Eve shifts in her sleep, a restless expression forming on her face.I wonder what she’s dreaming about.Probably something about work.She only ever gets that frown on her face when it’s work-related.My eyes fall on her lips.Her lipstick has faded, revealing a soft pink.I recall the way she pulled me close and kissed me in front of Luis.She tasted of whiskey and coffee, and it drove me half mad.
And when she was under me, she undid me.I never meant to sleep with her.Christ, that wasn’t in the plan.But Eve Lopez is… temptation wrapped in stubborn fire.She drives me out of my mind with that sharp tongue, that defiance, that need to always stand toe-to-toe with me.And the worst part?I love it.
I want to fuck the fight out of her.I want to bend her until she breaks—and still keep every ounce of that fire intact.Because that’s what makes her Eve.And god help me, I find it maddeningly attractive.
I take a slow sip of coffee, my eyes never leaving her.
This undercover assignment was supposed to be simple: dig, find the mole, report back to Ethan.Instead, here I am wrapped up in this woman I shouldn’t want.I dislike her.We don’t get along.We argue over everything.She drives me crazy.
But once she’s under me, she drives me wild.Stubborn to the bone.Exhausting.Irresistible.I shouldn’t want her like this.Shouldn’t find every sharp word, every challenge, every glare so fucking tempting.But I do.She’s all fire and fight, and it’s driving me insane.
And I know—I know—it’s going to be a problem.Especially now that I’m going to pretend to date her.Spending time with Eve is not good for me.She makes me act out of character.But I can’t just leave her vulnerable either.She doesn’t seem to realize the danger she is in.
Damn it.
A sound breaks the quiet.Something metallic clattering, faint but distinct, outside the breakroom.I set my mug down.“The hell…” Pushing away from the table, I head for the door.
When I step into the hall, I spot him instantly—Jake, fidgeting with my desk, a go-to coffee cup in his hand.
“Jesus,” I mutter.“You trying to give me a heart attack?”
My brother smirks.“If you were that easy to rattle, I’d be disappointed.”He looks at Eve’s desk and taps it with his knuckles.“So this is the desk you were busy giftwrapping the other day.Whose is it?”
“Nobody’s.”
Jake raises his brows.“Nobody’s?Hmm, if I were to hazard a guess, I would say ‘nobody’s’ name is Eve Lopez.”
I scoff.“What if it is?”
My brother’s smile widens.“When you were young, and you liked a girl, you were the kind who’d pull her hair and run away.Mom punished you for it plenty of times.”
I feel my face grow hot.“This isn’t that.”
“Of course it’s not,” Jake says smoothly.“You’ve graduated to pranks now.I’m so glad you’ve matured.I’m so proud of you.”
I fold my arms, annoyed.“What are you even doing here?”
“Checking in,” he picks up the ‘Princess’ mug from Eve’s desk and examines it.“Any luck on the craftsmen?Did you find anyone?”He looks surprisingly alert at this time of night.“Want me to help out?”
“I’ve got a handle on it.”I pluck the mug out of his hand and put it back.I was sure Eve would throw it away but she uses it for her staple pins.“I plugged the leak.For now.Still working out if it was carelessness or someone deliberately trying to slip things through.Gonna take time to figure out which one.It still doesn’t answer what you’re doing here.”
“Ethan’s been on my ass since Iris called him about the breach you flagged.Wanted me to see if you’ve made any progress.”
“I’ve got calls out to people.Just waiting on them to get back to me.”
Jake studies me, head tilting.“Need a hand?”
“I just told you I’ve got it?—”
“That’s what you always say,” he fires back.
“Because it’s always true.”I arch a brow.“You’re better at legal, Jake.Stick to what you’re good at.Leave this to me.”
“Touchy,” he mutters, amused.
I give him an annoyed look.“It’s late.I’ve been running nonstop.Forgive me if I’m not in the mood for a family pep talk.”
Jake grins, and then tilts his head toward the other end of the floor.“Speaking of running nonstop… Iris is still here?”
