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a drug man? Well, he did when he worked narcotics, but the thought that he looked like a criminal in plain clothes was ridiculous.
    He made another trip to the freezer and put ice in a big plastic ziplock baggie for her ankle and a smaller one for her eye. “You want a glass of ice for that? And I mean ice as in frozen water, not diamonds."
    "I didn't mean that. I didn't want you to think ... Nevermind.” Evelyn wasn't sure why it was important, but she didn't want him to think less of her. If she was going to be here, and she had to be here, she would have to let him know who she was, and what she did for a living, a good living.
    Joshua set the large bag on her ankle. “This for your eye.” He set the small one on her tray then went back to the kitchen for his own plate. Of course he had eaten cereal this morning, but he was hungry again. When he sat down, he looked at Evelyn. She was looking at him; she wanted something. “What?"
    "You just sat down.” He lifted his brow at her and so she shrugged. “Bread."
    "Aggggh.” Joshua made no attempt to hide his frustration. For a warrior she suddenly reminded him of a diva. “You're lucky you're injured."
    Dropping the bread on her plate he realized she had eaten half already. She must be starving. “When was the last time you ate?"
    "Couple days ago.” Evelyn shrugged and took a bite of the bread. Her ribs felt much better, just bruised. Thank God for that vest, and Nikolai's weak ass hit. “I had energy bars so..."
    "Damn it.” Joshua scraped his brunch off and onto her plate. “You should have told me that."
    "Wait, this is your food. I can't..."
    "I'm going to make more. I had no idea and didn't want to insult you by giving you too much.” Joshua remembered Grace's tale of Ethan making a huge stack of pancakes and putting cookies on it before giving it to her. She said it made her feel fat, and that he thought she was fat. Evelyn had made the whale comment and damn! What did he care about that? “Why didn't you tell me you hadn't eaten?"
    "Why would I?” Evelyn asked a genuine question. No one else cared if she had a meal in two weeks much less two days. So why should he?
    "Evelyn, what is your job? I mean what do you do?” Joshua turned the stove back on and broke more eggs in the skillet. “I mean what job has a woman like you beat up, starving, and toting a gun?'
    "I'm not a criminal if that's what you think. My job's legit. Mostly.” Evelyn thought about his comment, a woman like you. What kind of woman did he think she was? The scrambled eggs and bacon were filling her belly and loosening her lips, she felt like talking. Besides, she hadn't had casual conversation in, well, years.
    "Mostly? That's reassuring.” Joshua laughed and shook his head. She was an enigma. A hot little piece of fire that was bound to burn any man who tried to hold her. Including him, yet like a moth to the flame.
    "I'm a bounty hunter, sometimes a mercenary.” Evelyn shrugged again as Joshua laughed; he didn't believe her. The phone rang, so she couldn't offer any proof.
    "Young here."
    Her head lifted in attention. She answered her cell that way; it set a little alarm off. He's a school teacher, she reminded herself.
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Chapter 3
    "Evelyn Blade, damn boy, you know when to call one in.” Stevens whistled through the phone.
    "Yeah? So.” He didn't want to let her out of his sight, especially not after the way his old friend said that. He turned off the burners and pushed the skillets to the back.
    "Bounty Hunter by trade. Lethal, girl's bagged and tagged a few, all on the up and up of course. Prior service, Marine Corps, applied to the FBI but couldn't get in. Her old man's a real piece of work. Should I go on?” Stevens had spent all morning tracking this information down, and the places he was led made his blood curl.
    "Please do.” Joshua felt a new sense of danger, and yet there was no way that little fawn with doe eyes sitting in his