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He nodded. “Me, too. My sister always does an Amazon list for her boys, so that’s just easiest. Hell, half the time I end up just sending them cash.”
“They’re teenagers now, right?”
“Fourteen and sixteen.”
“Wow.” She toyed with the handle of her coffee cup. “I remember them in diapers, and you babysitting on the weekends before they moved to Chicago.”
“Hard to believe, isn’t it? How much time has gone by?”
“I know. We’re in our thirties, Col.”
“But still hot.”
She belted out a laugh, throwing her head back. “Definitely still hot,” she declared and tapped her mug against his.
“What is this, a mutual admiration society?” someone said, and Colin turned to see Evan standing in the kitchen doorway.
He raised his cup to his mouth for a drink and tried to ignore the longing that filled him at the sight. Evan stood in yesterday’s jeans and faded Yesterdog t-shirt, both hopelessly rumpled—and in the case of the t-shirt, inside out. His hair was a wild, tousled halo of burnished gold curls, the stubble of his beard a shade darker against cheeks still faintly flushed with sleep. His bright blue eyes were heavy lidded and sleepy, his full mouth soft. He reached up and grabbed the door frame in a long, hard stretch, gave a jaw-cracking yawn, then smirked. “What’s up, sluts?”
Esme let out a peal of laughter as Colin sputtered and choked. “Jesus, Ev,” he muttered and scowled at his now coffee-stained shirt.
“What?” The smirk deepened. “Too soon?”
“You look like you’ve just rolled out of bed after a night of hedonistic debauchery,” Esme told him.
“Cuz I did,” Evan drawled, and with another yawn, crossed to the coffee pot. “Why don’t I smell breakfast? Tuck promised us bacon and waffles.”
“He’s still sleeping,” Esme said.
Evan scowled at the mug he was filling. “I’m hungry. Go wake him up.”
“No,” Esme replied serenely and sipped her coffee.
“Come on, E,” Evan wheedled, dropping into the chair next to Colin. “I’m starving.”
“You could make breakfast,” she suggested.
“But he’s the one with the super-secret waffle recipe.” Evan aimed a sad-eyed pout at her. “And also, he promised. Please?”
“That’s not going to work,” she informed him, then laughed when he added a plaintive whine and fluttered his eyelashes. “Okay, fine.”
He beamed at her. “You’re the best, E.”
“Stop buttering me up,” she said, smothering another laugh, and pointed a finger at him. “I’ll wake Tuck for the waffles, but you have to do the bacon.”
He kicked back in his chair, a satisfied smile curling his lips. “I can handle that.”
“And set the table.”
Even gestured with his coffee mug. “Colin can do that. Right, Col?”
“Sure.” He gave Esme a nod. “You want to eat in here, or in the dining room?”
“Here’s good.” She rose and crossed to the coffee pot to refill her cup, then came back to the table and planted a smacking kiss on Evan’s cheek. “Bacon’s in the fridge. Make mine crispy.”
“You got it, gorgeous.”
“Flatterer.” She turned to kiss Colin. “Don’t do all the work for him.”
