Page 27 of Happily Ever Never

“You’re a good uncle.” I nearly melted right there. Because, wow. He thought about his nieces like that? It was really hard to focusnow. “I’m trying. Anyway, I’m glad I ran into you. I actuallyneed your help.”

I blinked. “What?”

He grinned at me, and I pressed my thighs together. Wellthen…that was a different reaction.

“I think I have everything, but I’m missing something forthe eldest.”

“How old is she?”

He told me her age and what she liked, and I nodded. “Horse books.We’re going to want to go with horse books.”

“But she lives in a suburb. I thought horse books were forfarm girls.”

I rolled my eyes and then patted his forearm again beforemoving back. I really needed to stop touching him. And from the way his gazewent to where I had touched his skin, I figured he had noticed and wanted me tostop, too.

“Let me tell you something. It doesn’t matter where theylive. They could live in a small apartment in New York City, and she’d still bea horse girl. It’s about the girl inside, not where she lives.”

“Please, teach me. It’s getting harder to be the best unclewhen these girls keep growing up, and all their interests keep changing fromthings that blink and bake in a tiny little oven with a light. Things are alot…more now.”

I laughed. “Just wait until they’re teenagers and dating,bringing boys and girls home.”

“Don’t you dare say that. Uncle Leo is not ready for hisbabies to date.”

I shook my head, laughed, and then went to help him pick outsome horse books.

Brooke and Lake were in the back, so I walked with Leo tothe front to help him with his bundles. I swallowed hard, wondering where thatspark had come from and why it was still there.

“Thank you. For everything.”

“It’s no problem.”

“You only got one book. Did I distract you?”

He was a total distraction, but not in the way hethought.

“No, I only need this one. It’s a series Luke is reading. Ihave most everything else at home already.”

“You’re really good at what you do.You get your kids. And, seriously, thank you for helping Sebastian.”

I shook my head. “Everyone keeps thanking me for that, but Itook a job. I’m getting paid to help him. It doesn’t seem so noble.”

He met my gaze, and there it was again. That weird spark. Ihad been wrong about it before, though. I’d thought I’d seen a spark withanother and, in the end, he’d only seen his ex in my eyes before leaving me.And I wasn’t dating anymore. I couldn’t.

“Anyway, they like you. They trust you. And, yes, it’s a jobbecause we all need to make money. I’m not altruistic when it comes to my art.I get paid. But I like it. You like it, too. And you’re helping my friend out.So, thank you.”

My phone buzzed, and I looked down, frowning.

“What is it?” he asked, the moment broken between us—notthat there was a moment.

“It’s Brooke. Apparently, Leif is outside with Luke andwants her opinion on something. She went out the back with Lake and will meetme later at that boutique Leif’s mom owns, Eden.”

“Oh. So, they just left you alone with me? Not nice.”

I pressed my lips together, unsure what to say. “Honestly,I’m not even sure they noticed you were here.” I winced. “Or maybe they did,and they trust you. Or maybe I’m an adult and should just shut up now.”

He shook his head and paid for everything, whistling underhis breath at the total.

“Being a good uncle adds up.”