Everly (Striking Back #1) by S. M. Shade

Author:S. M. Shade [Shade, S. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00UEVPO5G
Published: 2015-04-15T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

We’re happy and upbeat during the hour and a half drive to Turkey Run State Park. “Your brothers are funny.”

He smiles at me. “They’re okay.”

“You’re obviously close.”

“We are. They’re my pain in the ass kid brothers, but we’d do anything for each other.” He cocks his eyebrow and gazes at me. “They sure liked you.”

“Well, of course.”

He laughs. “I’m glad you decided to come. Did I pull you away from anything important?”

“I called a friend to take my hours at Building Tomorrow’s Child, and the owner of Striking Back assured me they have everything covered.”

“How many days a week do you volunteer?”

“Four or five, depends on when I’m needed. There’s a literacy program starting in the fall I plan to participate in.”

“So, you don’t have a job?”

“No.”

“How do you…shit, this is probably none of my business, but how do you make your money?”

I was wondering when that would come up and his nervous expression makes me laugh. “I sell a little Meth here and there.”

“Very funny, baby.”

“I inherited it.”

He frowns, confused. “I thought you didn’t have any family.”

“I don’t, but apparently my parents were loaded when they died. I was lucky. When I aged out of the system at eighteen, I had enough money for ten lifetimes. A lot of foster kids end up on the street or in prison. I don’t have to work. The least I can do is help.”

“You’re amazing, do you know that?” he asks, taking my hand as we turn into the park.

“I’m not the one who built a domestic violence shelter.”

He smiles at me before turning to pay the park attendant. “Let’s find a campsite.”

We follow the narrow paved road as it winds through the woods, dotted on either side by worn dirt campsites. It’s not quite summer yet so most of them are empty, and we choose a spot right across from the showers.

Mason puts up the tent while I make a neat pile of firewood. We want to get everything ready for the night before we get into any activities. Leaning against a tree, I watch him pound in the stakes holding the guy wires.

He’s shirtless and a light sheen of sweat coats his chest. His eyes seem to glow in the afternoon sunlight. The flex and pull of muscles in his back mesmerizes me, and he’s gazing at me with a grin when I realize he’s calling my name. Probably has a couple of times.

“I’m feeling a little exposed. You’re totally objectifying me. It’s just wrong, Evie.” Ugh, the smirk on his face.

My cheeks heat and there’s no playing it off this time. This calls for alternate measures. I approach him and slide my hand up his chest. “You don’t like me looking at you?” His lips part and I feel his heartbeat increase under my palm. I love that I can affect him this way.

“When you look at me like that, I have to fight the urge to strip you naked right here.”

“That’s not exactly a deterrent,” I reply, and he chuckles.

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