He stopped at the door to his study. It was more of a man cave than an office. A place for him to escape when Sophia or Kaye (or both) took over the living room. It didn’t matter that there was a game room upstairs with a television, Sophia preferred to be downstairs most of the time. And since their choice of television programs differed dramatically, he’d made a space for himself so he could watch sports while she binged the Disney channel.
Becs chuckled when she walked into the room. “I love the sign on the door.”
No girls allowed, it read. Handmade by his daughter. Sophia had declared the space his, and so far, she’d abided by the rule.
Not that he cared whether she joined him. When Evan was home, spending time with his daughter was all he cared to do. With her around, he could keep his mind from wandering to other things.
Looked as though Becs’s presence had the same effect because now that she was here, his full attention was in the present, not lingering in the past where it drifted often.
Evan gestured toward the black leather sofa that faced the television.
She paused in front of him. “Are you okay?”
He nodded, answering with another grunt.
Her voice softened. “I can go if it bothers you that I’m here.”
When her gaze shifted to the wall, Evan looked over. She was checking out the eight-by-ten of him and Gayle. It had been taken when Gayle was pregnant with Sophia, the two of them smiling at one another. A happier time, for sure.
“It doesn’t bother me,” he told Becs.
It did, but not the way she was thinking. This house had no memories of his dead wife. Gayle had never left Florida. She was buried there, along with the happy life Evan had once had. Back before a serial killer shattered his very existence.
And while Evan had never imagined that he would find a woman who could capture his interest for more than a minute, it wasn’t because he was still in love with Gayle. He loved her, sure. He always would. But if he’d learned anything in his job, it was that life was fleeting. And getting attached to something never ended well. The only exception to that rule was his daughter. Evan would move heaven and earth for Sophia, and that would never change.
Everything else … well, he ensured that was temporary.
***
Becs could tell her presence was botheringEvan. He claimed it didn’t, but he was far too tense.
Perhaps she would’ve believed it was because he was about to have six little girls descending on his domain for the next forty hours or so, but if anyone could handle a slumber party, it was Sophia’s dad. Becs was convinced he was born to be a father. It was in the way his eyes lit up whenever Sophia walked into a room, in the way his smile remained in place whenever she spoke.
She knew his discomfort had to do with her because Becs had noticed it before. Not only in the office but also here, in his home. If Becs were here picking up Carly when Evan came home, he would make a beeline in whatever direction would lead him away from her.
Figuring it might be good to clear the air, Becs took a seat on the sofa, attempting to get comfortable. Kaye came in to give her the glass of iced tea she made. On her exit, she closed the door, sealing her in the room with Evan.
“Would you please sit down?” she asked when Evan continued to pace near the small desk in the corner. The man wasn’t known to pace. He was the sort who made as few physical movements as necessary, which was another clue that he was uncomfortable.
His eyes snapped to her face, and his feet stopped moving. She noticed the way his Adam’s apple bobbed slowly. Knowing him, he was wondering what she would do if he ran from the room.
Nothing, probably. Becs wished she could say she would follow him and force him to talk to her, but that was bullshit. She didn’t have an assertive bone in her body. Not when it came to men, anyway.
It took a minute, but Evan finally sat on the opposite end of the sofa. There was only a single cushion between them, but it felt like there was an ocean.
“Did I do something to offend you?” she prompted.
“Why in God’s name would you think that?” he asked, his voice gruff with surprise.
“Because you’re purposely ignoring me at work.”
“I am not.”
“Don’t,” she said firmly. “Don’t do that, Evan. I’m not an idiot. I get that from Luca all the time. His purposeful attempts to keep me at a distance because he doesn’t want to risk me liking him. Then he acts surprised when I mention it. I expect that from him, but I thought you were better than that.”
His dark brown eyes skimmed her face, his thick eyebrows coming down over them.
“You don’t have to worry,” she said, keeping her tone gentle like she was talking to a wounded animal. “I’m not here to seduce you, I promise.”
