“You know, if Hector weren’t around, you’d be just my type.”
“That’s what I told him about you,” Evan said. “That if Kenzie weren’t around, I’d be asking you out.”
“See? A man with good taste. Kenzie needs you in her corner, Evan.”
“I know. Now let me think… Can you get Kenzie to my place Friday evening?”
“Sure.”
“Good. Now if I can make a suggestion about dealing with Hector, just be yourself. You’re a beautiful schemer. Use that gift God gave you.”
“Schemer?”
“Hey, I call ’em like I see ’em.” He paused. “But because I like you, gimme a day or two to see what Hector says about you. I’ll play it casual. You do the same for me with Kenzie. Then we’ll share notes.”
“Oh, it’s like we’re back in high school, which sounds pathetic, but I like it.” She grinned. “Now drop me at the corner and turn around. Don’t go past her house. Keep yourself distant for a while. Let her stew in missing you.”
“Whatever you say.”
“I know how to play the game, Evan. But sometimes the right information makes all the difference between winning and losing.”
“Yes, sensei.”
She laughed. “Idiot.”
“At your service.”
* * *
Kenzie, Lila, and Rachel spent the rest of the week brainstorming. With the Talon account needing work, Ellie’s branding nearly done, and two new clients they’d started working on, they didn’t have time to waste.
Thursday afternoon, Lila was giving Kenzie a headache. All that talk about the men in their lives, and she and Rachel kept harping on her about Evan and asking why they hadn’t seen him around lately.
“Look, butt out,” she finally said, crabby enough to get angry.
Lila and Rachel looked at each other, looked back at her, then burst out laughing.
She groaned. “I mean it.”
Rachel wiped an imaginary tear. “Sure you do.”
“And of course we’ll respect your ‘boundaries,’” Lila said while drawing a square in the air. “Now we want to know. Why have we not seen sexy Evan around? What did he do? Should I kick his ass?”
Rachel frowned. “He was here all day Saturday. He helped fix half the house and was a ton of fun at game night. Daniel told me—ah, I mean, it seems like he’s been helping Daniel with soccer and doing guy stuff.”
“Wait. What guy stuff?” Kenzie knew Evan and Will had stopped by soccer practice and that they’d been a hit with the boys and the coaching staff. But nothing else.
“I don’t know. You’d have to ask Daniel.”
“Or Evan,” Lila suggested.
Kenzie shrugged. “Daniel hasn’t acted different than usual. Except for being nervy about soccer cuts tomorrow, he’s been the same.” Although he had seemed more excited about school lately, which surprised her. He started back next week, and she had to admit she could use the extra quiet.
Between the girls and her brother, she never had a moment’s peace to just sit by herself. Or be with Evan.
She hated that he crept into her thoughts constantly. And now with her blabbermouth friends infatuated with the man, he once again invaded her working hours, though she’d been doing her best to keep him out.
“Kenzie, what’s the deal?” Rachel asked, her smile kind. “We know you like him.”
