Page 37 of Fool Me Twice

“Are you crazy?” Her eyes widened incredulously. “You’ll have to eat both of them,” she said simply.

But just as the server appeared with their dessert, Evie’s laptop sprung to life, signalling Jaxon’s incoming video call.

“Would you mind popping it into the fridge for later, please?” Evie asked. Nodding, the server left, no doubt to face the wrath of Chef Andre.

Jaxon’s face filled the screen before the view zoomed out to include Anya. Even without a scrap of make-up on and with her hair piled loosely on top of her head in a messy bun, she still looked gorgeous. Jaxon was a lucky man, Peter thought, envying the easy intimacy between them.

“Sorry we’re late,” Jaxon said, shuffling in his seat to accommodate Anya on his lap. “Problem with the amp,” he said, looking at Peter, who nodded understandingly. “How was the food?”

“Um... great,” Evie said, then she and Peter burst into a quick rendition of “Happy Birthday”.

Jaxon lowered his head in a mock bow once they’d finished. “You two seem... happy.” He grinned at Anya, who wrapped her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek before resting her head against his. “So, what’s new with you guys?”

“Well, your dad had his final therapy session today.”

“Half a session,” Peter interrupted her. “You still owe me a massage.” He gave her a pointed look.

Evie rolled her eyes. “What do you think this is? Some kind of spa?”

Back and forth they bickered good-naturedly, as if Jaxon and Anya weren’t even there. It was only the sound of Jaxon clearing his throat and asking them to join him in a birthday toast that quietened them.

Peter quickly refilled their glasses. They clinked them together before holding them up to the screen and wishing Jaxon a happy birthday. Once they’d all taken a sip from their glasses, Jaxon took Anya’s hand and pressed it to his lips, then turned back to look at the camera.

“I... we...” He turned to smile at Anya. “We have something to tell you.”

“We’re pregnant,” they burst out simultaneously.

Evie sat there motionless, her hand clasped over her mouth.

“Pregnant?” Peter said, when Evie’s silence became a little awkward. “I can’t believe it.” He stood up, then sat back down again, shuffling in his seat like an uncoiled spring. He was going to be a grandfather. He clapped his hand to his mouth and ran it down his chin.

“I know. Can you believe it?” Jaxon turned to Evie, fear clouding his handsome face. “Mum?”

But still Evie said nothing.

Jaxon flashed a worried look at Anya. “Mum? Say something, please.”

Everyone turned to look at Evie expectantly.

A strangled sob escaped her lips, giving way to great big heaving ones. “I can’t believe I’m going to be a grandmother,” she finally managed.

Chapter twenty-one

Evie stretched lazily, basking in the warmth of Apollo’s kiss on her bare skin. The ocean’s breath whispered in her ear as it rushed the shore and she sighed contentedly, snuggling back against her pillow.

A soft snore beside her startled her, then an arm reached over, wrapped around her waist and pulled her in close.

And then it all came flooding back.

Peter and Evie had continued the celebrations long after Jaxon and Anya had signed off and gone to bed. The evening had been pleasantly warm; the conversation had flowed as freely as the wine, and past transgressions were forgiven as they wallowed in the borrowed promises of tomorrow.

It had seemed like the most natural thing in the world when Peter went to kiss her goodnight, feeling like a perfect end to such a wonderful day.

They’d laughed awkwardly when they’d bumped heads, and when Peter had leaned in a second time, she’d turned her face and somehow their lips had connected.

It was such a sweet, tender kiss it had caught her off guard. A small voice inside her head had tried to distract her with common sense and reason, begging her to stop, but the moment his lips brushed hers, she was lost.

Lost in a maelstrom of emotions, his kiss electrifying her body and rousing her senses as she melted into his arms.

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