Evie pouted. But it was a quickly disappearing pout. She glanced over her shoulder and eased closer to Hayden. Then her serious gaze found his, and this time, he experienced a shock of recognition, one that sent him back in time. Back to more carefree times…
Evie’s perky ponytail, her unwavering energy, her staunch defense of her family and friends, him included. Even so, she’d tease Hayden about being the tall, silent, brooding type until he felt compelled to speak up for himself and tease her about being a troublesome chatterbox, one who thought she could fix anything.
Of course, Evie hadn’t been able to stop her sister from eloping with another man on the day she was supposed to marry Hayden. Even she couldn’t fix that fiasco.
“Listen, Hayden.” Evie’s voice had a desperate tone that cut through his reverie. “Do you remember how you’d always ask me for a favor and tell me you owed me one?”
“No.” Hayden’s guard went up, shoving nostalgia involving the Fisher sisters back where it belonged—in the dark recesses of his mind.
Evie’s nose wrinkled. “There were lots of times, believe me.”
“Can’t say as I remember any.”
“Seriously?” Evie’s frown deepened. “I was your alibi when you wanted alone time with Violet.”
Now that, Hayden remembered. But he didn’t let Evie know that. The last thing Hayden needed was to be tangled up with the Fisher sisters again.
Evie glanced toward the plate glass windows up front once more, as if expecting someone to join her.
Outside, the April sun was trying hard to break through the gray cloud cover. Spring was having a hard time taking hold this year.
“Shoot. There he is.” Evie tugged Hayden’s arm over her shoulders, placed her arm around his waist, and maneuvered him out of the ordering line. “Play along. I’m in trouble. Don’t argue. You owe me.”
A blond man wearing a white dress shirt, conservative slacks, and fancy city shoes entered and approached them. “You found him.” He was out of place, too slick to be from Bentwood Creek and too cocky to be anyone Hayden would call a friend. The man offered his hand for Hayden to shake. “I’m Steven.”
“Hayden.” He gave the man’s hand a good pump.
Steven flexed his fingers as if Hayden had shaken his hand too hard. Then he ran that hand through his crisply cut blond hair, fixing Hayden with a frown. “I’m Eve’s husband.”
Evie’s married?
“Ex-husband,” Evie ground out.
Hayden glanced down at her, trying to reconcile this fine-looking, put-together woman with the spunky eighteen-year-old that used to wheedle ice cream out of him. Not only had Evie grown up. She’d gotten married.
And, apparently, divorced.
“Steven,” Evie continued in a firm voice. “Hayden is my fiancé.”
Fiancé? I swore off love ten years ago!
The floor beneath Hayden’s feet seemed to pitch.
Hayden brought Evie closer, leaning on her for balance.
A few deep breaths…
A glance exchanged with Evie…
And finally, the floor stopped moving.
What is this little minx up to?
“I have to admit,” Steven said, watching them closely while Hayden’s brain considered escape routes. “I didn’t think you really existed, Hayden. And I certainly didn’t picture you being so…”
“Tall?” Evie asked, staring up at Hayden with a brazen smile.
She’s enjoying this.