“And they still get along? Me and my brother could never,” Evie said.
There wasn’t much more to the house other than his parents’ room, which he never entered without their express permission—he guessed that was one thing his and Evie’s parents had in common—and the covered back porch that had long ago been turned into a bragging room by his parents. His and his brothers’ diplomas and degrees, along with every academic and athletic plaque and trophy any of them had ever earned, were on display.
Bryson pointed to the wall. “The degrees on the wall in my office are replicas. My mom insisted on keeping the originals here.”
“It’s obvious how proud she is of her boys,” Evie said. “It’s precious.” She looked up at him. “I hope you know how lucky you are.”
His gaze moved over her entire face. “It’s becoming clearer every day.”
The faint blush that rushed to her cheeks was both adorable and sexy. It reminded him of those times that long ago summer, and the myriad things he would say and do to bring about this same blush.
“I really want to kiss you right now, Ev,” Bryson whispered.
Her eyes shimmered with amusement and a touch of heat. “What’s stopping you?”
Bryson lowered his head and skimmed his lips over hers, brushing back and forth in an easy, unhurried dance that had his skin tingling and his mind quickly going to more indecent places. He brought his hand up and cupped the back ofher head, holding her steady as he added more pressure to the kiss, parting her lips and slipping his tongue inside.
She tasted like everything that was good in the world. The cinnamon from the candy she’d sucked on as they drove in from the school, and that flavor that was uniquely her.
Bryson brought his other hand to her lower back and pressed her body against his.
Something buzzed against his groin.
Bryson jumped back. “Shit, what was that?”
Evie gazed up at him, her half-lidded eyes awash with arousal. The buzz sounded again.
“Text message,” Evie said, pulling her phone from her pocket. Her breaths came out in shallow pants, and her hands shook as she swiped her fingers across the screen.
She read through the message, then stuffed the phone back in her pocket and rolled her eyes.
“This canine carnival is getting out of hand. We’ve both been shut out of the planning process. Ashanti and her twin sisters have taken over.”
Bryson cleared the lust from his throat. Assuaging the ache that kiss had left him with would take more time.
“Does she still think she can pull this off by next Saturday?” he asked.
“Oh, she will pull it off. I have no doubt about it. I’m going over there tomorrow to ‘talk strategy,’” she said, making air quotes. “But something tells me Ashanti already has everything planned down to the minute.”
“Do you have plans for the rest of this afternoon?” Bryson asked.
She glanced up at him. “No,” she said. “We just have to be back by six to pick up the dogs from the daycare. Well,Ashanti probably won’t mind if I’m late, but you’re going to get charged for Bella.”
“It would be worth it, but I think I can have us back by six.” He hooked his thumb toward the front door. “I spotted something outside that I think you should experience before you leave the bayou.”
A half hour later, they were standing along the banks of the narrow tributary that ran along the edge of his parents’ property. Evie held one of the long fishing poles his dad had fashioned out of sugar cane. She looked so out of place it was hard not to laugh.
“You do realize the fish won’t bite you, right?” Bryson said. “The goal is to get them to bite the earthworm I put on the hook.”
“Don’t remind me about the earthworm,” she said, looking as if she was ready to lose the grilled cheese sandwich he’d cooked for her just before they made their way over here.
“City folk.” Bryson shook his head, not bothering to hide his smile.
She moved her hand even farther down the pole, until it arched so much it looked on the verge of slipping out of her hand.
“Here,” Bryson said. “This is how you hold it.”
He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Gripping the pole with his left hand, he took her right hand in his and wrapped her fingers a third of the way up the pole.
