Page 45 of Everlasting Promises

Evan laughs. “How bad can it be with all the cakes and cookies and stuff to eat?”

My thoughts exactly.

We walk toward the gym, and Elliott waves his hands in the air theatrically. “Pretty bad when Mom won’t let me have anything.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah.”

The gym is a hive of activity when we step inside. Tables line the far back and side wall, while a pop-up café, juice bar, and an ice-cream parlor are spaced equally along the opposite side wall—each with a line of at least twenty people waiting.

Music blares over speakers while cheerleaders perform a polished routine. Most of the tables and chairs in the center of the room are occupied by people enjoying sweet treats with coffee or juice as they watch the show. It’s obvious the organizers have put a lot of thought into the event.

I move my gaze to the tables along the side and back walls looking for Hope, and they land on her immediately, like they knew exactly where she was. My breath catches in my lungs as it does every time I see her. She’s gorgeous. It’s almost like I forget how pretty she is. Evan’s telling Elliott about the shelter and what he does there with me, but I don’t hear a word. My solefocus is on the woman across the room—the one who’s invaded every thought since I met her.

A man steps in front of her table and says something I can’t hear from this far away, but I watch her tuck her loose curls behind her ear and give him one of her fake smiles. She shifts on her feet, leaning back, and her posture screams,I’m uncomfortable.

Without thinking, I head over to her, the hackles on the back of my neck rising. When I get closer, I hear the man’s voice over the music. “I’ll buy everything on this table if you’ll go on a single date with me,” he says, standing like the cocky asshole he is.

Red clouds my vision, and every muscle in my body tenses.

Hope’s discomfort rolls like a wave from her, and I can’t stand here and do nothing, so I step around the table with a grin, slip my hand around her waist with a familiarity we don’t have, and kiss her temple. Her vanilla scent floats around us, blending with the smell of freshly baked cookies. “Sorry I’m late,”—in a millisecond, I scan her table and trace her face with my eyes, noting how, in this light, her freckles resemble cookie crumbs scattered across her nose and cheeks—“Cookie.” Her eyes widen slightly. “Evan and I had trouble finding a parking spot.”

She tenses as she looks up at me, but when I shoot her a wink, her body melts against mine. I can’t ignore how well she fits against me, with her softness against my hard planes and her lithe shape burrowed against my straight edges. Drawing in a sharp breath, my chest expands as I watch her hand resting on my pecs rise. Her warmth burns me through the cotton of my T-shirt, and when I lift my eyes to hers, gratitude shines back at me.

I cover her hand with mine, and we stand in our own bubble as the cocky asshole becomes a vague memory. Her stunning, clear eyes soften measurably, and we could easily be the only two people in the gym right now.

“Mom!”

Like a bullet through glass, the moment shatters in a split second, and she takes a hasty step away from me as her eyes flick around the gymnasium. My hand drops to my side, and my heart stutters from the loss. I run my hand through my short hair to cover my disappointment and paste on a smile.

Hope grins at her son as she steps around the table to greet him with a hug, but he moves away swiftly, avoiding her embrace. Her smile drops momentarily, but she recovers quickly. “Hey, big guy. How were the dogs today?”

“What’s going on?” he asks with eyebrows drawn tight together, creating deep creases between them, his suspicious gaze flicking between me and his mom.

Hope swallows. “Nothing, Ev. Ben just rescued me from an uncomfortable situation.” She combs her fingers through his short hair, making the strands stand up.

“What kind of situation?” he asks, disbelief dripping from every word.

I clear my throat and rub the back of my neck. “I saw a guy standing at your mom’s table, and she looked uncomfortable, so I came over and pretended to be her boyfriend so he’d leave her alone.”

His shoulders drop half an inch and he returns his focus to Hope. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, Ev. The guy left once Ben stepped in.” She turns to me. “Thanks for your help.”

“Any time.” I shrug.Maybe one day it won’t be pretend.

“Thanks for helping Mom.”

“No problem.” I glance across the table, noting the different varieties of homemade cookies. “Did you bake all these?” There seems to be a lot here.

Hope scoffs. “Ah, that’d be a no. The school coordinated groups of parents to bake various types of treats. Cookies, cakes,muffins, cupcakes, pies, slices, meringues, puddings, candy. You get my drift.”

I nod, impressed. “I’ve never seen a bake sale on such a huge scale.”

She looks around, pride lighting her eyes. “It’s pretty spectacular. Since we’re new to the school, this is our first year, but I think they do it every other year.”

Potential customers step up to the table, and Hope goes to work. Evan and I wander around the gym, and I purchase more than what I really need. Everything looks so damn good. How am I supposed to resist? Evan’s quiet, which is unusual for him.

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