I intend to grab this—him—with both hands and never let go.
He pulls away, his lips separating from mine as he lets his forehead drop down onto mine. “What are you doing to me, Alexis Deacon?”
“I have no idea, Evan.” A soft smile pulls at the corner of my lips before he spins us around and leads me to the warehouse, his fingers locking between mine before he brings them up to his mouth, kissing the top of my knuckles before he pulls the warehouse door open.
What I don’t expect is to be greeted by every single person who works here as soon as we step inside.
The table that sits toward the start of the warehouse seats five people, the only chair empty is the one I assume Evan sits at, at the end of the table.
“I’m dropping Lexi home and then heading for a meeting like we discussed yesterday.” He’s staring at Ty, a silent conversation going on between them before Luke and Dean stand up.
My eyes flit between them and then Evan, not having a clue what is going on here.
“I’ll be back this afternoon.” With that he twirls around, walking back to the door, still leading me with his hand encased around mine and Luke and Dean following us.
“Lexi?” I turn around as Evan opens the door, my gaze catching Kay’s as she stands up. “I hope I’ll see you at the next family meal?”
“I—”
“She’ll be there,” Evan answers, cutting me off and walking us out of the warehouse and over to his car.
I frown at the back of his head, not liking that he answered for me. But he seems completely oblivious to the fact. My blood starts to boil and anger rolls through me like a dark storm.
I slide into his car when he holds the door open for me, cutting my eyes from his as I huff.
I cross my arms over my chest as he reverses out of the spot and drives toward the gate, a van following behind us. It’s not until we’re halfway back to Livvy’s that he turns toward me.
“What’s up?”
“Really?” I ask, the bitchy tone evident. Why the hell am I being so bitchy? “Do you see this?” I ask, pointing at my mouth.
“Your lips?” He raises a brow. “Yeah, I see them. In fact, I can still fucking feel them.” He shuffles in his seat and I can’t help the smile that wants to spread across my lips.
Wait… why was I mad? Ahhh. “Yeah, I have a mouth.” I clear my throat. “Which means I can answer for myself.”
He drives past the community center and the precinct, the van still following us.
“You’re gonna have to tell me what you’re talking about, baby, because I have no idea.” He raises a brow, a grin kicking up the corner of his lips.
I throw my arms up in the air, my emotions all over the place. “You answered for me!”
His eyes widen as his brows draw down into a frown on his face, turning to face me briefly before moving his gaze back onto the road in front of us.
“I… Did I?”
“You did,” I whisper, nodding my head for extra affirmation. “You said I’d be at the next family meal without even asking me.”
He comes to a stop outside of Livvy’s house and turns the engine off before his gaze swings to the rearview mirror, as the van pulls up behind us. “Shit, I’m sorry, Lex. I didn’t mean to do that.”
His face pales as he turns toward me fully in his seat, his hand taking ahold of mine as he stares into my eyes, portraying how much he means that. “I know what it’s like… I… I shouldn’t have done that.” He takes a breath, his chest shaking as he does. “Would you like to come to the next family meal with me?”
I chuckle, shaking my head and leaning over the center console. “I’d love to.” I press my lips against his before pulling away and opening my door, stepping out and practically skipping up to the front door.
It doesn’t go unnoticed how my mood flipped from happy to angry to sadness and then giddy. But right now I don’t care, because I can still feel his eyes on me.
I spin around, about to wave to him when he pushes his door open, runs toward me and captures my lips with his again, holding me against him in an ironclad grip before letting me go and placing something into the palm of my hand.
“Use this… it’s safe.” He spins around heading to his car as the van horn blares and I see Luke and Dean who are watching our whole exchange before they pull out behind Evan, lifting their hands and doing those weird salute waves.