Paige
Starbucks wasa quick walk across the street from their office, but there was a heavy silence between Evan and me as we made our way. I was so mortified by the way I’d acted that I could barely look him in the eye. He was helping Jack by being his partner, and I’d gone in there acting like a bratty child because I was the last to know.
I settled at my usual table, towards the back and close to an outlet to plug in my laptop, as Evan ordered our coffees. I needed to apologize before I could concentrate on anything else.
Evan handed me my iced Americano and sat across from me. I nodded a thank you and wrapped my hands around my drink so I wouldn’t wring them in my lap.
“Evan, I amsosorry. None of that was against you. Jack is right. I can’t handle hearing things so he doesn’t tell me. He’s always been there when I needed him and I’m too weak to return the favor.” I lowered my gaze as my voice cracked. As if I hadn’t humiliated myself enough in front of Evan today, I had to go the whole nine yards.
“Paige, please stop.” Evan pulled my hand from around my coffee cup and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “No apology is necessary. Jack is like your brother. Seeing him like this is very hard for you and Jack knows that. I want you to understand, I would never take his company away from him. He needed my help or he was going to have to close.” Another little tidbit I didn’t know.
“He called you?” My cousin was the most stubborn pain in the ass I’d ever met. He never,everasked for help. For him to call Evan and ask him to move back, he had to be in a crap load of trouble.
Evan shrugged as he took a sip of his black coffee. “I didn’t have much going on in Philadelphia, so nothing was really keeping me there. I wanted to be closer to my dad anyway and was thinking of moving back. I just did it sooner. Jack, your aunt and uncle, they saved me when I was a kid. I hate the reason he needed my help, but would never have thought twice about whatever he asked me.”
I put my hand over his and ran my thumb back and forth over the top of his wrist. Instead of being awkward, it felt natural. My family had always loved Evan. He was such a good kid and had obviously grown up to be a great man. I felt a rush of shame that it had taken a new haircut and muscles for me to notice how amazing he was.
“You’re a great guy, Evan. Always were. Jack is pretty lucky to have you as a friend.” I smiled as he bashfully looked away.
“Nothing Jack wouldn’t do for me,” Evan shrugged and lowered his gaze to the tabletop. “I was working with a couple of contractors but nothing full time. I didn’t have to give much notice.”
“No women devastated over the sexy contractor moving away?” It was hard to not roll my own eyes at my attempt both at flirting, and trying to get information.
Evan cocked an eyebrow at me and smirked. “Sexy? I like the designs well enough already. Buttering me up isn’t necessary. But no,” I gave him a sideways glance and his smile grew a little wider.
“You look . . . a little different since the last time I saw you. I’m guessing you did a lot of hard labor for those contractors in Philadelphia.” I cocked an eyebrow back, trying to be playful but I was probably making a total ass of myself. Evan laughed, hopefullywithme, notatme.
“I got sick of the guys making fun of me on job sites. Before I cut my hair and found the gym they called me a ‘skinny hippie’. Besides, short hair is a hell of a lot easier when you work in the heat.” I closed my eyes for a second to get the thought of a hot and sweaty Evan out of my head. “What about you? I’m sure lots of guys, waiting in the wings, were happy when you kicked Chris’s ass to the curb.”
I huffed. “Are you serious? Actually, since Chris I haven’t really . . . I’ve had lousy judgement and awful luck when it comes to men, you know that. I’m sure you’ve heard an earful from Jack, and he doesn’t know the half of it.”
Evan leaned back and narrowed his eyes at me. “What doesn’t Jack know?”
“The morons I dated in high school looked good compared to the ones in college, and they didn’t get better once I graduated. I kept them nameless and vague whenever Jack asked who I was dating because I figured beating guys up for me in high school had drained him.”
I laughed to myself. Jack always thought he was so stealthy, but I doubtedallthe cheating dirtbags had the same epiphany andallfelt the same need to find me so soon afterwards and apologize.
“Chris, I thought at one time, was a decent guy, but he turned out to be the worst of them. I decided to step back and just be alone for a while since my instincts are good for shit——unless I found myself really interested in someone.”
“So, are you . . . interested in anyone now?” Evan leaned forward, his voice low and husky.
“Actually, yes I am.”Oh God, I was really doing this!“He’s a friend of mine, so it’s a little weird . . . but he’s sweet andsexy . . .and it annoys me that I never noticed how amazing he was. I think hemightbe interested, too—but like I said, my instincts are shit so who knows.” I shrugged and took a sip of my coffee, pretending to focus my attention on my computer screen.
I had never been so forward with a man in my entire life. How could I play this off that I was talking about someone else if I’d read him wrong?
“Maybe not.” Evan scooted his chair closer to the table and slammed my laptop shut. I had nowhere to look but into his hay-colored eyes that, at the moment, seemed to burn right through me.
“Maybe he’s noticed you for years, but never thought he had a shot. Maybe he’s sick of watching you waste your time with guys who don’t deserve you. Maybe if you ask, you’ll find out he’s very,veryinterested.” The intense expression on Evan’s face as he fixed his gaze on me made my pulse race.
“Maybe he figured out who I was talking about?” I crinkled my nose and gave Evan a playful grin.
He lowered his eyes and chuckled. “I need to work this weekend; the diner job starts on Saturday morning, but I’m free Thursday night. There’s an awesome restaurant I know in Brooklyn if you wouldn’t mind making the drive with me.”
“I would love that. But, if you’re busy, it can wait. I know you guys are trying to get as much work as you can. We can always go out when things aren’t so crazy—”
“If things go the way I hope they will, business will always be busy and crazy.” Evan rose from his seat and threw away his empty cup. He sauntered over to where I sat and leaned over, one hand on my chair and one on the table—completely closing me in.
He pressed a soft kiss right below my ear and whispered, “I’ve waited for this date since I was fifteen years old, and I’m not waiting anymore.” I stiffened as his wet and warm lips lingered on my skin. My breath hitched, and I was sure Evan noticed as he stood with a sweet and satisfied smile.
