When They Weren't Looking: Wardham Book #3 by Zoe York Read Free Book Online

was coming to him.
    He might not be so happy after tonight.
    “Liam,” she smoothed a pleasant smile across her face, knowing they weren’t alone. “Are you having a good time?”
    “Thank you, yes.” His lips twitched. Standing in the long afternoon shadow of the farmhouse there was no glare to avoid, but she glanced down at her feet all the same. His penetrating gaze was just as bad as the sun—the warmth deceptively inviting.
    “Listen, I wanted to introduce you to someone.” She placed her hand on his elbow to steer him to a more private conversation spot, but instantly regretted the touch. His shirt was thin, and just above where her fingers rested, his biceps bunched and shifted as they stepped away. The urge to curve her palm northward and caress his muscles was…stupid. It was entirely ridiculous for her to be thinking about sex right now. Or seeing Liam naked, touching him while dressed, or wishing he would kiss her. Trouble was, she had a searingly bright memory of all of that from six weeks earlier, and logic and reason wouldn’t dislodge it from her brain.
    As they walked, she lowered her voice. “The kids will be with their dad tonight. You could come over if you’d like to talk sooner than next week.”
    He paused before responding. “What made you change your mind? Never mind, don’t answer that. I’ll take it.”
    “I live on Elm, it’s the smallest—”
    “I know where you live, Evie.”
    She wanted to think that was creepy, but his warm, low words filled her with an annoying amount of pleasure. Focus, Calhoun . This was not the time to want more of the boy wonder.
    “I’ll be there at eight. Now, shall we find someone for you to introduce me to?”

CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
    Liam left the party shortly after they spoke. Evie didn’t have the same luxury, but as her mother organized a third round of food to be set out around dinner time, she finally begged off. Laney ran interference, and walked her to her car.
    “You okay?”
    “Just tired.”
    They stopped at the end of the tree-lined lane and took in the summer evening. A dozen cars remained, but the air was still and quiet around them. Laney took a deep breath, and launched into a staccato, stream-of-consciousness reach-out. “Because if you need anything, anything at all, you know I’m here for you. If you need money, or help at the studio, I mean, I can’t do that after this week, but Kyle looks good in a pair of shorts, and while I want him to come home with me, and we close on the new house soon, we could still manage if you want—”
    “I’m pregnant.”
    Laney snapped her lips shut and held them there, questions obviously bouncing around on her tongue, but she was putting her best non-judgmental face forward and waiting.
    “It’s a long story, and I wanted to wait until after your party—”
    “It’s technically over, so spill.” Laney squeezed her sister’s hand. “Are you okay?”
    Evie nodded. “It’s early still. Happened six weeks ago. Might not take, you never know.”
    “But you want to keep it?” Laney knew Evie had always wanted a large family.
    She nodded. “Is that stupid? I’m just getting back on my feet…”
    “Not stupid. Difficult, maybe, but you’ll make it work. When are you due?”
    Evie filled her in on all the details. All but one.
    “And the father?”
    She took a deep breath. “Funny story…” She glanced over at Ted’s farm. “That guy? The one in the bar in Toronto. Turns out, his uncle lives across the road.”
    Laney lost her typical cool and shrieked.
    Evie grabbed her sister and dragged her the last few steps to her station wagon.
    “Nobody can hear us, settle down.” Laney laughed. “ So does he know?”
    “Of course he knows!” She took a deep breath. “No way could I hide it from him. I acted like a total idiot when he showed up at my studio, actually, and that tipped him off. I guess it wasn’t a big leap to the source of my panic.”
    “Wow. He was a cool