It's About Time (Hunt Family #5) (3 page)

"Oh my goodness," she cooed in her smooth, southern accent as she squeezed Evan from behind. "I heard you almost died in a motorcycle crash. That is just sooo sad."

Evan shifted on his stool so he could look at her.

Jemma, without permission or warning, reached out and ran a finger over Evan's eyebrow when she saw his scar. "This must be from the accident," she said in that same cooing, southern drawl.

Evan thought it was a statement and not question, but Jemma just stood there like she was waiting for Evan to respond.

"Yep," he said.

"I'm so sorry that happened," she said.

"Thanks," he said simply, hoping the conversation would soon be over.

"Hey, are you in town for a while?" she asked.

"I'm not really sure," he said. "I've been here for a while, but I'm not sure how much longer I'll stay."

At that point, Jemma asked Annabel for a pen and a scrap piece of paper so she could write down her phone number. She also added that she was newly divorced and would be into "partying" anytime.

Chapter 3

Hello, I'm Annabel

—the one Evan didn't remember

"Like shooting fish in a barrel," I said, doing my best to stifle a smile as Jemma Richardson walked back to her table after talking to Evan Hunt. He was gracious, but I could tell he was less than thrilled to see his old friend. "There are at least two other women who want to come over here," I said, after glancing around the dining room, "but they're not quite as brave as Jemma."

Evan sighed and turned to stare at his grandma with a smile. "I can do this," he said.

She patted his hand, and I instinctually began wiping the adjacent counter top so that I wouldn't interrupt a private moment.

"I can do it," he repeated.

I was looking down, but I could tell his voice was directed toward me. I glanced up to find that he was regarding me with a smile.

"You can do what?" I asked.

"I can interact with other human beings after six weeks of Netflix at my parents' house."

"Your mama said you've been doing your physical therapy and lifting weights every day," Dee-dee said, thinking he was saying he'd been a lazy bum the whole time.

"I'm talking about interacting with other humans," Evan said.

"I think you're doing just fine," I said, studying his face with great interest. His whole appearance was perfect—just the way I'd design a guy—slightly dangerous, male handsomeness at it's finest. His long hair was pulled into a manbun on the back of his head, and he had some stubble growing on his jawline. I hadn't been kidding when I said his scar added to his appeal. It was unmistakably there, but it was perfectly placed in such a way that flattered the structure of his face.

"Can you believe she reached out and touched it just now?" he asked, still looking at me.

To my own horror, I realized I'd been staring at his scar and he was now referring to
it
as if he knew that's what I was looking at.

"It's, I'm…" I stammered… "I told you it looks good on you," I said. I took the towel off of my shoulder and used it to pretend whip Evan with the end of it. "And
you
pinched my cheek a minute ago, so don't try to act like you're not into random face touching," I said, playfully trying to say anything to distract from my stuttering.

That made Evan let out a laugh. "I was just trying to help you get that flour off of your face," he said.

I glanced at Dee-dee with an
is there really flour
look on my face, and she nodded reluctantly. I shifted my gaze toward Evan again with narrowed eyes. "You were not getting flour off my face," I said. "That's a gentle, dusting motion. You flat out pinched me like my Uncle Mark does when he sees me at Christmas."

"Maybe I did pinch you," Evan said, laughing a little. "I couldn't help it."

I could hear his grandma add, "She's a cutie-pie, isn't she?" but I had already turned to help someone who had just come through the door and walked to the register to order.

Evan and his grandma carried on a conversation while I helped the other customer, and I walked over to them once I was done. "I never did put in an order for you guys," I said, looking at Evan since I knew what his grandma wanted.

"I never told you what I wanted," he said with an easy grin

My stomach flipped at the sight of it, and I glanced downward by instinct. Sheer nerves prompted me to wipe the already clean counter. Evan reached out to stop my hand in mid swipe, and I looked up to meet his eyes when he did.

He was smiling.

His big hand was covering mine, and I felt a surge of electricity that made an uncontrollable smile spread across my face.

"What'll it be?" I asked.
Was I breathless?
I slid my hand out from under his as I stood up straight and looked over my shoulder. "Let me grab the phone," I said, even though it wasn't ringing. "Do you know what you want?" I asked, making eye contact with Evan before I walked away.

"You choose," he said smiling.

"Salty or sweet?" I asked.

"Salty."

I nodded and smiled before walking away. I stopped in the kitchen and put in an order for a chicken fried steak biscuit with egg and cheese and a side of home fries. For Dee-dee, I asked for her favorite blueberry biscuit. The order was placed within a matter of seconds as I passed through the kitchen and continued down the short hallway that led to the office.

Our cordless phone had two headsets. One of them was out front next to the register, but I grabbed the other one so that I could walk out there with it in my hand and not seem like I just came to the back for nothing. I knew I couldn't stay gone for long, but I had to catch my breath.

I had always sort of looked up to Evan for being brave enough to leave town and go pursue his dreams like he did. I had always been too scared to be an adventurer like that, and I sort of idolized him because of it. And don't even get me started on the way he looked.

I was close enough friends with his sister and Paige that I knew he had a new scar on his face, but I hadn't expected to love the looks of it. I hadn't expected him to come in this morning at all. I certainly hadn't expected him to put his hand on mine and for it to have electrical repercussions.

I let out a long sigh since there was nobody in the office to hear me. The only other person who could work the register was on break, so I knew I had to get back out front. I had only given myself about thirty seconds to take a deep breath and gather my wits, but it would have to be enough.

