“I think I worked for a multitude of governments.”

“That’s like a thing?” she whispers. “Like a United Nations or some secret undercover agents?”

“That’s not a terrible way to describe it.”

“That’s why I can’t find any past information about you? There is nothing.” She looks both intrigued and disappointed at the same time. My lips twitch.

“Have you been digging around about me, Eve?” I know she has.

I’m thankful Eve moved to a small town because she is very much the definition of curiosity killed the cat. She would have made a killer reporter, but I think her parents would have found a way to shut that down. That could have gotten really fucking awkward for them.

Eve ducks her head as her cheeks start to turn pink at my suggestion. There she is. The soft sweet girl under the hard shell she shows to the rest of the world. Few people are privy to this side of her. I only know about it because I have a habit of watching her. Those glimpses only made me crave her more. I want to get past the hard shell. I wonder if Eve is trying to do the same with me. I just worry there is nothing beneath mine. Only hollowness.

“I mean, the ax murderer rumor should be checked out.” She tries to make light of it. Is she shy about the fact I knew she’d been checking into me? That meant she cared. Emotion was connected with it.

“Feel free to roam,” I invite her. Not that she would find anything. If she did happen to find my little room, she couldn’t get inside.

“What gives, Marco? You’ve been out here in the middle of nowhere, but now with me you’re so open.”

“You have the answer to your own question, angel. You.” She takes another bite of her food, contemplating what I’ve said. I don’t think she’s quite sure what to do with the information. “I told you Eve. I’ve always noticed you. How could I not?”

“Because I’m pretty?” she blurts out, a hint of irritation to her tone. I struck a nerve.

“Pretty? It’s a very insufficient word for what you are.” I speak the truth. That word doesn’t even come close to describing her. She is so much more than that.

“What would you use?” She cocks her head to the side, her dark hair falling over her shoulder. She cut a few inches off of it last year. I’d always loved her long hair, but when she cut it, she wore it down more. It highlighted her heart-shaped face. I realized that all that hair hid too much. I wanted to see every inch of her face. To read the expressions. I wanted to see her.

“I don’t think there is a word. As you’re aware, I’m not a man of many words.” Her face softens.

“You call me angel.”

“I do.”

“You know people in town think I’m pretty tough. Badass at times.” Her chin rises.