They both jumped. Evan took his time turning around. “Oh, ah, hey Kenzie.”
She glared at the pair, but Daniel saw her biting back a grin. “Well, when you and fartnozzle are through fixing the garbage disposal, I have a reward for you.”
And then Kenzie put them both to work…eating cookies.
Chapter 17
Kenzie hadn’t had so much fun in a long time. Sure, bowling had been a treat with the gang and soccer fun to watch, but seeing Daniel blossom with Evan, smiling and laughing and trying to act all manly, made her heart happy.
He hadn’t bonded with Will the way he’d once befriended Bryce. And while she knew and respected his need to keep a part of himself distant, she’d been worried Bryce had done damage that might never heal.
No matter what she and Evan might become together, he’d done wonders to bring her brother out of his antisocial shell. For a long time his only friends had been Lila, Rachel, her, and his school buddy, Rafael. Too smart for his own good and too accustomed to scaring people off, Daniel could too easily go through life alone.
It was great for him to have a man to emulate, and Kenzie loved that Evan seemed to genuinely like her brother.
Yet…warnings flashed that she might be getting too attached to him too soon.
Watching them laugh as they all played Clue, along with Rachel and Will, brought to mind the mistakes she’d made with Bryce. Mistakes she still didn’t understand.
“You coming?” Evan called. “We’re waiting on you, Miss Scarlet.”
“She’s always Miss Scarlet,” Rachel complained. “It’s a little annoying.”
“Well, I’m always Professor Plum.” Will shrugged. “I dig the pipe he smokes on the card.”
“You mean the card I can see because you keep your hand too low?” Daniel said with glee.
“Ah. Thanks.” Evan turned to hide his game paper and marked off the professor as a possible murderer.
“Thanks a lot, Mr. Green.” Will glared at Daniel.
Rachel glared at him too. “Not nice, Daniel.” She leaned back and grinned, giving him a thumbs-up.
Will shook his head. “It’s like she thinks I can’t see her or something.”
Evan chuckled.
Kenzie swallowed a sigh. Evan was so freakin’ handsome, and he fit in so well with her friends. Watching his sexy moves on the soccer field. Just…wow. Then he’d turned aggressive and she’d felt lightheaded, totally in lust with the man. She’d had no idea she could be so attracted to the fighting type.
He raised a brow. “Should we wait?”
“Yes, yes. I’ll be right there.” Dinner had been Chinese takeout, and she’d learned Evan loved all food except Mexican. He couldn’t stand tacos or burritos and loathed nachos. Except for that bizarre palate—didn’t like tacos?—she could find no fault with him.
And she’d been trying.
She finished wiping down the kitchen counter. “Okay, okay. Coffee’s on. And we have more beer, wine, and lemonade in the fridge.”
Daniel groaned. “Lemonade? Come on, Kenzie. Can’t I have a beer? It’s just us.”
“You should let him,” Evan said.
She stared at him, as did Rachel, but Will agreed, “Yeah.”
“Really?” Daniel gaped.
“Yep.” Evan nodded. “Drink as much as you want. Then when you vomit all over yourself, your bed, and your shoes—”
“Don’t forget him pissing all over himself,” Will said.
