“Don’t,” he whispered roughly, his lips hovering over hers for a second until finally covering her mouth. Evan Manning’s lips on hers started a fire within that melted her, made her knees weak and her breath stop.
“Dr. Nevan, Mommmmm!”
Half a second later, Christopher and Ella plowed into them, almost knocking them over. Evan squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and then looked down, slowly extricating himself from her. A cool breeze billowed between them.
“It’s Evan, not Nevan,” Ella said with authority.
…
“Oh well, I think I’m allowed to call him Nevan,” Christopher said. It took all of Evan’s self-control to concentrate on their conversation. His mind was moving so quickly, the reality of Grace and how attracted he was to her filling him. He knew he was attracted. He knew she was beautiful. But what he hadn’t counted on was the emotional level she hit him with.
“Well, Ella, Christopher and I sort of have a special agreement. He can call me Nevan, because I think it’s a pretty cool name,” Evan said, ruffling his niece’s brown hair, which was in complete disarray. He winked at Christopher who was beaming up at him.
“Hey, guys,” Holly said walking up to them. Evan tore his gaze from Christopher to look at his brothers, sisters-in-law. All of them that had chosen this particular moment to come up to them.
Grace mumbled some sort of greeting as everyone started chatting within seconds, he could tell she was still shaken. His family talked around Evan and Grace, not even noticing that they had just walked in on something.
“You know, we should probably get going,” Quinn said a moment later.
“What, the night’s still young? Evan here looks like he’s ready to party. How ’bout we all have a round of drinks?” Jake said.
He normally would have laughed. And joined in Jake’s banter. He would have insulted his brother and then drank with him.
“I’m exhausted,” Claire said, shooting her husband a frown. “And so is Michael.” Her obvious attempt at supporting their need to depart was interrupted by Michael, who decided it would be fun to run through everyone’s legs—acting the exact opposite of tired. Ella and Christopher thought it was hilarious and egged him on to run faster.
“Well, I’m wiped, too. I can’t stand for another minute,” Holly said, leaning on Quinn. His brother wrapped his arm around his wife and nodded.
“Yeah, let’s get going.” He motioned for Ella. Finally they began saying good-bye to each other. Minutes later, after ridiculously long farewells by people who saw each other almost every day were exchanged, Evan, Grace, and Christopher were left standing in the orchard.
“Mom, can we go now, too?” Christopher asked, tugging on Grace’s arm.
Grace opened her mouth, looking from Evan to Christopher.
“I’ll take you home,” Evan said, before Grace had a chance to walk away from him again, and before he remembered that he wasn’t a family man.
Chapter Ten
The drive to the coach house was filled with Christopher’s hilarious chatter about the wedding. Evan was grateful for Christopher’s ability to speak a mile a minute, because it enabled him to check his emotions. Whatever that meant. Because he wasn’t supposed to have messy emotions. And he wasn’t supposed to go near women with children. Now, not only was he near, he had just experienced one of the most emotional moments of his life—with a virtual stranger, a woman who was undeniably beautiful but deserved so much more than he was willing to offer. But the connection he felt with her was hard to ignore. As was his growing attraction.
“And my favorite part was that cake!” Christopher said, barreling through the door he held open once they arrived home. “Did you have some? Mrs. Jacobs said she ordered that extra chocolate layer just for the kids. Ella liked it, too. And then Michael came over and smashed his whole hand in the side of the cake. It was so funny, and then his dad came over and pulled him off the cake. And then Ella said that her Uncle Jake wasn’t really mad, and that Michael wasn’t going to get in trouble because he’s just a toddler,” he rambled on, taking off his shoes.
“Chris, it’s really late. Why don’t you run upstairs and get your pajamas on, okay? Don’t forget to brush your teeth—especially after all that cake,” Grace said with a smile as she hung up her sweater.
“Okay.” Halfway up the stairs, Christopher turned to look at him. “Good night, Dr. Nevan.”
