As they left the alley, she saw his boss having a good time with her family. The man Evan had addressed waved, and Evan waved back. Then he curled an arm around Kenzie’s waist, guiding her past the crowd. A subtle cue of possession or manners? She didn’t know, but she wished she could turn off her perpetual hum of desire around him.
Once at her car, he waited while Lila flirted with Hector. Daniel hovered by Evan’s car a few spaces down, peering through the windows with excitement.
She frowned. “What did you say to my brother to make him play that way? Because he wasinspired.”
“Nah. It’s a male pride thing. That’s all.” After putting Daniel’s ball bag next to hers, he closed her trunk for her. “You’re pretty competitive.”
“So are you.”
He smiled. “You noticed. Seems like we have some things in common.”
“I guess.” She rubbed her arms, nervous and feeling foolish for being so.
“You cold?”
“No. I’m just…” …a doofus because being near you gives me goose bumps.
“Allergic to losing?”
He startled a laugh out of her. “Yeah, that’s it.”
A sudden breeze pushed her hair into her face, and Evan slid it behind her ear and sighed. “Man, I’ve been wanting to touch your hair forever. It’s really soft.”
“Good shampoo.” Stupid response, but aside from plastering herself to him, it was all she had.
He stepped away and rocked back on his heels. “Guess I should go before Lila and Rachel make me.”
Kenzie looked around to see her friends staring at him.
He made a sign of the cross at them, and they laughed. “Vipers, vampires, lions. Why is it I envision deadly predators when I think of your friends?”
“Well, I kind of think of them the same way, so you’re not far off.”
Will walked up to Evan and patted him on the back. “You’re a pretty decent bowler. How do you feel about soccer? ’Cause we have a coed league, the Legal Eagles, and could use another guy. Man, thanks to you and Daniel I managed to get out of doing chores for a week! And Rachel has to wear a sexy costume to dust our room. I’m going with barely there French maid.”
Kenzie cringed. “Thanks for putting that image in my head, Will.”
Will leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. “No problem. Let me know about the soccer league, Evan. Just tell Kenzie and she’ll get word to me.” He walked away with Rachel, holding hands.
“Sure I will,” Kenzie muttered. “And thanks for asking me if I mind being your go-between.”
Evan, in a low voice, said, “Guess I’d better leave before I try to kiss you again. You make it tough to be good, Kenzie.”
“Evan.”
“Don’t forget my extra fudge sauce, whipped cream, and cherry.” He winked and left. He bumped fists with Daniel before getting into his car and driving away.
On the ride home, she listened to Lila wax on and on about Hector and the date they had lined up later in the week. Daniel talked about Evan’s car as if he owned it. Lexus this, torque that.
“May I remind you, you’re only thirteen. You can’t drive for another three years.”
“Two until I can get a permit,” Daniel answered quickly.
She shuddered. “I can’t even…”
Lila grinned. “Don’t worry, Kenzie. I’ll show him what to do. And maybe Mr. Richards can help.”
“One of your brothers?” Kenzie could have sworn all of Lila’s family lived in California.
