“So, this guy is just a friend?” Morgan asked Sara Thursday afternoon when they had a few moments alone in the kitchen. Keen eyes studied her, and Sara tried not to squirm as if she were in trouble. Morgan was the only person who knew about the recent breakup with Todd and understood that Evan’s appearance was sudden.
The answer lodged in Sara’s throat. It was the same question that had kept her tossing and turning much of the night. Had her relationship with Evan shifted? Sure, they were friends. They always had been. Was his visit any different from any of her other friends coming to see her? She hadn’t planned to spread the news of his visit, but he was the reason she’d declined going out Friday and Saturday. Way too early to introduce him to her gal pals. And too little time, anyway. She needed some time alone with Evan to sort out her feelings and the implications of them in her own mind.
Shrugging, she handed Morgan one of the glasses that hadn’t fit in the dishwasher. Some of the other guests had filtered out by mid-afternoon, but Morgan had insisted on staying until things were cleaned up and put away. Sam seemed comfortable in front of the TV.
Sara leaned against the counter, keeping her attention on the soapy water in the sink. “Yeah, let’s stick with that for now.”
“Uh-huh,” Morgan said, the tone of her voice conveying her disbelief. “How many guys do you know who will drive four hours to hang out with a girl who’s just a friend?” She reached for the next glass. “Unless he’s a pimple-faced nerd who smells bad, I’m guessing there’s a little more to the story.”
Laughing, Sara shook her head as the image of Evan at Annie’s wedding in his tailored charcoal suit came to mind. Not even close. Not even close to close. “As a matter of fact,” she drawled, pausing to keep Morgan in suspense. “He’s pretty hot.”
“Who’s hot?” Leah asked, coming into the room at the same time Morgan let out a sharp whoop.
“Sara’s weekend guest.”
Sara’s cheeks warmed. That implied more than it was – for now anyway. She’d have to see how the weekend played out. She wasn’t ruling out new possibilities. After all, how many “friends” would she describe as hot?
Leah put a hand on her hip. “Well, I hope so. That’s the only kind we allow around here, you know.”
“Okay. Good to know I’m not breaking any rules,” Sara said. At least not that one. She gave them some general background on Evan and let the boy-next-door teasing roll off her shoulders.
But later, alone with her thoughts, the question gnawed at her. If something developed with Evan, it would complicate an already complicated situation. Intuitively, she trusted Evan, and sensed that he trusted her. She didn’t know where this was going but knew she didn’t want to screw it up. Being able to trust someone was a very big deal. Call her a fool, but she was inclined to trust people, to give them the benefit of a doubt. She didn’t want to be gullible, but she didn’t want to be suspicious and standoffish, either. She’d rather believe the best of people. Unfortunately, as she knew from recent experience, that came at a price.
All day Friday, between naps and reading, she wondered whether she should tell Evan her secret and be done with it. She read whole pages without comprehending any of the words while her thoughts drifted back to Evan. Part of her would love to know his reaction, but another part was afraid. Would their “relationship” end before they had a chance to see where it might go? Would he think less of her? She’d never been bothered much by the opinions of others. Most of the time it didn’t matter. Evan, she conceded, was different. She wanted his respect and high opinion.
By the time the doorbell announced Evan’s arrival Friday night, Sara had decided to wait and see how the weekend unfolded. Let things take their course. She wasn’t about to leap to any conclusions this time around. If it turned out he was “just a friend” she wouldn’t mind getting a male perspective on her situation. But if it was possible that he could become more, well…telling was a risk.
When she opened the door and saw him standing on the steps, her heart gave a funny lurch. The wide, easy smile that lit up his eyes both delighted and flustered her. “Hi,” she breathed, hardly capable of speech – especially when he moved in close and placed a light kiss on her cheek. The brush of his lips and heat of his breath sent unexpected tingles to her spine. She didn’t have time to analyze her body’s automatic reaction to Evan, but it was duly noted.
“Good to see you,” he said.
“You, too,” she murmured, stepping back to allow him inside. “Come in. How was the drive?”
“I managed to avoid radar.”
“That’s always good. Were you speeding?”
He grinned at her. “Little bit.”
“In a big hurry to get to that ice cream, huh?” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she groaned inside, wanting to take them back. Sounded as if she were fishing for some kind of declaration that he couldn’t wait to see her.
