The Surprise of Her Life

Eve slid him a sympathetic look. “You were very generous.”

After something close to a growl, he replied, “Legally, there wasn’t much I could do about the pension, and I ended up giving her my equity in the house to keep from having to liquidate a few other things that I inherited from my side of the family.”

“You don’t have anyone left, do you? I think I remember Sam saying you were an only child, too?”

“That’s right.”

“Thankfully all of my family is still alive.” Eve almost felt guilty for having so much when he had so little. What’s more, she had a reliable vehicle and a modest nest egg from her share of the equity that had come from the sale of their house, and Wes’s college debt was paid off. “I’m sorry that you have to think about Wes living in your house.”

“That happens less than you might think.”

Seeing his eyes try to hold her gaze, she admitted, “You know, back when we were neighbors, I was intimidated by you. So much so that I delayed going outside if you were mowing or something.”

He leaned forward and offered a conspiratorial, “We train to have that effect on people. Keeps everyone but reporters and politicians at arm’s length.” Lifting his glass again he waited for her to lift hers and gently touched rim to rim. “Allow me to make amends.”

Eve’s heart skittered at his subtle flirtation. “Amends” were not necessary and those feelings were part of a past she really was trying to put behind her. On top of that, she reminded herself, while he was handling her with kid gloves, she was still being handled. He’d admitted as much. He was a control-oriented man. Hadn’t she just divorced one of those? Maybe Wes was an amateur compared to someone trained by a government agency, but Wes had carried some clout in their community as he’d risen to the post of head coach of consistently winning football, basketball and baseball teams. Increasingly, he’d carried that persona home with him. She’d parried it with some success through her sense of humor and the reminder that “For better or worse” didn’t necessarily mean illness, it meant someone dropping the ball relationship-wise. No, hindsight told her that she hadn’t been completely blindsided by the divorce.

“You have to appease my curiosity,” Derek said, breaking into her thoughts. “What brought you to Colorado? I think Samantha said you were born and raised in Texas.”

“That’s true. All of the senior members of the family live near a retirement community north of Houston. That’s where both sets of my grandparents are. My parents joke that they live off campus.” At Derek’s surprised look, she grinned with pleasure. “Yeah, the Eastons and Leelands are a bunch of tough old birds. Plus I have an older brother, Nicholas, in Houston. He’s a cardiac surgeon, and my middle sibling, Sela, is a corporate attorney in San Antonio. To answer your question, I just needed some space. It’s true that my grandparents are getting frail, but I thought I could catch a flight anytime and spend a long weekend with everyone. What I didn’t count on was how busy Rae would keep me. And I must admit the cold makes me question part of my decision. Don’t get me wrong, I like the outdoors but winters aren’t as long in Texas as they are here.”

“You’ve got that right. Do you ski?”

She couldn’t quite stifle a giggle as she thought of her answer. “I’m deemed expert on the kids’ beginner slope, and I’ve humiliated myself twice by taking the 360-degree excursion tour via the lift to the adult slope. Just ask Rae and Gus.”

“I could cure that.”

Wow, Eve thought, when the man wanted to make a point, he didn’t mince words. “Short of threatening me with arrest for scaring children and wildlife with my screams, I doubt it.”

Derek’s look was as intimate as it was confident. “That I’d never do.”

Once again she felt things she had no business feeling around this man. Eve was certain that he didn’t really mean to sound seductive, but an undeniable chemistry had spawned between them. What a surprise, considering his deceptively conventional appearance. His square-jawed, slightly off-angle face denied him classical handsomeness the way his loose-fitting suit almost hid that he was a man of strength. Having glimpsed his badge as he’d tucked away his BlackBerry, she supposed the cut of his clothing was to hide what else that belt carried. She’d seen him in shorts and his legs were powerful and well shaped. Even tall Sam must have felt tiny wrapped in his arms.

“Well, either way,” she said, grateful for the darkness that hopefully hid her blush, “you’d be wasting your time.”

“Then you should try cross-country skiing with me. I actually like it better. Shorter skis, and you can pick the difficulty of your terrain. Plus it’s more private,” he added at her doubtful look. “Few people to see any mishaps.”

Her traitorous imagination pictured them in a secluded part of the woods, her sandwiched between him and a great old pine, him unzipping her jacket and caressing and kissing her until she couldn’t feel the cold anymore.

She shook her head to stop the images. “Skidding across the supermarket parking lot is as adventurous as I’m willing to get these days. Trust me, I’m too boring for you.”

