Evin's Fight (Southern Charmers Book 3) Read online

  “No, but I hope the nerves aren’t because of me.”

  Her face falls, and she shakes her head. “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that… well, this is unconventional and—” She stops mid-sentence, running her hands through her hair, getting flustered.

  Dante’s fierce warning comes back to me as a reminder that there are a lot of layers to Poppy I haven’t uncovered.

  “What would you normally do after a double show on a Saturday night?”

  Her brows pull together, and she tilts her head to the side. “Occasionally, a group of us will plan something, but mostly I go home and take a long, hot bath. Then I’d eat, have a glass of wine, and watch bad TV.”

  “We don’t have to change that routine.” I go to the desk and hand her the room service menu. “Pick your dinner, take a bath, and we’ll watch bad TV together.”

  “You sure?”

  “Anything you want.”

  She closes in, tipping up on her toes, bringing her lips to mine. “You may regret this when we get sucked into the worst TV programming in the universe.”

  “I’ll take my chances.”

  She smiles against my mouth before stepping away and disappearing into the bathroom. The water sounds, and after a minute, she opens the door.

  My heart stops and all my blood rushes to my dick, which hardens instantly. She’s wrapped in a simple white hotel towel, but knowing she’s naked underneath has my blood pumping overtime. My hand itches to rip the towel off and run my mouth over her body.

  “Caesar salad and whatever wine you prefer,” she informs me.

  I nod, my eyes traveling along every inch of exposed skin until they meet hers. “Baby, lock that door.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve discovered the one thing that may make me lose control.”

  Her eyes light up triumphantly as she slowly closes the door.

  I adjust myself and pray for will of steel when the lock never clicks.

  Chapter 6

  Poppy

  It’s a struggle to keep from laughing as Evin tries to get comfortable in the compact space. His knees hit the dashboard, his shoulders are well beyond the side of the seat, and his seatbelt stretches tautly across his chest. When I glimpse over again, he’s staring at me. “Something funny?”

  “You seem uncomfortable.”

  “I’m strapped in a death trap.”

  “I think that’s a little overkill. This is a perfectly safe vehicle.”

  “For you. I’m at least one-hundred pounds heavier and over a foot taller than you. This wasn’t designed for a man like me. Next time, I’m renting a truck.”

  My stomach and heart flip at the way he casually throws that out.

  We pull into my driveway, and he’s out of the car with lightning speed, grabbing my bags out of the trunk. Ryanne’s on the phone, laying on the couch when we walk in. When she sees us, she bolts up, her eyes bulging.

  “Mom, I have to go! Popsy waltzed in our house with Chris Hemsworth!”

  I freeze, sucking in a breath, the heat soaring up my neck.

  “No, it’s not actually him, but think of Chris with bright amber eyes.” Her mom’s squeals reach across the room. “Yes, I’ll take a picture. Got to go, Poppy looks like she’s about to pass out.” She disconnects.

  “You’re Evin?”

  “I am.” He doesn’t hide the humor in his voice.

  “I’m Ryanne.”

  “Figured as much.”

  She casts her gaze back to me. “Pips, you need to take a breath. Your face is red.”

  “I wonder why.”

  “Oh, calm down.”

  I swallow my groan and twist to him. “It shouldn’t take long for me to pack.”

  “Lead the way.”

  “Why don’t you go pack and leave me and Evin to chat.”

  “Not on your life.” I slice my eyes in warning.

  Evin follows me to my room and places the bags on my bed, looking around.

  “This is my sanctuary.”

  “It’s exactly what I’d expect.” He runs his hand along the dangling crystals on my bedside lamp and picks up the flower-shaped pewter dish, glancing at me curiously.

  “It’s an incense burner.”

  He replaces it, turning to face the wall covered with my favorite photos. Most of them are self-explanatory, span through the years, and feature Dante and Ryanne often. I observe him closely, knowing the instant he spots it.

  “Jesus, Poppy. This is you?”

