“Jace!” He couldn’t be serious. He knew me better than this.
“Come on, Eva.” Jace pulled the pouty-lip trick he knew I couldn’t refuse. “I don’t want to leave yet. It’ll be fun. What do you think is going to happen on a big open field with a million people around?” My eyes followed the swing of his arm, pointing out our company. “Besides, this is why we’re here. Normalcy. This is normal, darling.” His eyes were soft, though his tone urging.
He was right. It should be easy enough to fake this, and I wouldn’t be alone. But still, the thought of being pressed up against someone made me nauseous. It made me think of him.
I bit back my trepidation. “Whatever. What do I have to do?” I turned back to Eric and was met with a wry smile. What does this guy have up his sleeve?
“I’m so happy you asked. Evangelina, I’d like you to meet your new partner.” Eric gestured to his left in a sweeping motion. “Big Jim.”
I gasped, stumbling backward as I looked at the burly man meant to be tied to me. I think I’m going to be sick. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I’m serious, sweet stuff. Get acquainted.”
Great. Of all the people to piss off, I had to pick the ringleader. Good job, Eva.
I didn’t want Eric to think he’d gotten the better of me, so I popped my hip and shot my hand toward him, my best dirty scowl in place. Eric only chuckled in my face, fueling my rage. I ripped the rope from his hand, nearly pulling off one of his fingers in the process.
“Take it easy, sweetheart.” He rubbed his palms together.
“This is me taking it easy,” I growled. “And I’m not your sweetheart.”
He laughed outright as I stalked off to Big Jim, who was bigger than huge, and more than eager to be tied to the cute little blonde. Awesome.
“Hey, Big Jim. I’m Little Eva, so be gentle with me. Deal?”
“Sure thing, little lady.” His tone was friendly, despite his overbearing size. “Here, give me that. I can tie it.” He went to grab the rope, but I snatched my hand back before he could get a good grip.
“No, that’s fine. I’ve got it.” No way was this guy getting a free feel.
My fingers moved like lightning over the rough twine. I thought I could do this. But the second his leg pressed against mine, pin pricks traveled over my skin like swift little insect bites. My stomach rolled in nauseous waves, and sweat beaded on my forehead. God, please, not now. If I had an attack here, tied to this guy where I couldn’t get away, I was done for. There’d be no hiding it.
I pulled on the ends of the rope harder than I intended to, making the knot tighter than necessary. Big Jim flinched, and I winced looking up at him. “Sorry.”
He rubbed his meaty leg. “That’s okay. I just hope I don’t need an amputation after this.” He flashed a lust-filled grin. “Although, being tied to you, I’m not so sure it wouldn’t be worth it.”
I rolled my eyes and clamped my jaw shut to stop from telling Big Jim where he could shove it.
At the starting line, I glanced around at all the couples, unfamiliar with each other, talking a mile a minute. They flirted and laughed, and I realized how out of place we must have looked as we stood mute side by side.
Jessie hobbled next to me, tied to a pint-sized, doofy-looking kid, her face screwed in a pout. I guessed she didn’t get the better end of the get-to-know-you, tie-together. I scanned the crowd one more time and took note of where Sandra and Jace were, each of them tied to their respective partners. Then I forced myself to relax. There was no reason to panic.
What’s the holdup? I wanted to get this over with and detach myself from this less than desirable ogre. Leaning forward, I craned my neck to yell at Eric to hurry when my words became trapped somewhere between the bulge in my throat and my tonsils.
On the far edge of the long line of pairings, Eric wore an animated grin. He was laughing as he leaned into some other guy’s ear, a finger pointed directly at me as he spoke, not trying to hide the fact he was talking about me.
But what halted my words—stopped me cold, wasn’t the fact that he was trying to embarrass me. It was . . .
Him.
The guy.
The one he was talking to.
He wasn’t laughing along with Eric. His full lips were pursed together, his body stoic as he stood with his hands rooted deep in the pockets of his faded jeans. Even from this distance, I could see the intensity in his eyes, and they were locked and loaded—on me.
With his chin dipped forward slightly and his head tipped marginally toward Eric’s words, he gave the impression he was listening while his gaze ate me alive, penetrating every morsel of my body, unblinking and unwavering.