Free Walk (Gentry Boys) by Cora Brent Page B

and giving me reasons to keep thinking about her, then it might hurt if she got scared off. 
    Evie was no fool for pity though.  She raised an arch eyebrow.  “Is that even true? I’ve heard there are a lot of women who are really into that.” 
    “Oh, well then let’s just say I’m not into the women who are into that.” 
    “So what are you into?”  I got the feeling she didn’t mean to blurt out the question.  She blushed again.  This Evie girl was more interesting every minute; a disarming mix of candor and sweetness.  I had no idea what she was going to say next.  If she’d embarrassed herself by the question it didn’t matter because she stood her ground, waiting for my answer. 
    “It’s been a while since I’ve thought about it,” I told her.  “Honesty, I guess.  That’s not something that can be traded.  Humor.  Because it’s nice to laugh a little when life fucks with you in a thousand small ways.” 
    She was nodding approvingly over my answer so I took a chance.  I moved closer.  The door was still open.  If she felt uneasy and wanted to run out I wouldn’t stop her.   We were almost touching.  Almost. 
    Evie had to tip her head back to meet my gaze.   Her eyes were different colors.  One blue and one green.  She didn’t look as if she had any intention of backing away from me now matter how close I came.
    “But most of all,” I said quietly. “I’m into pretty girls in dresses who will dance with you in the dark and then show up unexpectedly at your apartment.” 
    She closed her eyes for longer than a blink. 
    “Stone.”  She opened her eyes and said my name like my existence puzzled her.  “Who are you?”
    Who are you?
    Hadn’t I asked myself that every single morning as I scratched another day of my life off on an old piece of paper? 
    The only thing I had to offer her was the truth as I saw it. 
    “Evie, I’m the guy who’s made some mistakes. I might not be done paying for them.  But people manage to live decent lives every day and all I want is the chance to do the same.” 
    Evie kissed me.  I was so blown away with shock that I didn’t even react.  I just stood there like an asshole as she rose on her tiptoes and gently touched her lips to mine.  She didn’t linger there and a few seconds later I was still dumbfounded and asking myself whether it had even happened. 
    “Thank you,” she said. 
    Fuck. I wanted her.  Here.  Now. 
    I crossed my arms over my chest.  “For what?”
    Evie grinned and stepped behind the couch, running her fingers along the back of it thoughtfully.   “For letting me do that.” 
    Baby, you have no idea what I’d let you do and what I’d do to you in return.
    “Well, feel free to revisit the task anytime the mood strikes you,” I said casually.
    Even though my heart pounded and my dick was a rod of steel I felt strangely at ease.  There was just something about her. 
    Evie nodded.  “Do you like hamburgers?”
    “Hamburgers?”
    “Yes.  I have a new favorite restaurant that’s about five miles from here.  There used to be an old house beside it but the house was razed to make room for a tiny urban farm..  The restaurant gets all their greens from the mini farm.” 
    “I like hamburgers,” I said smoothly
    “Good!”  Evie held her hand out.  “It’s past the lunch hour, Stone.  So how about it?  My treat.” 
    I took her hand and she immediately laced our fingers together.  It was such a little thing and yet seemed so intimate.  I didn’t know her last name and we’d only enjoyed a grand total of about twenty minutes of conversation.  Yet I wanted to go anywhere and everywhere with her. 
    “I can’t,” I said and almost bit my own tongue off when her face fell.  “I mean, I’d really love to and I’m not bullshitting about that.  But I have a family thing this afternoon.” 
    “Oh.”  She was disappointed and didn’t hide it.  “That’s okay.  I