Forever Eva [Sequel to When Kat's Away] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Online Free PDF Page B

don’t have any money, and I don’t know anybody in your time.”
    Zach moved closer and draped his arm around her shoulders. “It’s all right, Eva. Don’t cry. Why don’t you come home with me? I promise you’ll be safe, and we can work together to see if we can figure out how you got here, and how to get you home.”
    Eva gasped and pulled away. “I don’t wanna go home.”
    Tony moved to stand beside Zach. “Why not?”
    Shaking her head, Eva placed her hands on her hips. “I spent my whole life listening to my mother’s stories about the time she grew up in. There’s nothing for me back in 1899. I wanna stay here and make a life. I need to stay here. I’ve been dreaming about traveling to the future my whole life. I’ve always known my destiny was here, and not back in Hamilton.”
    Zach glanced at Tony and then smiled at Eva. “I guess none of that matters now because we don’t know how to send you back even if you wanted to go. Will you come home with me until you decide what you wanna do? You’ll be safe. I can offer you a clean place to sleep, food to eat, and I can get you some clothes a little more suited for our time.”
    Tony grabbed Zach’s arm. “Are you sure about this?”
    Zach nodded. “Absolutely. I’ll keep her safe.”
    Eva raised her gaze to Tony. “Are you gonna be with us?”
    Zach laughed and took her hand. “No, Eva. He doesn’t live with me.”
    For a moment, Tony thought he saw regret in her eyes, maybe even disappointment.
    “I accept your generous offer to let me stay with you, and I thank you kindly.” She glanced briefly at Tony and then sighed. “Don’t worry. I’ll earn my keep. I can clean and cook.”
    “We’ll worry about that later, darlin’.” Zach turned to Tony. “I think I’m gonna take a rain check for lunch. I think I should get Eva settled and pick her up some clothes before I do anything else.”
    Tony nodded and took a deep breath. “Okay, I’ll give you a call later to see how things are working out. Sooner or later we should sit down and get her whole story. I’d like to know more about what happened to those two women that disappeared.” He frowned. “Or, at least, what she says happened to them.”
    “Great!” Zach held his hand out to Eva. “Let’s go, little lady.”
    She looked at his hand for a moment and then cut her gaze to Tony briefly before she laid her small hand in Zach’s larger one. Tony stood there and watched them walk away. Zach helped her into his truck, took a moment to fasten her seat belt, and then got in himself. He started the engine and then moved away slowly as if he were afraid of scaring her.
    When the truck disappeared from sight, he headed toward his own vehicle. He felt a keen, sharp pain at the thought he’d disappointed her somehow. He climbed into the Durango and thought about Zach taking her back to his apartment. Gritting his teeth, he slammed the door, a tightness beginning in the center of his chest. Breathing through a clenched jaw, he slammed the butts of both hands against the steering wheel. The memory of her wounded eyes and drawn face haunted him. “I’m being ridiculous. She’s just another one of those reporters trying to make a buck from a sensational story.” He turned the key, the engine flaring to life. He put the truck in gear and stepped on the gas. “I, for one, am not gonna fall for her routine no matter how pretty she is.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Eva studied Zach’s hands as he moved the small wheel back and forth, and then glanced out the window. They sailed around corners, up curving hills, past strange street signs and huge houses with elegant windows until she was totally lost. “Is this really Hamilton? Nothing looks familiar.”
    “What year did you say you came from?”
    “It was 1899 when I left. I was born in 1876.” She frowned and leaned forward as far as the strange strap across her shoulder allowed. “I hear music. Where’s it coming from?”
    Zach chuckled.