Read Online Everybody Loves Evie by Beth Ciotta - Free Book Online

dry. She’d be none the wiser.
    Enter Woody.
    He couldn’t blame the kid for staring. Before making a concerted effort to avert his own gaze, Milo had copped a look, too. What hetero man wouldn’t? But Woody had been two seconds from outing Evie’s visible nipples. Hence plan B: getting her out of the room and out of those clothes.
    The only thing better would be getting her into his bed. But that wasn’t going to happen. Even if he ignored his own policy against mixing business and pleasure, even if he acted out of character, poured on the charm and seduced a friend and associate’s woman, nothing would come of it. Twinkie was a good girl. Until she got over her infatuation with Arch, she’d be true to the man, even though that man would never commit to a long-term relationship.
    Better to practice restraint. One of three things would happen: either his infatuation with Evie would fizzle or Evie’s infatuation with Arch would fizzle or Arch would expose himself as amoral, scaring Evie off and into the arms of the better man. And Milo believed wholeheartedly and without arrogance that he was, in this instance, the better man.
    â€œI can’t believe I’m having these thoughts.”
    Evie’s mentality closely resembled that of his ex-wife’s. The dreamer and the realist, a recipe for disaster. A smart man would learn from his mistakes. Unfortunately, every time Evie entered his personal space, Milo’s IQ dropped.
    He heard sneezing and mumbling through the paper-thin walls. He imagined his new employee peeling off layers—damn—and decided to dump some grief on the man who’d dumped her into his life in the first place.
    Arch answered on the second ring. “Navigating rush-hour traffic, mate.”
    â€œNavigating some prickly territory myself.”
    â€œBurst Evie’s bubble, yeah?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œShe wanted to tackle crooks and you’ve got her typing reports.”
    â€œNo typing.”
    â€œWaiting tables?”
    â€œSinging.”
    â€œWhat, like a singing bartender?”
    â€œNo. Like a lounge performer.”
    Arch whistled low. “No wonder she’s pissed.”
    â€œI hired her to do what she does, what she’s good at.”
    â€œShe doesn’t want to go back.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œMeans she wants to break with the past. Offering her a job as a singer in a low-class pub sets her back aboot twenty years, yeah?”
    Milo knew about the need to move on. Like Evie, he’d recently survived a divorce. He’d also suffered his share of professional growing pains. This morning’s confrontation with Crowe had elevated his craving to cut ties with the Agency. He’d gotten into this line of work to help the common masses, not the privileged few.
    Prevented from doing what you’re compelled to do by the man who signs the checks. Milo could imagine Evie’s misery and he empathized. But not enough to put her in the field when she lacked the fortitude and training.
    â€œShe thinks you asked me to pull her out of the game,” Milo said. “Thinks you didn’t approve of her being an active player.”
    â€œI dinnae, ” Arch said.
    â€œBut the singing position was my idea.”
    The Scot held silent for a moment. Milo heard an eighties dance tune in the background—Culture Club?—and the blaring horn of an irate driver. “ Dinnae correct her misassumption,” Arch finally said.
    â€œYou want her to be mad at you?”
    â€œIt would be better if she thought less of me, aye.”
    â€œHell,” Milo said with a short laugh, “all she had to do was ask for a copy of your personnel file.” Not that he would have turned it over. He had strict views on confidentiality. Still, he wasn’t above taunting the man who’d made his life hell when they’d been on opposite sides of the law. “Did you come clean