Midnight Muse Read online

  “Then what was it? And what do you keep calling me?”

  Evander chuckled. “It means ‘my pretty.’”

  Her heart skipped a beat. “Oh.”

  When he turned to walk to the front door, she panicked. Grace didn’t want him to leave. She couldn’t deny that she was physically attracted to him, but that was all it could be. Cold air rushed in when he opened the door.

  “Um,” Grace said.

  Evander stopped. He released the knob but didn’t move away from the door. A puddle of water formed around him on the hardwood from his dripping wet clothes. Thinking she’d like nothing more than to get him out of them, she placed her hand on his arm to stop him. His skin was damp, but warm. He looked down at her hand, then up at her. As if she was about to get burned, she released him and took a step back. Grace crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Stay. You can sleep on the sofa,” she said.

  He raised his eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

  Was she? She nodded. “It’s nasty out there.”

  It wasn’t really bad outside. The rain had tapered down and the wind no longer rattled the windows. She just didn’t want him to leave, yet.

  “Fine,” he said.

  Closing the door, Evander followed her back into the living area. The sofa seemed too small to hold his athletic physique, but it would have to do. As she turned to address him, she caught him gazing at her.

  “You’re getting water all over my floor,” Grace said.

  “It’s my floor.”

  “Not for the next few days,” she teased. “Take those off and I’ll see if I can find something for you to wear.”

  Grace moved toward the bathroom, but turned back to ask him a question. Evander was stripping off his shirt. All words left her brain. His chest was a wall of solid muscle. She inhaled a shaky breath and fought not to touch his blush colored nipples. Once the material cleared his head, he tossed it on the floor before reaching for the button on his shorts. When he saw her still standing there, he paused.

  “Are you just gonna watch?” he asked.

  Rolling her eyes, Grace left the room. “Jackass,” she mumbled.

  Chapter Three

  When Grace walked back into the living area, Evander’s clothes were in a pile at his feet. He held a pillow over his pelvic area as she gave him a towel and blanket before scooping up the clothing. None of the yoga pants that she’d packed would fit him, and she didn’t see any men’s clothing in the closet or drawers. Since he kept saying this was his house, she thought he would have left something behind.

  “Did you take over the house after your aunt passed?” she asked as she carried his clothes to the combo washer/dryer in the kitchen. While loading them into the machine, Grace noticed that no underwear was among the clothing. Judging by the way the towel hugged his hips, Evander wasn’t wearing any, either. Swallowing, she added soap to the machine and started it. She really didn’t need to wash them, but wanted to keep him naked for as long as possible.

  “No, I live in Athens,” he said. “My parents live an hour’s drive from here.”

  When Grace straightened and glanced over her shoulder, he was leaning against the counter, watching her. She shivered and pretended not to notice the rippling muscles of his abs or the trail of dark hair below his belly button that beckoned her to follow it with her fingertips. “Hungry?” she asked him.

  He shook his head.

  “Maybe some tea to warm you up?”

  “That would be nice.”

  It was already plenty hot in here for her, but she needed to do something with her hands before she jumped on this man. Grace filled the stainless steel teakettle with water and placed it on the burner.

  “How many languages do you speak?” she asked.

  “Four. Greek, Italian, English and Spanish.”

  “I noticed that you slid in and out of languages during your call.”

  He chuckled as he entered the kitchen to lean against the refrigerator next to her. “My mother’s Greek and my dad is Italian. I do it without thinking.”

  “It’s sexy when you do.”

  Grace could’ve slapped herself at that moment. As she moved around him to pull out the mugs from the cabinet, she saw him smile. Biting her lip to stop herself from kissing him, she edged past him. Her hip brushed against his. Immediately, her body tingled.

  “So you were eavesdropping, mia bella?”

  “I wouldn’t have understood what I heard.”

  “I must teach you some phrases, then.”

  Grace blushed. “Like what?”

