A tall figure emerges behind the boy. I have to tilt my head back to lock eyes with Evan Reyes. Whatever he’s about to say seems to die on his lips as he realizes whose room the little boy—Leo, I’m assuming—has found.
I probably look like a crazy person, huddled among my scribbled plans for PR domination. My hair is unbrushed and I’m wearing an FDNY T-shirt that Noah gave me, which is three sizes too big and drapes over my spandex shorts to make it seem like I’m not even wearing pants. Basically, I look like the opposite of professional, but I had planned on donning something more appropriate when I eventually emerged from my cave.
Evan’s gaze lingers on my bare legs.
I try to think of something to say. Sorry I look like I can’t be bothered to get dressed properly? Sorry I’m awkward with kids? Sorry you have to witness the messy process behind the magic?
But Leo is the one who speaks next.
“Daddy, I have to pee.”
Evan tears his gaze from me to glance down at his son. “Okay, there’s a bathroom right down the hall. Do you want help?”
Leo scoffs loudly. “No!I know how to pee.”
“Of course you do, buddy.”
The little boy scurries off, and Evan watches as he goes until we both hear the distant sound of the bathroom door down the hall opening and closing.
When Evan turns back toward me, he has an apologetic smile on his face.
“I’m so sorry about that. I swear I only turned my back for three seconds.”
“They move fast, apparently.”
“Definitely. I really try not to bring him here because it’s obviously dangerous, but his nanny had a last-minute emergency.”
I smile, rising to my feet and trying not to wince at the way my legs cramp from being bent underneath me for so long. “It’s fine. He’s pretty cute. He’s yours?”
“Uh, yeah. Technically. He—my wife—it’s a long story.”
“Wife?” I echo, sounding like an idiot.
I hadn’t noticed a ring on his finger. Not that I was looking for something like that before allowing myself to fully appreciate how pretty this man is when I first met him.
Not that it matters, anyway.
Evan nods, a sad smile on his face. “Leo is her son from a previous relationship, but I’ve been there since he was about two years old. She passed away four years ago, and I became his guardian.”
“Oh. Wow.” I really don’t know what to say.
Except that there’s something so sweet, and undeniably sexy, about Evan’s strong sense of duty. He probably didn’t have to do that. He could have let Leo be taken in by one of his late wife’s relatives and moved on, but he chose to raise the boy as his own.
An idea sparks in my mind. It takes all my willpower not to drop back down to the floor and scribble it into my notes.
Evan must see something odd in my expression because he cringes slightly.
“Sorry.” He chuckles. “Didn’t mean to dump my life story on you like that.”
I laugh. “That’s hardly a life story. But, um, I’m really sorry for your loss.”
His face softens. “Thank you.”
A beat of silence passes between us. He drops his gaze down to the floor, but I’m definitely imagining the way his eyes take their time trailing a path down the length of my legs in the process. It’s just the insanity creeping in. But that doesn’t mean I don’t also take the chance to ogle his incredible physique, covered as it is with track pants and a FDNY hoodie.
It’s ridiculous how gorgeous all these men are. Even the guy they call Old Bill is handsome in his own way. He really rocks that mustache of his.
“Lila?”