“Something like that,” he said, with a curious expression on his face, as if he were trying to read her mood. His glanced moved behind her. “Nice place,” he said.
The kitchen and living room of the apartment blended into each other, making the main living area seem more spacious. Sara had tidied up, so everything was neat and clean, but the neutral décor lacked some personality in her opinion. When she went to Whitfield for Christmas, she’d probably bring back some of the pillows and other decorative items she’d left there.
“Thanks. Hey, can I get you a beer or something?” Sara asked.
“Sure. That sounds good.”
“Coming right up. The bathroom’s first door on the left if you want to wash up.”
“Great. Be right back.”
She pointed Evan in the direction of the bathroom and took a moment to appreciate the waffle-weave gray shirt that hugged the contours of his broad shoulders and muscular arms. It was a nice view. Smiling to herself, she headed to the kitchen, where she was startled by a loud whisper.
“Is he here?” Leah asked.
Sara cocked her head toward the hallway. “Pit stop.” She opened the fridge and realized she didn’t know which beer he’d prefer. It was a small stash, but still, they had three kinds to choose from. Maybe the IPA…
Before she had a chance to select one, Evan reappeared, and Leah lingered, apparently wanting an introduction. Playing hostess, Sara went through the formalities, and watched Leah give Evan the once-over, aware that a report would be transmitted to Morgan as soon as possible. Wouldn’t surprise her if Leah managed to sneak an undercover photo with her cell phone.
Sara gestured toward the refrigerator. “Hey, wasn’t sure what you’d like, so take a look.” She glanced toward Leah, who hadn’t budged. What the heck? Was she planning to hang around all night?
Sara shifted her weight. “Would you rather go out?” she asked, since Evan hadn’t selected a beer. She knew she should give him some time to stretch and regroup after four hours on the road, but she’d been waiting all day to see him, and didn’t want to spend their short amount of time tonight in idle chit-chat with Leah in the picture.
He leaned against the counter. “Totally up to you.”
Oh, no, she groaned silently. They could use up the rest of the evening politely acquiescing to each other.
“Well–” They spoke at the same time.
“Going out sound good to you?”
Absolutely, she thought. “Sure. I’ll drive since you’ve been driving a while. Let me grab a jacket.”
Leah was still in the front room chatting with Evan when Sara returned. “We’re heading out,” Sara told her.
Leah smiled and threw Sara a speculative look, a little smirk playing around her lips. “Sounds good. You guys have fun.”
Inside the car, Sara turned toward Evan. “Do you especially want to go to a bar? There’s a little coffee shop close by that’s open until midnight on weekends. It’d be quieter.”
“Works for me.”
She put the car in gear and turned out of the parking lot with a slight hesitation before getting up to speed.
“That doesn’t feel quite right,” Evan said.
“What?”
“Your car. Sounds like your transmission might be slipping.”
“Really?” She thought she’d noticed some sluggishness a couple of days ago. What she didn’t need was a car problem. “I hope not.”
“Might have it checked out the next time you have service.”
“Yeah. I’ll ask about it.”
Ten minutes later, drink in hand, Sara curled up on a small sofa. Evan settled in beside her, stretching his legs in front of him. Comfortable and relaxed, they slipped into easy conversation.
“Guess what?” she said, facing Evan. “You were right. My parents flew home early, somebody threw bricks through a couple of windows, and now Mom has a broken wrist.”
“Oh, wow. That’s crazy.”
“Isn’t it? In sweet little Whitfield. Fall out from all those layoffs, I guess.”
“Too bad. You’d think they could catch a break after that tornado.”
“No kidding. How’s construction going at your mom’s place?”
“She’s still saying it’s going to be ready by Christmas. They start painting inside on Monday, then all the tile and carpet will go down.”
“Very cool. I can’t wait to see it.”
“Yeah. You’ll have to come out over Christmas.”
“How much time will you have off?” Sara asked, wondering if her time would still be as flexible. Unless she got a job offer soon, she figured it’d be after New Year’s before she officially started somewhere.
“Only taking a few days for Christmas since I’m taking off a week for Hawaii.”
“Oh, of course. And you’ll just go to Whitfield, right? You don’t spend any time with your dad?”
“Hell, no.”
“Do you ever see him?” Sara knew her mother had a number of unflattering words to describe Evan’s dad, but she wasn’t a hundred percent sure that his kids felt the same way. Or whether the man had ever tried to make amends and establish any kind of relationship with them now that they were all adults.
