Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78357 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Damn the woman.
My phone buzzed on my desk, Patrick’s name on the screen.
Guilt suffused me.
I’d been avoiding Pat, too, ever since I realized how I felt about Evan.
However, knowing he wouldn’t be calling at this late hour without a reason, I answered, hitting the speaker button.
“Reid, can you do me a favor, mate?” Pat asked without preamble.
“Of course.”
“Evan is on a Christmas night out with the girls. Her friend Cass got blootered. Bad break up or something. The rest of the girls have buggered off and left Evan to deal with it alone. She phoned me just before her phone died. The taxi drivers won’t take Cass while she’s that smashed. I’m in Aberdeen for work so I can’t get to her. She’s on George IV Bridge near Frankenstein’s. Will you go get them, mate, and take them back to Evan’s?”
Shit.
“Of course,” I repeated as I stood up. “I’m still at the office so I won’t be long.”
“Great, thanks. Also, get a fucking life and stop burning the midnight oil.” Pat hung up.
Worry quickly propelled me out of Shaw’s. I hated the thought of Evan stranded on a busy thoroughfare of the city where drunk bastards might try to take advantage of her while she was looking after a friend. But there was a part of me dreading seeing her again.
I parked my car two streets back from the building on George Street. The icy December wind bit at my nose and cheeks as I hurried toward the vehicle past crowds of revelers enjoying Friday night bar hopping. Some, like Evan, might even be on their Christmas night out with friends or work colleagues. Every weekend running up to Christmas would see the city filled with women wearing short dresses and high heels, some carrying their coats because alcohol had made them feel impervious to the winter chill.
Right now, Evan was one of those women out in the windy city, probably inappropriately dressed for the weather. It surprised me for more than one reason to get the call from Pat. Evan didn’t seem like much of a party animal. She preferred quiet nights out in cocktail bars or at the theatre or restaurants.
My kind of woman.
I’d never been the clubbing type.
Mum said I was born eighty years old.
Too old for Evan.
But are you really? She’s mature for her age, that devil on my shoulder insisted.
“Fuck,” I muttered, growing impatient as I sat in traffic lights on Princes Street. Princes Street Gardens were brightly lit, most of the trees covered in fairy lights, the Ferris Wheel colorful in the night sky.
Finally, the traffic lights turned but there were more to contend with on my way to Evan and it seemed to take an eternity to get to George IV Bridge. Eventually, I drove upwards, eyes searching the pavement filled with men and women dressed to the nines.
Then, there, not far from Frankenstein’s, I saw Evan crouching near a barely conscious blond propped up against the building behind them. I hit my indicator and swung the car beside them even though it was illegal to park there. I couldn’t give a fuck.
Hurrying out of the car, I approached Evan, who wore a long wool coat and scarf.
“Evan.”
Her head whipped in my direction and I blinked rapidly at the vision before me.
She usually wore her dark hair up in a no-nonsense ponytail at work. Now it fell in long, silky waves around her face and she had done something with her makeup that made her look older and more mysterious. Her eyes, which were naturally beautiful, were fucking stunning. Striking.
“Reid?” her lips parted in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“Pat called. He’s in Aberdeen.”
“I know. I thought he’d call Dad.”
“I’m closer.” I lowered myself to my haunches beside her, attention moving to the blond woman. Her eyelids sat heavy and low over her eyes as she peered up at me, expression slack and pale. “How is she?”
“Cass has thrown up twice. I’ve given her as much water as she’ll take.” Evan shook a half-filled bottle of water. Her expression strained with worry. “None of the damn taxi drivers would take her in this mess. They said I needed to phone an ambulance. But she’s just wasted.”
I nodded and stood, only to bend down and haul her friend up into my arms. She was dressed in an oversized faux fur jacket that shifted with the movement, blinding me. Evan yanked the jacket down into place so I could see where I was going. Cass drunkenly looped her arms around my neck while I gazed down at Evan.
“Get the back-passenger door of the car,” I directed.
She threw me a look of pure hero worship before rushing across the pavement to the car.
Lowering Cass into the back seat took a little more finesse than you’d think. We ignored drunken shouts from young men walking past and eventually slid Cass along the back bench.