Chapter Eight
Eve heard the doorbell as she was strapping on her sandals and her stomach filled with happy bubbles of anticipation. She heard Paisley running for the door and singing, “My Beck, my Beck!”
Eve hurried out of her room and down the steps as Paisley flung the door open. Her song changed to a scream of, “Krew!”
Eve grinned as she reached the foyer and Caleb, Emily, and Krew walked in. Krew and Paisley hugged—it was adorable. Krew towered over Paisley at the very mature age of seven and he was patiently hugging her as if it was his cousinly duty as she clung to him.
Eve hugged Caleb and Emily in turn. They all smiled at their children as Paisley talked a mile a minute to Krew about her “work” and how she was the Ice-skating Princess and her Beck.
Caleb bent down and scooped her up. “Where are my hugs and who is ‘my Beck’?”
“That’d be me,” a deep voice said from the open doorway.
Caleb whipped around to face Beck. Eve smiled as Beck grinned, tilted his chin to her, and said, “Hello beautiful,” and then extended his hand to Caleb. “Beckett Tanner,” he said. Whew, just seeing him impressed her, and made her blood run hotter. She wanted to kiss each of his dimples, after she kissed his lips.
“Caleb Jewel.” Caleb’s response wasn’t exactly cold, but he wasn’t going to welcome some unknown man into their family circle. He especially would not give any man his blessing to date his little sister, without giving him a hard time.
Paisley leapt from her uncle’s arms toward Beck, who caught her easily. “Hi, Princess.”
“What is this?” Caleb protested. “I thought you were my girl.”
Paisley shrugged adorably and wrapped her arms more tightly around Beck’s neck. Eve had seen her little doll in Beck’s arms plenty over the past six weeks but she never tired of it. Beck was so strong and tall and Paisley was so cute. Beck was dressed nicer than usual tonight in a white button-down shirt and dark pants. He looked amazing. Luckily she’d opted for a summery, floral dress so she wouldn’t feel underdressed next to him.
“Sorry, Uncle Caleb,” Paisley said, “but I’m Beck’s princess now.”
Everyone laughed, but Caleb gave a fake glower. “I amnotokay with this.” He glanced at Eve. “Why haven’t we heard a word about Beckett Tanner and somehow Paisley is now his princess?” He said it teasingly but there was a grain of truth that made it hard for Eve to hold Beck’s gaze. She talked to her family regularly but she’d avoided their requests to visit, getting pretty creative in her excuses, since she’d been spending every evening with Beck. She hadn’t told any of her family members about dating Beck, not even Rachel.
“You stop it, you hear?” Emily pushed at Caleb’s shoulder, her beautiful Southern accent giving a lilt to her voice. “Play nice and maybe we’ll score tickets to his next game.”
“Oh yeah!” Krew cheered. “Be nice, Pops!”
“Next game?” Caleb’s brow squiggled.
Emily rolled her dark eyes. She was exquisitely beautiful with her smooth brown skin, black hair, and sparkling eyes. “He’s Beckett Tanner. Top defenseman of the Colorado Avalanche.”
Caleb stared at his wife. “How do you know that? I thought lacrosse was the only sport you followed.”
Eve laughed and Beck grinned at her. “Caleb’s a superstar lacrosse hero,” Eve explained then blushed as she remembered Paisley had told him that on their first lunch date together.
“I knew that,” Beck said. “I’ve watched some of your games online. Very impressive.”
Caleb nodded as if their praise was expected but he grabbed his wife around the waist and pulled her in. “How do you know who Beckett Tanner is? We haven’t been to a hockey game.”
She gave him a quick kiss and tapped his chest playfully. “Mylee has a poster of him in her workout room.”
Caleb finally laughed. “Mylee would.”
“Your neighbor?” Eve asked.
“That’s the one.” Emily grinned. “Bless her heart, she has an obsession with professional athletes. Her poor, poor husband.”
Beck was looking a little concerned. Probably wondering if Mylee was a stalker.
“Don’t worry,” Caleb said. “She’s harmless, and she has good taste.” He pushed a hand through his hair. “She has multiple posters of me.”
Eve and Emily laughed. “Your overconfidence is not winning you any points, mister,” Emily said.
“You adore me and you know it.” Caleb dipped her and kissed her thoroughly.