Evan’s eyes turned hard inside a heavy scowl. “Haven’t seen his sorry ass in probably fifteen years.”
“Ah. Things haven’t changed, then.”
“Doubt they ever will. Can’t rewrite history, you know. The guy was a sperm donor. He never was, and never will be, a dad.”
“Oh, Evan.”
“Uh-uh. No pity. His leaving was the best thing for my mom and us kids. Mom was a lot better when he wasn’t around.”
“Your mom is great,” Sara said.
“Wasn’t easy, and I’m not saying being a single parent is ideal. But doing it by yourself is way better than having someone around who just makes things harder.”
His words sent a jolt through Sara’s system. She wanted to laugh. Or cry. Or throw her arms around Evan for supporting her without even knowing it. She nudged his arm and forced a smile to keep her lips from trembling. “I think she did a pretty good job.”
He shot her that boyish smile – the one that made her heart slam against her ribs.
“Thanks.”
Sara blew out her breath. “Guess not everyone is meant to be a parent.”
“For sure. Any idiot can make a baby, but that doesn’t make him a parent.”
Sara nodded, and as casually as she could, asked the question that was now top of mind. “So has he ruined the whole parenting thing for you, or do you think you want kids some day?”
“Sure. I’d like to have a couple of my own. And the chance to do it right.”
“I’m sure you will. And you’ll be a great dad,” Sara said softly. That he had a perfect example of what not to do would only make him more determined.
“I used to envy you and Ben for having complete families with dads who seemed to be interested in your lives.”
A lump formed in Sara’s throat. While Evan’s voice didn’t show any envy or bitterness, she saw a trace of sadness flicker across his face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything about your dad.”
His face immediately cleared, and he spread his hands in the air. “Nah. It’s fine. That’s just the way it was for us.” He shot her a smile. “We adjusted and moved on. No therapy.”
“Glad to hear it,” Sara told him.
“Besides, we had Poppa.”
“That’s right. How’s he doing?” Sara asked. “He was always so much fun. I remember diving for his loose change. Jeez, we were so excited about scoring a quarter.” Evan’s grandpa used to ask them trivia questions, such as, who was the president of the United States, or who was the first man on the moon. After someone answered, or he gave the answer, he’d empty the change in his pocket and toss it up in the air, then they’d all scramble for it.
“He’s pretty good. Mom had a ramp built into the porch at the new place so it’s easy to get a wheelchair inside. He can’t live there but should be able to visit.”
As they talked, it occurred to Sara that Evan was up to date on everything happening in Whitfield, and with his mother. “You’re close to your mom, aren’t you?”
Evan straightened and sent her a thoughtful look. “I am. I admire her. She’s been through a lot and has always kept it together. She’s the strongest person I know.”
Sara couldn’t help but smile. It was cool, and somehow endearing, that he wasn’t too macho to admit that he had a close relationship with his mom. She shifted, and reluctantly finished the last swallow of tepid liquid in her cup. An hour and a half had passed quickly. “Any ideas on what to do tomorrow?”
“Going on memory here. Not too early?”
She gave him her best wide-eyed innocent look. “I do manage to get up and get myself to work on time on a regular basis.”
“Sure. But it’s the weekend.”
“How does nine o’clock sound?”
“Guess that depends on what we’re doing. Breakfast?”
Ah, he was speaking her language. “Sure. That’s a good place to start.”
“I figure we can eat our way through the day. Fit everything else around that.”
She tossed her empty cup in the wastebasket and slipped past Evan when he opened the door. Tomorrow promised to be interesting.
* * *
Saturday dawned gray and cloudy. Though Sara preferred sunshine and warmer weather, she thanked the skies for a cool day that allowed her to add an extra concealing layer. The navy blue vest had become one of her most important articles of clothing. Not too heavy, she could easily pull it over her long, yellow blouse and casual denim leggings.
Evan picked her up, and they started the day at a café known for its omelets and pastries. Sara had no trouble finishing both but resisted a vanilla pinwheel to go. Sharing sections of the newspaper, they talked about everything from the day’s headlines to the upcoming holiday movie releases and current best-selling books, lingering long after the waitress brought their check – and stopped refilling their drinks.
“I think the waitress is ignoring us now,” Sara said, picking up the paper ticket the woman had left on the table at least forty-five minutes ago. “We should probably give her a double tip for taking up the table for so long.”
