Curious, in spite of herself, Evie wandered over to stand beside him. Like everything else in the apartment, the closet had been customized. Built-in shelves and drawers took up half the space. The rest was for hanging clothes.
She touched a sweater the color of oatmeal. It was so soft.
“Go ahead. I don’t mind if you wear it. We’ll need to get you some clothes.”
Reality slapped her in the face and she took a step back. “I don’t need anyone buying me clothes.” She took care of herself. Always. She didn’t owe anyone anything. That’s the way she’d always lived her life.
Craig frowned as he pulled on the sweater he’d chosen. “You can’t get your clothing from your place and it might not be wise to access your bank account until we deal with Drake. He might be watching it in case you make a purchase.”
She hadn’t thought of that. Not at all.
Evie walked to the bed and sank down on the mattress. Until this matter was settled, she was truly homeless.
She’d known that. Had lived on the streets and in abandoned buildings for almost two weeks before she’d accidentally converted Craig into a vampire. But she hadn’t been very lucid most of the time. Now she was thinking clearly and the scope of the problem ahead of her frightened her. Craig was right. Vladimir could be watching every aspect of her old life, and he could afford to wait for as long as it took her to make a mistake.
She couldn’t contact any friends or acquaintances, go to the galleries or cafes that showed her work, or even eat at the same restaurants she used to frequent. He’d watched her for weeks, stalking her, learning her routines.
Craig crouched down in front of her and took her hands in his. “It will be okay, Evie. I know this has to be hard on you, but I can help you. I know you’re independent.” He chuckled. “There’s no doubt about that. If it helps, think of it as a loan. You can pay me back when this is over.”
Shame burned in her belly and she swallowed her pride and admitted the truth. “I can’t pay you back. I have fifty dollars in my account and about three hundred bucks cash in my purse back at my apartment. I was supposed to get paid by one of the galleries before the end of the month.”
“I see.”
Evie glared at him, almost hating him for what he had and she didn’t. Life wasn’t fair, but she’d never whined or complained. Instead, she’d gotten on with the business of living and doing what had to be done. Being dependent on another person didn’t sit well with her, even if it was the man she loved.
Especially then. She didn’t for one minute want him to think she was sleeping with him because he could take care of her financially.
“Oh, Evie.” He cupped her face and stared deep into her eyes. His blue eyes deepened in color, drawing her in.
“There’s nothing wrong with allowing someone else to help you. It doesn’t make you weak.”
She made herself look away, disconcerted by how well he seemed to be able to read her. “I don’t want you thinking I’m only staying with you because you have money.”
Craig stared at her for a long moment, then threw back his head and laughed. She frowned and smacked his arm. Here she was pouring out her guts to him and he had the audacity to laugh at her.
“You’re truly one of a kind. A rare gem. That’s the last thing I’d think.” He stood and pulled her into his arms.
“After all, you slept with me before you knew I had money.”
She wanted to burrow closer to his warmth. She was having a hard time regulating her body temperature tonight.
“That’s all you know. You obviously had rich friends.” How could he be so sure? She wasn’t certain she’d trust him as easily if the tables were turned.
He chuckled again, rocking her from side to side in his embrace. “Your independent soul wouldn’t allow it. But
—” he looked down at her, “—it will hurt my feelings if you don’t allow me to help you.”
His smile faded and he brushed a stray strand of hair off her cheek.
“You’re important to me, Evie. More important than any other woman has ever been.”
Her heart skipped a beat and then sped up. She ached to shut out the world and make love to him in his bed, in his home. But the clock was ticking, the night passing quickly, and they had a lot to do.
Breasts aching, her body practically vibrating with need, Evie forced herself to take a step back. “You better get changed. If you’re going to talk with your friends, we need to get going.”
He leaned down and dropped a quick, hard kiss on her lips. “You’re right. I don’t have to like it, but you’re right.” He kicked off his boots and shucked his jeans and socks. She cursed under her breath.
“Was that really necessary?” His erection was thick and long and it made her pussy clench. He should look ridiculous wearing nothing but a black sweater. Instead, he looked delicious.
She strode to the closet and yanked out the sweater she’d admired earlier.
“Sorry.” She could tell by his tone, he was anything but. The man was deliberately teasing her. Well, two could play that game.
Evie yanked the blouse Sonia had loaned her over her head and dumped it on the floor. She almost removed her bra too, but thought better of it. She wanted to tease him, not make him totally forget their purpose tonight.
Craig groaned and she watched him pull on clean boxer briefs and jeans, admiring the way he filled out the denim to perfection. She looked away and tugged on the sweater. It was huge on her, falling to mid-thigh. She rolled up the cuffs on each sleeve several times. It felt comfortable and comforting at the same time.
“Ready?” Craig was fully dressed and waiting.
Was she ready? Not really. But there really wasn’t any choice. No way was she letting him face down a room of werewolves on his own.
Once again, the unreality of her situation struck her. How many other people in this city actually knew that creatures like her and Craig’s family existed? How many lived blissfully in ignorance as she had until she was attacked?
“I’m ready.”
Haven would be closing when they arrived. Craig had deliberately timed it that way. The club was popular in the neighborhood and always busy. The food was your typical pub food, but cooked to perfection by Teague, a member of the Haven pack. The music was first rate and both Meredith’s adult sons—Michael and Benjamin—who worked behind the bar were popular with the female clientele.
Hunger was beginning to flutter inside him, and he had to work to control it. Maybe it was nerves making the craving seem more volatile than it had been only moments ago. He glanced down at Evie walking silently beside him on the nearly empty sidewalk and wondered what she was thinking and how she was feeling.
It was getting easier for him to guess her thoughts. But was it truly guessing if he knew in his gut he was right? He wasn’t reading her mind, per se, but there was no denying he could easily read her expressions.
He knew she wasn’t comfortable with the fact he had money. That angered him even as he understood it. He hadn’t grown up with money either and knew what it was like to live paycheck to paycheck. His entire childhood had been spent that way. His mother had worked hard, but she’d had little education and three children to feed on her own. He’d eaten more than his fair share of macaroni and cheese and canned soup.
But life was different now, and he enjoyed having money. It didn’t change who he was, but it did allow him to give his family and himself stability and a nice place to live. And he wanted to share that with Evie.
But now was not the time to bring up the subject. She’d only balk and probably run. “We’re almost there.” He pointed to the sign just down the road and his heart jumped. He’d missed his friends and wondered how they would react. “You’ll like the place. It’s a fair size but it still manages to be intimate.”