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

I.”
    â€œActually,” Milo said, “she recorded a rendition of ‘Summertime.’”
    â€œOh, right. Joplin did do Gershwin.” She snorted. “Not literally, of course. Regardless, jazz is not in my repertoire.”
    â€œOnly kind of music Agent Beckett allows,” Woody said.
    She crinkled her nose and Milo smiled. “My club. My rules.”
    â€œDictating the artist’s song list,” she grumbled, then sneezed. “I already feel at home.”
    Bitterness laced her tone and stabbed at Milo’s conscience. Again the phone vibrated, and he thought about what Arch had said about her wanting to ditch her old life. Thing was, he’d seen her perform—singing, dancing, acting. She possessed charisma and talent. What’s pushing you to abandon your God-given gifts, Evie? He hated that he cared. “So you’re willing to work as the club’s house singer?”
    â€œAs long as I don’t have to sign a contract. I’m agent-free—or is that a free agent? Whatever. I’m acting on my own behalf and I am a man of my word.”
    Milo bit back a smile, thinking she was cute when loopy. “Fine by me.” He’d utilized Michael Stone’s services once. After meeting Evie and learning how he’d screwed her over, he liked the smooth-talking bastard even less.
    â€œWhat should I tell Tabasco?” Woody asked, eyeing Evie, then Milo.
    Evie spoke first. “Do you have a clothes dryer in this joint?”
    Woody nodded. “In the basement.”
    â€œTell him I’ll be down in twenty minutes.”
    Milo guesstimated she’d be down for the count in ten, but he jumped on the chance to get her out of those wet clothes. “I can loan you some jogging pants and a sweatshirt while you wait.”
    She nabbed the nurse’s uniform from Woody. “This will do. Thanks.” She weaved into the bathroom.
    Woody escaped down the stairs.
    Two doors slammed shut and Milo’s ass vibrated. “What?” he barked into the cell.
    â€œ Dinnae bite my head off. You’re the one who hung up on me, yeah?”
    Arch sounded calm—but then, he always sounded calm. Milo knew him well enough to know he was agitated. He pushed, hoping to confirm or negate suspicions that Arch had fallen head over heels. “Something came up.”
    â€œThat why you’re trying to get Evie oot of her knickers?”
    â€œJealous?”
    â€œConcerned.”
    â€œNot much of a difference.”
    â€œEnough of a difference.”
    Just then, the topic of discussion stepped out of the bathroom looking like Nurse Goodbody. Milo’s mouth went dry.
    â€œStill there, mate?”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    Not looking at him, she tugged up the plunging neckline. “Where’d you get this nurse’s uniform anyway?” she slurred. “Frederick’s of Hollywood? Maybe I should have opted for your shirt, Beckett. It would’ve covered more.”
    â€œWhat the—”
    â€œCall you back.” Milo snapped the phone shut. He imagined Arch scrambling to book the next flight back to the States. Wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Yesterday he’d been bent on guarding their partnership. Today he considered the possibility that he’d learned all that he could from the grifter. Maybe it was time to break off with Arch and the Agency, strike out on his own. It would certainly make life simpler.
    Growing pains.
    He studied Nurse Evie Goodbody, registered another kind of ache. Christ.
    She palmed her forehead, groaned. “Something’s wrong.” The color drained from her face. “Help me,” she said, just like in his dream. And toppled into his arms, just like in his dream.
    Only there was nothing sexy about this moment. She was feverish and semiconscious. Milo swooped her up and placed her on the sofa.
    â€œMust be allergic,” she said.
    â€œTo