His expression softened, and a self-deprecating grin formed on his mouth. “Trust me. I never thought you were.”
“What doesthatmean?”
Evan stared at her for so long she thought he’d forgotten the question. It wasn’t until she was trying to come up with a way to get past this awkward situation that he finally spoke.
“It doesn’t mean anything.” He shook his head. “I know you’re not interested in me. I’m not worr—”
“Oh, I’m interested,” she blurted.
Oh, crap.What waswrongwith her? After thirty-two years in this world,assertivedecides to make an appearance now?
“You … um… You are?” His eyebrows lifted. “In me?”
How could he sound so surprised? Seriously, the man was everything a woman could possibly want. He was dedicated to his job, loyal to his friends and family, not to mention probably one of the best fathers in existence. Evan Vaughn was the whole package. Maybe he wasn’t as ripped as Brantley or Reese, and he didn’t have that drawl like Slade or Luca, but Evan was far more than his physical appearance. He was a very handsome man, and those other traits … dedicated and loyal … well, they were what was most important. They were what made him the sexiest man she knew.
“Yes,” she told him. “I’m interested in you.”
Oh, yeah. She was pretty sure her heart was going to beat right out of her chest. She imagined it plunging to the cushion between them and bouncing around.
“What about Luca?”
Becs laughed, waving a hand and looking away. “My interest in him lasted about a minute.”
“But I thought…”
“Yes, you thought I liked him because that’s what I wanted you to think.”
Lines formed on his forehead. “Why?”
Looked like they were really doing this.
“Because you and me … we’re friends, Evan. I would never want to risk that friendship by overstepping.”
He stared at her as though she’d lost her mind. Now that she heard the words playing back in her head, Becs figured maybe she had.
“Overstepping?” Evan shook his head. “How—”
A loud knock sounded on the door a second before it flew open. Sophia, Carly, and two more little girls were standing there, practically bouncing with their excitement.
“Let’s go, Dad!” Sophia shouted. “Let’s go swimming!”
Carly squealed her delight and all four girls started to dance.
Based on the way Evan continued to stare at her as though he didn’t recognize her, Becs knew this conversation would have to be tabled for later.
Chapter Four
Saturday, August 6, 2022
As had become their routine, Brantley andReese woke up on Saturday morning, got in a ten-mile run, had breakfast, then headed for the gun range. They put Sniper 1 Security, the task force, and all their cases on the back burner in order to take time for themselves. And Brantley did it with a smile because he knew it was crucial to balance work and life.
He also knew that if Reese didn’t get him out of the house, he would likely sit at his desk and work regardless of what day it was. While he always had things to do, and there were always cases to research, the urgency of their tasks tended to increase his stress levels, which in turn increased the number of migraines he had. Thanks to their weekend outings, he was keeping his stress at a manageable level, and the migraines were coming on less and less. Rather than one every other day, they’d reduced to roughly one, sometimes two, a week.
It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t where Brantley had hoped to be after the incident that had ended his career as a Navy SEAL, but he’d adapted. That was what he’d been trained to do, after all.
“All right,” Reese said, putting on his safety glasses. “One hour. Then we’ll stop by the grocery store so I can pick up somethin’ to cook for dinner.”
“Don’t forget we’re goin’ to Moonshiners tonight.”
