âWe make a good team, you and me.â
âYouâre drunk, Evan.â
âMaybe a little.â
âYour judgment is impaired.â
âMy judgment is perfect. Youâre incredible, Angie. And I wanted you just as badly sober as I do now.â
Before she realized what was happening, his lips were on hers. Magic exploded inside her brain, colors flashing, music playing, the taste of Evan overwhelming her senses. The kiss went on for long minutes before he finally pulled back.
She was breathless, and not nearly as horrified as she ought to have been. She had to get it together here.
âThat did not demonstrate good judgment, Evan,â she told him tartly, holding out her hand for the car keys.
He just grinned and dropped the keys into her palm. âSure it did.â
* * *
Reunited with the Lassiter Bride is a Dynasties: The Lassiters novel: A Wyoming legacy of love, lies and redemption!
One
There were days when Evan McCain wished heâd never met the Lassiter family. Today was definitely one of them. Thanks to J. D. Lassiter, at thirty-four years old, Evan was starting his professional life all over again.
He pushed open the door to his empty storefront office building in Santa Monica. By rights, he should have sold the compact building two years ago after moving to Pasadena, but it was only a block from the beach and the investment value was solid. As things turned out, he was very glad heâd kept it.
He had no intention of touching any of the money left to him by J.D. The bequest in his former bossâs will felt like a payoff for Evanâs unwitting participation in J.D.âs complex scheme to test his daughter Angelica, Evanâs ex-fiancée. Sheâd eventually passed the test, proving she could balance her work and her life, and replaced Evan at the helm of Lassiter Media. But sheâd failed Evan in the process, ending both their romantic relationship and his employment at Lassiter Media.
He dropped his suitcase in the reception area, hit the overhead lights and moved to the counter to test the telephone. He got a dial tone and mentally checked off two steps in his implementation plan. He had electricity, and he was connected to the outside world. Those were the basics.
The blinds on the glass door rattled as someone opened it behind him.
âOh, how the mighty have fallen.â It was the voice of his long-time friend Deke Leamon.
Evan turned, blinking against the streaming sunlight, baffled to see Deke silhouetted in his doorway. âWhat on earth are you doing on the West Coast?â
Deke grinned, dropping a red duffel bag on the vinyl reception seat beside Evanâs suitcase. He was dressed in faded jeans, a Mets T-shirt, and a pair of scruffy hikers. âWe did it before. We can do it again.â
Evan stepped forward to shake his former college roommateâs hand. âDo what again? Seriously, why didnât you call? And how did you know Iâd be here?â
âEducated guess,â said Deke. âI figured thereâd be too many memories in Pasadena. This seemed like the logical place. I assume youâre going to live upstairs for a while?â
âGood guess,â said Evan.
The upstairs apartment was small, but heâd make it work. He needed an immediate and total change of scenery. Luckily, despite its proximity to downtown L.A., Santa Monica had a personality all its own.
âFigured you might be feeling sorry for yourself,â Deke continued. âSo, I thought Iâd wander over and give you a kick in the ass.â
âIâm not feeling sorry for myself,â said Evan.
Life was what it was, and no amount of complaining or wishing would change it to something else. It was a hard lesson, but heâd learned long ago that he could roll with the punches. On his seventeenth birthday to be exact, heâd realized just how resilient he could be.
âAnd you donât wander,â he finished.
His friend was contemplative and deliberate in every action he undertook. Deke didnât do anything on a whim. Now, he dropped into one of the vinyl chairs and stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankles.
âOkay, so I flew here on purpose.â He glanced around the empty office space. âThought I could probably lend a hand.â
Evan leaned back against the reception countertop, bracing himself and raising a challenging brow. âLend a hand doing what, exactly?â
âWhatever needs doinâ.â Deke glanced around the office. âSo, whatâs the plan? What happens first?â