Hannah just shook her head. “Did you see that buffet table? I’m going to graze. Come with me.”
Evangeline nodded. “Lead the way.”
AT HALF PAST FIVE, Evangeline sauntered into the five-star luxury hotel in northwest D.C., and beelined to the bar. The black-tie wedding of the decade didn’t start until seven, so she had time for a quick drink.
“Hey.” She slid onto the plush leather barstool and shot her date a smile. “What did I miss?”
“Hey, darlin’.” Tucker Henninger, Colton Mitus’ older cousin and CEO of Henninger Security, raised his glass. “I was waiting for you before I tossed back my first drink of the night.”
“But not your last.”
They laughed.
A year ago, Evangeline had worked for Tucker as a part-time instructor before relocating north. Upon returning, she contacted him and he offered her the same gig. She loved teaching street-smart self-defense to women.
Talking with Tucker came easily. He was a stand-up guy and a good friend, but that was it. She’d never been attracted to blonds.
Eyeing the glass on the bar in front of her, Evangeline asked, “What am I drinking?”
“Belvedere vodka, darlin’. I didn’t think you drank anything else.”
They toasted and sipped. “So, why aren’t you in the wedding party?” She set her tumbler on the napkin.
“Colton asked me, but he’s got five men standing up there and I’m more of a sit-in-the-back- row kinda guy. Only, I can’t even do that tonight. He’s got me in the front row.”
“Why?”
“Cuz I’m special.” With a snort, he puffed out his chest. “Something about being family. You know what that means, don’t ya?”
“Nope.”
“You get to sit in the front row with me.” He paused, his gaze floating over her face and updo. “You look great, by the way.”
“Everyone looks good dressed to the nines,” she quipped.
She’d worn a black off-the-shoulder gown that showed a little skin and a hint of cleavage. If she met someone worthy of a hookup, he’d have to work for the rest.
From what Tucker had gleaned from his wealthy cousin, there would be four hundred guests coming to this shindig. Like Tucker, Evangeline was thrilled not to be in the wedding party, even though she and the bride were good friends.
Years earlier, when she had started working as a beat cop, her dad had advised her to find someone to manage her money. “What money?” she’d asked him.
“The money you’ll have down the road. You’re a saver, like me.”
Heeding his advice, she’d found wealth manager Brigit Farnay. When Brigit went to work at Mitus Conglomerate, she kept a handful of clients. Fortunately, Evangeline was one of the chosen few. She guessed it was because of their friendship.
After finishing their drinks, she and Tucker left the lounge en route to the ballroom. A child bolted out of nowhere and crashed into her. Evangeline grabbed the tyke before she tumbled to the ground. “You okay?”
The child stared up at her.
“Sorry,” said a man. “Our little flower girl is pretty excited.”
Evangeline looked up and her heart ka-chunked, then took off on a wild beat of its own. Sinclair Develin stood inches away smiling down at her. Evangeline glanced at the little one with long dark hair and piercing blue eyes, and her heart sank. Of course, Sinclair has a child. And a gorgeous wife to go along with that adorable daughter.
“It’s okay.” Her cheeks warmed, and she set her gaze on the child. “You must be so excited to be a flower girl.”
“Hey, Tucker,” said Sinclair.
“Hey, man. Good to see you.”
“Please pick me up, Daddy.”
Now, father and daughter were staring down at her and she wanted to melt into the floor. He gave no indication that he recognized her and her heart fell a little. Had he forgotten all about her or was she that insignificant that he couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge her at all? She certainly hadn’t forgotten about him.
“I’m sooooo excited.” The girl’s voice rolled out in a high-pitched ball of energy. “Are you going to Uncle Colton’s wedding?”
“I sure am.”
“What’s your name?”
“Evangeline.”
“E…Leen.” She looked at her dad.
“E-van-gel-ine.”
God, he’s so good with her.
“Uh-huh. E-Leen.”
The adults laughed.
“What’s your name?” Evangeline asked her.
“Sammy.”
A man sidled up beside Evangeline. “There you two are.”
The child beamed at him. “Uncle Lalla!”
Evangeline turned and her heart stopped. After shifting her attention from one man to the other, she blurted, “No way.”
Sinclair Develin had a twin. Two perfectly sculpted Adonises with dark hair and bright blue eyes gazed down at her…but which one was Sinclair?
“One’s not bad enough,” said Tucker. “There’s two of them and there are times when it’s impossible to tell them apart.”
All three men laughed.
The man holding the child extended his hand. “I’m Dakota Luck, and you just met my daughter, Sammy.”
As she shook Dakota’s hand, Evangeline kept her gaze cemented on the real Sin, and her heart fluttered wildly in her chest. While Sin styled his hair in a conservative, business cut, Dakota’s was wild and untamed. Though the men were identical, she had a history with only one of them.
“It’s been a while.” As Sin’s lips curved into a hint of a smile, his eyes drilled into her. “Good to see you again, Evan.”
Though angry with him for derailing her case, her body heated. “You, too.”
Dakota glanced from one to the other. “You guys know each other?”
“I get to sit in the front row,” Sammy announced.
“That’s where we have to sit, too,” Tucker said.
“Tucker, would it be okay if Sammy sat with you guys?” Dakota asked. “Her nanny is home with the flu.”
“Absolutely. We’ll save her a seat.”
“All right, Sammy, we’ve got to find Aunt Carly,” Dakota said.
“Let me take her,” Sin said. “You need to get dressed. All the guys are upstairs.”
As Dakota passed his daughter to his twin, the youngster grinned at Sin and he smiled back. Another blast of heat scorched Evangeline. That man was hot as hell in a tuxedo. Tall and muscular, the tailored duds accentuated his broad shoulders and strapping chest.
“You look very pretty Samantha Lynn,” Sin said.
She clapped her tiny hands. “I’m soooo excited to be the flower girl.”
Evangeline couldn’t help but smile at the little one, but like a magnet tugging her, her attention shifted right back to Sin.
“Thanks for keeping Sammy safe,” Dakota said to Tucker.
“You betcha,” Tucker replied.
“Top floor,” Sin said. “Presidential Suite.”
And with that, Dakota took off toward the elevator bank.
Sin turned to Evangeline. His steely blue eyes weren’t just beautiful they were hypnotic, and her brain stuttered to a halt while she soaked up all that masculine beauty. “We’ll talk.” Before she could reply, he asked Sammy, “Ready to be a flower girl, little lady?”