“Because of Lucy.”
It wasn’t really a question, but she shook her head, anyway. “No. Not entirely. It’s just that I don’t want to confuse the twins.”
“You never take them out with your friends?” His question held a note of challenge.
“Well, yes, sometimes,” she had to admit. “But—”
“You’ve already introduced me to them as your friend. Unless Lucy has told them something different about me?” he asked suspiciously.
“No. No, of course not.”
Lucy would never tell the kids the basis for her hard feelings against Evan because she wouldn’t want to upset them. She probably wouldn’t pretend to like him, either, but she’d be tactfully vague about her reasons. At least in front of the twins. Renae, of course, would hear it all in detail again.
There was no doubt that Lucy would disapprove vehemently of Renae taking the children out with Evan. The question was, would Lucy be able to accept Renae’s decisions without upsetting the happy balance in their little household? And did Evan have any idea what he was asking for in suggesting they take six-and-a-half-year-old twins to an arcade?
“Is it really that difficult a decision?” he asked, watching the expressions crossing her face.
Maybe it would be good for him to see that part of her life, she thought. As he’d pointed out, he had seen her only away from her real life and real responsibilities. Maybe it was time he saw for himself how different she was from the woman who could spend Wednesday evenings focusing solely on him.
Judging from her admittedly limited past experiences, reality would soon put a damper on romance. And maybe that would solve all her problems at once, one way or another.
“Fine.”
He lifted his eyebrows in question. “Fine?”
“You want to spend an afternoon with the kids, we’ll do it. Just remember it was your idea.”
He seemed surprised that she had capitulated—as she was herself, a bit—but he adapted quickly enough. “Okay, great. Next Saturday?”
She nodded, thinking grimly of how crowded the pizza arcade would be on a Saturday afternoon this close to the holidays.
“What are you going to tell Lucy?”
“Let me worry about that.” And she would worry. She reached for her clothes. “I really do have to go now.”
Apparently satisfied with his small victory, he didn’t try to detain her.
The blanket and throw were neatly folded and Evan was dressed when she returned from the bathroom. She knew he would walk her down to her car and see her safely away, even if she assured him he didn’t need to go to the trouble.
He held out her coat to her with a smile that made her breath catch. It was both regretful and rueful, and so damned sexy-sweet that she couldn’t look away. The smile faded in response to whatever he saw on her face.
“Renae—”
His husky murmur brought her out of her reverie. She shook her head to clear it and reached out to take her coat from his hand. “There’s no need to walk me down.”
He already had one arm in his own coat. “Mmm-hmm.”
Which meant that he would, just as she had expected. She picked up her purse and pulled out her car keys.
Their breath hung in the air, mingling between them as they stood by her car to say good-night. “Be careful driving home,” he said.
She nodded. “I will.”
“Maybe you could tell the kids I said hi? I’d send greetings to Lucy, too, but I don’t think she’d care to hear them.”
“I’ll tell them all you said hello,” she assured him.
“Thanks.”