Evan smiled and then tried not to frown as a jolt of something hit him in the gut. Maybe it was the reality that he was starting to mean something to this kid. And that was something Grace had warned him about. “You don’t have to call me Doctor.”
“So I can just call you Nevan?”
“Yeah,” he said hoarsely. “Just call me Evan. Or Nevan.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Christopher blurted. And then, as though he were embarrassed, he smiled and ran up the stairs.
“I’m sorry for acting weird back at the wedding.” She stood there in her pink dress, her hands clasped tightly together, her large eyes filled with that vulnerability he sensed from her growing more intense. Grace wasn’t a woman who would play by his rules. She was someone who’d obviously been deeply hurt before and was trying to start over. To make a mess of her emotions would be cruel. She needed a man who would be by her side forever. She needed a man who could offer her stability and family. None of the things he wanted out of life.
“You didn’t,” he said.
“Evan, this is all like a dream for me, for Chris. You rescued us from that car accident and then you rescued us again. This entire place,” she paused, lifting up her arms, “is like a castle to us. I have never had anyone show me the kindness you have.”
He closed the distance between them, pushing all his reasons for not getting involved with Grace aside. Holding her or comforting her wasn’t getting involved. He was just being…a good friend. He told himself that it was normal for his lips to brush the top of her head, to inhale her familiar, sweet scent. It was normal for his lips to slowly move down. But when her face tilted up to his, it was anything but normal to capture her mouth beneath his.
To hell with that. Normal was highly overrated.
He gently clasped the nape of her neck, her thick hair soft and silky beneath the palms of his hands. And then he pressed his lips to the soft flesh below her earlobe, slowly kissing his way down impossibly smooth skin. He pulled her closer, nudging her head up until he could capture her lips between his.
“Evan,” she whispered against his mouth, her hands on his arms.
He slipped his arms around her as Grace sank against him, her soft moan of pleasure filling him with a need to explore every inch, to know every sound, every taste of her.
“Mom, I’m ready for you to tuck me in,” Christopher called from the top of the stairs.
…
“Omigod,” Grace whispered, pulling back from him abruptly.
Evan Manning knew how to kiss. She blinked, and he held onto her arms, like he knew that she hadn’t regained her composure.
“I’ll be right up,” she called out. Her voice sounded strained to her own ears. She smoothed her hair and offered a quick, “I’ll be right back,” to Evan. She gave him a glance before taking the stairs two at a time. Good God, he looked even sexier than before. His shirt was slightly rumpled, his hair disheveled, and his eyes…had the unmistakable gleam of desire in them. All it took was the slightest touch, and she was melting into his arms, all thoughts of self-preservation long gone. Oh, Evan was getting more difficult to ignore and so were all the reasons for not getting involved with him. Every time she brought up his family or Red River, he didn’t even attempt to hide his enthusiasm to get back to the city. He’d break her heart; he’d break Chris’s heart.
She tucked Christopher in as quickly as she could, grateful that exhaustion was finally setting in on him and his questions were at a minimum.
“I had lots of fun, Mom. I really like it here. I miss my room at hom
e, but I really like Red River. And I like Ella even though she’s a girl. Most of all I like Doctor Nevan. I mean, Nevan. He’s really cool. And I never get to hang around guys, you know?”
She nodded, trying to listen to her son and battle her own feelings for Dr. Nevan. She tried to hide her insecurity, her feelings of inadequacy behind her smile. The reality was that after Chris’s father walked out on them, she hadn’t been with anyone else. And the thought of Christopher facing heartache if another man came into their lives stopped her from letting anyone close to them. But seeing how happy he was with Evan made her wonder if she’d been too protective…
She smiled softly, ruffling his hair. “I’m glad you made friends already and that you like Evan so much. I really like it here, too.” She frowned, touching his cheeks. “Are you feeling all right? You seem kind of warm, honey.”
He yawned. “I’m okay, just tired. Do you think we can go back home soon just to get Charlie?”
