Page 10 of An Unexpected Chance

I leaned back, sipping my coffee. “Yes, Amy.”

“Holly noticed you talking to her at the last two barbecues. They’re great friends. Well, we both are, I suppose, but they’re pretty tight.” He leaned close, resting his arms on his thighs. “Amy’s really lovely. Kind and thoughtful. Sweet.” He grinned. “A bit of a free spirit.”

I chuckled. “She calls herself unconventional. I like it. She’s a breath of fresh air. So calm and natural.”

“Total opposite to Kelsey.”

I nodded. We both muttered, “Thank God,” at the same time and laughed.

“I’ve had enough drama from your sister to last a lifetime. Amy seems far more…normal, I’ll say.”

“She know about Kelsey?”

“Enough for now. It’s too soon. I haven’t taken her to dinner yet—I’m not dumping all that shit on her.”

Evan didn’t say anything for a moment, then he spoke. “I’m sorry for what my sister did to you and Mia, Simon. You’re a great guy, and you didn’t deserve to go through that. But I’m not sorry it brought you into our lives. You’ve become part of the family. Holly adores you and Mia. I feel as if I got a brother as well as a friend. So, even though you went through hell, I’m glad you’re here.”

I studied him. “I wouldn’t give up one moment of the shit I went through if it meant it brought me to this place and moment. Mia is worth everything I had to endure. She is my life. Getting the bonus of you and Holly and the kids? I consider myself a lucky man, Evan. A very lucky man.”

We shared a nod. A silent assurance we understood each other.

Then he winked. “Okay, let’s get you dating again. Where are you taking her?”

* * *

Friday afternoon, I shut down my laptop, glad to be done for the day. I sat back, turning in my chair, looking at the bright sky. I had found a great-sounding restaurant for dinner, and I’d checked out the tavern and planned to take Amy there afterward to listen to the live music.

I rolled my shoulders, feeling oddly nervous. I hadn’t been on a date in a long time. I was partially excited, partially worried, and completely hopeful I would be kissing those full lips of hers again in a few hours. I recalled how soft they felt underneath mine, how sweet she tasted. I ran my finger over my bottom lip, remembering the way she’d nipped me then ran her tongue over the spot, soothing it. I had liked it.

A lot.

“Daddy?”

I turned at the sound of Mia’s voice, shaking my head to clear it of the lustful thoughts that were creeping in.

“Hey, Sweet Pea.”

She hurried over and crawled into my lap. I pressed a kiss to her head. “Finished the movie?”

“Yep.”

“Dory all good?”

“Yep.”

“Good.”

“When are we going to Uncle E’s?”

“Soon. I’ll take you around four.”

“How come you’re not staying this time?”

“Oh.” I cleared my throat, the nerves kicking in. “Daddy has a date tonight.”

She scrunched up her nose. “A date?”

“Yeah.”