Page 25 of Engaging Evelyn (Blissful Bets)

Stephen paled. “And that’s what she was doing when she was gone, a bet?”

Brandon laughed. “Not today she wasn’t, but the guy was once one of the bets. He’s the first one she fucked twice. She really likes him, you know. That much I can tell. The guy has been through hell. I guess you could say she could relate.”

Stephen huffed. “I can’t believe she would do this. It doesn’t sound like the same Evelyn I know.”

“Knew,” Brandon corrected. “You don’t know her anymore, Stephen. She’s completely different from how she was when you were both together. Trust me, I saw everything. Listen, go to work and I’ll be here watching over her until you come back…if you come back.”

“I’ll be back. Keep your hands off her or I’ll break them. Do you hear me? Just because we share Evelyn in common doesn’t mean we’re friends.”

Brandon laughed. “Yeah, yeah, go to work, cub.”

“Quit being a smart-ass and calling me that damn name. I’ll be back,” Stephen said, shutting the door behind him.

The thudding of the stairs was a loud echo in Brandon’s ears. When he was sure Stephen was gone, he opened his phone and hit Taylor’s number. It was time he told him what was going on.

* * * *

Stephen got into his cruiser and sat there quietly for a few minutes. The game Evelyn was playing was a ticking time bomb. What happened when she pissed off the wrong guy? What happened if she was attacked? Had she lost her damn mind?

This was all his fault. How had he let things get this bad? Breaking off the engagement with Evelyn was supposed to protect her, not put her in more danger. He had never expected Sheila to take two years to accept her change.

Ayden had made him promise, had ordered and trusted him, to make sure she got better. Sheila wouldn’t let Ayden anywhere near her, not after she had found out her own brother gave her lycanthropy. It had been a freak accident, but Sheila didn’t care. She hated what she had become.

The cruiser came to life as Stephen started the car, and he pulled out of the parking lot.

His thoughts took over while he headed to the station.

Evelyn was never supposed to find out what he was until he could win her back and explain things his own way. She needed to be eased into the situation. The way she had acted, as if the news of what they were didn’t bother her, was amazing. Stephen could feel how scared she was through the bond, and he hated that she feared him. This time, he would find a way to break it to her where she would understand.

Rubbing his eyes, he tried to fit the pieces together. Never had he thought anything remotely like this was going to happen. A freaking vampire of all things. When had they come to town? Brandon knew about Ayden, so he had to have been here for a while, but why? Vampires traveled. They did not usually stay in one place for more than a week or two.

Stephen smiled as he took Brandon’s wallet out of his pocket. He was betting his name wasn’t even his real one, but it wouldn’t stop him from seeing what was on his file.

The wallet fell open, and he read the Texas driver’s license, Brandon Charles De La Cruz.

“Yeah, right.” Stephen laughed. “Austin, interesting. What is he doing down here, I wonder?”

Well, it was time he found out. Brandon De La Cruz was going to get checked out very thoroughly, and Stephen was certain that his record was going to be squeaky clean.

Chapter 13

Evelyn yawned and stretched, feeling completely refreshed. Wow, she must have slept very well. The thoughts of Bill swamped her mind and she smiled, remembering how his hair had curled around her finger. She hoped she would get to see him again.

Light flickered as Evelyn blinked her eyes open. A hoarse scream came out of her throat at seeing two men standing at the end of her bed. Rubbing her eyes, she watched them come into focus.

“Brandon…Stephen? What in the hell is going on?”

The surprise of seeing Stephen after all this time was confusing. She always expected to feel excited or sad, but as strange as it was, she just felt shocked. He looked good, tired, but very good. The flutter of her heart made her smile. Why wasn’t she angry at seeing him? Could she actually be happy at the sight of him? Surely not.

“We were just checking on you. Brandon found you passed out in your car yesterday and he called the station. I was the one who showed up. You woke up, though, twice…” Stephen said, looking over at Brandon. “We knew you would be okay. We just had to make sure.”

Evelyn squinted, trying to remember. All right, she had had amazing sex with Bill, and then she had left, and then what?

“I don’t remember coming home from…” She looked up at them and thought, What the hell, what’s the point of lying? “From Bill’s.”

“Is Bill your boyfriend?” Stephen asked, pulling out a notebook. Brandon and Evelyn both looked at him.

“I don’t see how that is any of your concern, Stephen,” Evelyn said, confused.

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