“Oh my God! You’re Cal Slater’s son, aren’t you?” A high-pitched female voice called out, and Evie looked up and saw the deer in the headlights look on Slater’s face. She knew how much he hated situations like this.
Not my problem…
Turning her attention to her tiles, she saw she could spell “lover.”
Of course I can.
Putting her tiles down, she grabbed new ones and then turned to see what was happening at the bar. Slater was actively leaning away from this woman who was just as actively trying to get close to him. She was stroking his arm, and she saw him shake his head more than once, but she clearly wasn’t getting the hint.
Her laugh was overly loud before Evie heard her ask, “Do you play baseball too?” Followed by, “You must be so excited for Cal Slater Day! I bet you’d look great in a baseball uniform!”
There was a part of her that still wanted to say it wasn’t her problem, but…if the tables were turned, she knew Slater would step in to protect her. Because he was a good friend.
Friend.
Dammit, she hated that word.
All the bantering and touching today had her senses on overdrive, and she didn’t want to go back to her cabin alone. Hell, she didn’t want to be alone at all. She was tired of it. For once, she wanted to be bold and throw caution to the wind, and wouldn’t it be better to do that with someone she knew? Someone safe? Someone like Slater?
Not like Slater, she reminded herself.
Just Slater.
Glancing back at the Scrabble board, she realized they weren’t done yet, but as much as she hated to quit, she knew she’d hate herself if she stayed. Reaching for her phone, she faked a call. Getting to her feet, she smiled apologetically. “I’m so sorry. I need to go,” she said quietly. “Enjoy the rest of the game.”
When she straightened and turned, the woman was now practically plastered to Slater’s side, and he looked ready to tip right out of the chair. Smoothing a hand over her hair, Evie decided to just be bold, even if it meant embarrassing herself.
Carefully, she walked around the perimeter of the lounge, doing her best to stay out of sight. Then she casually moved across the room and sidled up to Slater’s other side.
“Sorry, baby, there was a line.”
The word felt foreign on her tongue.
Baby.
But she said it with breezy confidence as she slid up beside him, leaned in, and pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek. One hand cupped his jaw while the other landed on his chest like it belonged there.
Warm. Solid. Very real.
She could feel the other woman watching.
“Ready to head back to the cabin?” Evie added lightly, her fingers curling just slightly into Slater’s shirt.
For half a second, he didn’t move. Then he went very still.
The overly perfumed blonde at his side blinked. “Oh. I didn’t realize…”
“Yeah,” Evie cut in sweetly, offering an apologetic smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Long day. We promised ourselves an early night.”
There was a beat.
A long one.
Slater slowly turned his head toward her, effectively rejecting the other woman. And the look in his eyes made her stomach drop.
Heat.
No confusion. No embarrassment.
