Hard As Ice (Fortis Series 1) by Raven Scott

it.
    “I think you know why, Nia. You intrigue me, and I enjoy your company. I want to see if there is anything more between us.”
    Her eyes never wavered from his, but he could see her mind working.
    “I’m not going to sleep with you,” she finally stated, calmly sipping her coffee.
    He laughed.
    “This isn’t really the appropriate time or place, Ms. James, but I’m glad you’re thinking about it.”
    She glared at him, but he could tell there was a smile struggling to break free.
    “I mean, I’m not looking for a casual thing right now,” she clarified.
    “Good. Neither am I. What are you looking for?” Evan quizzed.
    Nia looked away, clearly surprised by his response.
    “I don’t know,” she finally replied.
    “Okay. Let me know when you’ve decided. In the meantime, I’d like to continue seeing you. Whether you sleep with me or not,” he told her. “I don’t think we’d do much sleeping anyway.”
    That did make her chuckle, a warm, bubbly sound that did funny things to the area behind his ribcage. Shit, he was in trouble.
    They stayed at the café for another half-hour or so, chatting about Boston and the areas he had seen in his last few visits. Nia confirmed that she had always lived in the South Boston area or in nearby Dorchester since arriving in the city to attend the nearby University of Massachusetts campus.
    “Do you have family in the city?” Evan asked as they walked back to the restaurant to get the car.
    Nia shook her head.
    “Nope, just me. Most of my relatives still live in Detroit,” she explained.
    “Any siblings?” She shook her head again to say no. “Something we have in common,” he mused.
    “Yeah, I guess. But I stayed with my aunt and a bunch of cousins often. So, it didn’t feel that way growing up.”
    “Where were your parents?”
    There was a heavy pause for a few moments.
    “It’s a long story,” Nia finally stated.
    “I’d like to hear it,” Evan assured her.
    She looked up at him with a wistful smile.
    “Maybe another time.”
    He let it go. Clearly, there was something significant there, but he’d have to wait for another opportunity to uncover it. He made a mental note to have Lucas and the team dig around. Then, he immediately felt an uncomfortable pang of guilt. Christ! Becoming a civilian had completely messed with his balls.
    Once back in his car, Nia gave him directions to her apartment about ten miles outside of the downtown core. He used the time to ask her mundane questions about her life, like what she did with her free time.
    “Typical stuff, I guess,” she told him.
    “Like what?” insisted Evan. “Lacrosse? Yoga? Fishing?”
    She burst out laughing, followed by a snort. It made her laugh harder, cover her mouth with embarrassment. He found it hard to keep his eyes on the road. Evan glanced repeatedly at her with a goofy grin on his face. She was just stunning.
    “No lacrosse. I did try yoga a few times, but it’s too slow for me,” she revealed once calmed. “Kickboxing is my thing.”
    “Really,” he replied. “I can see that.”
    “You can? Why?” probed Nia, sounding suspicious.
    Evan smiled, wondering if she was girl enough to be pushing for a compliment.
    “You’re obviously very fit. Strong.”
    She looked out the window.
    “What else do you like to do?”
    “I used to fish when I was a kid, back in Michigan with my cousins. But it’s not my pastime these days,” she told him. “I like watching movies.”
    She peeked up at him as though confessing a deep, dark secret.
    “Hmmm. That sounds intriguing. What kind of movies?”
    His cheeky grin made it very clear exactly what he was thinking.
    “In your dreams,” Nia shot back. But she was smiling.
    “Exactly!”
    They both laughed.
    “So, are you going to tell me what kind of movies? Or should I just go with what works for me?” he continued.
    He could feel her hesitation. It was clear she wasn’t used to revealing private things about herself.
    “All