I stroked its length and it got even harder, if that was possible. “Why don’t you let me take care of that for you?”
“Oh, you will.” He smirked. “Don’t worry. But right now we have to go. My mom hates when the food gets cold.” He kissed the tip of my nose, adjusted himself, and tugged me along.
We stood outside a deluxe Brownstone on the upper east side of Manhattan and I stared up at its overwhelming clout.
“You ready?” Blake asked and I replied with a curt nod. He slipped an arm over my shoulder and guided me inside.
Blake rapped his knuckles on the door a couple of times before pushing it open. A girl with the same stunning features as him squealed and threw her arms around his neck, jerking him away from me.
“Lakey!”
Lakey?
“I couldn’t wait for you to get here!” She turned her lips to his ear, lowering her voice. “These two are driving me insane.”
Unraveling her arms, she looked down at me with friendly, sparkling blue eyes and a gleaming smile. She was blessed with the same height as Blake, as well as his beauty. “And you must be my new best friend.” Her arms grabbed me in a choke hold, and I patted her back with one hand, looking at Blake questioningly. Just barely his junior, he’d said she was colorful, but I wasn’t expecting full, crayon box colorful.
“N-Nice to meet you. Victoria, I’m guessing?”
“Tori, Tor-Tor, whatever you want. Come in.” She looped her arm through mine.
Blake smirked, shoving his hands in his pockets, and kicked the door closed.
“Mom, Blake’s home!” Victoria called as she pulled me through an enormous entryway. The black and white checkered tiles and spotless appearance were a cool contrast to the vibrant and lively souls Blake and his sister were. I had a hard time envisioning them growing up here.
We entered a beautifully designed kitchen, loaded with top-of-the-line appliances and granite countertops. A striking older woman turned and wiped her hands on her apron. Though shorter than her offspring, she had the same kind, piercing eyes and sharp features. Blake stood behind me, covering my shoulders with his hands, and I immediately relaxed, grateful for his support.
“Isn’t she pretty, Mom? Look at that hair.” Victoria swirled a golden lock in her fingers.
I blushed, stepping forward. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Turner.”
“Call me Elaine. Please.” She gave me a chaste hug and then withdrew, folding her hands neatly in front of her.
“Elaine.” I smiled. “I’m Eva.”
Elaine chuckled. “My son is so enchanted, he never told us your real name. I just assumed it actually was Angel.”
“It is,” Blake retorted.
“Stop it.” I nudged him with my elbow.
Elaine took in our banter, looking back and forth between us, seeming to size up our relationship, and then a warm smile spread across her face. “Finally, something makes my boy happy. I should thank you, Eva.”
The heat of a blush warmed my cheeks. “Don’t thank me. I’ve made him miserable for the last few months. He’s the one making me happy.” I pulled Blake to my side and circled my arms around his trim waist.
He kissed my temple. “Don’t listen to her, Mom. She really is an angel, and I’ve never been happier.”
A sharp clearing of a throat caused all heads to turn, and a large man filled the entire frame of the door. “Blake.”
“Father.” Blake’s smile waned and he squared his shoulders, never removing his hand from the small of my back. “I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Eva.”
“Nice to meet you, Evangelina.” He took a few steps and extended a stiff hand to me, holding a glass filled with amber liquid in the other.
I shook his hand, suddenly feeling meek and small. How did he know my full name? Blake and his mom had made it clear he’d never told them. How much had he found out about me? My heart thumped, but I kept my cool. “Nice to meet you too, sir. You have a lovely home.”
“Yes, thank you.” He brushed me off, looking past me to his wife. “Elaine, is the food almost ready? I’ve had enough waiting for these two. I’m starved.”
“Daddy!” Victoria cried, her cheeks turning a pinkish hue.
Elaine shooed her husband away. “It’s coming, Jack. Go wait in the dining room. It’ll be right out.”
He took one more judging look at Blake and my intertwined hands and walked out, the ice clinking in the glass.
I let out a big puff of air and looked to Blake who was stiff as nails, a visible tic in his jaw. I reached up and soothed a hand over his cheek and his eyes flicked to mine, bringing him back from wherever he was. I offered him a reassuring smile.
“Don’t pay him any mind.” Blake’s mom grabbed each of our hands and moved us from the door. Handing all three of us different dishes, she went back to the refrigerator and extracted drinks. “Bring those to the dining room, and I’ll be right in.”