Page 84 of Sweet Revenge

Evie smiled. “Me too.”

“Or the rabble might mutiny.” Reagan grinned, excusing herself to follow a waiter carrying a tray of canapés.

Declan pulled her in tighter, squeezing her waist. She felt his gaze shift and spotted Finn carrying a teary-eyed, red-faced Evan in his arms, Cait trailing behind looking just as put out.

When Evan saw her, he squirmed in his father’s arms and reached for her. Evie glanced at Cait, who nodded, before taking Evan and settling him against her shoulder.

“What am I,” Declan ruffled Evan’s hair, eliciting a small smile. “Chopped liver?”

“Sometimes aunties do it better.” She rubbed small circles across Evan’s back.

“I’m going to go check in with a few things. You ok?”

“I’m fine. How many times are you going to ask me that today?”

He leaned down to press a kiss to her temple. “A lot.”

“Need me to take him?” Cait pointed at Evan once they were alone.

“No, but maybe we can…” Evie sidled over to a couch and sank down onto the edge, shifting Evan onto her lap.

“You are the hot gossip of the day, my friend.”

Evie grimaced. “So Reagan said. I hope Maura’s not upset about that.”

“No, we’ve got a bet going.”

“A bet for what?”

“To see how long it takes Declan to propose. I said by the end of the night, but Maura thinks by next weekend.”

Evie blinked, setting Evan on his feet when he squirmed to get down. She hadn’t thought quite that far ahead. She was just getting used to the idea of staying. Would she say yes if he asked her?

She was saved from having to answer that when a bell chimed and the waiters asked everyone to take their seats in the great hall for the bride and groom’s arrival. Taking Evan’s hand, Evie followed the crowd out of the library and into the ballroom with vaulted ceilings and chandeliers that sparkled like diamonds.

Someone had opened all the doors that led out onto the patio, allowing a light breeze and the sweet scent of magnolias to tease their way inside. She slid into her chair just as Maura and James made their entrance to thunderous applause, and everyone took their seats for the first dance.

It was sweet, the way they only had eyes for each other, swaying and talking as if they were the only two people in the room.

“What are you thinking about?” Declan whispered in her ear.

“I don’t know if I should answer that considering what happened the last time I did.”

His grin was quick and wicked, and she laughed. “I really should search harder for this coat closet.”

The song changed, and Evie’s gaze was drawn back to the dance floor and the father-daughter dance. A pang of sadness tightened her chest knowing she’d missed her moment with her own father, and Declan squeezed her thigh as if he understood.

“You ever come close to getting married in the last ten years?”

She met his searching gaze. “No. You?”

“Getting closer, I think,” he said, and her stomach did a slow flip. “Dance with me.”

“They’re going to serve dinner in a minute.”

He rose, holding his hand out. “I promise to make sure you eat.”

When he didn’t relent, she sighed, laying her hand in his and following him onto the dance floor. People made room for them, and he twirled her out and back as the song changed to a slow ballad.