Page 70 of When Alec Met Evie
She leans into the touch, and for a split second, I think about what it would be like to kiss her.
But then Evie gives her head a little shake, and her expression shifts. “Nothing,” she says before licking her lips. “I’m good. Just…it’s nothing.”
I narrow my eyes. It’s definitelynotnothing. As far as I know, work has been going great for her this week. And Juno has done well with Ruth. Could it be Devon who’s made her upset?
Down the hall, the twins’ footsteps sound as they head toward the garage, and I glance at my watch. We’ve been riding to practice together, and it’s just about time for us to go.
“Early practice?” Evie asks, and my hand falls away from her face. Every other morning this week, I’ve still been home whenshe’s left for work. But I have to be at the Summit an hour earlier than normal to review game tapes before tomorrow’s match-up.
“Yeah. But the twins can wait for me. Are you sure you’re okay?”
She breathes out a sigh. “I’m okay. I just…seeing you like this, with Juno, it makes me think of her very absent father.”
So itisDevon making her upset. The thought makes anger curl in my stomach. How is he nothereright now? Watching Juno grow up? Supporting Evie like she deserves to be supported? Somehow, I simultaneously want the guy to step up because Evie and Juno both deserve so much better than what they’re getting, and also stay far, far away. Because if he’s out of the picture, there might be room formeto be the better they deserve.
I still have no idea what it would look like if I were to play a permanent role in Evie and Juno’s lives. I just know that whenever I’m standing next to her, my desire to try is stronger than any fear suggesting I shouldn’t.
“Does he not want to see her at all?” I ask, the words tasting sour.
“Apparently, he does now,” she says, a bitter edge to her words. “That’s the problem.” She reaches up and rests a palm on my chest. “I want to have this conversation with you, but it will probably be easier if we have more time. Tonight, maybe?”
I nod. “Of course. Are you still good to go to dinner at Felix’s place?”
Her lips lift into a smile, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I definitely want to go to dinner. Maybe we can talk on the way?”
Reluctantly, I nod and move back into the kitchen to grab my keys and the coffee still waiting for me on the counter. But then I find myself crossing the room back to Evie, needing one more touch, one more connection before I go.
Without thinking, I lift my hand to Juno’s back and lean down, pressing a quick kiss to the top of her head, then I shift over to Evie. I slide my fingers around the back of her neck, letting my fingers brush against her hair. She looks up at me, her expression warm and open, and I intuitively know she’d let me kiss her if I tried.
Right here. On an early Friday morning. I could lean down and kiss her goodbye just like couples do. I could, and it would feel like we’re a family. Living together, spending mornings together. But that would be doing things backward. Evie is only staying here temporarily, and I can’t let the forced proximity rush us through the moments that really ought to matter more.
I force my eyes away from her lips. I will not kiss Evie for the first time on my way out the door, while her daughter is in her arms.
Evie narrows her gaze. “Alec Sheridan, what are you thinking right now?”
Based on her flirty smile, I’m guessing she knows exactly what I’m thinking. But I won’t admit it out loud.
I chuckle. “I’ll never tell.”
She cocks her head to the side, lips pursed like she’s studying me. Then she shifts Juno a little higher on her hip, pushes up onto her toes and presses a lingering kiss to my jaw, just below my ear. “I bet you will eventually,” she whispers, her words brushing across my skin.
Fire slices through my veins. Maybe I don’t actually need to go to practice today.
Maybe Carter needs to come in here and hold Juno—he did say he knows how—so I can kiss this woman properly.
“Hey, Captain, you coming?” Carter asks, sticking his head into the room from the hallway.
I breathe out a sigh. “I’ll be right there,” I say to Carter. Then I look back at Evie.
She smiles and pats my chest dismissively, like she knows exactly how hard she’s making it to walk away.
“Time to go be a hockey captain,” she says, and I drop my head, pressing my forehead to hers.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing you tonight,” I say.
“Me too,” she whispers.
The heat of her kiss is still lingering on my cheek when I reach the garage and find the twins waiting for me, leaning against my truck. It takesallmy effort to force my mind off Evie’s lips and back onto the twins, so the first few minutes of the drive pass in silence, though Carter does keep shooting me concerned looks from the front seat.
