He chuckled and crossed his arms, and the sight of his broad chest under that shirt made Kenzie want to undo each and every button. “I’m surprised Daniel let you come without him.”
“Well, I had to lie and say I had shopping to do. Or I’d never hear the end of it from him or the girls.”
“The girls too, huh?”
“My social life is an endless source of entertainment for Lila, Rachel, and Daniel.” She frowned as she opened the ice cream. “Bring me those bowls, would you? And you do have an ice cream scoop, I hope. I forgot mine.”
“Third drawer to the right of the sink.”
He returned with the bowls, and she did her best to handle them with care. Geez, his entire home looked like something out of a magazine. For darned sure no kid had ever dirtied his or her hands in the place. It was too neat, too sterile. Well, not sterile, but not colorful. The wood should have warmed the place up, yet the cool gray and white tones all over the place, in addition to the chrome, made her feel as if she’d stepped into a futuristic party pad that had made the mistake of landing on a few trees.
“I’m a little worried about getting anything dirty. Please don’t tell me your hand towels are white too.” She was joking, yet the white towel he handed her didn’t help.
He sighed. “I rarely do dishes.”
“God, Evan. Do you ever make a mess?” Even the kitchen sponge, in its ceramic drain stand, looked fresh.
“If I admit I cleaned up,a lot, for you today, would that relieve you?”
“Not really, no.”
“I don’t like to clean. So when I make a small mess, I wipe it up right after. Besides, it’s just me.” He stared at her with accusation. “And don’t try acting like you’re any better. I saw your kitchen. It was spotless. I live with dust. You didn’t have dust, clutter, or one microbe out of place.”
“Okay. I don’t like a mess. And living with a teenage boy, I’m always cleaning.”
He grinned. “I like your brother. Once I could see past the phone prank, I realized he’d be pretty handy to have around when dealing with my friends. Plus he’s a funny guy.”
She smiled. “I love him. But then, I have to.”
He watched her, his scrutiny intense. Evan seemed to observe quietly before commenting. His words always studied, never rash. What did he see when he looked at her right now? She hated not knowing.
“Would you please go in the other room? You’re freaking me out.”
“Hey, I just want to make sure you don’t skimp on the fixings.”
She pointed. “Go.”
“I’ll just watch you from a table five feet away.”
“At least you won’t be hovering.”
He sat away from her, a frown darkening his handsome face.
“I was kidding.”
“I know.” He sighed. “Will it ruin the mood if I bounce a question or two off you about my mother?”
Please ruin the mood. Because I’m stuck between wanting to jump your bones or run screaming from the house, afraid for my born-again-virgin self.
“Hit me.” She worked at the ice cream then decided to let it soften as she listened to Evan, who looked upset. He made her want to throw caution to the wind and offer comfort, hugs.Then jump his bones.“I can be a good friend,” she said as much to herself as to him.
His ghost of a smile made her feel as if she’d accomplished something wonderful. “My mother is getting…I don’t want to say old, but she’s been acting strangely.”
“Oh, that’s sad.”
“No, it’s weird.” He glared at the smooth wooden table, nary a blemish in sight.
Her dining table at home had been passed down from her grandparents to her parents and had scars and dings all over the place, many of them a result of Daniel’s youthful obsession with racing toy cars over everything.
