She had such a good life, she reminded herself, sipping her cocoa and watching the twins chattering happily with their grandmother as they waited impatiently for their friends to arrive. How could she possibly ask for more?
She glanced at her watch. “It’s almost time to meet everybody at the ticket booth. Finished with your cocoa?”
The kids hopped up to toss their mostly empty cups into a trash bin.
“I’m going to duck into the ladies’ room and then I’ll come out to join you,” Lucy said over her shoulder as she walked away.
Admonishing the twins not to dash away and get lost in the crowd, Renae threw out her cup and then turned toward the exit doors. Only to find herself directly in front of Evan Daugherty.
With a pretty brunette at his side.
* * *
Evan found Emma waiting for him at the west entrance to the Market Hall at just after 5:00 p.m. on Friday. She’d called earlier to ask if they could meet for a cup of coffee, saying she needed to talk to him about something. Though he’d been a bit surprised by the request, he had agreed immediately. She had suggested the River Market because she was joining friends afterward a block away. The River Market was also directly across the river from his apartment building, so he could be home in five minutes after their meeting.
“Besides,” she had added, “the River Market is cheerful, and I need that today.”
Mildly alarmed, he’d hurried to meet her at the time she’d set. He had known Emma almost a year and he’d never heard her sound so troubled. Of course, he and Emma hadn’t spent any time alone together, meeting only once a week at lunch with Tate, Kim and Lynette, so he couldn’t say he knew her all that well, really. Still, he considered her a friend, and he tried to be available whenever his friends needed him.
She greeted him with a smile that looked a bit strained. “Thank you for meeting me, Evan.”
Aware that several male observers were watching him with envy, Evan took Emma’s outstretched hand. “Of course.”
Emma was an attractive woman. Her near-black hair fell straight to her shoulders, framing an oval face with flawless, creamy skin. Her dark eyes were slightly almond-shaped, and she had a figure that made men stop dead in their tracks. Being a healthy male with normal vision, Evan had taken note of all these things the first time he’d met her. And yet, he’d never even considered asking her out.
Maybe it was the way they’d become acquainted, through the casual group of friends who shared lunch every Wednesday. Not exactly conducive to flirtation—though that hadn’t stopped Tate and Kim from falling in love. Maybe it was the fact that he’d known from the start that Emma wasn’t the breezy-no-strings-fling type, and that was all he’d had to offer any woman for the past near decade.
Whatever his own reasons, he was pretty sure that Emma didn’t have feelings for him, either. She must have a good reason for wanting to meet him alone this way, but whatever it was, it had nothing to do with romance.
“Let’s go inside and grab a table,” he said, reaching for the door. “Maybe we’ll luck out and find a corner where we can talk.”
A gaggle of young teens headed for the ice rink dashed through the door when he opened it, but he and Emma managed to avoid being mowed down. They entered side by side, heading for the coffee shop at the other end of the holiday-decorated hall lined with food and gifts vendors. Tables were arranged down the center of the hall, but Evan thought it would be quieter at the back, making conversation easier.
They were just over halfway to their destination when he came face-to-face with Renae.
While he adjusted to his shock at seeing her there, he saw her gaze dart from him to Emma and then back again. It wasn’t hard to guess what she was thinking.
“Renae,” he said, giving her an easy smile, trying to look as though he hadn’t just been knocked for a loop by the very sight of her. “This is a surprise.”
Her own smile was notably forced. “Hello, Evan.”
He glanced at the children bouncing impatiently on either side of her. Seeing young Daniel in person was even more of a jolt than seeing his photograph had been. The boy looked exactly like Jason. Leslie bore a strong resemblance, as well, but her features were softer, more feminine.
At least Lucy was nowhere in sight.
Remembering his manners, he glanced at his curious companion. “Emma Grainger, this is Renae Sanchez and her kids, Daniel and Leslie.”
Before the women could do more than nod in response to the introduction, Daniel asked, “I don’t know you. How do you know our names?”
Renae put a hand on her son’s shoulder. “Daniel, mind your manners. This is Mr. Daugherty. He’s a friend.”
Leslie was studying Evan’s face with an intensity that looked older than her years, and made her look much more like her mother, despite their different coloring. “I saw your picture. You were my daddy’s friend.”
He felt his eyebrows rise a little, but he nodded. “Yes, I was.”
“Are you here to go skating? We’re going to skate with some of our friends.”
Evan didn’t have a lot of experience talking to kids, but he figured it was just like talking to anyone else. “No, we’re not here to skate. My friend and I met here for a cup of coffee.”