Page 26 of In this Moment

ChapterSix

He’d spent the morning at a quiet table in the corner of Dream Puff’s trying to get some work done for DAR, but with the crackerjack team he’d put in place, there wasn’t much to be done, which was probably a good thing. No, it most certainly was a good thing. Because Declan couldn’t concentrate if his life depended onit.

His thoughts continually drifted toEvie.

Waking up to see her watchinghim.

Feeling the uncontrollable surge of need to protect her when he’d heard Tony’s voice in the kitchen.

Holding her close against his bare chest.

Kissing herneck.

Breathing in her scent.

Fighting with himself to pull her to him and crush his lips to hers in a kiss that told her exactly how he was feeling.

Every moment of their morning played over and over again in his head until finally the ringing of his cell phone woke him from the trance he wasin.

He answered without looking at the call display.

“Hey. Where are you?” Mitch asked without preamble. “Ian said you didn’t go home last night.”

“I needed some time.” He didn’t answer the question.

“Look.” Mitch took a breath. “We’re sorry. We’re all sorry. We acted like jerks and you’re exactly right—you’ve been nothing but supportive and we should have done thesame.”

“You shouldhave.”

Mitch chuckled. “We want to make it up toyou.”

“How’s that?” Declan grinned. He couldn’t stay mad at his brothers. Not really. But it didn’t mean he couldn’t give them a hard time. “Paying for the honeymoon?”

“Will you settle for dinner? Jade wants to have you both over so we can properly welcome Evie into the family.”

Declan felt a twinge of guilt at the idea that Evie was never going to be a proper part of the family, but he pushed it away. A dinner with his brothers and their partners would be fun, and after the morning she’d just had, Evie needed a little fun. “That sounds good. When?”

“Tomorrow night? Jade said something about today being a busy day filming on set so everyone will probably need a little break by tomorrow night.”

Jade was producing Gwen and Ian’s show, Mr. Summer that Cal was starring in, making Mr. Summer a real family affair.

“Tomorrow night should work.” Declan closed his laptop and started to put his papers away as he spoke. “I’ll check with Evie and make sure it works forher.”

“And of course Jonah is welcometoo.”

“Of course.”

It hadn’t even occurred to him that they’d go for dinner without Jonah. He and Evie were a team. Now the three of them were ateam.

Fornow.

And that team, no matter how temporary, had a very important job in a few minutes. Evie was going to bring Jonah by a bit early before Tony was meant to show up so she could prepare him for meeting his father.

“Mitch, I appreciate your call and I’ll let you know about dinner as soon as I talk to Evie, okay?”

“Okay.”

Declan could hear the hesitation in his brother’s voice. “Is there something else?” He wanted to be a good brother, but just then Evie and Jonah walked into the bakery. He stood and waved so she’d see him. “I really need to get going.”

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