I blink, making sure I heard that right. She’s back? After all these years?
I honestly thought she’d stay gone. Florida seemed to fither or at least it looked like it from the photos she used to post. Noah and Beth talk about her all the time, how proud they are, how much they miss her. Now she’s here?
I keep walking, trying to play it cool, but my chest tightens a little. Not in a bad way, just in thatholy shitkind of way. It’s been years since I’ve seen her in person. But when Josy shifts to the side and I finally get a glimpse of the booth, my feet nearly stop moving again.
Holy fuck.
That is not the same girl.
Eva stands to greet Violet, and when she turns just enough for me to really see her, my brain blanks out for a second.
Her hair is long and dark, so straight it looks like silk. It brushes against the curve of her waist when she moves. Those green eyes? Still the same, but sharper now, more striking, framed by thick lashes that make them even more impossible to ignore. Her skin glows, smooth and golden, and her lips—Jesus—plump and naturally pink, the kind of mouth you can’t stop looking at.
And her body?
Yeah. There’s no ignoring it. She’s wearing dark jeans that hug her hips perfectly and a soft, flowy blouse that dips just low enough to make my brain short-circuit. Curvy in all the right places, the kind of woman who owns the space she stands in without even trying.
Fuck.
When didEva Rossbecome…this?
Swallowing hard, I’m suddenly hyper-aware that I’ve been standing there staring like a complete idiot.
She turns toward me now, smiling politely, like she doesn’t know I’m silently panicking.
Austin finishes introducingViolet, and before I can mentally prepare myself, it’s myturn.
I step up, trying to find something clever or cool to say, but all that comes out is?—
“Eva Ross. Look at you.”Smooth.
Her smile widens, and those damn green eyes lock on mine. “Hi, Esteban.”
Even her voice has changed, still soft, still familiar, but there’s something deeper now, more confident. It brushes against something inside me I didn’t even know was there.
“It’s been a long time,” I say, feeling something weird in my chest. “It’s… uh… good to see you again,” I manage to say, though it comes out low and a little rough.
She tilts her head, and for a second, I swear she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.
It’s dangerous. All of it.
She’s Noah’s little sister, and I’m standing here like a fool, completely wrecked by the sight of her.
I glance around and spot Ashton and Payton still sitting at the booth. Eva turns to smile at them, and I follow her gaze just as Payton lifts her glass with that signature smirk of hers.
“Hi, boss,” she says to me, all sass and sparkle.
Then there's Ashton’s eyes on me.
Blatantly.
I’m used to it by now. Ashton checks me out like it’s his side hustle, and honestly? I respect the consistency. His eyes trail down from my face to my chest, then lower. When I raise an eyebrow, he just grins like I caught him doing something adorable.
“What’s up, Ashton,” I say, a little amused.
“Hey, Esteban,” he replies, practically purring. “Looking good tonight, as always.”
I shake my head with a low laugh. “You’re relentless.”
