Evan shook his head. “It’s on me. Least I could do for Jessica saving me these last few months. And it’s nice to have real kids running around here instead of the man children who are on the payroll. Ready guys?” Evan held onto Joey and led Bella out of the office.
I chuckled as I plopped myself in Evan’s desk chair. Lucas sat on the edge of the desk, shaking his head.
“I think my daughter wants to steal your boyfriend,” Lucas groaned as he dropped his face in his hands. “This is starting way too fucking early. I’m going to age ten years by the time she’s sixteen.”
“That sounds like karma to me, big brother. Let me get this done and we can get going.” Jessica smirked at her brother as she strolled to the back.
“Sheisa beauty. I would rest up now, old man. Joey is your twin, but I’m guessing Bella looks like her mother.”
Lucas nodded. “My wife is beautiful. She definitely favors her—and a little of her biological father, unfortunately.”
I narrowed my eyes at Lucas. “I didn’t realize she was your stepdaughter.”
“No, she’s mydaughter. We don’t discuss Marc. I married Samantha O’Rourke, Marc Christensen’s ex-wife.”
My eyes bugged out of my head as I clutched my chest.
“Marc? My, well my ex-Marc?” I hadn’t seen Marc since college. He was the reason I’d moped out of the frat party that night. “How did he end up with Samantha?” She was a few years older than me, but I remembered her as a smart and strikingly beautiful girl.
“He didn’t.Idid.” Lucas smirked as he crossed his arms..
“You know, I didn’t really see you as a family man. I figured you’d be too busy with the crowds of women always following you around.”
Lucas shrugged with a smirk. “I don’t need a crowd of women. I just need Sam. And being a dad is the best thing that ever happened to me. How long have you and Evan been together? Shit, his partner who just died was your cousin, wasn’t he? I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you. We’ve been together for almost a year. Evan had been Jack’s best friend since they were fifteen. Nothing happened between us until he moved back to help Jack with the business, and now it’s like we’ve always been together.” My eyes drifted to the picture from our weekend in the Hamptons that sat on Evan’s desk. I envied the healthy, unburdened girl smiling back at me.
“It’s nice when fate gives you a second chance after you were an idiot the first time, isn’t it? I give thanks for that every day. From what Jess tells me, Evan is a great guy. I’m glad. You deserve that, Paige.”
“We’re back!” Evan’s voice traveled from the outer doorway. “I got Joey a cup since I didn’t think any good would come out of giving a two-year-old a cone. He’s doing okay so far.”
I laughed at Joey’s stern little face as he scooped chocolate ice cream out of the cup and got sprinkles stuck to his nose.
“Buddy, it’s supposed to go in your mouth not on your face.” Lucas chuckled as he stood.
“It’s okay, I’ve got it.” Evan wiped Joey’s little face with a napkin. Watching Evan’s easy rapport with Joey and Bella, you would never know he didn’t have children of his own.
“Thank you for the ice cream.” Bella’s voice was barely a whisper. She kept her eyes on Evan as she licked her ice cream cone.
“You’re very welcome.” Evan tapped her chin and Bella stiffened up. I turned to Lucas and raised my eyebrows. He nodded and raked his hands down his face.
Jessica jogged back in and nudged Lucas’s shoulder.
“We better get on the road. I don’t want to hit too much traffic.”
“Let the kids finish their ice cream first. I’m driving; what do you care?” Jessica huffed as she rushed past him.
“I’ll run to the bathroom and we’ll get going.” Lucas let out a long sigh.
I rose from Evan’s chair and snaked my arm around his waist.
“Easier just to do what she says, right?” Evan laughed and shook his head.
Lucas nodded at Evan as he cleaned Joey’s hands. “Pretty much. It’s how I spent my childhood. Come on guys.” Lucas extended his hand to Evan. “Nice to meet you. Thanks for putting up with my sister, and I’m glad Paige has someone like you. She deserves a guy willing to beat people up for her.” Lucas kissed my cheek. “Good to see you again, Paige.”
“You too, Lucas.” Evan and I waved to Joey and Bella as they scurried out the door.
“Okay, I’m out.” Jessica grabbed her bag and headed for the door. She stopped short and turned back to Evan. “Leave the storage room alone, please.”