  Evander moved next to her and touched her wrist. “I’m sure I can think of something.”

  His touch was gentle as he stroked her sensitive skin. Grace closed her eyes and allowed herself to get lost in his fingertips for a moment, before jerking her hand away. Needing a distraction, she went got the milk from the refrigerator. He was too gorgeous to be single, and she refused to be taken for a fool, again. Smirking, he moved away from her.

  “What do you do here all day?” he asked as he strolled to the dining room table.

  “I’m a writer.”

  Grace turned to see what he was doing and froze. To her horror, he was reading the story she left up on her screen. Evander looked at her with his eyebrow raised. Finding her legs, she rushed to the table and closed the lid on her laptop. He whistled.

  “I didn’t know you had such thoughts,” Evander teased.

  She shrugged. Evander brushed her hair off of her shoulder, allowing his fingers to linger on the strip of bare flesh along her collarbone. Her body trembled but she moved away from him.

  “I had hit the wall when you showed up,” she admitted as she stood on the other side of the table where it was safe. “Writer’s block.”

  Evander nodded and toyed with the knot in his towel. “Perhaps I can help you get it back.”

  Unsure how to answer him, Grace was grateful when the teakettle whistled. She moved into the kitchen to fix their mugs and felt Evander move behind her. He touched the side of her waist. It was an innocent gesture, but it caused her pussy to become wet. Especially since the only thing separating them was his towel. Suddenly, there wasn’t enough air in the room. Her mouth went dry.

  “Thank you,” he said. “For letting me in.”

  “You’re welcome,” she said.

  When Grace turned around to give him his mug, her finger brushed against Evander’s, sending sparks of electricity up her arm. She swallowed and turned back around. “Don’t make me regret it,” she warned.

  Evander leaned close to her ear. His cool breath sent a shiver down her spine. “You won’t.”

  Chapter Four

  Evander didn’t miss the way Grace’s nipples puckered as she moved around him to go into the living room. He chuckled, silently. She was beautiful. When he’d opened the door to find her on the other side yesterday, he’d been immediately captivated. However, he’d made his father a promise not to bed any more of the women who rented the cottage.

  He appraised her mocha skin. High cheekbones were framed by shoulder-length brown curls. Coffee eyes he could spend and eternity staring into. His height was six foot two inches, and she came to his shoulder. Grace’s full breasts rose with every breath she took. Even in the simple navy tank top and plaid shorts, she was breathtaking.

  “Where are you from?” Evander asked as he followed her to the sofa and sat. Her thigh flinched when his brushed against hers.

  “Virginia.”

  “Ah, near the home of the Capital and the Washington Monument.”

  Grace giggled. “Well, that’s Washington, D.C. I live a half hour from there in Sterling.”

  He nodded, blowing on the steamy brew. “I’ve never been to Sterling, but I love Adams Morgan.”

  She raised her eyebrow at him. “What do you know about that?”

  “I lived there for three years. Got my degree in computer engineering from American University.”

  Grace’s mouth f
ell open, but she quickly closed it.

  “What?” he asked as he settled back against the cushions.

  When her eyes went immediately to his lap, Evander smiled.

  “It’s nothing,” she said softly. “I mean, I didn’t picture you as a nerd.”

  He chuckled. “You thought I was some Neanderthal?”

  “Yes.” She laughed, brushing her hair out of her eyes. “That’s how you came off.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said. Evander draped his arm across the cushions behind her. “It’s just that I hadn’t expected to see someone as exquisite as you.”

  Grace smiled, and then changed the subject. “What brought you back to Rhodes?”

  “My parents. My father was ill and I had to help him with the farm.”

  When she touched his bare thigh, he flinched. The soft palm of her hand scorched his skin. He covered her hand with his. Her skin was magnetic, and he didn’t want to stop touching her.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “Thank you. He’s better, now. I do consulting in Athens.”

