Free Sins from Her Past (Scandalous) by Jules Bennett Page A

anyone you’re getting soft in your old age.”
    “I’m not soft or old,” he said between gritted teeth. “I’m homing in on a market that is scarce and in demand.”
    Evelyn crossed her legs and laughed. “Seriously, don’t try to defend yourself. Your secret is out. But it’s safe with me. If you want to talk about the profit, that’s fine. I know deep down how you feel.”
    Vin rolled his eyes. “You’re reading too much into this.”
    “Have you seen An Affair to Remember ?”
    He jerked back. “Yeah…why?”
    “What about Casablanca ?”
    He rolled his eyes. “What does this have to do with anything?”
    Even though she knew the answer, she quirked her brow. “Just answer the question.”
    “Yes, I’ve seen it too.”
    Evelyn raised her hands, palms out. “I rest my case. You’re a hopeless romantic.”
    The ding in the cockpit indicated they could remove their seat belts, but Evelyn didn’t want to go anywhere. She was quite content with this line of questioning.
    “All right then,” Vin retorted. “Have you seen Rocky ?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then does that make you a boxing fan?”
    Evelyn stared at him, but couldn’t keep the laughter from bubbling up and exploding out. “Are you seriously going to compare the two? Fine. I’ll confess I like boxing. Happy now?”
    A corner of Vin’s mouth quirked, but he unfastened his seat belt and came to his feet. “No, because I’m still not a romantic.”
    Looking up at him, Evelyn couldn’t help but keep her smile pasted on her face because they both knew she was right. “You were stating your case on wanting a wife and a baby the other day, right?”
    Vin rested his hands on his narrow hips and shrugged. “A wife and a baby don’t equal romance.”
    Evelyn came to her feet too, but with the seats not too far apart, they now stood mere inches apart and nearly eye to eye.
    “I know you, Vin.”
    She tried not to stare too long into those dark, mesmerizing eyes, but if her gaze traveled down to those full lips surrounded by a few days’ worth of stubble, she’d remember how much she’d enjoyed his mouth on hers, how much pleasure she’d taken from him and how much she wished she didn’t want to do it again.
    “I know you’ll want someone you actually care about to share that life with. You may have been a playboy, or at least let the public believe that, but I know the real you and if you are this passionate about a family, then you’re looking for love.”
    He didn’t stop his eyes from drifting to her mouth. “Are you applying for the position, Evelyn?”
    His quick reply, combined with that sultry gaze, had her wishing for things that were most likely impossible for her.
    If only having a family was that simple. If only her past didn’t damn her and keep her from seeking the happiness she knew she deserved. None of what had happened was her fault, but what had she done to stop two years of living a nightmare? She wouldn’t even know how to love or how to accept such a strong emotion.
    “I’m holding out for love,” she told him, as if she knew what she was talking about. “I’d rather wait until I know for sure.”
    Yeah, she’d hold out all right. Like until she quit having nightmares about sex and when she thought she could actually get naked with a man and let him touch her, make love to her.
    “So you’re the hopeless romantic?” he asked.
    “I used to be,” she murmured, glancing away and refusing to give in to the emotions that always seemed to overtake her when she thought of romance. “Um…do you want some water?”
    She walked toward the kitchenette, totally ignoring the fact she’d left him standing there—she was nearly positive he’d been ready to kiss her. She hadn’t meant to make that slight confession. Any slip like that could cause an onslaught of questions she just couldn’t afford to answer. He was already way too in tune to her emotions.
    “No, I don’t,” he answered. “Are you all