Free Walk (Gentry Boys) by Cora Brent Page A

I puzzled out how to reunite with my brother.  Conway was the one person I wouldn’t give up on, not ever.
    I’d just zipped my fly when the doorbell rang.  I took my time getting to the door, figuring it was probably one of Bash’s friends, or maybe someone offering to sell me a stack of holy books. My parole officer had just stopped by for an unannounced visit two days ago and it wasn’t likely he’d return so soon, let alone on a Sunday afternoon.  The caller had just rung the bell for the third time when I reached the doorknob. 
    “Jesus,” I grumbled, flinging the door open.  “A little fucking patience-“
    The words died a quick death on my lips when I saw Evie standing there.  Her face was rapidly turning red.  She had one of those complexions that blushed with ease. 
    “I’m sorry,” she stammered and cleared her throat.  “I was just over there, just taking care of the cat and I didn’t want to bother you but your door was here and now you’re here and shit, I sound like a lunatic.”  She stamped her foot over the last few words, all cherry-faced and adorable.    
    “I’m glad you’re here,” I told her and could feel myself smiling so wide I probably looked like a lunatic myself. 
    She pressed her lips together, trying to hide her grin.  “Sorry for the word jumble.  What I meant to say is that I was tasked with looking after my friend Briana’s cat while she’s on her honeymoon.  Since I knew that you lived right here I took a chance that you were around.” 
    “I am around.” 
    She blinked.  “I see that.” 
    I opened the door the rest of the way and backed up. 
    “Come on in,” I said easily, pretending it was completely usual for me to open a door and ask a woman to step through it. 
    Evie hesitated.  She was pleased.  I could see that much.  But then a doubtful shadow crossed her face.  “You can tell me if I’m barging in.” 
    “If you were really barging in then believe me, I would tell you.” 
    She cocked her head and then nodded slowly.  “You would, wouldn’t you, Stone?”
    I didn’t know how to answer that but it seemed like a question she didn’t really expect an answer to.  She smiled and walked inside and as I caught a whiff of that strawberry-scented shampoo my dick woke right up. 
    Evie was looking around with curiosity.  While she was doing that I looked at her.  The soft blue sundress she was wearing fell modestly to her knees but the fabric hugged her body enough so that I could see more of her figure than I’d seen the other night.  She was small, barely scraping five feet, with pert little breasts and narrow hips. Her hair was a gently waved light brown that parted in the middle and rested just below her shoulders. She didn’t wear much makeup and didn’t need to. 
    Evie was staring at me and I realized she’d turned and asked me a question while I was busy judging her body.   
    “Sorry.  What?”  I shook myself to attention but I could tell by the amused curl to her lip that she wasn’t fooled. 
    “I asked if you had any roommates.” 
    “One.  His name’s Bash.  He knows one of my cousins.  We only met a few weeks ago when I moved in but we get along all right.” 
    “A few weeks ago,” Evie echoed and nodded, probably remembering how I’d told her I’d just gotten out of prison.  Then she suddenly grinned.  A charming dimple appeared on her left cheek.  “Well, I have to give you props.  It’s the tidiest man cave I’ve ever seen.  Do you have a girlfriend, Stone?”
    It jolted me a little the way she leapt from one topic to the next.  I looked her straight in the eye.  “No girlfriend of any kind. Women don’t tend to cling to ex-convicts.” 
    I almost winced when I said the words.  I didn’t mean to sound self-pitying.  I just wanted this girl to remember who she was dealing with.  If she backed away from me now I’d be able to handle it.  But if she kept crossing my path