Ireland. He just moved to Brooklyn. He’s a priest.”
Matt’s eyes grew wide. “Like Father Benjamin at church?”
“Exactly. Only my brother is called Father Michael. He is coming to meet you tomorrow. You can call him Uncle Michael.”
Matt nodded. “Okay.” He opened the box of pizza. “We saved you two pieces, Mom. Want one?”
“Sure!”
Kelly met Evan’s amused gaze. How about that? Here she had wasted time in angst over telling Matt about her family, and he was more interested in feeding her pizza. She took a bite shaking her head. “Will wonders never cease?”
Evan polished off his last bite of pizza. “Let’s hope the next question is as easy.”
Kelly devoured her slice, unaware she had been so hungry, while Evan told Matt about his upcoming show. Tomorrow he’d be interviewing the lead actor in the latest Urban Hero movie. When he promised Matt that he’d bring him to the “green” room to meet the actor if they could convince his mother to give him tomorrow off from school, Kelly shot to full alert.
She gave Evan a look that said, are-you-crazy? “I thought being visible wasn’t a good idea.”
“Well, I’ve been giving it some thought. Matt could sit with me during the show. He can ask Urban Hero the questions every kid would want to ask him. It would be a great interview.”
“Absolutely not!”
“Why, Mom? I wanna meet Urban Hero!” Matt sounded awestruck at the chance few kids would get.
Kelly closed her eyes to compose herself against the jolt of anger that rocked her. Evan had no right to make plans with Matt without her permission. Making this offer, then forcing her to say no, made her look like the bad guy between them. Evan had taken this tactic twice already. First the theater, then the zoo. It was time she eliminated this poor choice of persuasion immediately.
“Matt, honey. I’m going to ask you to go play for a few minutes while I have a private discussion with Evan.”
Matt slipped from his stool. He gave Evan a sympathetic look, as if he knew all too well what her tone of voice meant. “Can I turn on the TV?”
Evan pointed to the coffee table. “The remote is over there. Push the red button at the top.”
When Matt left the room, Evan leaned toward her. “Kelly, I called my mother while you were outside. She can’t get here until tomorrow afternoon. You can’t take Matt to Neverland, and we can’t leave him alone. I thought taking him to work was the best solution.”
She saw the wisdom behind his thinking, but didn’t like that Evan hadn’t consulted her first. “So, my thoughts on the subject don’t matter?”
“Oh.” At least he had the wisdom to look contrite. “I’m used to getting things done. My mistake. Apologies.”
“That’s the third time you’ve used that little maneuver to manipulate me. I don’t like it.”
He held up both hands as if he was going to object, then he frowned. “Really?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Evan. You know exactly what you are doing. And let me add, it is not one of your endearing qualities.”
He grinned. “Do I have endearing qualities?”
She almost burst out laughing, not expecting him to change the subject. She tapped her chest. “I know you mean well, but please don’t forget. I’m in charge. My son. My life. My responsibility. If you have any more brilliant ideas, please check with me first before discussing them with Matt.”
He nodded once. “Understood.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say that she was grateful that he was looking out for their interests, but no. This take-charge approach was exactly what concerned her about men like Evan. They bulldozed their way through the days, manipulating situations to conform to their needs, even if done with the best of intentions—and charm. Luckily for Evan, he caught on and apologized. This time.
“So, what do you think? Can I take him with me tomorrow?”
She sighed. “Let me explain my objections to your idea.”
“I’m sure I know them, but shoot.”
Why did Evan look so damn appealing leaning back in his seat giving her his full attention? Mentally, she shook off the feeling. “I’ve kept Matt low-key for his entire life. I’m not comfortable with his face plastered on television.”
“Yes, but you were hiding him from Campbell. Now his anonymity is impossible.”
She shook her head, disquiet squeezing her heart at the thought of Campbell pulling strings to take Matt from her. “He has goons who do his bidding. Matt could be abducted.”
“No way, Kelly.