  “My last performance my senior year of college.”

  “You’re breathtaking.”

  I try to picture it through his eyes. My blonde hair tied tight in a slick bun, the stage make-up applied to perfection, my costume molded to my body. All of it sets the image of the impeccable ballerina. But it’s not any of that I remember when I see myself in this photo.

  It’s the impossibly wide smile and the feeling of that moment.

  “As soon as my feet left the ground, that was it. Years of training clicked into place and my muscle memory took over. The photographer caught the most perfect leap of my lifetime.” I run my finger over the glass, pointing out the form of my body.

  “It was flawless, and as soon as my piece was done, everyone backstage surrounded me to tell me so. The best praise came next. No words exchanged, but my biggest critic locked eyes with me, her approval shining bright, and I knew. Her simple curtsy was the best compliment I’d ever received.”

  For a second, I allow myself to go back to that moment. My twenty-one-year-old self, buzzing with adrenaline and eagerness, wanting to see that same approval on my family’s faces.

  Little did I know that a few hours later, my naïve world would implode and I’d be facing a nightmare that would eventually change my life.

  Evin pulls me to him. One arm circles my waist while his hand comes to cup my jaw. His beautiful eyes scan my face and fill with concern. “There’s more to this story, isn’t there?”

  “There was, but I left it behind. That picture represents a split second in time that led me to where I am right now.”

  His gaze softens, and he ducks, skimming his mouth across mine. I sink into him, my body lighting up with the familiarity of his touch. My lips part, and he takes the silent invitation, gently sweeping his tongue through my mouth.

  In the last two days, I’ve lost count of the times I’ve kissed this man. Each time, I get more and more in tune with his mood.

  Slow, delicate, sweet, loving, frenzied, hungry, passionate—I’ve experienced it all. But this kiss is different. He’s deliberately taking his time, delicately twirling our tongues together in an unhurried rhythm. He knows I’m holding back a piece of myself from that photo and that period in my life, but he’s not pushing.

  Just like the night we met and all the time since. There’s no pressure. He’ll wait.

  I clutch onto his shirt, my knees going weak. As if he senses my need, his arm around my waist tightens, and he lifts me effortlessly, bringing my body flush to his. My arms and legs wrap around him, clutching tight.

  The stark difference in our sizes is lost as my body molds to his. I shift my hips, rolling against the unmistakable thick bulge pressed to me.

  A deep grumble vibrates low in his chest, sending a ripple of heat and desire surging through my system. His unhurried rhythm changes, turning greedy. He threads his fingers into my hair, slanting my head and delving deeper. His mouth moves urgently, the strokes of his tongue growing rougher.

  I lose myself in him, my heart racing wildly, thundering in my chest and knowing he feels it. No one has ever ignited this raw need inside before.

  It’s sexy, it’s thrilling, and it’s exhilarating all at the same time.

  Twenty-nine years I’ve waited for this.

  He slows his movements, sucking my bottom lip into his mouth before pressing his forehead to mine. We’re both breathing heavy, and my stomach pitches when his eyes lock with mine. The radiant amber glow is stormy and heat
ed.

  “Poppy.” My name is hoarse and strained.

  I loosen my hold, trying to give him some space. “What’s wrong?”

  “Don’t, baby. Don’t move.” He shifts me slightly. The storm in his gaze clears and he grips me tighter. “Do you feel that?”

  A spark of electricity shoots through my veins as his hardness rubs against my center.

  “That’s all for you. The way your body fits perfectly against mine is another test to my restraint.”

  This is not the first time I’ve noticed his arousal. It’s impossible to miss when he’s pressed against me each morning. But knowing the effect I have through just our heated kisses settles deep inside. “Is that a bad thing?”

  “No, but my cock has me questioning if I’m thirty-five or fifteen.”

  The attempt to hold in my amusement fails, and I burst into laughter. I don’t realize we’re moving until my back hits my mattress. Evin braces on his knees not to crush me, but my legs remain linked around his waist.