“Says who? Wes the Wonderful, who needed to collect more than sports trophies to feel good about himself?”

Although his tone wasn’t unkind, the sting of truth had Eve swallowing hard. She raised her glass in salute, even though she wasn’t sure her hand would be steady. “You’ve got me, G-man. I guess a new dress does not a bruised ego fix.”

“It’s New Year’s and whether you’re into resolutions or not, at least let your hair down for the evening. Figuratively speaking,” he added, giving her cute do another admiring glance. “That’s a great song they’re playing out there, can you hear it?”

She could. She was woefully behind with new titles and singers, but she loved this classic. “Etta James singing ‘At Last.’”

“Ma’am.” Derek rose and formally bowed as he extended his hand. “These are close quarters, but would you care to shuffle?”

Why not? she thought, liking him more with each surprising disclosure into his character. She also was touched at how he was trying to make her feel comfortable around him. Unable to deny the invitation in his eyes, Eve placed her hand in his and rose. “Brave man risking a trip to the E.R. tonight.”

His chest shook in laughter as they stepped toward each other in that little cool nook bathed in muted light and surrounded by Rae’s pots of herbs. Their addictive scents added to the ambience as man and woman rocked gently to the romantic jazz. In her heels, Eve’s temple barely reached his freshly shaven, strong jaw, and yet her hand, engulfed in his, felt like she was cocooned in peace. It was intriguing to discover that someone larger than Wes, and in a more serious line of work, could exhibit so much more tenderness.

“You’re one surprise after another,” she murmured, letting her eyes close. “I’m going to remember this.”

“I damn well hope so.”

She chuckled softly at his mock indignation. “Do you sing?”

“Now you’re pushing your luck.”

As he spoke, his breath subtly moved her bangs and tickled her forehead. She realized she wouldn’t have minded if they were his lips. “Do you mind if I do?”

“Are you kidding? Was Tom Hanks ever crazy enough to say no to Meg Ryan?”

Softly, Eve crooned the next stanza.

“Lady, you have soul in your genes.” Derek stopped and coaxed her chin up so he could see her face. “I want to hear more.”

But there was no more music. The stereo went silent and someone turned up the TV to play the countdown to the New Year. Eve and Derek looked at each other. Despite the distance, the cacophony threatened to shatter the fragile web of magic between them. Time had passed more quickly than either of them realized and caught them in a particularly unexpected and potentially complicated situation.

“Five … four … three … two … one … Happy New Year!”

“Happy New Year,” he murmured, his gaze roaming over her face.

“And to you,” Eve whispered. She grew sad as she felt this sweet, unexpected moment coming to an end.

But instead of releasing her, Derek slowly lowered his head and touched his lips to hers. The caress was warm and gentle. He made her feel delicate and special. Before she could reason herself out of the impulse, Eve kissed him back.

With a sigh of relief, or gratitude, he slid his arms around her again, only this time he brought her closer. Nevertheless, it felt as right as when they were dancing. Then he slanted his mouth over hers, seeking a deeper connection.

“Eve?” Rae called as she swept into the kitchen. “Have you seen Special A—? Oh … and there you are!”

Chapter Two

Eve and Derek separated like guilty teenagers caught by their parents. Well, she did, which gave Derek little choice but to release her. She automatically smoothed her hands over her dress, while miserably watching Rae pat her hands together as though she’d just hit the jackpot at Vegas.

“Do you need me to bring out something?” she asked.

“No, no. Apologies, darling,” the redhead all but gushed. “I just had to tell Special Agent-in-Charge Roland that we need to arrange for a ride for him. The district attorney’s neighbor’s house is on fire, and he rushed off to make sure all is well at his home. He sends his deep regrets,” she added to Derek. “Eve dear, I’m thinking you should handle this, since you and Derek are longtime friends.”

As Rae began bobbing her head up and down for emphasis, Eve started shaking hers. Leave the party with Derek Roland? They’d only been alone for a little while and look what had already happened! Besides that, she wasn’t about to drive down this mountain at night with the road still mostly covered in packed snow and ice. She was barely competent at driving in the stuff down on the flats.

“Rae, did you forget that I was to stay and help Carmella clean up?” she asked, referring to the Graingers’ live-in housekeeper.

Rae dismissed that technicality with a flick of her hand. “If I can’t adjust to a little unexpected glitch like this, I’m in the wrong business, aren’t I? Not to worry, dearest. We’ll get things taken care of. Enjoy the reunion, you two and—Happy New Year.”