“Can I sit with you, E-Leen?” Sammy asked.
“I’ll save you a seat right next to me,” Evangeline replied.
A sly curve graced his beautiful mouth before he headed toward the elevators, his adorable niece in his arms. Evangeline tried looking away, but she couldn’t take her eyes off his powerful stride and the expansive width of shoulders. My God, that man is so damn tempting.
“Ready to grab a seat?” Tucker asked.
“Save me one. I’ll be right in.”
Evangeline ducked into the closest restroom and retreated into a stall. Rarely rattled, she hadn’t expected to see Sinclair at this wedding. But she hadn’t expected to see him at the stakeout, either.
She’d been back three weeks and she felt like she was right back in the thick of things with him. Only this time, he wasn’t naked and between her legs. He was botching up her case and hijacking her attention at a wedding.
A rush of desire had her sucking down a few calming breaths before heading back into the lounge. She wanted a shot of vodka, but settled for water. The ice-cold drink did nothing to tamp down a fire that had been smoldering for a year. It had been impossible to get Sinclair Develin out of her system. Seeing him had reignited that flame, but there were four hundred guests she could mingle with, and she was going to make damn sure he wasn’t one of them.
3
The Wedding of the Decade
After Sin left Sammy in the watchful care of his sister-in-law, Carly Hott, he strode down the hallway to the Presidential Suite, his thoughts still stuck on the woman he’d bumped into downstairs.
Evan. Stunning, sexy-as-hell, and elusive Evan.
When he first met her, she wasn’t interested in anything beyond the kink they shared. For starters, she wouldn’t remove her mask during a scene. She refused to give him her last name, she didn’t talk about her work, and she had no interest in seeing him outside the club. The more she refused him, the more appealing she became. But it wasn’t just her rejection that drove him wild. Women chased the hell out of him, offering themselves up way too easily. He’d worked hard for everything he ever earned and he wanted to work just as hard when pursuing a woman.
From the beginning, Evan made him work for everything…her unmasked face, their conversations, their kink, and especially their sex. And when she’d offer up that occasional smile? Her breathtaking expression sent him rocketing to the fucking moon on a high he’d never found anywhere else. Jesus, what I’d do to see that again.
The chemistry had been there from the beginning, which is why he knew their special connection could extend outside their intimate world, as well.
But he never got the chance to find out.
The night he was going to ask her to have dinner with him—to step outside the club so he could get to know her—she told him her work was taking her out of the area. No promise of seeing him again, no interest in keeping in touch. Just a goodbye. And then, she was gone, as if she had never existed at all.
Six months after she left, he still thought of her. And six months after that, he couldn’t shake her from his soul. Now that she’d returned, he was going to take full advantage of the opportunity. But not before he found out who she really was and why she was watching Bethany Applegate from the apartment across the alley.
He entered the suite to find his brother straightening his bow tie.
“Does Carly have Sammy?” Dakota asked.
“Yes, and she talked to Sammy about the buddy system. Those two were holding hands when I left. Don’t worry.”
“I always worry when it comes to her,” Dakota replied.
Sin opened the three-thousand-dollar bottle of Krug Clos d’ Ambonnay 1998 champagne that had been chilling in an ice bucket, and poured five flutes. In the sixth flute he poured sparkling water. The oversized hotel suite reminded him of the house the guys—Colton, Crockett, Jagger, Maverick, Dakota—and he had shared back at Harvard. Smart-ass banter filled the room and laughter echoed off the walls. He rarely thought about the past, but as he eyed the men he loved most, he smiled.
When Dakota finished dressing, all six men gathered around. As each lifted a glass of bubbly, Sin handed the sparkling water to Jagger before taking the last flute for himself.
“Colton,” Crockett began. “Congratulations. We wish you and Brigit all the best.”
“Stick with Brigit and you’ll be good,” Maverick added. “Best thing that ever happened to you, bro.”
“She is,” Colton said with a smile. “I never thought I’d be this excited to get married, but I can’t wait to make her my wife.”
“And we’re thrilled to be a part of your special day,” Jagger added.
“Thanks,” Colton said. “You guys know I don’t talk about my feelings.” His focus passed from one man to the next. “I love you guys and I’m grateful for your friendship all these years.”
“We’re family,” Dakota added. “One great big, dysfunctional family.”
The guys laughed.
“To the six,” Sin said, holding up his flute.
“The Harvard Six,” they replied in unison before downing their champagne.
“Let’s get this man married!” Maverick boomed.
At six thirty, they headed for the elevators.
Sin fell in line beside his twin. “Who’s the woman with Tucker?”
“I thought you knew her,” Dakota replied.
“I only know her as Evan.” Sin pressed the down button. “Is that the name she gave you?”
“She introduced herself as Evangeline.”
“Last name?” Sin asked as they stepped into the elevator.
“Worthington,” Maverick replied. “She’s close friends with Carly and Brigit.”
“She just moved back to the area.” Colton tapped the first-floor button. “I think Tucker’s got a thing for her, but she’s friend-zoned him.”
Sinclair’s lips twitched, a hint of a smile dancing on the corners of his mouth. He’d stop by the office on the way home and have a full background check completed on Evangeline Worthington by morning.
“Hey, Mav, how’s the pup?” Dakota asked.
“Gigantic. He’s spending the weekend with Gunner and his family. Socializing him is part of his training.”
Sin squeezed Maverick’s shoulder. “Hey, guys, have you heard my prediction for this one?”
“What is it?” Colton asked.
“Five kids and three stinky dogs.”
Laughing, the guys piled out of the elevator and were met by a man from the wedding planner’s crew. He led them into a small salon off the ballroom where Brigit’s bridesmaids were waiting.
“Daddy!” Sammy waved and Dakota knelt to hug her.
“You look beautiful, my little angel.” He kissed her forehead. “Ready to drop those rose petals?”
“Uh-huh.” Sammy let go of Carly and picked up the basket with both hands.
Jagger broke into a smile as he made his way to Taylor. “You look amazing, babe.”
Crockett kissed his wife, Alexandra. “You are absolutely stunning.”
“There’s my gorgeous wife.” Maverick held out his arms and grinned. Laughing, Carly kissed him before modeling the dress. “You look damn good, woman.”