There was a small mirror by the door and I glanced at it just to make sure the flour wasn't in some place really embarrassing like coming out of my nose. There was just a little and it was on my cheek, so I decided to give it a quick swipe with the back of my hand and not really care if I didn't get it all.

There was an order ready when I went through the kitchen, and I picked it up to bring it to one of the tables.

"I'll be right back with your drinks," I said, mostly to Dee-dee as I walked by balancing plates on my hands and arms. She smiled and winked at me, and I didn't glance at Evan at all.

I served the customers their order before returning to the counter where another customer was now waiting to place his order. The next five minutes passed in one of those busy restaurant blurs. It seemed like everybody wanted to order or check out at the same time, so I had my head in the register for a few minutes. When I looked up, I could see that another group had approached Evan and his grandma. They were all wearing smiles and being friendly, but I felt bad for Evan for having to talk to so many people on his first day out of the house.

He glanced at me while I was looking over there, and for a fraction of a second, I could have sworn I saw something in his expression—something that said he needed me to help him.

"Evan can you help me with something?" I asked, trying not to doubt what I had just seen.

"Whatcha need?" he asked nudging his chin at me with a curious smile.

For a second, I thought I had misunderstood his unspoken plea. I came really close to aborting the mission and acting like I didn't need him after all. I made the on-the-spot decision to go ahead with the plan. I pointed toward the back office with my thumb.

"Shane's on break, and I need someone to help me with a box in the back. Do you mind?"

"Not at all," he said. He smiled at the group of women who were standing around him. "It was nice meeting you guys," he said as a farewell.

"Do you have time for a pic?" one of the girls said, digging in her purse.

Evan glanced at me with a casual shrug, as he got to his feet. "Do we?" he asked.

I glanced at the office and then back at him with a regretful expression. "Sorry, but we're sort of in the weeds," I said.

"Oh, you better get back there then," one of the ladies said. All three of them stepped aside like the parting of the Red Sea to let Evan come around the counter toward me.

He gave them a wave and smile. "Next time," he said. They were all waving and regarding him with sweet smiles as he followed me through the kitchen.

"I got your order, Belly-welly," Stan called as we passed by.

I smiled and waved at Stan to tell him I'd be right back. Evan was really athletic, and it was sad to see him walking with a limp. I wasn't looking straight at him since I was concentrating on walking, but I was aware of his limp simply by the feel of his stride beside me. I stopped and turned around once we were in the small hallway and out of sight of everyone in the kitchen and dining room.

"Belly-welly?" he asked with a casual smirk directed at me.

"Annabel to most people," I said. My expression shifted to one with worried eyes. "I don't really need your help back here," I said, hoping he wouldn't be mad at me for dragging him back there.

"I know," he said with an amused grin that changed into a sweet smile. "I hate to be rude," he added. "I'm not good at saying 'no' when someone asks for a picture. It's not like Logan where I can't even leave my house without people swarming me, you know? When someone asks for a picture, I try to take one with them if I can."

"Did you want to take one back there?" I asked, staring to feel confused.

"No," he said. "I sure didn't." He paused and rubbed his jaw with a contemplative smile. "I haven't really had any pictures taken since the accident," he explained. He shrugged. "Not that I think that some lady's photo would go viral, or that anyone would care, really, I just haven't showed my agent what I look like yet, and I didn't really feel like messing with all that today."

I sighed. "Well, I'm glad I was right, because I'd feel really silly making you come back here for nothing."

We stood there looking at each other for the next few seconds.

"Just wait right here for a minute," I said. "I'll go back out there and make sure they're gone."

I started to walk off, but he put his hand on my arm to stop me. "Annabel," he said.

"What?"

He smiled. "Thank you."

I smiled back at him. "Wait right here, and I'll let you know if it's all clear."

I took a deep, calming breath as I walked through the small kitchen, grabbing Evan and Dee-dee's biscuits as I went through. I set the plates in front of her. "Evan will be right back," I said, glancing around the dining room to make sure the group was gone.

"I'm sure he appreciated the distraction," Dee-dee said, since she was completely aware of what was going on.

I smiled at her but otherwise didn't respond before taking off to retrieve her grandson from the back. "All clear," I said when I rounded the corner to see Evan standing there, leaning against the wall.

"You're a life saver, Belly-welly," he said.

Before I knew what was happening, he stepped toward me, and in one swift motion he grabbed me, pulled me close, and put a quick kiss on my head.

"Annabel," I said, since my brain wasn't working and it was all I could think to say.

"You're not gonna let me call you Belly-welly?" he asked with a sincerely perplexed expression like he was confused that he didn't get full nickname rights. "I like that name. I think it suits you."

I knew it didn't really matter what he called me since I practically never saw him, but I didn't say that.

"It's a name for a little girl," I said as I started walking toward the kitchen.

Evan followed me. "I happen to like it," he said to the back of my head since I wasn't looking at him. I turned around and smiled with a flick of my head toward his grandma. "I brought you milk and some coffee. Everything was a guess; so just let me know if you—" Then, it hit me. I stopped walking and talking at the same time, and stared at Evan with a regretful expression.

"What?" he asked.

"Steak," I said. "I brought you a biscuit with a big honkin' chicken fried steak on it, and I didn't even think about the fact that you probably don't eat meat."

He smiled. "I'll eat a honkin' steak for breakfast if that's what you want to serve me," he said, smiling like he got a kick out of my phrasing.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "Because I can get you something else."

"I'm sure," he said, walking around the bar to his seat. "This looks perfect."