“Good idea,” Evan said, pulling the check from Sara’s hand. “I’ll take care of it.”
Shaking her head, Sara reached for her purse. “No, Evan. That’s not necessary. In fact, I’m getting this. You’re my guest.” After all, he was paying for gas and hotel.
“You know, it’d save a lot of time if you’d just agree with me.”
His teasing tone matched the smile on his face.
Sara laughed. “I’m sure it would, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were you.”
His grin widened as he leaned toward her. “Rock, paper, scissors? Coin toss? Arm wrestling? You know I’ll win.”
She grabbed his arm and squeezed. It was true. He always did. No matter how they’d agreed to settle squabbles or reach consensus as kids, Evan somehow managed to come out on top.
“Besides,” he said. “I’d be a total schmuck to let a lady with your current employment status pick up the tab.”
“Oh, thanks. You had to bring that up.” Conceding defeat, she let him place his credit card on the table. “Now that we’re stuffed, what do you think about finding a park and taking a walk?”
“An excellent idea,” he said. “Got one in mind?”
“I do. I haven’t ventured too far from Morgan’s place, but she mentioned one a few miles away that’s supposed to be nice.”
“I’ve got a Frisbee in my car.”
“You do?” She hadn’t thrown a Frisbee since college, but the suggestion brought back all kinds of memories. When they were in high school, going to the small lake just outside of Whitfield on weekends and tossing a Frisbee was one of their favorite things to do. “Remember playing at Crawford Lake?”
“Sure. I wonder how many Frisbees are lining the bottom of that place. I know it’s got a few of mine.”
“Oh, my gosh, Evan, I remember when we lost Ben’s brand-new glow-in-the-dark. He was so mad.”
“Yeah, because he was screwing around and showing off, and he’d had it for less than twenty-four hours. Was his own fault.”
Sara gave a chuckle, remembering the incident that had sent them all into the cold water – and Ben into a bad mood. “But he wanted you to pay for losing it. Did you?”
“No way.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “And you just happen to have a Frisbee in your car now? Does that mean you play a lot? Frisbee semi-pro, disc golf expert? Anything like that I need to know about?”
“I think you just said you don’t trust me.”
A giggled escaped Sara’s lips. “You catch on fast.”
“I’m deeply offended,” he said, amusement – and challenge – in his voice and eyes.
Keeping a lighthearted tone, she returned the challenge. “Prove me wrong.”
Driving through the park, they found a wide expanse of open grass adjacent to a play area, but not so close that they’d put small children in danger. Sara admitted to being a little rusty.
As they moved apart, she hollered at Evan. “Not too far. Let’s start nice and easy.”
He took a few steps closer and tossed the Frisbee from only about six feet away. “How’s that?”
“Okay, wise guy. Go!”
Instead of throwing the disc to him, she wound up and released it into the sky beyond him in a straight, solid glide. Evan took off at a run, snatching the disc from the air seconds before he tumbled to the ground. He bounced up with the Frisbee still in hand.
Laughing, Sara clapped. “Nice moves,” she shouted.
The disc came gliding smoothly back to her. Sometimes she caught it. Other times, it bounced off her hand, or she miscalculated the speed or trajectory. Didn’t matter. She was having fun. Again, and again, she tossed the Frisbee back and enjoyed the view as Evan ran, jumped, and dove for the thing.
When he stumbled, then caught the Frisbee between his legs and turned around and threw it back to her in one fluid movement, she was laughing too hard to even try to catch it.
He retrieved it himself and jogged toward her. “Ready for a break?” he asked, catching up to her. He rested his arm across her shoulders as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Sure.” Sara sank onto the bench only a couple of feet away, and immediately missed the warmth of Evan’s arm.
“I’ve got a blanket in the car if you want to stretch out.”
“Are you kidding me? I think I want to explore your car. Is there anything you don’t have in there?”
“I like to be prepared. Be right back.”
He returned with a gold and dirt-brown plaid comforter.
Sara couldn’t help but laugh as he unfolded it, not entirely sure the blanket was an improvement over the bare grass. “Oh, my gosh, Evan. How old is that thing, and where did it come from?”
His grin told her he was aware the blanket would never pass for fashionable home décor.
“You won’t believe it. Mom got this in a bunch of stuff donated for tornado victims last year.”
