She ends the call and hands the phone back to Megan.“Thank you.”
“No problem,” Megan says, eyeing Eve with obvious curiosity.
I cross my arms, waiting.When Eve doesn’t look my way, I clear my throat.“Well?”
“Well, what?”
“Aren’t you going to thank me, too?”
Eve finally meets my eyes, and there’s that familiar fire burning in their dark depths.“Thank you?For what exactly?”
“For coming to your rescue when that asshole grabbed you.”
“Rescue?”Her laugh is sharp.“I had the situation completely under control, Reynolds.In case you didn’t notice, he was already on the ground writhing in pain before you even got close.”
“Right, and what was your plan after that?Let him follow you home?”
“My plan was to handle it myself, like I always do.”She takes a step closer, chin tilted up defiantly despite having to crane her neck to look at me.“I don’t need some wannabe white knight swooping in to save me.”
“Wannabe?”I lean down, bringing us almost nose to nose.“Princess, I just rescued you from a crazy person.”
“After I already kicked his ass!”Her cheeks are flushed now, whether from cold or anger, I can’t tell.“And I didn’t ask for your help!”
“You didn’t need to ask!What kind of man stands by and watches a woman get manhandled by some creep?”
“The smart kind who minds their own business!”
“Oh, so now I’m stupid for helping you?”
“I’m saying you’re presumptuous for assuming I needed help!”She’s practically vibrating with fury now, and despite myself, I find it incredibly sexy.“I’m not some helpless damsel in distress waiting for Prince Charming to ride up on his white horse!”
“Could have fooled me, considering you’re standing here in my jacket because you were too stubborn to dress appropriately for the weather.”
She looks down at the jacket like she’d forgotten she was wearing it, then starts struggling out of it.“Fine!Take your stupid jacket back!”
“Are you insane?It’s twenty degrees out here!”
“I don’t want anything from you!”But her fingers are too cold to work the zipper properly, and she fumbles with it in frustration.
I grab her hands, stilling them.“Stop being an idiot, and keep the jacket on.”
“Don’t call me an idiot!”
“Then stop acting like one!”
“I’m not—” She tries to pull her hands free, but I hold on.“Let go of me!”
“Not until you promise to keep the jacket on.”
“I don’t make promises to assholes!”
“Then we’re at an impasse, aren’t we?”
We’re standing so close I can see the gold flecks in her eyes and feel her breath against my chin.The air between us pulses with a new kind of tension, evident in her parted lips and the way her pupils have dilated.
“This is better than cable,” Megan murmurs from somewhere behind us.
Eve’s eyes flash, and she yanks her hands free.“You are the most arrogant, presumptuous, infuriating?—”
