Wishing for the Girl Next Door (Piney Brook Wishes Book 3)

16. Evan

I turn around quickly, and Brant and Daniel scramble to get out of sight. I laugh and grab Karlee’s hand. “Come on, come meet the guys.”

I take her inside the shop, careful to keep her out of the messy areas. Brant and Daniel lean over the hood of the nearest car, acting like they are deep in a discussion.

“Give it up, you two. We already saw you.”

Brant stands and grins. “Sorry, we were just curious about the woman who has Evan all tied up in knots.”

Karlee looks at me and smirks. “Really? Tell me more.”

Daniel laughs. “I can see why he likes you.”

“Thanks, I think.” Karlee laughs, and the sound is music to my ears.

“Brant, Daniel, this is Karlee. Karlee, these two knuckleheads are my co-workers and friends, Brant and Daniel.”

“Nice to meet you, finally,” Karlee says, shaking both of their hands. “Brant, you have a son, Liam, right?”

Brant nods. “Sure do.” He pulls his wallet from his back pocket and shows Karlee a picture from his wedding day. I’d normally think that was cheesy, but these days, I find myself liking the cheesy stuff.

“And you have a daughter, Elli, am I right?” she asks Daniel.

“Yes, but I don’t have a picture in my wallet like this guy.” Daniel laughs and playfully punches Brant’s arm.

“No, but he’s got a ton of pictures of her in magnetic picture frames all over his toolbox,” I say, giving him a pointed look. “Don’t act like you’re not just as proud of Elli as Brant is of Liam.”

Daniel laughs. “You’re right.” He goes to his toolbox and grabs a frame from the box. “Here she is.” He shows Karlee the picture.

“They’re cute kids.” She hands him back the frame.

“You’ll have to meet them sometime,” Brant says, shooting me a meaningful look. “I’m sure Morgan and Reese would love to get to know you, too.”

“All in good time,” I say, shaking my head. “We just started dating. Don’t scare her off yet.”

Daniel laughs. “It was nice to meet you, Karlee. I hope we see you again soon.”

Brant says something similar, and Karlee responds politely.

After saying goodbye to the guys, Karlee says she needs to go get ready for work.

“I’ll walk you to your car,” I say, setting the cookie container on my toolbox.

“Thanks for introducing me to them. They seem like great friends.”

“They are,” I say, smiling. “Usually. I’m sorry if they were overwhelming.”

She stops at her car and turns to me. “They were great, really. I’d love to meet Morgan and Reese sometime.”

“In that case, how would you feel about having dinner with everyone Sunday afternoon? You’re off right?” I ask.

“I am. Are you sure you’re ready for that?” she asks.

“Why not? Are you already planning on breaking up with me?”

She blushes. “No, but—well, we haven’t exactly defined this.” She waves her finger between us. “I mean. Are we exclusively dating, or open to dating other people, or...”

I step closer to her. “Karlee,” she stops talking and looks up at me. “I’d like to be exclusive if that works for you.”

She nods. “I don’t date more than one person anyway, so that works for me.”

My hand cups her cheek. “I’d like to kiss you. Is that okay?”

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “Yes,” she says in a breathy whisper.

Leaning closer, I brush my lips across hers. The electricity bouncing between us takes me by surprise. Her soft lips press into mine, and I feel like I’m vibrating.

After a few moments, we part. Her eyes are glassy, and her cheeks pink. It’s my new favorite look on her.

“That was . . .” She stops, searching for the right word. “Amazing.”

I drop my forehead to hers. “You’re amazing, Karlee. Now you should go get ready for work or I’ll keep you here kissing you goodbye all day. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

She nods. “Tomorrow.”

I open her car door, and she slides inside. “Drive safe.” I close her door and step back, watching her pull out of the driveway with my heart in the palm of her hand.

Daniel is leaning against my toolbox, a chocolate chip cookie in his hand, when I finally make it back inside.

“What took you so long?” he asks, biting into the cookie and groaning. “These are so good. You should try one,” he says, handing me the container.

“Yeah, that was supposed to be for me.” I chuckle and take a cookie before putting the container back on the toolbox. “I was helping Karlee to her car.”

He laughs, bits of cookie flying out of his mouth. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

I swallow my bite of cookie and frown. “What are you talking about?”

“Come on, Evan. I saw you give her a goodbye kiss. You must really like her for you to introduce her to us and kiss her in public.” Daniel sits down on the rolling stool I have in my bay and crosses his legs. “Spill it.”

“Wait!” Brant calls, running from the office. “Wait for me. I had a call.” He rushes into my bay, holding a folding chair. He flips it open and sits down. “Pass me one of those,” he says, pointing to Daniel’s cookie. “Then I’ll be ready.”

Daniel passes Brant a cookie, and they both look at me expectantly.

I hold up my hands in defense. “I don’t know what this is—some kind of intervention or something?”

They laugh.

“I’m serious, guys,” I say, taking the cookie container and locking it in a drawer. “What’s going on?”

“You tell us,” Brant says, happily munching on the cookie. “You’ve always said you’re not settling down. After Louise, we both thought you were done with women. I know that hurt.”

“Wait.” I hold up my hand to stop him. “You knew about Louise?”

Daniel and Brant share a look.

“Evan, it made the papers,” Daniel says matter-of-factly.

“You two had been dating a long time, so naturally people talked,” Brant said.

“Great.” I grab a wrench and duck under the hood of the car I was working on. I knew there’d been gossip, but I’d hoped it hadn’t made its way through everyone in Piney Brook.

“No one blames you, Evan,” Daniel says. “She made her own choices that night.”

