I braced myself against the wall as I came down, slowly returning to the cold reality of the situation.
I was alone in my shower, and while that had been an oh-so-necessary release, it didn’t even put a dent into the perverse thoughts I was still having about Evie. It had been nothing more than a bodily function, like eating or sleeping. My dick knew what it wanted, and it was already perking back to life as images of her floated back into my mind.
“God damn it,” I muttered, shoving away from the wall in frustration.
I washed up and hosed off the tile before stepping out of the shower, filled with a restless energy I couldn’t control. If I didn’t get a handle on this, it wasn’t just my own comfort and sanity at stake. Soon enough, Cullen was going to get his head out of his ass long enough to see what was right in front of him. There had to be a way for Evie and me to act normal in front of him, and I needed to figure out how to do that, and fast.
I was just shoving my legs into a pair of gym pants to go for a run when my cell phone chirped to life.
PAM: Hey, bro. Dinner tomorrow, turkey and all the fixings. Five o’clock. Be there or be square. And don’t mention Winnie’s missing tooth. She’s feeling sensitive about it.
In spite of my black mood, the text from my older sister made me grin, and I tapped out a quick reply.
SMITH: I’ll be there. And don’t worry, I’ll make sure not to mention the kid’s tooth.
I set the phone down as I slid on my sneakers and laced up.
Maybe I’d been going about this whole Evie thing all wrong. Maybe instead of being alone like some sort of hermit, I needed to get out and be around people I cared about. Once old Uncle Smith played tea party and was ridden like a pony for a few hours, surely he’d stop thinking about Evie.
That decided, I set out for my run. I wouldn’t come back until my legs shook with fatigue. Then I’d get a good night’s sleep and head out to the mall to buy some toys for my niece and nephews, and leave all thoughts of Evie Reed deep down the drain of my shower stall, where they belonged.
? ? ?
“You look ridiculuth,” she stated flatly.
I fixed a hurt expression on my face as I popped a squat to get eye level with my niece, Winnie. “That’s a little harsh. I think I look pretty good. Besides, I got lots of loot from the tooth fairy for this, so if I have to look silly for a while, I can handle it.”
Winnie propped a hand on one hip and eyed my blacked-out front tooth that mirrored her own newly emancipated one, her cherubic face screwed up in suspicion. For a second, I was sure she was going to reach out and scratch at it, and I’d be busted.
Instead, she asked, “What did you get from the tooth fairy?”
“Loads of stuff,” I said with a grin. “A new video game and a remote control car, some cookies and—”
“All I got wath a dollar,” she said mournfully.
“Funny you should mention that.” I stood and pulled a wrapped package from behind my back. “The tooth fairy left this mixed in with my packages. I wonder if she forgot to leave it when you lost your tooth the other night?”
Winnie’s chubby cheeks widened into a smile, showcasing one deep dimple that made my heart melt a little every time I saw it.
“For me?”
She was only five, but she was wicked smart. Smart enough to know every word I’d said was a lie, but opting to go along with it anyway because . . . presents.
I nodded. “Yup.”
She squealed and tore into the package like a starving rottweiler into a rotisserie chicken.
“Hello, darling brother. You just won’t be happy unless she’s spoiled rotten, will you?” my sister Pam asked, rolling her eyes as she padded barefoot down the hall toward me.
Her youngest, Mac, was parked on her hip in his preferred spot, and she wiped her free hand on her Wicked Witch of the West apron before pulling me into a one-armed hug.
“It’s been too long, brother mine,” she murmured.
The scent of fresh-baked bread filled my nose as I nodded in agreement, hugging her back.
“I had that work trip and started the new job working for Cullen, so time has been scarce. But I’ll be around more now, so I won’t miss Saturday dinner again for a while.”
She punched me lightly on the shoulder and tucked a long lock of brown hair behind her ear. She looked every bit a flower-child, go-with-the-flow hippie, but also ran a successful bakery. With three kids, a dog, and a husband who was a great guy but rather like a big kid himself at times, she truly was a marvel.
It was only now, as I looked closer, that I noted the dark circles under her eyes, and concern pricked at me hard. She was usually like Wonder Woman, with boundless energy that helped her manage on five hours of sleep, no sweat.
“What’s up? Everything okay with you and Tim?” I asked gently.
“Yeah, he’s great.”
Her smile was strained, and my concern expanded into a sharp jab of fear.