“Landon’s tall, so he has these incredibly long legs. But even though he’s lean, his body looks strong.”
“More,” Neil instructed. She pictured him perched on the ottoman at the back of the store, his legs crossed.
“I can tell because of the way he fills out his clothes—”
“Suits, you said. What brand?”
“Dolce.”
“Yum.”
“Right?”
“Continue,” he said, likely with a flick of his arm.
Her smile returned as she pictured Landon the way he was last night. When describing him to Neil, she’d left out a few details. Details she wanted to keep for herself. Like the scratch of facial hair that had rimmed his lips, the way he looked rumpled and tired, but every hair had been in place on his head.
“His chest is broad,” she continued. “And he has wide shoulders.” Capable of handling a business, and the life he’d built with his own two beautiful hands. “But his butt”—she paused for dramatic effect—“Oh, Neil. His ass is a thing of glory.”
He laughed, further encouraging her. She slid a knife in and out of the block, allowing herself to revel in the conversation. She hadn’t had a grown-up conversation in days. She’d texted Gloria a few times, but it wasn’t the same as their usual randy exchange.
She infused a little extra naughty into her voice. “And I got a great look at it this morning,” she practically purred. “He’d bent over to retrieve a paper that had slipped from his briefcase and it was all I could do not to grab hold and—”
The clearing of a throat brought her out of her haze. She dropped the knife into the block with a clunk and straightened at the counter, but didn’t turn around.
“And what?” Neil prodded after she trailed off.
“Um.” She closed her eyes and tried to ratchet down her thundering pulse. Impossible. “I have to go,” she whispered to Neil. Because I’m going to have a heart attack.
So long as it happened fast. She’d rather die on Landon’s custom flooring than face him right now.
“Oh, my Turkish Delight!” Neil announced gleefully. “He’s there, isn’t he? He’s behind you!”
She hung up on his laughter and turned, having planned a fake-startled expression. As it turned out she didn’t have to fake it. “Oh!” She put a hand to her chest as her heart hammered against her palm. “Evan? What are you doing here?”
A sly, almost drunken-looking smile slid onto Landon’s brother’s face. His hair was a disheveled dark mess, his eyes a devastating aqua blue. Wow. He’d aged nicely.
“Hello, Kimber.”
Oh, yeah, he’d heard her. Heard every last word.
“Just here to see my son,” he said, holding his palms up as if to say, Sorry to interrupt. “I had a break midday and took the train back. Thought I’d take him for some ice cream.”
She put her phone on the counter between them. Picked it up. Put it down again. “Yeah. He-he’d like that.” Should she bring it up? Pretend it didn’t happen? She mentally reviewed her conversation. She didn’t think she’d mentioned Landon’s name. Maybe Evan wouldn’t know who she was talking about.
“I won’t tell my brother you talk about his ass when he’s not here.”
Or he would. She wound her fingers around the hem of the long shirt she’d paired with black leggings. Evan’s eyes flittered over her briefly while she grappled for an excuse… or an argument. Something. Anything.
No words came.
His face broke into an actual grin, more attractive than the smirk he’d worn a moment ago. “Angel was right,” he said, a note of wonder mixed with teasing in his voice. “She told me you liked Landon that summer. I was so sure it was me.”
Her face fell. Right onto the countertop. Angel told Evan she liked Landon? And for that matter had originally told Evan she liked him?
“Angel is officially the worst secret-keeper on the planet,” she mumbled.
“Tell me about it,” he said with a wry twist of his lips.
“Evan… if we could keep this to ourselves, I would—”
He held up a hand to stay her speech. “Relax. Your secret’s safe with me.” He winked and she simply stared, unsure if she believed him or not.
“Daddy!” Lyon scrambled into the room and leaped into his father’s arms, talking ninety miles a minute about all the things they’d done over the last three days. Evan released his son and squatted in front of him, listening and responding with unadulterated pride and love. Her heart squeezed.