When Staci Takes Charge (Leave Your Shoes On 2)

Evan’s deep voice swept over her like a lover’s caress. She turned back to face him.

“Where’d you go?” he asked in a quiet tone.

“I’ve always been a person with strong convictions, and I’ve never been afraid to voice my opinions or stand by them. As I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

He grinned. “And have come to admire.”

“Sometimes I’m brash,” she confessed. “Sometimes just brazen. I have a very good sense of right and wrong, and really, at the end of the day, I want to make a difference.” She felt peculiar feelings rise within her as she said, “For someone like you—of your professional stature—to say that I make you see things differently…The fact that I could convince you to see my plight for what it is and agree to help me…” She stared intently at him. “I just feel like it’s an accomplishment. But—”

“It is, Staci. Look at how hard you worked to build your business. Look at how hard you worked to get my attention.”

“I know you think that they’re just shoes, Evan. But they’re not. They’re an identity. Just as you said, they’re a part of me. Yet…that’s not what I’m getting at. What I’m trying to say is that you make me see things differently, too. You make me believe in things I haven’t since I was eighteen. You make me…really happy that I met you.” She shook her head. Swiped at a tear. “I swear I’m not the weepy type. I don’t know what the hell’s wrong with me.”

“I wouldn’t take you for the weepy type,” he gently teased. “But it doesn’t bother me either way. In fact, I like seeing your sensitive side.”

“Evan…I didn’t tell you straight-out how I feel when I just said that I was really happy that I met you. What I really mean is that…you make me happy.” She let out a sharp laugh. “That probably sounds stupid because, I mean, we were so annoyed with each other and then—”

Evan kissed her again.

And Staci gave herself over to the intensity, the heat. So much so that she barely even noticed when he pulled her into his lap. His hands slipped into her open coat and slid around to her back. Evan crushed her against him as he kissed her with the sort of desire that left her burning from the inside out.

When the car eventually came to a stop, Staci dragged her mouth away.

“Damn, Ev.” Her chest rose and fell against his. “You certainly do know how to rock a girl’s world.”

“I’m only interest in rocking yours.”

“Well, then. Once again…Mission accomplished.”

Chapter Fifteen

They spent the day doing the sort of things Evan never would have imagined himself doing on an impromptu day off.

Launching their excursion, they visited Staci’s store, the second one she’d opened after establishing operations. She explained that her first boutique was in L.A., in a nice neighborhood, though of course she’d prefer to be closer to Rodeo Drive. As for the New York location, she told him her heart was set on something closer to Fifth Avenue.

She literally swept into the Midtown shop with the panache he’d come to expect from her. The employees gushed, customers were awestruck, and Staci bought five pairs of shoes, which pleased the manager to no end—and spurred some impulsive buys from ladies who clearly wanted to emulate Staci. A clever sales tactic on her part.

Meanwhile, Evan studied the various samples on display, his mind churning.

Following that, they had a late lunch at one of his favorite restaurants and batted around ideas about the sort of enhancements that might factor into her mission while also doodling concepts on cocktail napkins.

Then he treated her to a carriage ride in Central Park as the snow fell. They huddled together and sipped hot chocolate. She told him more about her family, describing how close they were. Evan opened up a little about the fact that he had no idea who his father was, but really, he didn’t have anything else to say on the subject of family because he’d never had any.

As they strolled toward the Plaza Hotel, she asked, “You still haven’t told me why you chose podiatry.”

“Oh, right.” The snow came down a bit heavier as twilight descended, and he guided her into a bar where they shook the flakes off their coats and settled into a cozy booth.

Evan ordered pints of draft beer for them, then told Staci, “So, I was the water boy for the JV team, right?”

“That’s as far as we got.”

“Just so you know the history of Evan Hart, I was a nerd. I know, big surprise,” he quipped.

“Please don’t tell me you wore a lab coat to school.”

“From kindergarten to the third grade. That’s a rep that stays with you, by the way.”

“Oh, my God,” she said in a sweet voice. “I can totally picture it. And I bet you were adorable.”