“Can you please just drop me off now?” Sarah said to the woman, though she kept slanting her eyes to the man beside her. They’d driven past the house once, but no one was home and the woman hadn’t wanted to stop and wait. Sarah’s pleas to be let out were ignored. They’d driven to the cross street and pulled over, waiting for Evie’s car.
“Don’t you want to party with us?” the woman said. “Hang out until your sister comes home?”
Sarah was really beginning to regret that she’d told them she and Evie were related. “I’m tired. I’ll be sure to tell Evie you’re looking for her, though.”
The woman turned in her seat and speared Sarah with glittering eyes. “Now that, sweetie, is something I’d rather you didn’t do.”
Sarah clasped her shaking hands between her knees. Something definitely wasn’t right here. She should have never gotten in the car with these people. God, please just let her live and she’d never sneak out again. “I won’t tell her, I promise.”
“No, you won’t.” The woman turned around again. “Let’s go,” she said to the big guy driving.
“You wanna go in the house, see what we can shake out?”
The woman huffed. “No, let’s go back to the motel and make our guest comfortable. George and I’ll return while you watch the girl.”
“You planning to keep her now?”
“I don’t think we have a choice. We may need her for leverage.”
“Do you really think Evie knows where it is?”
“If David gave her something, she’ll know. Even if she doesn’t know what it is. We could search, but I’d rather not. It’ll be easier to get it out of Evie.”
“And if she doesn’t have it?”
“She has it.”
“But if she doesn’t?” the man insisted.
“Then she’ll get it for us. She’ll do anything to save her baby sister.”
Sarah wrenched her gaze to the window, trying to hold back the tears that threatened. One escaped. They didn’t really know Evie if they thought she’d do anything for Sarah. Evie could care less about her, no matter how she tried to be so nice and attentive now. Let her leave town again, and they’d never hear from her. Just like before.
No, Evie wouldn’t do a thing to save her sister. And Sarah wasn’t sure what that meant for her right now—except she was pretty certain it was a bad thing.
*
To hell with his conscience. Matt was ready to sink into Evie Baker and not come up for air for at least ten hours. There was something about being with her, something about kissing her and feeling her soft skin beneath his fingertips that made him feel grounded again. She reminded him of who he was. Of the parts of himself he liked.
With Evie, there was no need for pretense. She’d been his complement since they were children, and he was surprised to find it hadn’t changed very much. Oh, they were different, sure. But she still seemed to know him in ways that surprised him.
He’d been so damn restless for the last two months, his mind occupied with thoughts of everything he’d done wrong, but right now he couldn’t think beyond getting this woman naked and under him.
Which wasn’t going to be difficult, considering she was only wearing a robe.
Her arms were around his neck, her body arched into his as their tongues tangled in a hot, sensual duel. He had his hands on her ass, pulling her against the hardness between his thighs. Soon, he was going to carry her the few steps to the bed and lose himself in the delights of her body. He’d worry about the implications tomorrow.
And then the doorbell rang. Shit.
Still, he planned to ignore it.
But it didn’t stop, and Evie shifted restlessly in his arms.
“Shouldn’t you get that?” She sounded husky and breathless, and a shot of desire throttled through him.
“No.” He dipped his head to kiss her again.
Except the bell kept buzzing. It took a minute to penetrate the fog in his brain, but he suddenly knew who it was. What he didn’t know was why.
When they were teens, his sister had loved to punch the doorbell the minute he was rounding third base with a girl he’d brought home. It was like she had radar and lived to make his life hell.
But they weren’t kids anymore, and if Christina was here now—during her dinner party, no less—punching the bell with her trademark series of short, sharp dings, then something was up. Something he couldn’t ignore.
Matt lifted his head, cursing inwardly six ways to Sunday. Just when he’d shoved his conscience deep, just when he was about to get up close and personal with Evie’s delectable body, this happened.
Maybe it was a sign.
Evie gazed up at him with molten-hot eyes he wanted to drown in. “Give me a minute.” He kissed her again. “Don’t move from this spot.”
He left her there and strode to the door, intent on getting rid of his sister as quickly as possible. Perhaps Misty Lee had decided to dance naked on the terrace in front of all the guests, or maybe Aunt Maybelle had finally collapsed in a faint upon finding a giant dildo and a riding crop in her bedroom. With this family, anything was possible.
When he whipped the door open, his sister stood on the step in a pale pink silk gown, one gloved finger poised over the bell. She looked apologetic.
“So you did hear the door.” Her smile was teasing.
Matt frowned and shifted his stance to hide the evidence of what he’d been doing. Or about to do. “What’s up, Chris?”
She clasped her hands together. “Is Evie Baker in there with you?”
“Yeah, why?”
One eyebrow lifted imperiously. “Are you planning to invite me in?”
“That depends. What do you want?”
“I enjoy teasing you, Matt, but really, this is something you’ll want to hear. I promise.”
Matt pulled the door wider, sighing. He couldn’t get a break. “Fine.”
Chris went inside and sank onto the overstuffed couch. “Heavens, my feet are killing me.” She slid her feet from the mile-high shoes she was wearing. “I came to tell you Evie’s mother called the house. She said you’d called her earlier, but you weren’t answering your phone now.”
