Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
After leaving my office,Evie and I stop by Firefly so she can pack a bag. Kyle reassures her that he can close down the bar, so she comes home with me. Lucy is in the middle of the living room, dancing along to her favorite musical TV show, when we walk in.
“Daddy!” she squeals. She runs to me, throwing her arms around my neck in a giant hug.
“Oh wow,” I say, picking her up. “That’s the best hug ever.”
I can feel Lucy’s gasp when she sees Evie behind me.
“Evie!” Lucy exclaims, shooting her arms out.
I take a hint and lower Lucy to the floor so she can hug Evie too. It’s the cutest exchange, one I know I shouldn’t love as much as I do. Evie is a new person in Lucy’s life, and I’ve always been careful about the amount of time she spends with other women. She could easily become attached, and I’m just not ready for that—or at least, I wasn’t. Until Evie.
“Everyone hungry?” Francine asks, walking into the living room from the kitchen. She winks at Evie.
I gave Francine plenty of notice earlier that Evie would be coming back to stay with us. But this time, Francine will be in her cottage while Evie will be in the guest room.
“Me, me!” Lucy says, jumping up and down.
“Me, me, too,” I say.
“I’m starved,” Evie adds with a sigh.
Something about the honesty in her tone clutches at my chest. She must have been so nervous all day that she didn’t even eat.
“You came to the right place, dear,” Francine holds her hand out and drags Evie into the kitchen. “I made lemon chicken, but if you don’t like that, there’s plenty of Lucy’s mac-and-cheese to go around.”
Lucy and I follow behind them, entering the kitchen to find the round table set for four. Francine must have even deep-cleaned the kitchen. Everything looks better than when we moved in. Evie seems to be taking an appreciative glance around the room too.
I rest a hand on Evie’s back in case she’s at all uncomfortable. “Where do you want to sit?”
She shrugs and looks back at me while Lucy climbs into her booster seat. “Doesn’t matter to me.”
Lucy pats the spot to the right of her. “Sit by me, Evie.”
I react dramatically. “That’s my spot.”
Evie grins and slips right into the seat. “Looks like it’s my spot now, right, Luce?”
Lucy erupts into a fit of giggles. “Sorry, Daddy!”
Laughing, I head over to where Francine is dishing out the plates and shoo her away. “Go sit. I’ve got this.”
Francine gives me an amused glare. There’s no doubt she’s onto me. Francine has seen my crush on Evie since that day we picked sunflowers at the market. Even without knowing her that well then, Francine seems to have approved. Now I’m not the only one in love with Evie.
We spend the entire meal listening to Lucy’s knock-knock jokes, most of which don’t make any sense whatsoever, but we laugh anyway. We laugh more because Lucy is so adorably confident in how she commands our attention. After dinner, I get Lucy bathed and ready for bed while Francine helps Evie get set up in the guest room.
Once I finish reading Lucy her favorite princess book, I shut off the light and sit beside her bed to tuck her in. “You comfy?”
She smiles and pulls her blanket up to her chin. “Yup.” Then she tilts her head. “Is Evie going to live with us?”
Biting my tongue, I shake my head. “I’m afraid not, Lucy. She’s just here for a short time while her apartment gets fixed.”
Disappointment flashes in Lucy’s eyes. “Oh. But I thought you liked Evie, Daddy.”
My heart seizes. “I do, sweetie. Very much. But we can’t just live with every single person we like, can we?”
Lucy’s eyes widen as she thinks about it, then she shrugs. “Why not?”
I laugh and tousle her hair. “Our house isn’t big enough.”
Her brows lower in defiance. “It’s big enough for Evie. And Evie can sleep in your bedroom, so someone else can move in too.”
There’s no arguing with this adorable four-year-old. Her big blue eyes get me every time. “Maybe Daddy should ask Evie out on a date first.”
Lucy’s entire face lights up. “And bring her flowers.”
“Of course.”
Lucy twists in her sheets to face me more fully. “And treat her like a princess. Like how you treat me.”
Chuckling, I lean closer and nuzzle Lucy’s cheek with my nose. “That’s right. And all princesses need their sleep. Sweet dreams, goose.”
She hugs my neck as she plants a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “Sweet dreams, Daddy.”
Slipping out of the room, I turn toward the guest room and find Evie curled up on the bed with a book in her hand. Everything about the image feels like a dream I never want to wake up from. She looks so at peace in my home, and I know it’s because she belongs here, just like she did back when she moved in with Patrick.
Evie looks up at me with a smile. “Hey.”
“Hey. Your room okay?”
She nods. “More than okay. It’s nice being back in this house.”
“Even without the pink, blue, and purple flowers on the closet doors?”
“I mean, you could use a few upgrades in here, but it’ll do.” She grins.
I smile. “I’m glad you’re coping with the complimentary amenities. If it were up to Lucy, I’d be moving you into my room, but I had to let her down.”
Evie laughs. “Is Lucy trying to play matchmaker?”
I nod, eyes wide for emphasis. “Oh yes. From the moment she met you.” Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I take in Evie’s bedtime attire, a baggy white shirt and black cotton shorts. “Can’t say I blame her. She happens to think you should be treated like a princess, and I can’t disagree.”
Evie’s cheeks darken a shade. “Lucy is too kind.”
“And me?”
She tilts her head. “You, Doctor Reed, are dangerous.” A hint of a smile touches her lips.
“Dangerous enough to go on a date with? Say, Saturday night?”
Her cheeks darken another shade, and surprise lights up her eyes. “A date?”
I nod slowly, allowing my question to sink in.
She stares at nothing like she’s ticking through a list in her head. “Okay.” She smiles. “I’m sure I can find someone else to close down the bar for me that night.”
“Lucy will be so happy.”
Our eyes meet in a flirtatious glance, silence lingering between us. Meanwhile, I’m trying to keep from using any excuse to invite her into my bedroom.
“You should know,” Evie says, “that I’m a bit of a night owl. It’s probably from all the years of closing down the bar.”
I shrug and lean against the door frame. “I’m the same. The house always gets so quiet once Lucy goes to bed and Francine is in her guest cottage. It’s the perfect time to write.”
Evie sits up straighter, tucking her book against her body. “You can write if you want. Just pretend I’m not here.”
The nonchalance in her tone brings a smile to my face. “I’m afraid that will be impossible.” Nerves fill my chest and throat. “I’m going to take a quick shower.” The words Join me if you want to are on the tip of my tongue.
I’m not sure if it’s wishful thinking or apt awareness when I see disappointment flicker in her eyes.
“Okay.” She gives me a faint smile. “Have fun.”
It’s only two steps across the hall, but the journey to my bedroom feels like a walk of shame. How have I completely lost all sense of charm when it comes to Evelyn Vaughn? Every ounce of confidence I once had when it came to women seems to have completely diminished now when I’m with her.
I pause at my bedroom door, reminding myself that Evie’s bedroom is right across the hall. Deciding to leave it wide open, I toss a look over my shoulder to find Evie’s gaze on me. We make eye contact for only a moment, but it’s long enough to extend a silent invitation.
Join me… if you dare.