Page 60 of I'd Never Date my Best Friend's Brother

His eyes widen and he pulls his body away to get a better look at me. “Are you teasing me, Evelyn O’Connell?”

“Me?” I innocently ask, pointing at my chest. “Why would I tease you for taking me tubing? You know how much I absolutely love tubing. And really, who needs to eat in a warm place?”

Before I know what’s happening, he closes the gap between us and starts tickling me. I try to escape his fingers, but no matter what I do, I’m unable to get away.

“Uncle. Uncle!” I scream while laughing at the same time. “Please, Jamie, I can’t breathe.”

His hands stop, and I take a deep breath. A smile so wide that I feel like my cheeks are going to crack spreads across my face. My breathing is still heavy as I continue to catch my breath.

The grin on his face has my heart playing a game of hopscotch in my chest. He lifts his hand to my face and I lean into it. He brings his face so close to mine that I can feel the warmth of his breath on my cheek.

“Ready to go and have some fun?” He asks.

“With you? Always.” The gleam in his eyes has my heart clenching. I lean forward and touch my lips to his. I feel him sigh against my lips, and I put a hand behind his head to pull him closer.

When he pulls his head back, he has a mischievous glint in his eye, and before I realize what he intends to do, he tickles me.

“Jamie,” I scream and laugh.

His hands immediately freeze, and a smirk lines his lips. He tips his head toward the car door. “Let’s go.”

I watch him get out of the car and walk around the front of the car before making his way to my door to help me out.

As I wait for him I already know that tonight is going to be perfect. In spite of the fact that my toes will most likely be frozen.

Chapter 28

Jamie

I can’t remember the last time I completely let go and had this much fun. As soon as Evie and I grabbed our tubes and went down the run for the first time, it was like I was a child all over again.

The elation and freedom replaced a weight I didn’t even realize I was carrying. And a feeling of weightlessness overcame me, leaving me in a state of pure bliss.

But being able to experience it with Evie was complete ecstasy.

Watching the childlike wonder that flowed off of her in waves gave me permission to feel safe in a way I hadn’t for a long time.

I’m not sure when I started to question the safety of myself and those around me when it came to my job, but at some point I did.

Working in cybersecurity sounds pretty benign, and for the most part it is. But the reality of the job I currently hold is that I am working to stop criminals who will go to any length to accomplish their objectives.

I work to remain an anonymous man behind the screen, just like them, and yet I find them. If I can find them then there’s a possibility that they can find me. Odds of that are happening are pretty slim, especially since I’m only acquiring enough information for the company to pass along to the agencies.

The biggest part of my training over the last six months was how to dig just deep enough without leaving too much of an electronic footprint. I was the best at it, which is why I was offered the position. But it made me realize how dangerous my work could be if I’m ever found out.

Until this moment, I didn’t understand the toll that my work was taking on me.

“Are you okay?” Evie’s voice brings me back to the present moment.

I look at her hand resting on my arm, and then up to her eyes. In them I see a combination of joy and concern.

“Yes. I’m good.” I force a smile, wanting to quell the concern from her eyes so that only the joy remains. “I’m having a ridiculous amount of fun. You?”

A question passes across her eyes before she lets it go. “So much fun. Do you want to go again before resting to grab some hot chocolate and sit by the fire for a bit?”

“Sounds good.” I smile at her and start walking to the top of the hill. She comes up beside me, takes hold of my hand, and gives it a squeeze. When I meet her gaze, I see a knowing look there.

The O’Connells all have a way of just knowing that something is going on behind what people say. They also know when to pry and when to let it go. At this moment, I am grateful for that quality because I don’t even know how to put into words what I just realized.

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