“You get to sit in the front row with me.” He paused, his gaze floating over her face and updo. “You look great, by the way.”
“Everyone looks good dressed to the nines,” she quipped.
She’d worn a black off-the-shoulder gown that showed a little skin and a hint of cleavage. If she met someone worthy of a hookup, he’d have to work for the rest.
From what Tucker had gleaned from his wealthy cousin, there would be four hundred guests coming to this shindig. Like Tucker, Evangeline was thrilled not to be in the wedding party, even though she and the bride were good friends.
Years earlier, when she had started working as a beat cop, her dad had advised her to find someone to manage her money. “What money?” she’d asked him.
“The money you’ll have down the road. You’re a saver, like me.”
Heeding his advice, she’d found wealth manager Brigit Farnay. When Brigit went to work at Mitus Conglomerate, she kept a handful of clients. Fortunately, Evangeline was one of the chosen few. She guessed it was because of their friendship.
After finishing their drinks, she and Tucker left the lounge en route to the ballroom. A child bolted out of nowhere and crashed into her. Evangeline grabbed the tyke before she tumbled to the ground. “You okay?”
The child stared up at her.
“Sorry,” said a man. “Our little flower girl is pretty excited.”
Evangeline looked up and her heart ka-chunked, then took off on a wild beat of its own. Sinclair Develin stood inches away smiling down at her. Evangeline glanced at the little one with long dark hair and piercing blue eyes, and her heart sank.Of course, Sinclair has a child. And a gorgeous wife to go along with that adorable daughter.
“It’s okay.” Her cheeks warmed, and she set her gaze on the child. “You must be so excited to be a flower girl.”
“Hey, Tucker,” said Sinclair.
“Hey, man. Good to see you.”
“Please pick me up, Daddy.”
Now, father and daughter were staring down at her and she wanted to melt into the floor. He gave no indication that he recognized her and her heart fell a little. Had he forgotten all about her or was she that insignificant that he couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge her at all? She certainly hadn’t forgotten about him.
“I’m sooooo excited.” The girl’s voice rolled out in a high-pitched ball of energy. “Are you going to Uncle Colton’s wedding?”
“I sure am.”
“What’s your name?”
“Evangeline.”
“E…Leen.” She looked at her dad.
“E-van-gel-ine.”
God, he’s so good with her.
“Uh-huh. E-Leen.”
The adults laughed.
“What’s your name?” Evangeline asked her.
“Sammy.”
A man sidled up beside Evangeline. “There you two are.”
The child beamed at him. “Uncle Lalla!”
Evangeline turned and her heart stopped. After shifting her attention from one man to the other, she blurted, “No way.”
