The Match (It Happened in Charleston 1)

“I can’t take that credit. That’s all Daisy’s doing.”

“Oh really? And did Miss Daisy stay over last night and teach my Sammie how to make brownies? Did Daisy convince Jake to have a little more fun in his life and throw a pool party?”

I laugh. “Jake’s quite the sharer, isn’t he?”

“Actually, no. Jake’s pretty private about his life. But Sam is an open book, and she and I talk every night on the phone. She’s been keeping me apprised of all things Evie Jones.” Her smile turns a little more serious. “She really likes you. And my Sammie is a good judge of character.”

“I think Sam is pretty amazing, too.”

We are both quiet for a moment, and I decide I need something to do, so I peel off my cover-up, revealing my bright-yellow, polka dot, high-waisted bikini and start applying sunblock to my arms and legs. Jo made fun of me when I picked this swimsuit out in the store, saying that she owns sexier swimsuits than this one, but I don’t care. I like it. It’s cute and sporty, and I don’t have to worry about all my parts falling out during a game of water volleyball.

Yes, I know…I’m once again pretending that I have big enough parts to fall out of something, but just let me dream.

Mrs. Jones—or Bonnie as I’ve now been bid to call her—and I spend the next five minutes shooting the breeze and getting to know each other. No, not true…she only wants to talk about me. But I like her. I like her a lot, so I answer all of her questions. She’s encouraging and cheerful, and I think she and Jo would hit it off right away if they ever get to meet one day.

When the conversation winds down, though, she throws me a curve ball. “Your mama must be so proud of you, Evie. You’re quite a woman.”

I have to look away as soon as she says those words, because I can feel tears pooling in my eyes, and this is SO not the place to start crying.

My emotions are sent on a rollercoaster, however, when I turn my head in just enough time to see a bare-chested man with a gorgeous six pack and tan, defined shoulders running up beside me. I only have time to blink at the vision of sexy masculinity rushing up to me before Jake’s arms go under me and scoop me out of my chair.

I scream and kick like a little girl as he jogs us toward the pool. Umm, hello! Have you never heard of the no-running rule at the pool?! But I’m not concerned about my safety. I want him to slow down so I can savor the feel of his warm skin against mine.

“What are you doing?!” I yell.

“This is payback, Evie Jones,” says Jake before he jumps off the side and plunges us both in the pool.

Chapter Nineteen

JAKE

Evie is lounging beside the pool like a golden, suntanned goddess. The funny thing is, she doesn’t even realize she’s this beautiful, and she’s definitely not trying to be sexy. I know it because most women angle themselves so that their abs are contracted and their legs look like they are barely putting any weight on them to look slimmer. Not Evie. In fact, she’s put her oversized shirt back on and added a straw visor and big sunglasses. She is an ad for skin health at a dermatologist's office, and I swear I’ll buy anything she’s selling.

The best part of Evie: she’s laughing. She’s always laughing. Her smile lights up her whole face in a way that looks like she might explode from joy. She’s talking to June right now about a date that June went on last week. I was hanging out nearby until my baby sister started talking about the guy kissing like a slimy wet fish and I decided it was time to go.

But the weird thing is, Evie fits here. My family gave her the ultimate hazing of no personal space and a rousing game of a hundred questions right out of the gate, and Evie accepted it all with that adorable dimpled smile of hers. I don’t want to be that guy who’s constantly comparing every woman he spends time with to his ex-wife, but I can’t help it. The picture is a stark contrast.

Natalie never fit in with my family. She didn’t like them. She thought June was childish and that everyone else was too involved in our life. I don’t remember the last time we had a pool party like this, because honestly, Natalie wouldn’t have wanted to spend the afternoon with my family. In the interest of making my marriage work, I went along with it. I had lunch with my parents by myself most Sundays, and for holidays, we got in and out of family functions as fast as possible.

I’ve missed them in my life, and I can’t help but notice that I don’t miss Natalie one bit.

“Well, I think this pool party was a success, Jakey,” says my mom, using my shoulder to help her sit down beside me on the edge of the pool. My mom is cute. She’s about five foot tall standing on her tiptoes, has the voice of Paula Dean, and her personality is like a shot of Fireball Whisky mixed with sunshine.

“You think? I?

??m glad. And I’m glad you guys could come.”

Evie’s voice carries across the pool and distracts me. “Sam! When’s the last time you put on sunscreen, darlin’?”

Sam pauses her descent down the pool steps and looks over to Evie. “Oh. Not since this morning.”

“Come over here and let me lather you back up before you turn into the world's cutest lobster.”

I watch my daughter smile from ear to ear and then rush back up the steps to go perch in front of Evie on the lounge chair. Evie’s sitting cross-legged now, smiling and talking away to my sister while thoroughly applying sunscreen to my daughter’s back. I’m mesmerized by this scene. I couldn’t look away if I tried.

I am the person who loves Sam the most in this world…and I forgot to reapply sunscreen to her back. But Evie remembered. What does that mean? It feels significant.

My mom leans close to me, and from the corner of my eye, I can see her smile. “I think you found a good one.”