the zoo pounding my chest to protect you.”
“I am more than capable of caring for my son and myself.”
He had to smile at her Irish ire. “Don’t I know it! But, hear me out. Please believe me when I say that you can rely on me. I want nothing more than to be a steel-vaulted, sealed-at-the-lips trusted friend.” He leaned closer. “Everyone needs a friend, Kelly. I am here for you.”
She managed a smile. “Okay, then. Thank you, Evan.”
He squeezed her hand, enjoying the soft silk of her skin. “So, how can I help you?”
“Michael insists on meeting Matt. It’s time. When I tell Matt about Michael and his grandparents in Ireland, he’s going to have so many questions. I’m not sure how to handle them.”
Evan hadn’t released her hand, and she hadn’t pulled away. He liked that. He curled his fingers through hers. He liked the warmth of her hand in his, the delicate yet capable fingers heating beneath the press of his own.
“You will answer his questions with the same bravery and truth you’ve used as a single parent to get you both this far.”
“Matt thinks his only family was Herby George.”
He waited until she lifted her green eyes to meet his. “You can be honest with him. Tell him your parents are difficult, sometimes unkind. And that you two lived your quiet life surrounded with people who supported you.”
She slowly nodded. “I see your point.”
He watched her closely as he delivered his next thought. “What about Matt’s father? Is there family around who could complicate matters?”
Evan didn’t miss the internal flinch Kelly immediately suppressed before she pulled her hand from his, which sent his radar pinging, all over again. When she didn’t respond, he added. “Is your brother receptive to meeting Matt?”
Here, her smile became genuine. “He nearly horsewhipped me for keeping Matt secret from him. He’s demanding I do penance for my sin of omission.” She laughed out loud. “They will get along famously.”
She inhaled a deep breath. “So, should Matt speak any of this to you, I trust you will handle your response with the same wisdom you just shared with me?”
“It depends, my friend.”
“On what?”
“Dinner. Tomorrow night. You can’t say no.”
“That sounds suspiciously like a date.”
He shook his head. “Not at all. If I ask another woman, she’ll think I have designs on her. I don’t have time for dating. You and I already set our friendship on solid footing. I know I’m safe with you.”
She frowned. “Safe with me? Why does that suddenly sound as if I have no sex appeal?”
His grin turned devilish. “Sex appeal you have, Kelly Sullivan, but it’s your mind that turns me on.”
The limo pulled up to Neverland. Still grinning from Evan’s tease, Kelly gently shook Matt’s shoulder. “Wake up, buddy. We’re home.”
“Here, let me.” Evan leaned to scoop Matt into his arms. Matt awoke and to his delight, Evan tossed him over his shoulder like a sack of laundry.
The smile on Kelly’s face had Evan thinking he’d like to do this more often. Matt was a great kid and seeing Kelly relax like this was worth the price of admission. He loved the way one corner of her mouth turned up, punctuating the one dimple in her right cheek. She was about to open the door to the apartment when something across the street caught her eye, making that smile disappear like water on a hot skillet.
She clenched Evan’s arm. “My God, Evan. That man is taking our picture.”
Across the street, a man pointed a camera with a telephoto lens in their direction. When the photographer realized Kelly saw him, he lowered the camera and began walking briskly down the street.
Kelly said, “And that’s an expensive lens. I don’t like this.”
Evan’s jaw dropped when Kelly bolted after the man. “Hey, you! Stop!”
“Kelly, wait!” He bundled Matt back into the limousine. “Stay here, buddy. I’ll be right back.”
He shot after Kelly, who was chasing the photographer with the stride of an athlete, her gorgeous red hair streaming like fire as she ran. The photographer disappeared around the corner with Kelly hot on his heels. Evan picked up his pace.
He found her standing on the corner of Madison Avenue and Fifty-First Street, bewildered and with tears in her eyes.
“Kelly, what are you doing? He was probably some fan of the news show.”
Her fists were clenched. Tears started falling. “You don’t understand!”
“Well, try me, for God’s sake. Chasing after someone because he took your picture is insane.”
Her scathing look would