Page 2 of In this Moment

And he wasn’t the onlyone.

More and more, Evie felt the yearning for some male companionship. It would be nice to have someone to share dinner with. To talk about their days, to be a familywith.

But it was a lot to ask for with a man her age. At only twenty-seven, most of the men she knew were either happy to have no responsibilities and obligations or were more interested in starting their own families than taking on someone else’s.

Earlier that summer, Mitch McCormick had asked her out on a date, but they both knew there was never going to be a connection between them. Which was a good thing, because Mitch was madly in love with Jade Johnson, even though he hadn’t acknowledged it at that point.

No, nothing was ever going to happen with Mitch McCormick. He was a great guy, but definitely not hertype.

But his younger brother Declan…Declan was different. Maybe if Declan would ask herout…

Evie shook her head. She’d actually thought for most of the summer that Declan might be interested in her. He’d sure acted as if he were. But he hadn’t asked her out or made a move at all. Sure, she could—

“Mom?” Jonah waved a hand in front of her face. “Hello…”

She hadn’t realized she’d been daydreaming. She shook her head to snap out of it and focus on herson.

“What were you saying about a treat?”

Evie tried not to laugh. Her son definitely had a one-track mind. No doubt Jonah already had visions of whipped cream in his head at the mere mention of the word treat.

“Was I saying something about a treat?”

“Mom!”

“Okay, okay.” Evie laughed. “Yes, I was thinking you definitely deserve a treat. And it doesn’t involve whipped cream.”

Jonah’s face fell, so she quickly added, “But it does involve a jetski.”

“A jet ski?” Jonah bounced up. “Noway?”

Evie nodded.

“No. Way.”

Evie tried to keep a straight face. “Yes. Way.”

Her son threw himself at her with remarkable strength and wrapped his little arms around her waist, squeezing her tight. “Mom, you are the coolest. Thankyou.”

“I don’t know about the coolest.” She grinned. “But I’m pretty—”

“When can we go?” Jonah wiggled away from her. “Can we go now? Today?”

Evie’s heart sank. She’d like nothing more than to steal away in the middle of the day to take him jet skiing and spend some real quality time with her son, but the reality was she had way too much work to do, and not enough time to do it in. She shook herhead.

“Sorry, buddy. Not today.”

He dropped his head and looked at hisfeet.

“But soon, okay? Reallysoon.”

He nodded, but didn’t look convinced. “It’s okay, Mom. I know you have a lot to do.” Jonah went back to his rack of clothing that he was straightening for her and Evie’s breath caught in her throat.

He worked so hard for her and rarely complained. He deserved to have more fun. She just wished she could give it tohim.

She looked back to the boxes that still needed to be unpacked and sighed. Maybe later she could take sometime.

Definitely later.

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