Page 3 of Everlasting Love

Shit!

I quickly turn toward Toby and check if he’s seeing what I’m seeing. His face says it all. And while I may be able to protect him from a physical threat, I can’t protect his heart from shattering further with this discovery. I can’t believe after the time they spent together recently, that she would keep such a huge secret from him. I watch my long-time friend gather his composure and make his way toward Poppy and her family. He won’t outwardly show any emotion other than that of a professional musician even though I know him well enough to recognize the tightness around his jaw and eyes. The bunching of his shoulders and the rigid way he’s holding his body is a dead giveaway. He’s livid and I don’t blame him. I would be too.

Poppy’s grandmother, Rose, who we met recently at one of Poppy’s lessons, rushes in first, hugging Toby and thanking him. Then she turns and introduces her family to us. My eyes stray to the gorgeous woman who’s standing slightly behind Cassia and Rose. She has a toddler in her arms, who can only be hersbecause she’s like a mini version of her, and she scans us with a level of distrust I haven’t seen in a long while. Her smile seems forced, but she’s putting on a good show for her family.Interesting.

“This is my older daughter, Violet, and her daughter, Jasmine.” I reach forward to shake her hand, and I shit you not, as soon as my palm makes contact with hers, tingles erupt. I dart my eyes from her hand to her face to see if she felt anything out of the ordinary and catch her clear cerulean eyes widening slightly as her brows dip a little lower. She obviously felt something, too.

I swallow quickly and lift my chin as I extricate my hand from hers, immediately missing her warmth. “Hi, Violet. Hi, Jasmine. I’m Shane.”

Wearing a shy smile, Jasmine burrows her face into the crook of her mother’s neck while I do my best to be polite and not let my gaze linger on Violet’s tanned complexion, but I’m knocked a little off-kilter by her stunning blue eyes. Her daughter has almost the same coloring as her, and I bet they turn heads wherever they go. Toby told me Cassia had an older sister, but I hadn’t given it much thought until now. I look around their group to see if she has a husband or boyfriend, but it seems they are on their own tonight. Maybe he’s working, or something.

She tilts her head back to maintain eye contact. “Hey, Shane.” She turns her attention toward her daughter and adjusts her position on her hip. “Jasmine, say hello to Shane.” Her voice is like warm honey, smooth and sweet.

Jasmine turns her head slightly, staying burrowed in her mom’s neck, and her smile widens slightly. “Hewwo, Sane.”

My heart skips a beat at her tiny voice, and the tension I always hold across my shoulders eases slightly. I step a little closer and smile at the tiny angel, stretching muscles I rarely use. “Did you enjoy the concert?”

She pulls further away from her mom, her confidence growing, and nods. Her smile grows and her eyes twinkle. “I sore did. Poppy was ’mazing.”

I chuckle mildly, glancing at her mom, trying my best not to make my perusal obvious. “She sure was. She’s been practicing really hard.”

We’re interrupted when Cassia announces it’s time to go home. Poppy’s not having it though. She’s begging her mom for something. I guess I’d better start paying attention and learning more ASL because I have a feeling we’re going to be spending more time with Poppy outside of her guitar lessons, and I want to know what’s being said. I watch Poppy put her signature move on Toby, and I know we’ll be heading out with Poppy and her mom before he nods his head.

Violet chuckles quietly beside me. “Poppy’s so good at getting exactly what she wants.”

I turn my head and drop my eyes to Violet’s face, doing my best to avoid looking at her sensational cleavage. “She certainly is. I’ve never seen anyone as skilled as her.”

Violet nods, her eyes twinkling in the overhead lights. “I know right? I should get her to teach me her ways.” She readjusts Jasmine, and I want to take the child from her and ease her burden—I don’t know why, because I sense she doesn’tneedhelp but for some reason, Iwantto help her. “I guess we’ll see you atBrain Freeze.”

“I guess so.” I despise impromptu outings.

The tension that had released from my shoulders moments ago is back, and I blow out a long, frustrated breath. I can’t perform the proper surveillance to ensure Toby’s safety but it’s not like I get to decide these things. We’re going to the most popular ice cream shop in the city. It’ll probably be mayhem. And if it’s not, it will be as soon as word spreads that Toby Summer is in the house.

We all head out of the foyer and to our cars. Toby climbs in my SUV, drops his head back on the passenger seat, and blows out a long breath as I study him carefully.

“Well, that was fucking awkward.” I rub my hand over my short hair. “Did you know Cass was Poppy’s mom?” Of course he didn’t know. How would he have known such a thing? We’ve never seen Cassia with Poppy, and I know she never spoke of her daughter—keeping her a secret.

Without lifting his head from the headrest, he turns toward me. “Nope.”

Laughter bursts out of me. Something that’s been happening occasionally since that first time. Each time it happens, the guilt becomes marginally less—marginally. I’m fairly certain it won’t ever completely disappear. “Only you, man. This shit could only happen to you. What are the fucking chances that the only time you decide to teach a kid you don’t even know from a bar of soap how to play the guitar, she’s the daughter of your high school crush?”

He doesn’t answer me. What can he say?

As his silence fills the cab of my vehicle, I pull myself together, start the engine, and drive us toBrain Freezeto meet everyone for ice cream. “You realize I haven’t had a chance to vet this place or book it out so you’re not bothered by fans?” I don’t even know the fucking layout properly. I haven’t studied the entry and exit points or what’s close by.

“Yeah, I know. Sometimes it’s good to be spontaneous. We’ll manage.” Being spontaneous sucks when your job is to plan things down to the tiniest detail.

We all arrive within moments of each other, moving into the shop together. The girls lead the way, with me, Toby, and Oliver following close behind. I survey the area outside of the shop, noting the alleyway to the right and the number of cars parked down the street. With only one door into the building and a wallof glass windows, I should be able to keep an eye on Toby easily enough. When we enter the premises, I take note of the booths along the walls and the tables positioned neatly throughout the space. The jukebox in the corner and the long counter displaying ice cream. There’s one door through to what I assume is the kitchen and probably an office and another door with a sign for the bathrooms. I open the door and check to find two doors leading through to male and female facilities. There are nine people in the building as far as I can see, two serving and seven customers prior to our entry. I think we’ll be okay.

3

VIOLET

My eyes keep strayingto the giant of a man with dark hair and even darker eyes. As many times as I drag my gaze away from him, I find myself sneaking glances. I’m not sure if I’m being as covert as I hope, but I can’t stop watching him. He moves with a gracefulness that doesn’t match his size while his eyes constantly dart around the shop, and I’m genuinely surprised he hasn’t cracked a tooth with the way he’s clenching his jaw. I’m certain I’m not crazy, but Ifeltsomething ignite inside me when we touched in the foyer; it was weird and unexpected. I can’t stop thinking about how small my hand was in his and how safe and protected I felt just being close to him. He has this presence about him that screams,you’re safe with me.

“Mommy, taste my ice cweam.” Jasmine raises her ice cream to me, so I bend down and dart my tongue out for a lick.

“Mmm. Your ice cream is delicious.”

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