“I would be very honored to accept your invitation,” Maddox said in a solemn tone.
Silas leaned in and brushed his lips across her cheek. “I’ll be here, doll. And thank you for the invite. It means a lot to me.”
She smiled, relieved that they seemed to be happy to be included in her plans.
“Have a seat. Let me go get Dad and Drake and we’ll eat.”
Breakfast was lively and fun, but when Evangeline’s mother realized that she and Evangeline were going to have the escort of both Silas and Maddox to the market, her reaction was hysterical.
“Well, I never, Evangeline! Is it so dangerous in the big city that we have to be escorted around by these two extremely good-looking young men?”
Evangeline choked on her drink when she saw Maddox’s neck turn red and Silas fidget in his seat.
“They are extremely good looking, Mama, don’t you think?” Evangeline said, her eyes twinkling. “Just think. Everyone will be wondering who on earth you are or what celebrity you are, being guarded by Maddox and Silas. Maybe I should have asked Zander or Jax to come along too,” she mused.
“You, my darling angel, are a wicked tease,” Drake said in a low voice only she could hear. Laughter shone brightly in his eyes and he covered his smile by taking a long drink from his glass.
“Oh my. You’re right!” her mother exclaimed. “Oh, isn’t this exciting, Grant? Wait until I tell everyone back home. They won’t believe me, of course, so you’ll take pictures, won’t you, Evangeline?”
There was such a look and sound of hope in her mother’s face and voice that Evangeline nearly lost the battle and burst into laughter on the spot.
“Absolutely, Mama. I’ll take as many pictures as you want. I’m sure Maddox and Silas won’t mind at all, will you?” she said sweetly, staring innocently at the two men in question.
Silas coughed and then looked at her mother, sincerity etched in his features.
“It would be my privilege to escort Evangeline’s mother around the city. Evangeline is an amazing, beautiful woman and is also one of the most compassionate and loving people I’ve ever met. I can only draw the conclusion that she gets it from her mother.”
To Evangeline’s delight, her mother blushed to the roots of her hair and then fanned herself with her hand in rapid fashion.
“Oh my Jesus,” she breathed. “Evangeline, what do you do with all these wonderful young men?”
Evangeline choked and Drake squeezed her hand beneath the table, his features working up and down as he tried to suppress his laughter over Evangeline’s mortification. Maddox smirked while Silas’s lips turned up into a slow grin.
“Not nearly enough,” Maddox said morosely. “I could eat her cooking every day.”
“You’ll get plenty of my and my mother’s cooking tomorrow,” Evangeline said pointedly. “You’ll be in a food coma for days.”
“I can’t wait,” Maddox said, a wistful note to his voice.
“Are you ready to go to the market, Mama?” Evangeline asked. “I have my grocery list all written up. Maddox, do you and Silas have any special requests for tomorrow’s meal?”
“Trust me. We’ll eat whatever you put on the table, doll,” Silas vowed.
“That ain’t no lie,” Maddox said emphatically.
“Well, let’s be off then, shall we?” her mother said brightly. “I don’t know when the last time a trip to the grocery store was this exciting. I plan to enjoy every minute of it.”
Drake caught Evangeline’s hand as she rose from the table and gently pulled her back to his seat. “Forgetting something, Angel?” he murmured.
She was flustered at first, wondering what he was talking about. But then she saw the devilish gleam in his eye.
“My good-bye kiss, perhaps?” he prompted.
She flushed but was secretly thrilled that he didn’t mind kissing her in front of her parents or his men. She leaned down and kissed him long and sweet, running her tongue over the contours of his mouth until he parted his lips and let her delve inside.
He tasted so good. She wanted to melt into his lap and spend the next hour doing nothing more than kissing him.
“Go easy on my men, okay, Angel?” he said in amusement.
“You act like I’m a troublemaker,” she said with a sniff.
“Only the very best kind,” he murmured.
She kissed him one last time and then went to collect her purse.
“Everyone ready?” she asked once she returned.
• • •
Thanksgiving Day was the most wonderful holiday Evangeline could ever remember experiencing. She and her mother had begun cooking in the morning and they’d eaten shortly after two that afternoon.
At first, her mother had been appalled when Drake had instructed her and Evangeline not to worry about the dishes, but when he’d reassured her that his cleaning service would be in, her mother had a swift change of heart and readily stayed away from the pile of pots, pans, skillets, roasting pans, glasses, plates and eating utensils.