She’d promised him that discussion when they spoke earlier. He thought he’d avoided it with all the talk about Greg and Theresa and his feelings, which was bad enough. He should have known that wouldn’t satisfy Paige. And he owed her more. He recognized that. An explanation. A reason. All the damn good reasons he’d been telling himself since he’d first kissed her.
He wanted to repay her for all her goodness, her kindness, all she’d done for him time and again. Staying away from her would be the best way to do that, wouldn’t it? It could be the only way to protect her. From him. And from Whitney’s wrath.
“I’m married to your sister,” It was the easiest answer.
“And you’re getting divorced because she treated you horribly,” she reminded him. Just as he’d known she would, because Paige always saw right through the easy answers. Straight to the honest ones. “Tell me the real reason why.”
So many reasons. Too many. Because he didn’t deserve to be with her now after he’d been so stupid as to let Whitney turn his head nine years ago. Because risking his heart again seemed impossible when it was so badly bruised and battered. Because Paige deserved more than a man with such a complicated past and present.
And Paige would shoot down every one of them, because she didn’t understand how irreversibly damaged he was.
All he could get out was, “It’s just not possible.”
She gazed at him for a long moment, her eyes tracking his face. Her lips were still wet and lush from his kiss. Slowly, she stepped back, leaving him feeling frozen all the way to his heart.
“Anything’s possible, Evan. You just have to be willing.”
Then she walked inside and shut the door behind her.
* * *
Paige sagged against the closed door, dropping her head into her hands.
She’d practically begged him to come in, to make love to her.
But he couldn’t see past the other women in his life. Or the darkness that still haunted him.
Her phone rang, and when she dug it out of her purse, she saw that it was Whitney again.
It was just like her sister to choose the absolute perfect—or worst—moment to call. Frustrated, and angry, Paige swiped the call away. She would not let Whitney destroy the beautiful, hot memory of being in Evan’s arms. It didn’t matter that his almost ex-wife was her sister. Sure, it might be slightly awkward when they explained things to people. But it didn’t matter, damn it! Whitney had given up her rights to him when she’d demolished him.
Paige put her hands to her cheeks. They were burning, and her lips were still tingling from his kiss.
Evan wanted her. She had no more doubts about that. If the door had been unlocked and she’d pulled him inside, they would have made love.Only, instead of doing that, she’d stopped. Asked. Let him overthink and beat himself up for all the “wrong” things he thought he was doing. She’d let him walk away.
If he could, he’d stay away. Because that would be easier. Safer.
He’d lock himself away from all of them—not just her, but also his long-lost family—just as he’d tried to lock himself away from the foster family who took him in.
But Susan and Bob had fought for him, through difficult teenage years when he’d tried to stay inside his battered shell.
The Mavericks had fought for him, through thick and thin, profits and losses, personal hells and triumphs.
They’d all fought hard enough for him that he’d eventually had to accept their love as real. As strong. As lasting.
Now Paige would fight for him too. Because she’d loved Evan too long and loved him too deeply to walk away without a fight.
Chapter Nineteen
In his office the following day, with a rare thirty-minute break between meetings, Evan decided it was long past time to call Susan.
But even as he reached for his phone, he had a moment’s trouble focusing. Yet again, Paige had consumed his thoughts last night, keeping him awake long past midnight. Not only the kiss they’d shared on her front step, but also how much he’d enjoyed their dinner, their walk together. When he’d finally slept, his dreams had been hot and wild—and full of joy.
Anything is possible, Evan. You just have to be willing.
Paige’s voice had woven its way into his dreams. Had he been crazy for not carrying her inside and making love to her? For not discovering if waking up with her in his arms just might be the best thing he’d ever known?
Calling Susan when his insides felt this twisted was either a great idea, because she had a knack for finding the perfect words to say, or a terrible one, because she always saw right through to the heart of things. Even when Evan couldn’t see them himself.
“Hey, lovely lady,” he said when she answered.
“Evan.” Her smile bubbled through in her voice. “I’ve missed your calls so much.”
Guilt dealt him an uppercut, though Susan wouldn’t have meant for that to happen. “And I’ve missed hearing your voice.”
“How does it feel being back home?” He heard the two words she’d left out: without Whitney.
“It’s good.” Even if the house was way too big for just him. “But something huge happened on New Year’s Day.” There was no easy approach except saying it right out. “My mother came by to see me. To top it off, she has two adult children. My real brother and sister. Not half. Not step.”
There was complete silence for two beats, then Susan’s voice rushed out, “Oh Evan. Oh my God. I have to sit down.” He heard the scrape of a chair. “You tell me. Everything.”