Page 27 of Honor

Cleo glances back and smiles. “Why don’t you take Evie to the bar for that? She can sit over there and chat while she hydrates.”

I could hug Cleo right now because she just gave me an out from having to spend my Friday night with the man who controls almost all of my days.

“Good idea.” Zeke offers a hand to help me up.

I grab it just as Baden and Mr. Hunt reach our table.

“Cleo,” Baden greets her first. “Hey, Evie.”

Holding tightly to Zeke’s hand, I stand. Reaching for my purse with my free hand, I glance at both men. “Hi.”

“Evie’s on her way to hang out at the bar with Zeke, but I’d love some company.” Cleo points to the vacant chairs next to our table. “Do you two want to join me?”

“Sure.” Baden sits his ass down first.

Mr. Hunt’s gaze lingers on my face before it falls to my hand, which is firmly wrapped in Zeke’s. “All right.”

He settles on the chair I was just sitting on.

With any luck, by the time I’m done slowly sipping a tall glass of cold water at the bar, Mr. Hunt will have finished his drink, and be headed out of here.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Reid

“Why do you look like that?”My cousin, Donovan, points at my face.

I brush away his hand with mine. “Don’t be an asshole.”

“You appreciate when I’m honest with you, right?” he questions, ignoring my insult.

Donovan is like a brother to me.

After my folks died in a car accident, Donovan’s mom offered to take Melody and me in, but my maternal grandparents stepped up, and we moved into their house in Queens. They went above and beyond to make sure that our dad’s family was a steadfast presence in our lives.

Donovan was the one who taught me how to ride a bike in Central Park. He broke the news that the jolly red-suited guy I thought was dropping off all those gifts under the tree every December was really just my grandma in her pajamas.

He’s four years older than me, but our bond has always been strong.

“You look like you haven’t slept in days,” he remarks before taking a pull from the bottle of beer in front of him.

I started my weekend with a drink on Friday night, and I’m ending it on Sunday night in much the same way.

The major difference is that on Friday night, I kept stealing glances at Miss Starling and the bartender she couldn’t take her eyes off of. Today, my view is my cousin and the city beyond since we’re on the patio of a bistro in Tribeca.

We try to meet up at least once a month.

Donovan owns a veterinary practice. He recently got engaged and welcomed a daughter named Grace into the world. I’m all in with Vidori, so our time together is limited to a quick lunch or dinner every four weeks.

“I work too much,” I say with a chuckle. “What’s your excuse? Don’t blame it all on baby Gracie.”

He lets out a deep belly laugh that draws glances from the people seated near us. Not one of them appears to be pissed off. In fact, they’re all smiling because Donovan’s laugh does that to people.

He shoves a hand through his dark brown hair. “I don’t look like shit.”

The bastard is right. He looks as put together as he always does.

Since he came straight here from the clinic, he’s dressed in blue scrubs.

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