Bryson shifted until he was standing beside her, his back flat against the tree.
“For a long time, I didn’t want to come back home at all because of what I went through,” he said. “In the eight years since I’ve been gone, I’ve only returned to this house four times. Today is the first day I’ve been here since my nephew’s high school graduation a year and a half ago.”
“But you’ve been back in Louisiana for a couple of weeks now. Why haven’t you visited?”
“Because my parents have been gone nearly the entire time since I’ve moved back home. They’ve taken up cruising and I won’t be surprised if they become one of those couples who sell their house and live on a cruise ship.”
“Let me know if it ever goes up for sale. I’d buy it just for the peace and quiet,” Evie said. “You know that swing hanging from the oak tree back at their house? Give me that, a good book, and a cold glass of lemonade, and then leave me be.”
Bryson grinned. “You just described Sunday afternoons for my mom when I was growing up. My older brothers would bring me out here to fish, Pop would go help my uncle Roosterwork on cars at his shop, and my mom would have the afternoon to herself. We always found her on that swing.”
She tipped her head to the side. “Remind me again about your brothers? I know you told me they were older, but it’s been a while.”
“Jeremy is the oldest. He was a junior in high school when I was born. And Roman is two years younger than him. They were both grown and out of the house before I could get a sense of what it felt like to grow up with two big brothers. We’re a lot closer now that I’m older.”
“I can never see my brother and I having a close relationship, but that’s because Marshall is a dick. Nothing to do with the four-year age gap.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure my brothers would be happy to become surrogate brothers for you.”
Her brows shot up. “Okay, then. You don’t play around, do you?”
Bryson replayed in his mind what he just said to her.
“Shit, that’s not what I meant,” he said. “Did I just make things weird?”
“I’m teasing you,” Evie said with a laugh.
Bryson rolled his eyes. “On second thought, let’s get married. You’d fit right in with my family.”
“Can we maybe start with an actual date?” Evie asked, peering over at him with an impish grin he couldn’t wait to kiss off her face.
He twisted back toward her, positioning her body between his and the tree. Leaning forward, he whispered, “I think we can make that happen,” just before connecting his mouth with hers.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Evie could feel the blood pounding in her ears. She knew what she wanted; she just wasn’t sure if she possessed the boldness to go through with it. The ride from Bryson’s childhood home had been filled with the same easy banter they always engaged in, but after the kisses they’d shared, there was a level of awareness pulsating between them that couldn’t be denied. It clung to the air like perfume, this warm, energized charge that made her skin tingle with anticipation.
The edginess intensified as they turned onto Fontaine-bleau Drive, en route to her house. If she was going to make this decision, now was the time to do it.
Evie sucked in a slow breath and slid her phone from her pocket. She sent a quick text to Ashanti just as Bryson pulled up to her house.
They spoke at the same time.
“Thanks for—”
“Do you want to—”
Evie released an uneasy laugh. “Of course that happened,” she said. “Go ahead.”
“I was just going to thank you for joining me,” Bryson said. “I had fun today.”
“So did I,” Evie said. She peered over at him, staring into his eyes so that her meaning could not be misinterpreted. “I was going to invite you in.”
“Thank God.” His shoulders slumped with relief. “And thank you for not making me beg. I was just about to start.” He blew out a shaky breath. “But I need to see about Bella first—”
“Taken care of.” She held up her phone. “Barkingham Palace can keep Bella and Waffles overnight. They have to share a suite, but I think they get along well enough that we don’t have to worry about them maiming each other.”
She watched as he flexed his fingers on the steering wheel, then gripped it tight with both hands.
