The muffled sound of car doors slamming met her ears as she carried her packed box to stack in the hallway.
Her friend set her box by the door. “Well, you can now.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“He just arrived with Mason to help take the boxes to the resort.”
Damn . Was there anywhere she could go where she wouldn’t run into the guy?
“It’ll be okay,” Jill reassured.
But before Phoebe could respond, or panic, the door swung open and two tall, dark-haired, brown-eyed handsome men strode in. One shut the door then stiffened as he stared at her, the other walked right up to Jill, cupped her face, and kissed her as if he hadn’t seen her in years. Decades.
A really, really long time.
With a grin tugging her mouth, she turned and quietly walked back into the kitchen to let the couple have their privacy. Apparently, Ethan felt the same, because he entered the kitchen a few seconds behind her, gaze bouncing around the chaos of boxes and bubble-foam packing.
“You’ve been busy,” he observed, nodding toward a few empty cupboards.
She’d rather talk about last night, but they weren’t alone. “Yes. I came straight here after rehearsal.”
“Hi, Phoebe. Thanks for helping Jill,” Mason said, walking in and around the table to kiss her on the cheek. “Take a break. We’re going to run to her cousin’s pizza shop and grab some supper for the four us. We’ll be back in a bit.”
A second later, she was alone with Ethan.
Sighing, he shook his head. “Sorry about that. They’re about as subtle as a jackhammer.”
“It’s okay.” She held his gaze. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I wasn’t supposed to, but Keiffer backed out. Said he’d forgotten and made other plans, but I think he just didn’t want to leave his room.”
Her heart squeezed for the youngest Wyne, and the oldest. “So, you stepped up, even though you were busy.”
“How’d you know I was busy?”
She laughed. “Because you’re you. Father, coach, guide, guardsman, son, brother.”
He shrugged. “So are a lot of other men.”
“True, but not all of them just get off work and fit in helping his brother’s fiancée move before he has to coach his son’s little league team.”
Surprise washed over his face that she knew all that, but he remained quiet, not disputing her claim. Because it was true. And, God, she hated that she was adding to the stress in his life.
“Look, Ethan, about last night…I’m sorry. I had no idea he was your son when I agreed to meet him and his friends by the fire pit.”
His jaw clenched and unclenched. “I know. But I hope you understand now, Phoebe. You saw how Tyler was with you. It’s just too dangerous to feed him false hope.” He shoved a hand through his hair, then blew out a breath and met her gaze. “I feel really bad for asking, but could you please stay away from him?”
Her heart squeezed. “Of course.” She nodded. “That’s why I’m here tonight. Figured it was safer to head back to the resort a little later.”
“I appreciate it. But I still feel like a grade A jerk.”
“Hey, don’t.” She stepped close to touch his arm. “I get it. I really do. Tyler’s a great little boy, Ethan. He’s bright, kind, and considerate. You’ve done an amazing job with him.”
His head snapped back and brown gaze narrowed with shock, which slowly turned to appreciation. “Thanks.”
Her heart squeezed tighter at the gratitude ruling his features. “No one really tells you that, do they?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Except my sister.”
“Well, she’s right, and you need to know what a great job you’re doing.” She wanted to say more, but the warmth and longing in his gaze sucked the cells from her brain.
A second later, she didn’t know who made the first move, but they were in each other’s arms, kissing long and deep, as if they hadn’t seen each other in days. Weeks.
A really, really long time.
Damn, he tasted good. All hot and
Her friend set her box by the door. “Well, you can now.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
“He just arrived with Mason to help take the boxes to the resort.”
Damn . Was there anywhere she could go where she wouldn’t run into the guy?
“It’ll be okay,” Jill reassured.
But before Phoebe could respond, or panic, the door swung open and two tall, dark-haired, brown-eyed handsome men strode in. One shut the door then stiffened as he stared at her, the other walked right up to Jill, cupped her face, and kissed her as if he hadn’t seen her in years. Decades.
A really, really long time.
With a grin tugging her mouth, she turned and quietly walked back into the kitchen to let the couple have their privacy. Apparently, Ethan felt the same, because he entered the kitchen a few seconds behind her, gaze bouncing around the chaos of boxes and bubble-foam packing.
“You’ve been busy,” he observed, nodding toward a few empty cupboards.
She’d rather talk about last night, but they weren’t alone. “Yes. I came straight here after rehearsal.”
“Hi, Phoebe. Thanks for helping Jill,” Mason said, walking in and around the table to kiss her on the cheek. “Take a break. We’re going to run to her cousin’s pizza shop and grab some supper for the four us. We’ll be back in a bit.”
A second later, she was alone with Ethan.
Sighing, he shook his head. “Sorry about that. They’re about as subtle as a jackhammer.”
“It’s okay.” She held his gaze. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I wasn’t supposed to, but Keiffer backed out. Said he’d forgotten and made other plans, but I think he just didn’t want to leave his room.”
Her heart squeezed for the youngest Wyne, and the oldest. “So, you stepped up, even though you were busy.”
“How’d you know I was busy?”
She laughed. “Because you’re you. Father, coach, guide, guardsman, son, brother.”
He shrugged. “So are a lot of other men.”
“True, but not all of them just get off work and fit in helping his brother’s fiancée move before he has to coach his son’s little league team.”
Surprise washed over his face that she knew all that, but he remained quiet, not disputing her claim. Because it was true. And, God, she hated that she was adding to the stress in his life.
“Look, Ethan, about last night…I’m sorry. I had no idea he was your son when I agreed to meet him and his friends by the fire pit.”
His jaw clenched and unclenched. “I know. But I hope you understand now, Phoebe. You saw how Tyler was with you. It’s just too dangerous to feed him false hope.” He shoved a hand through his hair, then blew out a breath and met her gaze. “I feel really bad for asking, but could you please stay away from him?”
Her heart squeezed. “Of course.” She nodded. “That’s why I’m here tonight. Figured it was safer to head back to the resort a little later.”
“I appreciate it. But I still feel like a grade A jerk.”
“Hey, don’t.” She stepped close to touch his arm. “I get it. I really do. Tyler’s a great little boy, Ethan. He’s bright, kind, and considerate. You’ve done an amazing job with him.”
His head snapped back and brown gaze narrowed with shock, which slowly turned to appreciation. “Thanks.”
Her heart squeezed tighter at the gratitude ruling his features. “No one really tells you that, do they?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Except my sister.”
“Well, she’s right, and you need to know what a great job you’re doing.” She wanted to say more, but the warmth and longing in his gaze sucked the cells from her brain.
A second later, she didn’t know who made the first move, but they were in each other’s arms, kissing long and deep, as if they hadn’t seen each other in days. Weeks.
A really, really long time.
Damn, he tasted good. All hot and
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