Brogan (Carolina Reapers 9)

“How cute!” Evie twirled and Skye laughed, the sound echoing off the vaulted ceiling of the entry and filling my heart like nothing else could. “You’re the cutest baby demon ever!” Evie carried her toward the living room, bypassing both Fiona and I without another look. “You two can get out of here, you know.”

I blinked. The Evie I knew was the shy bookworm who preferred to see life through her camera lens rather than actively participate in it. It was usually Mia who brought her out of her shell. “Maybe she’s just uncomfortable around adults,” I muttered softly.

“Maybe she’s just uncomfortable around Maxim,” Fiona whispered, patting my arm.

My brows furrowed. “What the hell is there to be nervous about around Maxim? I’m the one with the surly temper. Or hell, be afraid of Cannon. But Maxim? He’s a dick, but never to her. She’s his little sister’s best friend for fuck’s—”

Fiona arched an eyebrow at me.

My mouth hung open for a second. “No way.” I shook my head. “She barely even speaks to him when we’re all together. She’s always tucked away in some corner with Mia.”

Fiona tilted her head and shot me a look that said I was the stupidest man on the planet.

“You really think…” I shot a look toward the living room, where Evie was already tugging the tutu off Skye so she could crawl around and wreak havoc.

“That she has a massive crush on your closest friend?” Fiona whispered. “Yes, I really think. I swear, men can be so obtuse.” She shook her head at me and headed into the living room.

Evie had a thing for Maxim?

Just because he was nice to her didn’t mean he was best for her. Maxim would chew her up and spit her out like he did every other woman on the planet, especially one as sweet and quiet as she was.

Mind your own fucking business.

“Formula is on the counter, and I wrote out her schedule,” Fiona was saying as I walked in, watching Skye for any sign that she was displeased with our choice of sitter.

“I know,” Evie answered, glancing my direction. “Brogan texted me earlier with her schedule, her preferred feeding position, lack of allergies, contact numbers for her pediatrician and poison control, and of course her favorite songs.”

Wait, was Evie actually smothering a laugh in my direction.

Fiona gawked at me. “Her favorite songs?”

I shrugged. “She likes 90’s hip-hop.”

Fiona barely concealed her smile. “Right.”

“Are you comfortable?” I asked Evie. A heavy weight settled in my stomach as I glanced at Skye, who was happy as a fucking lark as she rocked back and forth on her hands and knees, gearing up to bolt for her toys.

“I’m fine. You two should get going,” Evie urged, keeping up with Skye as she lunged forward. “You know, she’s a super early crawler. You sure she’s only five and a half months?”

My stomach soured. No, I wasn’t sure. I had no fucking clue or certainty beyond the note that had been left in her car seat and the paternity test that convinced me she’d been conceived that weekend in Miami.

“Good athletic genes,” Fiona rushed, glancing my direction. “Tell me, Evie, if you were me, would you assume tonight was a date?” Smooth change of subject.

“It’s not a date,” I grumbled.

Evie looked between Fiona and me, then sat back on her heels and focused on Skye. “I’m not getting in the middle of that debate. Now seriously, stop hovering and leave. Skye and I are going to do just fine without you. Go.” She leveled a look on me that said she meant business.

Maybe she could hold her own with Maxim. Huh.

“You’re sure you have everything you need?” Fiona asked, fidgeting with her little white clutch.

“Seriously,” Evie sighed. “I have your numbers in case she even hiccups. Now get out of here and enjoy the party.”

Fiona and I shared a look of mutual…discomfort.

“All parents are nervous the first time they leave their babies,” Evie assured us. “We’ll be fine.”

Fiona’s eyes widened.

I nodded, took Fiona’s hand and strode for the door. If we didn’t leave now, we’d spend the whole night debating if leaving was even the right thing.

Fiona was quiet as we drove into Charleston, the GPS guiding us to the new club downtown where the party was being held. Echo had offered Scythe for the celebration, but Sawyer turned her down, saying she needed a night off, too, and she was always on when we were at her bar.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked when we were about five minutes out. I was used to Fiona going quiet when she needed to think something through in her mind, but if she was having second thoughts about going with me, I needed to know before we walked in.

“She said parents,” she whispered. “Evie. At the house. When we were leaving.” She picked at the material of her dress.