“I need to talk to Jack. He never said a thing about Evan being his partner now. I don’t like this, Natalie. I need to know what’s going on.”
She put her hand on top of mine and gave me a sad smile. “Honey, you’re a smart girl. Youknowwhat’s going on.”
“Well, I still want him to tell me.”
“I know. I think you both need to talk.” She squeezed my hand. “But, that boy,” she pointed her thumb in Evan’s direction. “He is definitely interested. He’s not a jerk, which may take some getting used to on your part . . . just a nice guy who just so happens to have a body made for sin. Go to their office tomorrow, talk to Jack, and then see what happens with Evan. Take a chance, Paige.”
I let out a long sigh, I didn’t feel like arguing about it anymore. “Fine, I’ll feel him out and see what happens.”
“Feel him out, or up. Both could be fun.” I laughed and tried to ignore the building tension in my chest.
I had an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach that things were about to change. And I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to like it.
Three
Evan
“Dude,how did you convince him to redo the whole diner?”
Jack had an impressed lift in his voice as he reviewed the signed estimate in his hand. I was glad I was proving my worth so fast. He’d never asked me for help before. I’d been the one asking him to help my sorry ass out ever since we were fifteen, and I was determined not to let him down.
“Wasn’t as hard as you think. We’re going to need some extra guys to help out. He wants us to do it all in one weekend so he doesn’t have to stay closed for very long. It’ll be tough, but I think we can do it. Plus, that’s a pretty popular diner. Could help us get the name out there.”
“Hmm, that’s true. I’ve been afraid to take jobs like this because I never knew how I’d feel from one day to the next.” His expression turned serious as his voice trailed off. He slapped my back as he got up from his desk. “You’re more than just a pretty face. Nice work!”
That was Jack. Always making a joke when things got too serious. Jack was more than just a friend; he was my brother. When my mother died during our sophomore year of high school, he never left my side. His parents practically took me in when my father became a grief-stricken zombie. I always vowed I’d pay him back, but hated the reason he was now asking me to return the favor.
I strolled over to my desk and sat down on the small chair. Little too small for me, but we were cramped into a tiny space as it was. Jack’s office really didn’t have room for two desks, but he’d insisted. I’d never run a business before and there was a lot of back end stuff that I was still learning. Jack thought it would be easier if we worked side by side. I leaned back in my chair and tapped on the desk with a pen.
I liked being on job sites, not stuck inside, but I’d never complain. I would do whatever I could to make things easier for Jack.
“So, is it noon yet? I think Paige said she’d be here by now.”
Jack snickered at me. “That interested in the new sign?”
“Of course I am. You wanted me involved in everything, remember?” Jack’s shoulders shook with laughter. He was a smug jerk when he wanted to be.
“Okay, I’ll play. I’ll pretend you haven’t had a crush on my cousin since we were in high school. Ellie won’t shut up about the “spark,” she saw at the house on Saturday between you two.” Jack held up his fingers in air quotes.
Jack walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. “I don’t know why you always felt like you couldn’t tell me. I think you’d be good for Paige. It would be nice to see her with someone who wasn’t a total asshole.”
Paige was the girl I'd always wanted, but never had a chance with. I met her when we were teenagers, and was friend-zoned from day one. It was probably for the best, since no good would ever come from dating Paige if things went sour.
Jack and Paige were more like brother and sister than cousins. I wasn’t the only one of Jack’s friends to notice Paige—it was fucking impossible not to. With sexy emerald eyes, long golden hair, and killer curves that went on for days, I could never stop staring at her—or control the shit that came out of my mouth. I let things slip when she complained to me about whatever idiot she happened to be with at the time. I’d tell her how beautiful I thought she was, how the guy she was with didn’t deserve her. She smiled sweetly and said ‘thank you,’ but never saw me as anything but her cousin’s friend—no matter how I wished she would see me as something more.
Paige was beautiful, smart, and always so fucking nice—too nice.
Jack was one hundred percent right about her douchebag parade of boyfriends. I knew a few of them in school, and my blood boiled at some of the things I’d overheard them say.
With Paige Taylor, it seemed nice guys really did finish last, so I’d never admitted out loud to anyone—even Jack—how I felt about her.
Although, judging by my friend’s shit-eating grin, it was common knowledge whether I had said it or not.
“It . . . never seemed like the right time. Any time I’d work up the nerve to tell her, she was already with someone else. I hated the way she let guys treat her; she deserves so much better. I would . . . anyway it’s fine. I’ll behave myself and won’t make her feel uncomfortable.” I shrugged and looked away. It was really anythingbutfine. I’d still kill for just one chance with Paige.
Jack nodded. “I’m with you on that one. It’s been exhausting to watch her go out with the wrong guy over and over—exhausting for pretty much the whole family. She doesn’t know how many asses I secretly kicked over the years on her behalf. I won’t tell you what to do, but I really believe if you talked to her now, you might get a different answer than you expect.”
I held my hands up and shook my head. “Jack, she’s like your fucking sister. We’re not just friends, we’re partners now and I know better than to complicate—”