  The ease with which Evander spoke of himself surprised him. He was always a guarded person in that regard. Still, he found himself telling her about his cat Harry. How he rescued the tabby kitten from a dumpster behind his apartment. Harry’s name came from Evander’s love of the Clint Eastwood character of the same name. Cooing, Grace gently squeezed his thigh.

  “That is so sweet,” she said, “and I bet that story gets you all the panties.”

  Evander laughed. “I haven’t told many women that story, so I wouldn’t know.”

  She nodded. “But a guy like you must have a lot of women.”

  Shrugging, he leaned forward to set his mug on the coffee table. “Too many for my family’s liking. Since I’m thirty-two now, they think it’s time that I settle down.”

  “Do you have siblings?”

  He shook his head. “No. You?”

  “A twin brother.”

  Stroking the soft skin on the back of her hand, he took a chance and asked, “I’m sure someone as beautiful as you has a gentleman caller.”

  Grace giggled at his term. “No. I’ve decided to take a break from men for a while.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah, but that’s a long story.”

  When she fell silent, Evander sensed she didn’t want to talk about the “long story.” That was fine with him. He turned her hand over and held it in his. They sat like this, listening to the sound of the passing storm and each other breathing for what seemed like hours. Evander was taken aback. He didn’t have to speak or do anything, he could just exist in her company.

  “I didn’t realize it was so late,” Grace said, finally.

  Evander looked at his watch. It was close to two thirty in the morning. “Are you tired?”

  “I was thinking about turning in when you showed up,” she admitted. “Actually, I was going to take a bubble bath.”

  “You still can.” He pictured the white suds caressing her skin and instantly became jealous of the bubbles.

  She smiled. “Naw. I’ll let you get some rest.”

  Evander released her hand and Grace stood. While she went into the bedroom, he took the mugs into the kitchen and placed them in the sink. Next, he bent to start the dryer cycle on the laundry machine. He was returning to the living room when she emerged with a blanket and pillow for him. She set them on the sofa. This was all wrong, he thought—he should be sleeping in the bed with her.

  “Thank you,” he said as he continued to move toward her.

  “I’m amazed that you haven’t tried to pull some crap about it being your bed and demanding to sleep there, too.”

  Grinning, he stopped a few inches in front of her. “I was tempted, but I’m a gentleman.”

  The desire to kiss her weighed heavily on his lips. Reaching out, he traced her soft pout with his index finger. Grace sighed. He leaned forward, but before his mouth could connect with hers, she pulled away. She turned from him and hurried to the bedroom, where she closed the door.

  Evander exhaled when he heard the lock click. He set about the task of making up the sofa, and then turned off the lights. When he lay down on the sofa, his feet hung over the edge. Though he closed his eyes, he knew that he wasn’t going to sleep. Not with his heart beating so rapidly.

  Chapter Five

  A half hour later, Evander pushed back the linens and stood. He walked naked toward the balcony and flung back the double doors. The rain had stopped but still scented the air and the crescent moon was bright. His aunt Nina had passed three years ago, but his family retained possession of the cottage and rented it to tourists. Nina had been a matchmaker until her last breath, and he wouldn’t have put it past her to have set this up from Heaven. Was it fate that allowed his car to break down in front of this house?

  The light scent of rain-soaked daisies crossed his nose. His aunt had grown them, but his mother still maintained the flower garden. When Evander turned to view the dark room, his eyes fell upon the dining room table. Crossing the room, he picked up a handwritten page. Maybe a little reading would help him sleep. Bringing it back to the window he read, by moonlight, the sensual tale of the hero and heroine of the story as they made love.

  When he heard the bedroom lock click open, he froze. Grace emerged from the bedroom. A sliver of moonlight fell across her as she tiptoed to the dining room table. He studied how the white nightgown she wore hugged her curves as she retrieved something from under a stack of papers. She turned to see him standing near the balcony and jumped.

  “What are you doing up?” she asked.

  “I couldn’t sleep. What’s your excuse?”