Damn it. He’d left it plugged in on the kitchen island. And then he’d gotten just a little bit distracted.
“I’ll call her now.” He was feeling annoyed, and it must have shown in his voice because she arched an eyebrow at him. But really, she’d needed to come down to the guesthouse for this?
“You definitely should, but I can tell you what’s going on.” Chris leaned forward, frowning. “Evie’s little sister is missing. She was supposed to be at home this evening, but when Norma returned from bingo, Sarah was gone. She said she checked Sarah’s friends, but Sarah’s not with any of them. No one’s seen her, and the police aren’t interested just yet.”
Before Matt could respond, Evie walked into the room. His gut clenched. He should have known she wouldn’t stay put. But that wasn’t what made his belly tighten.
No, it was the sight of her in his too big T-shirt—which she’d knotted at her waist—and shorts. And since she didn’t have any other shoes, she was wearing her high heels. He thought his tongue would stick to the roof of his mouth at the sight of those long, long legs.
Chris stood, smiling broadly. “It’s great to see you, Evie. I’ve been intending to get over to the salon, but I’ve been so busy since arriving.”
Evie’s wet hair hung in long ropes down her back, and her cosmetic-free face looked so fresh and innocent. She must have known how it looked to Chris, and yet she stood there with all the grace of a debutante at a cotillion.
They shared a quick hug. “Please don’t explain. You’ve been much too busy for visiting!”
Chris frowned. “I know, but I wanted to see everyone. I really had no idea how much work I’d have to do once I moved the wedding to Reynier’s Retreat.”
“But it’ll be worth it all. Reynier’s Retreat is the perfect place for a
wedding.”
Chris beamed. “Thank you. I thought so too.” She reached out and squeezed Evie’s hand. “I’d so love to catch up, but there’s something you need to know.” She slanted her gaze toward him. “Do you want to tell her?”
Evie’s expression grew suddenly wary as she darted a look between them. “Tell me what?”
“Your mama called,” Matt said. “Your sister isn’t at home like she’s supposed to be.”
Evie’s brow furrowed. “She must be with a friend.”
Matt shook his head. “Doesn’t appear to be. But that doesn’t mean anything. I think your mama’s probably worried because of the shooting at the lake. Anyone with a police scanner has heard it by now.”
“But Sarah wasn’t there.”
“Not that we know of, no.”
Evie put a hand to her head. For the barest moment, she looked as if she might crumple and he took a step toward her. But she stiffened her spine and faced them both as if someone had injected her with steel. He should have known that was coming. Evie was never down for long.
“I shouldn’t have left her tonight. If I’d just stayed home, none of this would have happened. She could hardly sneak out with me there.”
Matt took her by the shoulders and forced her to look him in the eye. Her eyes were haunted, guilty. It made something in his chest tighten. She looked helpless, though he knew she wasn’t. But in that moment, she made him think of the women and children he’d seen in the burned-out villages sometimes.
We can’t save them all. Colonel Mendez had said that to him more than once after the team returned from the field. But, damn it, Matt wasn’t prepared to accept that edict. He would keep trying to save them, every last one, until the Army wouldn’t let him anymore.
“There’s no point in beating yourself up over what you might have, should have, could have done.” He squeezed her shoulders. “What’s done is done. Now we need to go and find your sister and get you both home so your mama can stop worrying.”
Evie took a deep breath as if she needed to ground herself. “Right. Okay, she probably snuck off to a party somewhere. Or out with a boy.”
“Sounds likely. Why don’t we call your mother and see what she’s done and who she’s called?”
“I think I left my purse in your car. My phone is there.”
“You can use mine.” Matt went and got his phone and handed it to Evie. She dialed her mother, moving across the room toward the windows along the side of the house.
Chris stood and smoothed her skirt. “I better get back to the party now.” She shot a glance at Evie before focusing on him. “So are you taking up where you left off?”
“What’s that mean?”
Chris gave him a look. “You know what it means. But Matt, be careful.”
A current of irritation flared to life inside him. “Careful? What are you talking about?”
“You. You’re the same dog you’ve always been, and Evie’s just another woman who can’t quite resist your charms. But she’s also the one you shouldn’t mess with, because you’ve already done wrong by her once.”
Matt felt as if she’d jabbed him in the gut with her spiked heel. “Thanks for the advice, though I don’t remember asking for it.”
Chris smiled at him. Presumably to soften the blow. “It comes free because you’re my brother.”
Matt frowned, though hurt swirled deep down. The same dog you’ve always been. “Go tell Ben what to do. He signed on for it. I didn’t.”
Chris came over and tugged him down to her level. Then she kissed his cheek. “Don’t do anything stupid, Mattie.”
“Don’t call me Mattie,” he growled. “And I’m not planning to do anything stupid.”
“Says you.” Chris slipped out the door and closed it behind her.
Matt turned to find Evie still on the phone, one hand to her temple as she spoke. She looked so vulnerable in his shorts and too-big shirt, and he felt that same protective instinct he always felt when faced with a woman in crisis. It was probably nothing, just a teenager being a teenager, but he could no more walk away before they’d found Sarah and gotten her back home again than he could cease breathing on command. He wasn’t wired that way.