She nodded. She had promised him they would go back and get his favorite dinosaur. It had been the first stuffed animal she’d given him, and he’d taken to him right away, sleeping with him every night. Somehow in the rush to pack, they’d forgotten him. And she needed all her portfolio thanks to Holly.
“Let’s plan to go next weekend, okay? I want to get my art stuff, too.” Christopher’s eyes finally drifted shut, and Grace didn’t move for a few moments. She knew Evan was waiting for her downstairs.
Her eyes wandered over him as she tread softly down the stairs. He shrugged out of his suit jacket, tossing it on one of the armchairs. She tried not to let her admiration for his allure, the masculine beauty that he possessed, distract her. His broad shoulders were clearly defined in the crisp white shirt, the lean lines of his torso, his long legs.
He smiled as she reentered the room. “He’s asleep?”
“Hopefully,” she said with a forced laugh. She joined him at the patio doors where he was standing. Moonlight hit the river, illuminating the choppy waves.
“Nice view from here,” he said. His hands were tucked into his pant pockets, and his strong profile was serious.
“I love looking out this window. Every morning before Chris gets up, I have my coffee at the breakfast bar, work on my To-Do list, and then stare at the water. It looks different every day. Is it bad for me to admit out loud that I secretly hope no one moves in for a long time?”
He chuckled. Evan had a delicious laugh. Low and throaty and the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly. “Nope. Wouldn’t blame you a bit.”
“Have you been inside the main house?” She’d been tempted many times to peek through the windows of that grand home but was too scared one of the Mannings might drive up and think she was nosy. Now that she knew Holly so well, maybe she’d just ask her.
He shook his head. “No, but I can get the key if you want to look at it one day. My brothers are excellent at what they do, and so’s Holly. I’m pretty sure the place is spectacular.”
“Kind of hard to imagine something even nicer than this house,” she whispered.
He turned to face her, close enough that if she moved forward one step she’d be back in his arms. “Grace?”
“Yes?” She was a coward. Maybe she should do what cowards do and run. Who was she kidding? There was no running from this man.
He reached out to cup her face, and she held her breath. His thumb trailed her lower lip gently, and a small sound escaped her mouth. Good Lord, the man had barely touched her, and she was already gone. His lips were smooth and soft, his hands on the nape of her neck, tangling in her hair. The minute she parted her lips, his tongue sought entry, exploring. He tasted of champagne and want. She had never been kissed like this. She and Brian had been so young, and it had been so many years ago. But Evan Manning was a man. He knew how to kiss her, how to consume all her thoughts and senses until she couldn’t form a thought that wasn’t about him. His strong hands left her hair and traveled down the side of her body, lighting a fire, a hope, a need.
“Mom!”
They both stopped. “Omigod,” she whispered against his mouth. She felt as though she’d just been ejected from an airplane and was now freefalling.
“Mom!” This time the panic in her son’s voice registered, and her mind cleared.
She ran toward the stairs. Evan followed her as she took the stairs two at a time. He stood in the doorway while she walked over to turn on the light on the nightstand. Christopher was sitting up in bed, his face red.
…
“I don’t feel well,” he said as tears fell from his eyes. Evan’s gut constricted, and he walked over to the bed where Grace was already sitting beside him.
“What hurts, buddy?” Evan said, feeling his forehead, even though he already knew he had a fever.
“My throat,” he said in a small voice.
“I think it’s his ears,” Grace said softly, smoothing the damp hair that clung to Christopher’s forehead. “Every time he gets an ear infection, his throat hurts, but his ears never do,” she said, a frown of worry creasing her forehead. “He had so many ear infections when he started preschool that we were referred to a specialist,” Grace said.
Evan clenched his jaw tightly. “Who?”
Grace named the doctor, and he had no idea who he was. He knew plenty of good specialists. “I’ve got my medical bag in my car. Why don’t I run out and get it, and then I can have a look at your ears, okay Chris?”