  “Doesn’t help my cause when your body vibrates and you grind down on my dick.”

  I throw my head back, giggling until my sides ache and my vision is teary. When I’m able to focus on him, my breath catches in my throat. He’s staring at me so intently my skin heats.

  “God, you’re gorgeous.”

  “So are you,” I whisper, reaching a hand to run through his hair.

  He opens his mouth to reply, but the moment is interrupted by a loud and obnoxious shout that echoes through the house. “Are they wickedly indecent?” Dante yells.

  “Last I checked, she was wrapped around him like a monkey and sucking the air out of his body.”

  “Did you get a picture for proof?”

  “Do you know me? Of course, I did.”

  I let go of Evin’s head, unlatch my legs, and he rolls to sit on the side, adjusting himself.

  “Are you tucked and zipped?” Dante calls from the hallway.

  “No, go away,” I yell back, sitting up.

  They ignore me, crowding into my room. Dante swings a glance between us. “Looks like she didn’t suck all the air out of you.”

  I groan, tossing a pillow at him. “Shut up.”

  Evin chuckles, rising and bending back to kiss me quickly. “I’m making a call. You pack and I’ll take us all to lunch.”

  “If you run now, I won’t blame you.”

  His hand caresses my cheek, his eyes dancing. “I’ll never run from you. This is part of the deal, right?”

  I nod.

  Dante watches him go, and when the front door closes, they pounce on the bed, trapping me between them.

  “Soooooo, how did last night go?” Dante starts.

  “It was perfect.”

  “There are a lot of different versions of perfect. If I was in your shoes, my version would be X-rated.” Ryanne props on her elbow, getting comfortable.

  My chest tightens at her words. Many times over the years, I’ve wished I was more like her. Not because of her beauty, but because of her flare for life.

  Ryanne is unapologetically wild at heart with little room for regrets. Her vibrant personality captures attention almost everywhere we go.

  I’m carefree and spirited with a zest for life, but there is a piece of me that is reserved and careful.

  Therefore, I know Ryanne would not have been taking a bath alone in a luxurious bathtub while a man like Evin was waiting for her in the other room. Nor would she be crawling in bed beside him fully clothed the last two nights, doing nothing but making out until we were both breathless.

  She’s had many boyfriends over the years, but none of them lasted. Dante’s take is none of them had staying power. I think it has more to do with the fact that, at around the four-month mark, these guys have all thought they could tame her.

  Ryanne may appear just a beautiful face, but she’s cunning and sharp. The instant she picks up on the smallest hint of them trying to change her ways, she walks.

  No looking back, no tears, and absolutely no regrets.

  It’s no use to evade their inquisition, even if my version of perfect resembles a teenage date night. “We went back to his hotel room, and I bathed while he ordered room service. We ate, drank wine, and watched TV.”

  There, I said it.

  She stares at me blankly, her disappointment carved on her face. “You basically did your normal Saturday night routine?”

  “Yes.”

  “And Evin was into that?”

  “It was his idea.”

  “And that’s it?”

  “We talked a lot.” Now that it’s out in the open, I realize how ultimately lame it sounds.

  I fidget with the fringe on one of my pillows, my skin prickling at their silence.

  “I can see how he’d be perfectly content with that.”

  “Believe it or not, I can too.” Ryanne surprises me by agreeing with him. “After what you told me and the way he looks at her, it makes sense. Plus, look at this.” She shoves her phone at him.

  “Nice,” he whistles low. “Totally hot.”

  I glimpse at the screen and let out a ridiculously high-pitched squeal. “You didn’t!”

  “Of course I did, you left your door open. It was fair game.”

  Dante scrolls through several shots of me in Evin’s arms earlier.

  “Really, Ryanne? How old are you?”

  “Come on, this could have been a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I captured the moment.”

  “Me kissing a man is a once-in-a-lifetime chance? I’ve kissed men before.”