When his mother had been dying, he’d felt so helpless and useless. He didn’t feel that way anymore, or at least not often. That was a big part of why he did what he did. He felt a sense of accomplishment he’d never felt before. It was dangerous, sure, but the rewards made it worthwhile.
Evie finished the call and turned to him, her eyes full of concern. “Mama’s at home in case she shows up there, but my aunt and cousin are out looking for her. I need to get my car so I can help.”
Matt shook his head as he took his phone back. “I said I’d help you.”
She looked determined. “You’ve done enough for me tonight, Matt. Maybe you should go back to the party.”
He blinked. Did she want him to go? Was she finished with him? “So this is it, huh? Thanks and good night?”
She shrugged and he wanted to kiss her again, make her remember what kind of sparks had been zinging between them just a few minutes ago. “I think I forgot why you were in Rochambeau until Chris showed up. You’re missing her party and time with your family.”
As if family time in the Girard household had ever been something to look forward to after their mother died.
“I told you before that I already made my appearance. So either I help you, or I’m lying on the couch with a bag of chips and the remote.”
She rolled her eyes, and a current of warmth began to filter through him. “You didn’t get abs like that eating chips. Or watching TV.”
“Maybe I did.”
“Well if you did, I want to know the secret.” She had both hands on her hips now, and she was smiling. He liked it when she smiled.
Matt grabbed his keys. “Come on, let’s go. If you’re lucky, I’ll tell you the secret while we’re searching.”
*
They didn’t speak as Matt backed out of the garage and turned the car into the long driveway. Evie was worried, but mostly for Mama. Her mother would be frantic until Sarah came home again. She felt a twinge of anger at her sister, but she pushed it down and concentrated on what she would say when they found Sarah. She wanted to wring the girl’s neck, but she wouldn’t. That certainly wouldn’t make things better between them, would it?
Besides, she shared the blame for this. She should have known Sarah wasn’t planning to stay home after everyone was gone. Had she ever stayed put as a teen? On a Saturday? Hell no.
She’d gone to parties with her friends. The same kind of party where she’d walked up to Matt, bold as brass, and asked him to be her first.
If Sarah was out with a boy…
Evie shivered and Matt turned to her. “Cold?”
“Not really. Just a momentary chill.”
“You can set your own temperature.” He pointed at the controls for the passenger.
Evie pressed the button to increase the heat to her side and they lapsed into silence again. Her skin still tingled from his touch. Her lips felt as if they were on fire. If Christina hadn’t rung that bell, she had no doubt they’d be tangled together in his sheets right now. Something she’d wanted badly when she’d been wrapped up in his kiss.
Something she still wanted, if she were honest with herself. But while she’d stood there, waiting for him to come back, she started to panic. She asked herself what she was doing and what she thought would happen if she and Matt had sex. Suddenly, with him not there in the room, she’d lost her nerve. Now, she pushed her hand through her damp hair and wondered if she’d ever get that nerve again. If it was even a good idea.
“Thanks for doing this, Matt.”
“It’s not a problem, chère.”
Evie blew out a breath. “This night has definitely not turned out the way I expected it to when Julie dragged me to the lake.”
Matt chuckled. “No, I imagine not.” He glanced over at he
r. “Do you have any idea where Sarah likes to hang out? Who her friends are?”
Evie closed her eyes. She’d been home a month and, no, she didn’t know any of that. Why didn’t she? She should have known everything about her sister’s life. But she didn’t have the first clue. What did that say about her?
“I don’t really know,” she said softly. “Sarah and I aren’t all that close.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s my fault.” Evie twisted her fingers together in her lap. “I was so determined to shake off the dust of this town that I hardly ever came back. In almost eight years, I’ve been home twice.”
He was quiet for a moment. “Rochambeau is the kind of place that gets under your skin. You’re never quite free of it.”
“That’s certainly true.” She stifled a bitter laugh. “And here I am, back again, dying to get out as soon as I can.”
“Is it still so bad?”
Evie shrugged. She’d been asking herself that question for the past month. Was Rochambeau all that bad, or was it just the way she felt whenever she was here? No one treated her badly. No one seemed to care about anything that had happened in the past. Oh, that wouldn’t stop them from gossiping over something juicy—her and Matt together again after the Night That Changed Everything—but they weren’t malicious or vindictive about it.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I just know there are a lot of memories here, and not all of them good.”
His hands flexed on the wheel. “Was it really that bad? After I left?”
She swung her head toward him. He was in profile to her, his handsome face so strong and beautiful. But his jaw was tight. She had an urge to reach out and run her fingers along his skin, to see him soften, even if only for a moment. She’d sensed such pain in him tonight.
He wasn’t the same cocky bastard he’d been in high school. She wanted to know what had happened to him. And yet she knew he wasn’t going to share it with her. Matt had always kept his secrets close.
“We keep coming back to this, don’t we?”
He glanced at her and then back at the road. “Yeah, I suppose we do.”
Hot Pursuit Page 9
