A slow smile spread across Evan’s face as he closed the small distance between us.
“Hey, Daisy! To what do I owe this nice surprise?” He wrapped his arms around my waist. I glided my hands up his chest and flung my arms around his neck before I kissed him. I didn’t slip him the tongue, but lingered on his lips a little longer than usual. Evan chuckled against my mouth. “Everything okay?”
I shrugged as I rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I just got done early today and I missed you. Think you can start the weekend early?” I slid my hands down to his waist and fluttered my eyelashes.
“Now, how can I turn down an offer like that?” Evan took my face in his hands and kissed my forehead. “I think we could close in a half hour. Right, Jessica?”
Jessica nodded. “All the guys are done for the day. Just have to clean up a bit before I go. My brother is meeting me here soon with his kids. We’re headed upstate to see my mother for the weekend.”
Evan crinkled his nose at her as he wrapped his arm around my waist.
“You’re an aunt? You must be fun—” He raised his eyebrows at me.
“I’m very good to my niece and nephew.”
“—until they get dirty or put a toy back out of place.” Evan turned to me. “I mislabeled a file one day. It wasn’t pretty.” He smirked as Jessica scowled back at him. She was about to go back at him when the doorbell rang.
Jessica turned to me before she strolled over to the door. “Look who’s got the jokes today. I don’t know what you see in him.”
I shrugged and kissed Evan’s cheek. “He’s kinda cute.” I responded to her without taking my eyes off Evan.
When Jessica was out of the office he pulled me closer and sucked on my earlobe.
“Holy shit, that was hot.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as he whispered in my ear. “What are you talking about?” I played dumb as Evan laughed at me.
“Next time you want to claim me, you should straddle me in my chair. Make it totally crystal clear.” I fought a smile as I elbowed his side.
An adorable sandy brown haired toddler raced in and plowed himself against my leg. His blue eyes twinkled as he gazed up at me with a big smile.
“Sorry about that. Joey’s a handful.” Jessica jogged over to us and scooped him up. Joey cuddled into her neck even as he kept his smile on me. I’d never seen a baby so good at flirting.
Next to Jessica was a young girl with long chestnut hair and light brown eyes. She wasn’t little, but not quite a teenager. “This is Bella, and you’ve already met this little troublemaker.” Jessica tickled Joey’s side and the sweet sound of baby laughter filled the office. This boy was so damn cute he made my uterus hurt.
Bella blushed when Evan smiled at her. I sympathized with the poor thing—his dimples were blinding.
“Evan, Paige, this is my brother—”
“Lucas?! Oh my God!” I yelled as my jaw dropped open.
I hadn’t seen Lucas in over ten years. I was a freshman in college working in the advisors office when we met. Lucas was a master’s student working as an advisor to pay his tuition, and sex on legs. The years just made him that much hotter. His full head of sandy brown hair was a little shorter than I remembered but his piercing blue eyes were exactly the same. It made perfect sense that Joey looked like he walked straight out of a babyGap ad—and knew how to flirt so shamelessly.
“Paige? What a small frigging world! How are you?” Lucas sauntered over and pulled me into a hug. In addition to being one of the most attractive men on the planet, he was one of the nicest, too. One night during freshman year, I caught my then boyfriend making out with someone else at a frat party and Lucas came to my rescue. He gave me money for a cab home after assuring me that not all guys are jerks. We became good friends until he graduated and moved away in the spring.
“You look great! I forgot you lived in the Bronx.” Great? Maybe the makeup I bought to cover the dark circles and blotchy cheeks was working. Lucas didn’t fully release me from his hug. His hands stayed on my upper arms as we spoke. I felt Evan’s eyes on me as he looked between us.
“Thanks, you still look awful.” Lucas laughed as he nudged my arm.
Evan loudly cleared his throat. “Now that you have your hands all over my girl, I should introduce myself.” Evan cocked an eyebrow but smirked at me as he extended his hand. “Evan Jacobs.”
Lucas laughed and took Evan’s hand. “Paige and I were friends in college, and I’m happily married. I’m Lucas Hunter. You must be the poor bastard that has to deal with my sister all day.”
“Leave it to my brother to know everyone.” Jessica rolled her eyes and turned to the kids. “Guys, give me a few minutes. I need to organize the new tile in the storage room before we leave.”
“Jessica, you can go. I’ll do it.” Evan slid his arm around my waist and pulled me close. I wasn’t the only one in a claiming mood today.
“No, I need to make sure everything is in place before Monday. We have two big jobs starting. Bella can take Joey to Cold Stone across the street.”
“There’s a Cold Stone across the street?” I turned to Evan and he nodded.
“Just opened last week. Figures right?” I chuckled and looked away. Jack was an ice cream fanatic. He would have been their best customer.
“It’s a strange neighborhood; I don’t want them going alone.” Lucas raised his eyebrows at Jessica.
“I’m sure Evan wouldn’t mind taking them.” I gave Lucas a wink, making him chuckle and shake his head.
“Sure, I’ll take them if that’s okay with you, Lucas.” Evan strolled over to Joey, who rested on Jessica’s hip. “Want some ice cream, little guy?” Joey beamed as he squirmed out of Jessica’s arms and leapt into Evan’s.
Lucas nodded and pulled his wallet out of his jeans. “Just be careful with the little guy. He’s a runner, as you just saw.”
Evan shook his head. “It’s on me. Least I could do for Jessica saving me these few months. And it’s nice to have real kids running around here instead of the man children that are on the payroll. Ready guys?” Evan held onto Joey and led Bella out of the office.
I chuckled as I plopped myself in Evan’s desk chair. Lucas sat on the edge of the desk, shaking his head.
“I think my daughter wants to steal your boyfriend,” Lucas groaned as he dropped his face in his hands. “This is starting way too fucking early. I’m going to age ten years by the time she’s sixteen.”
“That sounds like karma to me, big brother. Let me get this done and we can get going.” Jessica smirked at her brother as she strolled to the back.
“She is a beauty. I would rest up now, old man. Joey is your twin, but I’m guessing Bella looks like her mother.”
Lucas nodded. “My wife is beautiful. She definitely favors her—and a little of her biological father, unfortunately.”
I narrowed my eyes at Lucas. “I didn’t realize she was your stepdaughter.”
“No, she’s my daughter. We don’t discuss Marc. I married Samantha O’Rourke, Marc Christensen’s ex-wife.”
My eyes bugged out of my head as I clutched my chest.
“Marc? My, well my ex-Marc?” I hadn’t seen Marc since college. He was the reason I moped out of the frat party that night. “How did he end up with Samantha?” She was a few years older than me, but I remembered her as a smart and strikingly beautiful girl.
“He didn’t. I did.” Lucas smirked as he crossed his arms. I laughed and shook my head.
“You know, I didn’t really see you as a family man. I figured you’d be too busy with the crowds of women always following you around.”
Lucas shrugged with a smirk. “I don’t need a crowd of women. I just need Sam. And being a dad is the best thing that ever happened to me. How long have you and Evan been together? Shit, his partner who just died was your cousin, wasn’t he? I’m so sorry.”