  She quirks an eyebrow and takes her phone back, pointing to the screen. “That was the kind of kiss that leads to sweaty, naked, baby-making sex. I didn’t know you had it in you. Hence the photographic proof.”

  I cover my face, shaking my head. “You make me sound pathetic.”

  “Pips, you’re looking at it all wrong.” She pulls my hand down, her playful expression now thoughtful. “I took the picture for you. It was beautiful, and I wanted you to have that.”

  Her meaning is crystal clear. The last man in my life for a while stripped all my confidence and left me with huge trust issues. I met Ryanne and Dante shortly after my break-up and have had no type of relationship since. I threw myself into my career and other commitments. There has never been a spark of interest or temptation.

  Until Evin.

  “There it is, that look. I told you,” Dante says to her.

  “You did, and it’s marvelous,” she responds.

  “Now what are you talking about?” I glance between them.

  “The love-struck look on your face when you think about him,” Dante adds.

  “Love-struck? Don’t you think it’s a little premature to be throwing out words like that?”

  “Nope, because it’s the exact same way he looks at you.”

  Butterflies take flight in my stomach, swarming high into my chest. Then Ryanne’s statement from earlier occurs to me. “What was Ryanne referring to? What did you tell her?”

  He grins slyly and relays his conversation from last night with Evin. The butterflies take a nose-dive and I stare at him, horrified. “You referred to him as a big shot executive that comes to Vegas to have a little fun? Then you basically called him a sugar-daddy? Why would you do that?”

  “I pushed a little hard to rattle his cage. I had to see for myself his reaction.”

  “And?”

  “By the end, he wanted to pummel me.”

  “I’m experiencing that same thought right now.”

  He smiles wider, not caring that I’m about to strangle him. “Don’t get worked up. You should have expected it.”

  “Expected you to be rude to a man that I’m interested in?”

  “I wasn’t rude, I was direct. He gets where I’m coming from.”

  I open my mouth to debate his intentions when he places his hand on mine, his face growing serious.

  “That’s what having your back means. I’ve waited a long t
ime.”

  “We both have,” Ryanne adds.

  “You’re back to making me sound pathetic.”

  “I’m calling it now. Your run as the oldest resident virgin in Vegas is about to end.”

  “And the best part is you found yourself a man, Pips, a man that’s eons above playing games. Not only is he going to be patient with you, he’s also going to enjoy every minute knowing he’s got something precious,” Dante announces proudly.

  “Did you psychoanalyze him?”

  “Didn’t take a degree. He may be gruff and hard on the outside, but he’s got a soft spot.”

  “Hmmm, I don’t know if there’s anything soft about him when Poppy is around. Did you see the rod of steel he was sporting? Imagine having that as your first.” Ryanne fans her face. “You’re a lucky bitch.”

  “Oh my God!” I fall back, hiding my face with the pillow.

  “Dante, our little Popsy is flushed from head to toe.”

  “That’s because she knows you’re right. There’s no way she didn’t notice what that man has to offer.”

  “Stop!” my scream is muffled.

  Ryanne pokes me in the side. “I’m enjoying this. But for now, I’ll pack your things. That’s the only way to ensure you have the right stuff for the next few days.”

  “I’ll help because I’m starved.” Dante rolls off the bed.

  I peek out and watch them. Dante goes to my closet and Ryanne to my dresser, both of them discussing what I may need.

  A new realization washes over me, sending my thoughts into a frenzy. I’ll be spending the next four days and nights with a man I barely know and yet feel one-hundred percent safe with.

  I channel my inner Ryanne and decide. Regardless of what happens with Evin, there will be absolutely no regrets.

  Chapter 7

  Evin

  The last set of girls crosses the large dance floor, trying their best to imitate Poppy’s graceful movements and routine. She openly praises them one by one. The group of teenagers break up, a few of them surrounding her with questions. It’s easy to spot the admiration on their faces as she gives them her full attention. I won’t be surprised if the next time she’s here, they’re not all donning flowers in their hair as if she started the trend.