  “My muse returned. I came to get my notebook.”

  “Ah. The saga of Chaz and Lisa continues.”

  She motioned to the page in his hand. “I see you can’t get enough of it.”

  Evander shrugged. “I was hoping it would be so boring that it would lull me back to sleep.”

  Rolling her eyes, Grace stuck her tongue out at him. He chuckled as he stepped into the room. When her eyes widened, he remembered that he was naked, but he didn’t care. He just wished that she was, too. Covering her mouth, she turned her back.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “Don’t be.”

  Evander closed the distance between them and stood directly behind her. The heat from her body warmed his. Touching her waist, he leaned around her to put the page back on the pile. She stiffened when his cock brushed against her hip. He pulled her back against his chest so that she could feel his desire for her.

  “My words did that to you?” she asked breathlessly.

  “Not just your words, mia bella.”

  Moving her hair aside, he pressed his lips to the curve of Grace’s neck and kissed the path up to her jaw to capture her earlobe between his lips. As he suckled on her flesh, her body yielded to him. The notebook slipped from her hands to the floor. He released her earlobe to press his lips against her temple.

  “I’ll just be another conquest for you,” she whispered.

  “No,” he said. “You’re more than that. Let me prove it.”

  Evander gripped her shoulders and spun her around to face him. At first, he kissed her slowly, memorizing every contour of her mouth. The sweet taste of her tongue was enough to drive him mad. Grace’s knees buckled, but he held her upright in a tight embrace. Her moan sent a shiver down his spine. Touching her back through the thin material of her gown wasn’t enough. He needed to feel her soft skin against the palm of his hand.

  Releasing her mouth, he bent to press his lips against her shoulder as he slid the thin strap down her arm. He ran his lips over the exposed skin of her left breast, but before he could push the material down to seize her nipple, she stopped him by taking a step back.

  “I can’t do this,” Grace whispered as she pulled the strap back up. “I thought I could. I thought it’s what I wanted, but not like this.”

  “Okay,�
�� Evander said, gently, although he wanted to put up more of a fight.

  It wasn’t okay, he thought as he watched her squat to pick up her notebook. That kiss confirmed what he felt when he first saw her—that she was going to change his life. Still, he wasn’t going to push her. He’d just have to make her see that he wouldn’t hurt her. When she straightened, with notebook in hand, she stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist to hug him.

  “Thank you for understanding,” Grace said.

  He kissed her on the crown of her head. “I told you that I was a gentleman.”

  She kissed him quickly on the cheek, and then let him go to disappear into the bedroom. He had to fight with the muscles in his brain not to follow her. Exhaling, he ran his hand through his hair and made his way back to the sofa. As he lay down, he vowed that he would have Grace in his life, and he had three days left to convince her that she needed him, too.

  Chapter Six

  Grace’s cell phone awakened her. Groaning, she opened her eyes and picked it up off the nightstand. Judging by the way the sunlight streamed through her window, it was late morning. Her mother’s picture stared up at her from the LCD screen. As she answered it, she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The tiny travel clock said that it was eleven thirty, which meant it was about four thirty in the morning her mother’s time. How could she have slept so long?

  “Hey, Mom.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Grace frowned. “Nothing’s wrong, why?”

  “Had a dream about frogs.”

  Her mother gauged her knowledge of Grace’s love life by the dreams she had. Frog dreams, according to the big book of dreams that her mother had given Grace on her birthday, meant that Grace was in love. Impossible, Grace thought. Yawning, she stretched as she listened to her mother describe the dream. She wondered if Evander was still here. With her free ear, she listened for movement in the living room, but didn’t hear any.

  Cautiously, Grace opened the door and peered into the sunlight-filled living room. The linens that Evander had used were neatly folded on the sofa. Picking up the pillow, she inhaled his masculine scent. Why was she so sad that he was gone? She’d just met him. And with the way she kept going cold on him last night, could she really blame him?