Irresistible In Love

“It’s been a busy holiday season,” she said, even though they both knew the crux of her problems centered on her sister. “People needed lots of last-minute therapy sessions to make it through.” She let out a small laugh, one without much humor. “I could have used some emergency sessions myself.”

“We all could have,” Daniel agreed. Again, she knew they were both talking about Whitney, even if they weren’t saying her name aloud. “In fact, I’m pretty sure there’s nothing that can’t be cured with one of my signature Top-Notch cocktails.”

Paige groaned, remembering the hangover she’d had the last time she let him make her one of his extremely potent concoctions. But maybe the alcohol would help. Maybe it would make her brave.

Brave enough to not only kiss Evan again…but to finally tell him what was deep inside her heart.

Chapter Six

Evan’s hopes and dreams for happily ever after might have bitten the dust—but that didn’t mean he believed the same was in store for Will. He’d seen the pure love in Harper’s eyes. No one could fake that. He’d never doubted Harper, never doubted Will.

It was his own judgment he doubted.

The group of well-wishers around Will and Harper was still too large to wade into, so Evan watched from the side of the room. In the opposite corner of the living room, Daniel was mixing a drink for Paige. Probably his “famous” Top-Notch cocktail.

Despite knowing better, Evan couldn’t stop his gaze from tracking the formfitting lines of the sea green dress Paige wore. Her natural beauty—especially when she laughed at something Daniel said to her—was enough to steal Evan’s breath right out of his chest.

He’d forced himself to step away from her last night, but he hadn’t been able to stop their intense and heated kiss from following him into his dreams. In the dark of his mind while he’d slept, he’d tasted her again, steeped himself in her scent and the seductive feel of her curves pressed against him.

Bob clapped him on the back, breaking Evan out of his forbidden longings. “Nifty wedding, wasn’t it?”

Evan smiled. “Best Maverick wedding yet.”

Bob didn’t let go of Evan’s shoulder as he turned serious. “I’m glad you apologized to your mom. I know things are rough on you right now, but she was real hurt when you didn’t come home for Christmas.”

Guilt twisted in Evan’s belly. “I was wrong. She didn’t deserve that. And neither did you.”

“Takes a man to admit when he’s wrong. We all love you, and we’re rooting for you. Things are gonna work out in the long run. Don’t let that bi—” Bob stopped himself before the word came out. “Sorry. Susan would let me have it for cussing on the wedding day. Just remember we’ve got your back.”

All the Mavericks did. Just as he had theirs.

But what would they say if they’d seen his kiss with Paige last night out on the deck? Where would all their sympathy and understanding go if they’d witnessed him turning from his wife to her sister in barely the blink of an eye?

Surely, if anyone had caught so much as a whiff of the passionate kiss, they’d be all over him now. And he’d deserve every last ounce of their censure.

On the far side of the room, Matt and Ari joined Paige and Daniel. Noah held his arms out for Paige, and as she hauled him up, she whispered something that made the little boy laugh.

“He’s a cutie, isn’t he?” Bob observed. “That kid’s the apple of his dad’s eye. And he loves Ari to absolute pieces.”

But Evan wasn’t looking at Ari. He couldn’t take his eyes off Paige. She was so good with Noah, with kids in general. She’d chosen family therapy because she loved bringing families back together. He had no doubt that she would make a wonderful mother one day. Unlike her sister…

“Looks like the throng is thinning out,” Bob said, herding Evan to the arbor beneath which Harper and Will stood.

They looked so good together. He truly couldn’t be happier for them.

“Harper.” Evan enfolded Will’s bride in his arms and hugged her hard. “There was never a prettier bride.”

He shook hands with Will, then pulled him into a hug as well. “You done good. Real good. And Jeremy certainly approves.”

Harper smiled with a fond look across the room at Jeremy, who was circling Noah, his arms out like airplane wings, making the boy giggle. “Jeremy had Will picked out even before I did.”

“I’ve always said your brother’s got damn good taste,” Will said on a happy laugh.

The photographer signaled then, indicating it was time for family pictures. The slim gray-haired man arranged them all in front of the fireplace, with Will and Harper central in the arbor, Jeremy on Harper’s right, and everyone else fanning out from there. Charlie and Sebastian stood hand in hand by Francine’s walker. Matt and Ari surrounded Noah. Daniel and Lyssa stood next to their parents.

Evan tried not to feel like the odd man out.

“Paige, what are you doing back there?” Will called to her from across the room. “Get over here.”

“But…it’s just family.”

Will gave her a look like she was nuts. “That’s why we want you here.”

Susan added, “Don’t be silly, dear. You’ll always be family.”

They all joined in. The only one who couldn’t find his voice was Evan.