Page 63

But she wasn’t sure she minded in the next moment. Blue muttered a few monosyllables, ended his call, and then looked at her.
Just looked at her. And sure, his hard mouth curved while he did it, but it wasn’t anything special, she cautioned herself. It was just a look.
But her cheeks were so hot it hurt, and she could feel him. Everywhere.
“Did you finally get some sleep?” he asked.
And maybe it was just because they were in this place that had once been his. Whatever it was, everything felt intimate. As if it wasn’t random small talk to ask her how she’d slept but something more. Something different, something—
You’re an idiot,she told herself harshly.
There was zero doubt about that. She was tired,covered in smoke and God knew what else, and probably still scared for her life, if she allowed herself a minute to think about it. She certainly wasn’t herself, anyway. This wasn’t living her best life—this was hiding out in Blue’s parents’ attic from bad guys they still hadn’t identified.
Maybe she could forgive herself for reading all kinds of things into this situation. Blue wasn’t trying to kill her. That was pretty much all it took for her to develop softer feelings at this point.
She decided to do both of them a favor and not mention anything that was happening inside her—
But Blue didn’t get that directive, clearly. Because he reached over and ran the backs of his fingers over one hot cheek.
Everly managed to keep from jolting by actually biting down on her tongue.
“You look a little red, baby,” he said, as if the whole thing amused him.
As if any of this wasamusing.
Maybe, she thought dimly, it was all actually hitting her. The fact that someone had broken into her apartment. The fact that someone—maybe the same someone—had thrown a bomb through her window. The fact that between those two events she’dhad sexwith Blue Hendricks. And now was standing in the only possessions she had left, in an attic in her hometown—
“Breathe,” he ordered her. He dropped his hand.
She didn’t know which part of that bothered her more.
“What if I don’t feel like breathing on command?”
“Then you’ll make yourself pass out.” Blue shrugged. “I’d probably catch you. But I might not.”
Everly understood that if she did even one of thethings stampeding around inside her head just then, it would not end well. He was the one who’d taught her those moves, after all. He’d know exactly how to counter them.
She smiled to make the bloodlust dim. “Do we have a plan?”
“Find the bad guys. Make them stop. The usual.”
“So nothing concrete. More baiting traps and waiting to be blown up.”
Blue’s eyes narrowed. “You okay?”
“I’m great. Just perfect. Everything I own blew up in a fire last night, and I’m thinking it might be time toactively tryto catch the people who did it. Before they come up with something worse. You know, like something that might actually kill me.”
Blue only eyed her, much too calm. Much too patient.
Everly felt herself flush again, deeper and redder.
Damn it.
“I better get you some coffee,” was all he said.
Everly didn’t know how she was supposed to feel about that. Chastened? Or pleased that he was going to handle her caffeine requirements without her having to ask?
Blue didn’t give her the opportunity for debate on the topic. He just sauntered past her as if he didn’t have a care in the world and headed for the stairs, and she followed him, because that was what she did now. She didn’t even question it.