“We’re just thrilled to see you opening up again, Evan. I know how important family is to you.” Brant frowns. “I didn’t mean to open an old wound, but you need to know that wasn’t on you. You didn’t fail her.”

I sigh. “Logically, I know you’re right, but it still stings.”

“So, tell us about Karlee,” Daniel says, trying to lighten the mood.

I smile. “She’s great. She is funny, caring, and easy to talk to . . .”

“By the kiss in the parking lot, and how happy you’ve been this week, am I to assume you’ve already been on a date?” Brant smiles encouragingly.

“Yeah, I took her to the lookout. We had a picnic, watched the sunset, and danced under the stars. It was the best date I’ve ever had.”

Daniel stands and slaps my shoulder. “My guy! I think I’m going to steal that idea.”

I laugh. “Go ahead, I’m sure it’s been done a million times.” I sway a bit, remembering how she felt in my arms. “She’s honestly the most laid-back woman I’ve ever met. We have a lot in common, including not really being into the bar scene like most people our age.”

Daniel and Brant nod. “I’m sure that’s important after all you’ve been through.”

“It is.”

“So, will she be at dinner Sunday?” Daniel asks, crossing his fingers and holding them in the air.

“Yeah, I asked her before she left. She said she’d come.”

Brant stands and folds the chair back up. “Well, that means I need to tell Morgan to plan for one more.” He turns to walk away, rubbing his hands together delightedly. “I’m happy for you, Evan. You deserve this.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I just nod my head in acceptance.

“So,” Daniel says mischievously. “It appears I’m not the only one who is—what did you call it? Love drunk?”

I shake my head at his antics. “No one said anything about the L word.”

“No,” he says in agreement. “But you did once say you won’t bring anyone around unless it’s serious.” He raises his eyebrows. “Are you saying this isn’t serious?”

I blush. “I don’t know what it is. Somewhere in the middle?”

He laughs. “Okay, whatever you say. By the way, I’m taking off early today. Elli is with Heather, and Reese is finishing up early today. I guess she and Morgan got the classroom all set up in record time.”

I nod and toss him a rag. “Don’t forget to clean up before you see her. She might not like the smell of grease.” I pinch my nose as if he stinks, and laugh.

“Get back to work,” he says, snapping a shop towel at me. “See you Sunday.”

“Are you sure it’s okay that I’m here,” Karlee asks as we get out of the truck at Brant’s house Sunday afternoon.

“Of course,” I say, kissing her nose. “Besides, I want you to meet Morgan and Reese, and the kids.”

She nods. “Okay.”

I reach into the bed of the truck and pull out the box of things I brought for Elli and Liam. Some bubbles, play dough, and a game they can play outside.

“Do you always bring things for the kids?” Karlee asks.

“No, but they love it when I do,” I say, and grin.

We walk into the house, and the talking stops. “Well, hello there. Don’t stop on our account,” I say, shaking my head. Could they be anymore obvious?

Morgan steps forward and draws Karlee into a hug. “You must be Karlee. We’ve heard so much about you.”

“You have?” Karlee and I ask at the same time.

Morgan laughs. “Brant and Daniel have been telling us for weeks about this new neighbor that had Evan tied up in knots. I can see why. You’re absolutely gorgeous.”

“Thank you,” Karlee says, leaning into my side.

“Hi, I’m Reese.” Thankfully, she gives Karlee a bit more space.

“Nice to meet you both.”

Just then, the back door slides open with a bang and Elli and Liam come rushing in. “Uncle Evan! Where’s your new girlfriend?” Elli calls from the kitchen.

Everyone snickers, and Karlee blushes.

“We’re in here Elli,” Reese calls.

Elli and Liam skid to a stop in front of Karlee. “Hello,” Elli says quietly.

“Karlee, this is Elli,” I say, reaching out and ruffling her hair. “And this handsome gentleman is Liam.”

Liam waves from his spot behind Elli.

“Nice to meet you,” Karlee says, dropping to their level. “I hear you have your Uncle Evan wrapped around your finger.” She winks at the kids.

“Yeah,” Liam says. “He’s the funnest.”

“Hey,” Brant calls from his spot near the stove.

“Sorry, Daddy,” Liam says before grabbing Elli’s hand and dragging her back outside.

“So, those were the kids,” Morgan says, laughing. “Why don’t you come sit down with us on the porch? The guys are cooking tonight.”

Karlee looks at me, and I shrug.

“That sounds great.”

The girls step out the sliding glass door, and I lean against the counter watching Karlee settle into an adirondack chair.

“You really have it bad,” Daniel says, passing me a bottle of water.

“But, to be fair, we all do,” Brant says. He hands me a knife and points to the counter where the ingredients for a salad are all laid out. “Mind making the salad?”

I get started chopping vegetables and throwing them in the bowl. Laughter drifts through the open window, and I sneak a peek at the three women relaxing outside.

“They seem to be getting along,” Daniel says, adding sauce to the browned meat.

“I’m glad. Karlee doesn’t know a lot of people here yet.” I glance out the window and catch her with her head tilted back, the sun shining on her face, and smile. “She could use some good friends, I think.”

A few minutes later, Brant has dinner on the table, and a smaller foldout table set up for Liam and Elli. Daniel goes outside and calls everyone in while I pull the garlic bread from the oven.

“What are we having?” Liam asks, plopping into his seat at the smaller table.

“Spaghetti,” Brant says, putting two plates on the table for the kids.

I add a piece of garlic bread to each plate before setting the tray on the adult table.

Karlee stands off to the side, while everyone else takes a seat. I pull out the chair next to me. “You can sit here, sunshine.”