Christopher nodded and lay back down.
“In the meantime, go ahead and give him some ibuprofen,” Evan said, halfway out the room. He bounded out the house, grabbing his car keys along the way. A minute later he was back, feeling something tighten in his chest when he heard Christopher crying.
“Please, Mommy,” Chris was saying when he walked into the room.
“It’s late at night. We’ll go tomorrow if you’re feeling better okay?”
Christopher shook his head, looking miserable. Evan sat beside him, and Grace quickly scooted onto the other side of Chris in bed. “Something I can help with?” Evan asked, opening his bag.
Grace sighed. But Christopher spoke up before he could, “I want to go home, because I want Charlie,” he said in a little voice, his face crinkling down into the saddest frown. Evan’s heart constricted. He looked over at Grace.
“Charlie is his stuffed dinosaur, and we forgot him,” she said in a small voice.
“Mom promised we’d get him, but I want him now. He helps me feel better,” he said, furiously wiping the tears that fell down his face. Evan felt the boy’s mounting frustration. He calmly pulled out his otoscope. “I’m going to have a quick look at your ears, okay, Chris?” Evan said, helping him into a sitting position as he looked into his left ear. He wanted to keep him talking. “So, Charlie is really important to you?”
Christopher nodded dramatically, and Evan switched ears. “Let me have a look inside your mouth, too, okay?”
“The specialist talked about possibly putting tubes in his ears, but then the ear infections stopped.”
“He definitely has an ear infection now,” Evan said, straightening. He ruffled Christopher’s hair and smiled down at him.
“I’ll head out to the pharmacy and have an antibiotic prescription filled. Any allergies to medication?”
Grace shook her head.
“Dr. Nevan?”
Evan paused for a second while gathering his instruments. “Yes?”
“Can you get the kind that tastes like banana?”
Evan smiled, snapping the clasp on the bag. “Definitely.”
“What about Charlie?” Christopher whispered to Grace.
“As soon as you’re better, we’ll go get him, okay?”
Christopher shook his head, frowning. It was the first time Evan had seen him less than agreeable. His heart tugged as the little boy’s chin trembled.
“Is your place downtown?” Evan asked Grace.
Grace cleared her throat but didn’t look at him. “A little
to the east of the city, but I really don’t think it’s a good idea—”
“I can pick up the penicillin on the way, and Chris can sleep in the car. Then he can sleep in his own bed tonight, with Charlie.” Christopher was now grinning at him, causing him to practically start with surprise at the emotion that ran through him because he’d made Chris…happy. He’d done that. He looked over at Grace who was sitting straight and looking very pale.
Chris coughed for a few moments and then asked again, “Please, Mom?”
Grace visibly caved the moment her son started coughing. “Okay,” she whispered finally.
“Great, we can take your car if that’s easier—”
“Mom never drives on the highway. It’ll take two weeks to get home,” Chris said, pulling the covers off, then tugging them back on. “I’m cold,” he said with a shiver, even though his face was red. Christopher should be resting, but then again, if they indulged him tonight, then big deal. The ibuprofen would kick in, and he’d probably fall asleep on the car ride.
Grace scrambled off the side of the bed, straightening out her dress, which was now beyond wrinkled.
“Mom said taking the long way is good for us and allows us to appreciate nature.”
“Okay, Chris, I don’t think Evan needs to hear all my different driving-route philosophies.”
She stood in the doorway for a moment, and Evan was caught off guard by how young and vulnerable she looked.
“I can help Chris get ready while you change. We’ll meet you out front,” Evan said.
“Evan, are you sure? You don’t have to do this.”
“I know. I want to.”
She gave him a small nod and then walked out of the room.
“You tired, buddy?” he asked Christopher as he helped him out of bed.
“A little. But it’s kind of fun to be going out past my bedtime.” He shot him a grin. Evan smiled back at him effortlessly. “Am I allowed to go out in my pajamas?”
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