This time, Joey offered a toast instead of saying grace. “To a good New Year.”
Unimpressed, Evangeline sipped her water. During dinner, Charlene made small talk while Joey did his best to chime in.
“What’s new in the nursery?” Charlene asked when they’d finished eating.
While Hannah showed Charlene the baby’s room, Evangeline made a pot of coffee.
“Sounds like you’ll be staying in the area,” Evangeline said to Joey.
He sidled close and her skin crawled. “I’m finding the possibility very attractive.”
“You mentioned getting together,” she said, playing into his come-on. “Wanna grab a drink one night?”
Color flooded his cheeks. “I’d love to. What about Friday?”
“Sure, if you don’t mind sharing me with my dad.” She concocted a lie so she could end their evening early.
His shoulders dropped. “He’s coming with us?”
“We’re having a late supper, which means a can of soup and a peanut butter sandwich, but I’ve got time beforehand. How’s six?”
“That’ll work.”
“Got somewhere in mind?” Like a strip club on K Street?
“There’s a dive bar in Arlington that looks cool.”
Evangeline looked it up on her phone. “Mac’s on Lee Highway?”
As Joey peered over her shoulder, his strong cologne stung her nose and she sneezed. “That’s the one.”
She tapped the camera button and raised her phone. “How about a selfie?” She snapped a picture, but he turned away and all she captured was his blurry head. “You’re not camera shy, are you?”
“Social media plays into our sins.”
“I wasn’t going to post it.” Again, she held up the phone. “Let’s get a picture of us.”
Hannah and Charlene returned to the kitchen and Joey darted out, mumbling something about the bathroom.
Dammit. He’s not making this easy for me.
After pouring herself a mug of coffee, Charlene addressed Hannah. “I’m concerned about your being a single mom, especially since you work full-time.” She dumped three heaping teaspoons of sugar into the mug. “But I’ll help you any way I can.”
When Hannah placed her hand over her heart, Evangeline huffed. “Thank you, Charlene. That means the world to me.”
“I’m sorry to bolt, but I’ve got work to do,” Evangeline said.
“Tonight?” Hannah asked.
“Since the news broke that I wasn’t the woman in the sex video with Birdie, I’ve got a ton of work to catch up on.” She shot a raised eyebrow at Charlene.
Joey sauntered back into the room. “I look forward to hearing more about your work on Friday.”
As Evangeline was putting on her coat in the living room, Charlene meandered over. “I guess I was wrong about you.”
“Is that your attempt at an apology?”
“In my own way.”
“Whatever.”
“I did want to talk with you about Hannah.” Charlene stepped closer. “I’m concerned about her.”
Here we go. Evangeline shouldered her bag and said nothing.
“She puts in a lot of time as a teacher. Too much. I’m not sure if your mom is…um…really equipped to help out. She’s—”
“Don’t go there, Charlene.”
Charlene fisted her hand on her hip. “At one point, Hannah liked JT’s adoption suggestion. Did you talk her out of it?”
Evangeline inhaled a deep breath, hoping to quell her growing anger. “My sister is an adult who can make her own decisions about her child. Like millions of other single parents, she will figure it out. Stay out of this.”
“I’m only trying to help,” Charlene said with a sneer. “She gets stressed easily. She isn’t strong like you and me. She’s timid and needs to be mollycoddled. Adoption is what’s best for her and her baby.”
Evangeline got in her face. “You were dead wrong about me fucking your husband. You’re wrong about this, too. Mind your damn business, Charlene.”
When Evangeline left, she released a string of obscenities. By the time she walked through Sin’s front door, she was seething. Her evening had been an epic fail.
She found him working in the kitchen. The minute their eyes met, some of her frustration melted away. He rose, pulled her close and kissed her. Anger retreated into the background, leaving him front and center. She tightened her hold and deepened the embrace.
“How’d it go?” he asked.
When she finished telling him about her evening, he said, “Time for me to help you relax.” The wicked gleam in his eyes held her attention. “Trust me?”
“Always.”
Pulling her flush against him, he nuzzled her neck, nibbled her ear. “I want to make you come with my mouth,” he murmured.
Her breath hitched. “I love your mouth on me.” Then, her eyes turned fiery. With a tempting smile, she sauntered into the family room. Her tight, round ass capturing his complete attention. Off came her sweater, then, she tossed aside her bra.
“Fireplace on,” she said, causing the flames to ignite in the hearth.
Her throwaway command had balanced the scales. His home was now hers, too. She’d made it that way by showing him how comfortable she was in it.
As soon as she laid on the carpet, she wiggled out of her pants. Seconds later, she slid off her silky panties. Her sublime, naked perfection lay before him.
He started removing his shirt.
“Slowly,” she commanded. “I love watching you undress.”
He plucked one button at a time, then dropped the shirt over his shoulders. She released a whimper, her attention roaming over his chest. Then, he unbuckled his suit pants and stepped out of those. All that remained were his boxer briefs, which he kept on.
“Do you want me, Evan?”
She spread her legs and, with her index finger, beckoned for him. Dropping to his knees, he planked over her and breathed her in. Everything about her—from her intoxicating scent and her dreamy eyes, to the way she caressed his shoulders—pulled his heart closer. He found her completely irresistible and he couldn’t wait to sink inside hot flesh and feel her shatter around him. All he wanted to do was make her scream in ecstasy every damn chance he got.
Ignoring his throbbing erection, he kissed her. What started as a slow, lazy build ended with her undulating beneath him. Her coos and moans were soft, but ardent. “Warm enough?” he asked.
“I’m on fire,” she rasped.
He pressed his mouth to her shoulders, dropping kisses over her chest and breasts while he slid his middle finger into the wet, soft folds between her legs. When he sucked her nipples, she arched off the floor, but he pressed her back down. “Relax, baby. Let me do all the work.”
On a breathy whimper, she sank back onto the thick carpet. Working his way down her glorious body, he kissed her hot skin while stimulating her core. When he ran his tongue up her inner thigh, her urgent groans made his balls ache. Once he reached his destination, he withdrew his finger and circled her clit with the tip of his tongue. Her sounds turned throaty and she pushed herself into him, eager for more.