Sara’s mouth dropped open. “No. Way. That’s hideous.”
He turned it over to the solid brown backing. “Don’t worry. Mom washed it. I think it’s found its calling, don’t you?”
“Saved from the dumpster, clearly.” Still chuckling, she stretched out on her back.
“That was fun,” she said. More fun than going to the gym. More fun than she’d ever had with– she stopped herself. She didn’t want to think about him, especially in the presence of Evan. But her brain wouldn’t let it go. Memories churned inside. Truth was, she and Todd had done a lot of things together, but looking back, it seemed like their relationship revolved around the things – the parties, the concerts, the movies. She couldn’t remember ever having silly, spontaneous fun just enjoying each other’s company.
Sara swallowed hard, conscious of Evan’s solid body stretched out next to her. Not touching, but close enough if she wanted to. If he wanted to…she jumped when he nudged her arm. A guilty flush warmed her face, and she willed herself not to turn all shades of pink.
“Check that out.” Evan pointed toward the children’s play area. “We never had equipment like that.”
Reining in her thoughts, she propped herself on her elbows, and glanced at the playground area with its brightly colored tunnels, slides, and monkey bars. Definitely more elaborate than anything they’d had at Whitfield Elementary. “Oh, poor baby,” she crooned.
“Man, look at that climbing wall. How cool is that?”
“Way cool.”
“I seriously might have to give that a try.”
“You are such a kid.”
“That must be why I always seem to get put in charge of kid stuff on family days at the bank.”
Sara turned to face Evan. “Family days? What does that mean?”
“Means we’re family friendly.”
When she gave him a “try again” look, he elaborated. “Part of our marketing plan.”
She perked up. “Oh, yeah?”
“The idea is to get parents to come in and start thinking about IRAs and college saving options. And we want to get kids set up on savings accounts. So far, it’s working pretty well.”
Sara laughed. “Wow. And here I thought you were just a banker, crunching numbers and making loans. You’re really a marketing master. I should be taking lessons from you.”
A lazy grin spread across Evan’s face. “Well, when you get fed up with all the people and traffic in Dallas let me know, and I’ll get you an interview in our marketing department. Tulsa would be happy to have you.”
She sucked in her breath. Was that an actual offer? A hint?
“Some of the stuff we do is pretty cool,” Evan continued. “Like the money machine.”
“And what is the money machine?” She was trying to keep up, but her thoughts were back on Tulsa. She didn’t know much about the city. But she knew it’d be hard to keep up a long-distance relationship. A four-hour drive would get old fast. She certainly wouldn’t be doing that as a single pregnant woman or a single woman with a newborn. Their timing could have been better. Then again, once Evan learned she was having a baby, it might be a moot point.
“It’s this glass box, kind of like an old phone booth. We stock it with money, mostly ones, of course. Then, when we flip the switch, air blows the money all around inside. A kid has about ten seconds to catch as much money as they can. It’s harder than you think, but it’s a ton of fun.”
“Huh. I’ve never heard of that. I remember we used to want to go to the bank with Mom just to get a sucker.”
Evan gave a snort. “If I had to guess, I’d say things haven’t changed much there. Sometimes I think it’d be interesting to go back and shake things up a little. Move Whitfield ahead a couple of decades.”
“To go back to Whitfield? Live there?”
He shot her a well-duh look. “I suppose if I went to work for the bank I’d want to live there.”
“But would you really want to? It sounds so claustrophobic. Everybody in everyone else’s business all the time. And nothing to do. Wouldn’t you get bored?” Whoa. She’d just moved from Kansas City to Dallas. A minute ago, she was contemplating what life in Tulsa might be like, and now Evan was talking about living in Whitfield? Talk about a culture shock.
“Maybe. I’m anxious to see how the recovery goes. So far, it seems like things are back up and running. People rebuilt. Nicer houses. A couple of new businesses have opened. It’s got some growth potential. I’ve always liked Whitfield. It was a good place to grow up, don’t you think?”
Sara’s head was spinning with all the revelations she wanted to think about. She’d have to tuck them aside to ponder later. “I suppose.” She’d always considered Whitfield a kind of safety net. Liked that it never changed. It gave her a sense of security to go back and find that people and places were familiar. But to move back and live there as an adult? She wasn’t seeing the potential. Not in her line of work, anyway.
“I don’t know many people there anymore,” she told him.
