Cougar's Eve Read Online Free PDF

about trying not to laugh? Is that better?” I teased. Please take me now, Mr. Gorgeous.
    “All right, I’ll try.” He crossed his heart. “So, what is your full name?”
    I took a deep breath then blurted out, “Evening Moonlight Dubois.” Only a handful of people knew my actual name, and here I was blabbing it to a complete stranger. I had just broken one of my cardinal rules, but I didn’t care. I cringed slightly as cold fear flooded my body. If he had slight magical abilities or knew someone who had them, I had just given him the ability to completely control me by telling him my full name.
    He laughed, and I glared at him, but my faux-tough look only lasted for a minute. His adorable grin had won me over again and I couldn't stay mad at him, especially when it was only put-on.
    “Sounds like your parents and mine belonged to the same scar-your-kid-for-life naming club.”
    “Oh, I doubt your name is worse than mine,” I scoffed at him.
    “Not worse, but equally unique,” he replied then smirked, staring at me from just beneath the hair that had fallen over his eyes.
    “Really?” I grinned excitedly. “Now, you have to tell me!” No one had a name worse than mine. I barely knew the man, yet he’d gotten under my skin so easily.
    “Okay, drum roll, please…” He pantomimed playing the snare drum then announced, “Valiant King Arthur.”
    I was shocked. No one named their kid Valiant; then again, no one named their kid Evening, either. I started to laugh and kept laughing, unable to stop even after tears fell from my eyes.
    “What, you don’t like it?” he teased.
    “Actually, I think it’s fitting. You are definitely Valiant.” I smiled as my laughter quieted.
    Either ignoring my blatant staring or oblivious to it, he continued, “I go by Vale. It doesn’t sound nearly as pompous and Val would be confused to often with a woman’s name.”
    “All right. Vale it is,” I said as I looked into his beautiful blue eyes. “You’re sworn to secrecy, by the way. I never reveal my entire name to anyone.”
    “Guess that makes me kind of special,” he winked.
    You have no idea! “Yes, it does,” I agreed.
    He put his hand over his heart. “My lips are sealed,” he said with a broad grin.
    The phone rang, annoying me, but I answered it anyway. “Hello?”
    “Eve, it’s Bud. You got a minute?”
    No, and you have terrible timing! I thought. Out loud, I replied, “Sure, is everything okay?” I glanced at Vale, who was looking concerned, and mouthed, “Sorry.”
    His look of worry didn’t leave, but he nodded so I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable taking the call.
    “Probably, but I wanted to let you know we never found those guys you ran into earlier today.”
    Now, that was weird. The only way off the property was to take the highway because the surrounding bluffs only allowed one road to and from the limestone house. That meant the men were either on foot or had jumped in and floated down the Illinois River toward Alton, which didn’t make sense. Either way, they would have to take the road because the bluffs blocked the exit to the east. To the west, the road dropped off severely into the river, making it impossible to dock for three miles north or south of the old limestone house or my home.
    Bud continued, “I really wish you’d get a dog, Evie. Murrlin is sweet, but he can’t protect you. A dog would be so much better for—”
    “Not this again,” I said, cutting him off. “Seriously, you are the poster boy for dog lovers. Sheesh!” I said good-naturedly.
    “Locking your doors and windows can help keep you safe to a point, but a dog…well, that’s like having a small army and a best friend all rolled into one,” he laughed.
    “Maybe someday, not today, I’ll reconsider, okay? Are you happy now?” I teased.
    “Yes, although I’d be even happier if I could stop by later and see you for myself. You know, just to be sure you’re all right.”
    Bud’s behavior could be a