evelyn’s memories as they flooded him. Like a card catalog, he sifted through her routine for the last two days, taking out everything he could think of so she wouldn’t remember. The broken table, the bite, doubts that he couldn’t possibly be human.

Taking Stephen’s memories had been easier. They registered to him like a red flag. She loved him, Brandon knew that, and it wasn’t just the bond. Yes, the bond had been extremely strong, but Brandon caught flashes of before the bond had been placed on her.

In the thirty seconds it took him to feed, shift through her memories, and wipe out everything they needed to, he got a chance to view Evelyn’s life. She was as easy to get into as any normal human, which scared him. Would another vampire take advantage of her, use his good looks to hypnotize her into doing whatever he wanted? The thought made Brandon’s stomach drop.

There weren’t many vampires around Corpus Christi, but he knew of one, and he left her doubts right where they were, with Paul. He wasn’t going to risk Paul taking advantage of her if he wasn’t around to watch over her.

Brandon eased his lips off Evelyn’s neck, and he licked the wound, closing it. She’d never know she was bitten. She wouldn’t even have many memories of him at all. Not any of her stroking his hair, or of sharing coffee while he comforted her, of nothing but rejecting him and a scrambled one-night stand. But there would be more, he’d make sure of that. He wasn’t going anywhere.

“Is she okay? Did you get everything?” Stephen asked, lifting and cradling her in his

arms.

“Yeah, I got everything. Let’s go and put her in her bed. She probably won’t wake up

until the morning. Tomorrow is Sunday, right?” Brandon asked, shaking his head. He was so lost on time.

“Yeah, she’ll have a day to recuperate before she has to go back to work. Do you think she’ll be upset like she was, before you cleared everything?”

“No. I took out enough that I don’t think she’ll be that bad off. She might be quiet, a little distant, but not screaming like she was.” Brandon eased Evelyn’s hair off her face while he took in her relaxed features. She looked so peaceful, so beautiful. Wiping the streaks of tears away, he looked up at her ex-fiancé.

“Look, obviously you feel something. All right, I accept that. But we both know what is best for her, and it’s not you,” Stephen snapped. “She needs a stable home, a family…kids. Evelyn won’t get that with you. I want to give her that.”

Brandon watched as the big blond turned toward the door. He knew that Stephen was right. He couldn’t give Evelyn those things. Yes, he owned a house, just outside of Austin. But he was never there. The world held too much to stay in one place for long, but he’d give it up if he found the right person. As for kids, well, that was debatable.

As myth goes, vampires are dead, no heartbeat, no soul, dead once the sun comes up. Horseshit. Except for a sensitivity to fluorescent lighting and a sunburn if in the sun too long, he was fine. He could stay up for days if he wanted to—dead at night, his ass.

Brandon lived his everyday life like anyone else. So did all the other vampires. Between that and being able to make people forget about the consumption of blood, why else did everyone believe vampires were myths? No one wandered around and found vampires in coffins. That was ridiculous.

“Let’s put her to bed. And truthfully, I don’t think you’re right for her, Stephen. You’ve already hurt her before. What makes you think it’s not going to happen again?”

Brandon peeked out the door. The coast was clear. No one was out. He walked over, using Evelyn’s key to unlock the door, and motioned Stephen to proceed.

Once Evelyn was changed and tucked into her bed, the guys looked at each other. Neither of them wanted to leave her. How long would it be until she finally woke up? Would she remember?

“To answer your question, I’m right for her because I left to protect her from what I am. If you had seen how Sheila reacted when she found out she carried lycanthropy, you wouldn’t blame me for removing myself from Evelyn’s life. Ayden’s sister went ballistic. I’m talking suicide attempts, massive fits of rage, and the works. You really think I wanted to bring the love of my life into that situation?”

“Of course not. But I still don’t think you’re the one for her.”

A sigh left the cop’s mouth. “You’ll watch over her while I’m at work, right?” Stephen’s voice softened as his face filled with concern. Brandon noticed his eyes were fixated on Evelyn.

“Yeah, I was thinking that maybe I should stay until she wakes up. What could we tell her for both of us being here? For the next few days we need to keep a close watch on her.”

Stephen ran his fingers through his blond hair while he looked down toward the bed. “Just say you found her asleep in her car or something and you called the station. That’s when I can say I arrived. We’ll tell her she even momentarily woke up, so we knew she was okay. Do you think that will work?”

“That is the stupidest story I’ve ever heard, but since I can’t think of anything better, it’s going to have to do. What choice does she have but to believe us, anyway? The last thing she’s going to remember is leaving that motel. She won’t even remember the ride home.” Brandon crossed his arms and studied Evelyn’s face.

“What motel,” Stephen snapped.

Brandon groaned and waved Stephen into the living room. This was going to be a long story, one he didn’t really feel like telling. The cop stomped his way to the couch and sat down when he realized Brandon wasn’t going to continue, until he did.

“A few months ago, our dear Evelyn devised a game to keep her and her friends occupied until spring break approached.”

“What kind of game?”

“A game they call Bets. One focused on men.”

A look of revulsion came across Stephen’s face, but Brandon continued. “You see, with a point of one of their fingers, they bet each other who they would take to a motel and fuck. If they win and get the guy to leave with them and fuck them, then the one who made the bet has to buy drinks. If not, it’s the other way around and the loser buys the drinks.”

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