“Probably more than you realize.”
While Evan filled her in on a few people from high school days and what he knew of life in Whitfield, the sun made an appearance directly overhead, peeking from behind the clouds that were finally breaking up.
“Hey,” Evan said. “Looks like it might be about time for our next meal.”
He’d get no argument from her. “How’s Mexican sound?”
“Lead the way.”
A couple of tacos and a “bottomless” basket of chips later, they wandered through an up-and-coming arts area not far from downtown. It was busy, but not crowded, with an eclectic array of people moving in and out of the shops, listening to musicians on the sidewalks, and hanging out on restaurant patios. Sara had been there only once with Morgan and some other friends, but so far, it was one of her favorite places in Dallas. Laid-back, casual. They stopped and watched for several minutes while an artist created a city skyline mural on the side of a building.
“Guess what’s ahead in the next block,” Sara said as they left the artist to his work.
“I am seriously hoping you’re talking ice cream.”
Her grin was automatic. Could the guy read her mind? “Nailed it. Let’s go.”
They picked up their leisurely pace, and moments later stood before a long counter, facing a difficult decision.
Sara requested Snicker’s ice cream with caramel sauce in a waffle cup.
“Well done,” Evan told her, eyeing her choice.
She burst out laughing when he asked for chocolate Oreo with gummy bears. “What are you, three?”
“Hey, now. Judge much?”
She handed him a napkin. “You just enjoy that.”
“Yes, ma’am. I plan to.”
They found a small table outside, and settled in.
“You know what I haven’t had in a while?” Evan asked.
A number of things crossed Sara’s brain in an instant, and she nearly choked. She couldn’t keep her mind from going exactly where it shouldn’t and wondered when he’d last had a girlfriend or dated someone.
“No, what?” she managed to ask, hoping she hadn’t turned beet red.
“A Fudgsicle.”
“A Fudgsicle? Oh, man. Me either.”
“You ask me about summer in Whitfield, and that’s what comes to mind. Your mom handing out Fudgsicles on the front porch or around the pool.” Evan laughed at the memory. “Those were good times. I used to love going to your house.”
“And Mom was quick to bribe everyone with treats to make our house the place to be. Believe me, it was a fierce competition between her and Claire.”
“Really? Guess I didn’t pick up on that.”
“No. You’d have to hear them still razzing each other about it now.”
“Convenient that they lived next door. Seemed to me that we all took over both places.”
“Yeah,” Sara agreed, a bit of wistfulness in her voice. “We all kind of blended together, didn’t we?” Things changed when they moved to the new house during high school. It’d been a hard decision for her mother, Sara recalled.
When she looked up, Evan’s deep blue eyes locked onto hers.
“Good times,” he said softly.
Her throat clogged. True. Good times then. And now. The world had changed. The two of them had changed. But somehow, they still clicked.
* * *
It was closing in on one a.m. when Sara began to feel the length of the day. When she attempted to cover a yawn, Evan took her hand and pulled her up from the sofa. “Looks like you’re on your way out, so I should be, too.”
Sara was torn. Her eyes were drooping, but she hated to let him go, knowing that tomorrow he’d head home. Just the thought of Sunday made her sad. Weekends were so short. Long emails and phone conversations were a poor substitute for the real thing. Their carefree day had confirmed one thing – she wouldn’t mind spending more time with Evan. Reluctantly, she followed him to the door and onto the small stoop outside.
Leaning against the door, she offered a soft smile. “I had a fun time today,” she told him. The day had left her feeling melancholy and content. She hadn’t realized before how growing up together had created such a strong bond between them. The shared background and values created a sense of comfortable intimacy.
“Me, too. I think I’ll come back tomorrow.”
Her smile widened. “You’d better.”
“I’d better let you get some sleep.”
“Yeah. I’ll see you in the morning. We can figure out a plan.” Though they were saying goodbye neither of them actually moved.
“I’ve been thinking about something,” Evan said.
Sara raised her brows. “Something you want to do?”
“Yeah.”
“What is it?”
“This.” His gazed lowered and in one smooth motion, he slid a hand to the small of her back as his lips met hers.
The assault on her senses was immediate. Blood pounded in her ears as fire swept through her. She twined her arms around his neck, and he tightened his grip, pressing her closer.
In a flash, she knew the answer to Morgan’s earlier question, and it rocked her world like an earthquake.