“Of course.” Falcon hurriedly wiped the condensation from his right hand before offering it to Evie. “Bones said you were in town and that the two of you had…reconnected.” He sent Beckett a knowing grin before refocusing on her. “How are you?”
“Better than the last time you saw me.” Evie chuckled and shook the man’s hand. “And thanks for letting me crash your party. You have a lovely home.”
“Thanks. We like it. And you’re not crashing anything. You know me and the guys…” The other man turned and pointed to the three women sitting around a stone firepit. “And that’s my wife, Avery, in the white sweater. The brunette to her right is her sister, Alex, and the blonde to her left is Nicki. She’s married to Apollo.” Falcon looked back at Evie. “They’re excited to meet you.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting them, as well.”
Beckett could tell she was still a bit nervous, but he knew without a doubt she’d fit right in.
No time like the present…
“Come on.” He jutted his chin toward the ladies. “I’ll introduce you.”
Another breeze blew past, lifting several of Evie’s curls. Still smiling, she reached up and brushed them from her eyes, tucking the unruly locks behind one of her adorable ears.
Beckett’s breath was literally stolen by her beauty, and he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. That was until he nearly tripped over a patio chair he’d missed seeing while under her spell.
“You good?”
Evie’s laugh was the sweetest of symphonies, and one he couldn’t wait to hear again.
“Always,” he drawled, wearing an unabashed smirk.
Then he turned his head to keep from falling on his ass.
He surveyed the pleasant scene before them as they walked toward the other women in attendance. They talked and laughed as they sat around the stone fire pit, their glasses of wine in various stages of consumption.
“Hey, Beck!” Avery Morgan shot up from her seat to give him a hug. “Glad you could make it.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it.” Beckett hugged the sweet woman back.
Before he got the chance to do it himself, Avery pulled away and turned her pretty brown eyes Evie’s way.
“You must be Evie.” She held out her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Avery, Garrett’s wife. Of course, you probably know him as Falcon.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” His date for the afternoon smiled. “I was just telling your husband how great this place is.”
“Thanks.” Avery’s smile grew as she glanced around the peaceful backyard. “It’s a work in progress, but we really like it here. Oh, sorry.” She looked back at Evie. “Where are my manners? This is my sister, Alex.” She pointed toward the woman still sitting in the chair to Avery’s right.
“Hey,” Alex held up the glass in her hand and flashed Evie a friendly grin.
“Hi.”
“And that’s Nicki.” Avery motioned toward the attractive blonde to her left. “She’s married to Ethan.”
“And Ethan is…Apollo. Right?” Evie guessed.
“That’s him.” Nicki stood and gave her hand to Evie. “It’s nice meeting you.”
“You, too.”
“If you’ve got the nicknames down, you’ve already won half the battle,” Alex quipped.
Laughter came from them all, including Evie.
“I’m not sure I have the team names mastered, but I do have to ask…” Her gaze focused on Alex. “What’s the other half of the battle?”
Rather than answer the question directly, Avery’s sister leaned down, grabbed a clean wine glass from the handfulwaiting to be chosen, and handed the glass to Evie. “Pull up a chair and pour yourself some wine.” The extroverted artist gestured toward the empty seat to her right. “This is going to take a while.”