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He looked at me funny. “I see my brother hasn’t mentioned me to you. Good to know things haven’t changed with him.”
“Caleb’s never been one to share much about his family, or his personal life for that matter.”
“It sounds like you’re speaking from experience?”
“You could say that.”
“Are you and him…”
“Oh, no.” I shook my head. “We’ve never been together like that. I’m just here to help him with the kids while they’re in Spain.” Intentionally, I changed the subject. “Do you talk to Caleb a lot?”
He chuckled. “Does Caleb talk to anyone often?”
“Good point.” I wanted to be hospitable. “Would you like anything to drink or eat? We have plenty of leftovers from dinner tonight.”
“A nanny who cooks too? Caleb lucked out with you.”
“Hardly.” I stood, making my way into the kitchen. “Would you like a glass of wine? We have that too.”
“A woman after my own heart.”
“I have to admit,” I laughed, “this adult conversation might be the highlight of my day. Did you want me to warm you up some food too?”
“A beautiful woman waiting on me, I’d be an idiot to say no.”
We locked eyes.
“I see the Hawkins charm runs deep in your family.”
For the rest of the evening, we sat on the couch, drinking and eating, talking about nothing in particular.
Except, I was not expecting him to ask…
“So what’s going on with you and my brother?
Chapter 16
Evie
My mouth dropped open.
“What makes you think there’s something going on between us?”
“I know my brother, and you’re far too beautiful for him not to fuck it up in one way or another.”
I shrugged, not wanting to talk about it.
“Let me guess, and stop me if I’m wrong.”
I nodded, slightly amused.
“From what I gathered over our conversations tonight, you’re completely in love with Ariel and Ethan, and I don’t blame you. They’re great kids. He’s done an amazing job raising them. Which doesn’t surprise me—Caleb doesn’t do anything half ass. Women have always been disposable to him, but he’s trusting you with his children, so I assume there’s a reason for that. Caleb doesn’t trust anyone.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Does he trust you?”
“Caleb and I have always had an up and down relationship. Our history isn’t the best, but at the end of the day, we’re still brothers. I’m hopeful the future will have a better outcome for us.”
“I see.”
“Now that I’ve barred my soul.” He winked. “It’s your turn, Evie.”
“That’s quite a request, Joseph, because when it comes to your brother and me, I never know where to start.”
“The beginning works for me.”
Taking a sip of wine, I shared for the first time with anyone, “Caleb is the first man I ever fell in love with. I met him when I was eighteen and he was twenty-five.”
“That was what?” he pondered, glancing around the room. “I’m two years younger than him and he’s thirty-seven now, so it would have been like what? Twelve years ago?”
“Something like that.”
“Which would make you?”
“Thirty.”
“Wow. You don’t look thirty.”
“Thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It was meant as one.” He cocked his head to the side. “So what happened next?”
“I found out he was my brother’s best friend and agent. Wow…” I paused, shocked I was confessing this to him. “I can’t believe I’m telling you all this.”
“What can I say?” He shrugged. “I’m easy to talk to.”
“Obviously.” I smirked. “But to make a really long story short, he chose my brother’s friendship over me. And the next four years, we played this game of cat and mouse.”
“Which one were you?”
“I don’t even know. All I know is that I’m not that girl anymore, and for the next two months, I’m strictly here as his nanny.”
“Is Caleb aware of that?”
“I remind him when he forgets.”
“Yeah, Caleb doesn’t take no for an answer very well. He’d be a fool not to want you back in his life. I’m sure that’s why you’re here in the first place. He trying to win you over.”
“You’d think that, but he’s never home, and even if he was, that ship sailed a long time ago.”
“What happened to make it end?”
“Ethan happened.”
“Oh, Evie—”
I abruptly stood. I didn’t want to see the expression on his face. Through my rapid movement, I accidentally spilled my wine all over his shirt.
He bolted off the couch.
“Oh shit!” I grabbed the hem of his shirt. “Take it off, and I’ll throw it in the wash before the stain sets in.”
Once I had his shirt in my hand, I started to feel tipsy. It was only then I realized I might have drunk more wine than I initially anticipated. Tripping over my own two feet, I fell into his arms and into a fit of giggles. My laughter must have been contagious, because Joseph started laughing too.
I don’t know how long we stayed like that, chuckling over nothing until we heard, “What the fuck?” in a booming, murderous tone that echoed off the living room walls.
