Chasing Joshua by Cara North

dollars they can't."
    "Mmmm, Grace told you I was a cop.” Joshua shook his head up and down this time instead of side to side. “Yes, I checked you out. Do you blame me?"
    "No. I would have done the same thing. And for all you know I have.” She hadn't, and that's what burned her the most. Since she had been here, she had slipped. He could sneak up on her; he could touch her. He was more dangerous than she was because he kept his head while she lost her senses.
    "So.” He shrugged but he really never thought about it. She was well-known and had to have connections on both sides of the law to do her job as well as she did. He had dealt with his demons. Evelyn hadn't faced any of hers.
    "So, I have work to do.” Evelyn realized he was closer, and her breath began to chop. Her senses faded. It was him. He did affect her. She had absolute control until this moment. “Joshua, you're getting too close to me."
    "Not nearly close enough.” Joshua took another step and reached out placing his hand on her cheek. His palm almost covered the whole side of her face. Her eyes went soft again, and he knew she didn't want to leave. He didn't want her to go, not until she was safe.
    "Don't touch me.” Inside she screamed it, loud and forceful, but it came out as a whisper. She wanted to pull his hand off her face, but the heat from it made her dizzy. She reached up and grabbed his forearm, but her strength was gone. She just held it, clung to it for life.
    "Evelyn, I won't hurt you.” His eyes narrowed on hers as he bent toward her placing his lips on her forehead. She whimpered.
    "You, don't ... can't.” Evelyn felt like she would faint. His lips were soft, and as they placed baby kisses on her forehead, she felt weak and incoherent. She felt his right arm slide around her waist. Was he hugging her? God, he was holding her, and not because she had stumbled or fallen, but because he wanted to.
    "Evelyn, I promised to keep you safe. Until you're safe, I can't let you go.” Joshua had both his arms around her; He wasn't coming on to her. He was hugging her, and it felt good. He rested his chin on her head, and slowly her arms slid around him. Her face pressed into his chest, and she began to sob. For a big bad bounty hunter, she sure cried a lot. He needed to talk to Grace next week at the birthday party. “Besides, you haven't seen Grace yet. Gray's party is next weekend. Don't you want to go?"
    Evelyn nodded with her face against him. Her arms were around him and his around her. He didn't do any of the things she thought a man would do. He didn't touch her ass, didn't squeeze her hard and grind against her. No, Joshua held her with his chin on her head, his arms around her back, and his hands, she didn't feel his hands at all, but she desperately wanted to.
    "It's okay, Evelyn. You're safe here. No one will hurt you, especially not me.” Joshua had wrapped his arms around her and placed his hands on his arms instead of on her body. He wanted to touch her but not like this and not now. “Stevens would die before giving me up. He's very careful, but no one knows you're here. I told him you left this morning. When we go to New York next weekend, you'll have to go by Eve, and not Blade."
    "Why?” Evelyn wasn't sure what was going on, but Joshua's heart was beating fast. He had made plans for her to be here, to go to New York even. He was hiding her. Just as she feared, he was getting involved. She couldn't risk hurting him, no way.
    "Stevens said one of the people got back to him and asked if he had located you. There's a bounty on your head.” Joshua was speaking softly, but inside he was scared for her. He was hoping he hadn't made a promise he couldn't keep.
    "WHAT!” Evelyn pushed back and almost fell. He reached for her and caught her. She stumbled again and hit the wall. Joshua was right against her his hand behind her head.
    "Don't panic. It's okay.” Joshua's fingers hurt but not as much as her head would have if it hit