Page 62 of Smuggler's Beauty

“Yes.” She didn’t need to think about the question. Since the moment they’d met, Aiden had done everything in his power to ensure her well-being and happiness. Even so far as being willing to sacrifice a huge payday to help her.

“Would you tell me if I was doing something to make you uncomfortable or unhappy?” Aiden’s voice was as serious as Evelyn had ever heard it, and she knew this wasn’t a question she could joke her way out of.

She swallowed hard, placing the music player back on the table to give her time. She fucking hated talking about her feelings. She turned to look at Aiden, and her love of the rich, clear green of his eyes canceled out her hatred of eye contact in moments like this.

“Yes. But I’d hate it and may cry.”

He smiled. “Would you like a system in place? One word at a time to let me know if I need to back away?” He picked up the markers, and Evelyn saw the colors on the caps. Her cheek twitched up. Green, yellow, red.

Go, slow, stop.

“Traffic lights. I can manage traffic lights,” she said. The roiling in Evelyn’s stomach had transformed into a much more pleasant flutter. Trust Aiden to figure out a way to let her communicate her comfort level without actually making her uncomfortable in the process. One more thing he’d observed about her and filed away for the perfect moment to make her knees go weak.

He stood up and reached out a hand to her. She took it, and he helped her rise from the chair.

“I think you can manage a great deal more than you give yourself credit for. One thing at a time.”

Evelyn didn’t thinkshe’d ever sped through a shower that quickly, though she did take a moment to appreciate the pulse of the water easing her tight muscles. Now clean, she put on a pair of loose cotton drawstring pants that swooshed around her legs, a tank, and her ever present cardigan completed the outfit. Eternal optimist, she had forgone undergarments altogether. She shoved on sandals and made her way to the lobby.

Tariel was there, playing something on the piano. Evelyn didn’t recognize it, she never did, but she appreciated the soft melody. She paused to listen, standing still for the first time in days. He nodded at her and kept playing.

“I have those papers for you, if you want to snag them later. Nice to meet you, Chloe Taubey.” He winked at her.

“That has a nice ring to it,” she said. “I appreciate you going through the trouble.” She watched his hands dance along the keys, never faltering as he spoke.

Tariel shook his head. “Not a problem. If you’re going to be on this vessel with us, you’d need alternate papers sooner or later, anyway. In some sectors, I’m called Sean.”

“I’d have pegged you for a Mark.”

“What’s the saying? ‘Readers live a thousand lives?’ So do forgers, if they’re good enough.”

Evelyn laughed. “How many are you up to?”

“I haven’t stopped to count.”

“Sensible. Why let math get in the way of a good thing?”

She saw Aiden come out the door that led to the kitchens. He was dressed comfortably, in a long sleeved T-shirt and sweatpants. He crossed the lobby and gave her an apprising look. Satisfied, he nodded.

“You look good. Less frantic.”

“I think the shower did actually help. I’m feeling more like I’ve had too much coffee and less like I’d had too much cocaine. I’m ready to hear more of your brilliant plan.”

“Brilliant plans are his specialty. That’s why we let him think he’s in charge,” Tariel said.

“You let me think I’m in charge because I’m an over-analytical control freak,” Aiden replied, but the smile on his face lessened the bite of his own assessment.

“You said it.”

Aiden offered his hand to Evelyn. She took it, curious where he was leading her.

“Thanks for letting me listen to you play,” she said.

Tariel nodded. “It’s nice to have someone new to play for. They’re all sick of me.”

“You said it,” Aiden said. He was unable to keep the laughter out of his voice. Tariel rolled his eyes and waved them off. They headed toward the hallway. The song Tariel started playing sounded distantly like Marvin Gaye. She was too excited to have finally pegged one of Tariel’s songs to be embarrassed about the implications.

“Smart ass,” Aiden muttered.