All Summer Long (Fool's Gold #9)(83)

“I’m sorry,” he said, aware the apology was lame at best and insulting at worst.

“You’re just being a guy.” His sister sighed. “You can’t help it. I miss Diane.”

“My Diane?”

Evie nodded. “She called me a lot and we would talk. She remembered my birthday and sent presents. Silly stuff, but it was nice.” Her expression momentarily softened. “You so didn’t deserve her.”

“I know. I never understood what she saw in me.”

“She loved you a lot.”

“I loved her, too. I was very lucky to find her.” He risked taking Evie’s hand again. “Speaking of significant others, is there someone I should call? Anyone who’s going to be looking for you?”

“No. There’s no one.”

The stark loneliness in those words made his gut twist. Evie was in her mid-twenties. She should be having fun with friends, falling in and out of love. She shouldn’t be alone or cynical. She shouldn’t hate her family or want to be anywhere but with them.

He swore under his breath. “I’m sorry,” he said. “What the hell happened between us?”

Evie slowly, deliberately, pulled her hand away. “You didn’t want me. None of you did. I was never a part of this family and each one of you made sure I knew it. So don’t get all surprised and righteous now that I don’t want to have anything to do with you.”

Clay wanted to tell her that she was wrong, only she wasn’t. About any of it. The four of them had been a unit and Evie the odd man out.

“I love you, Evie.”

She closed her eyes. “I’d like to sleep now.”

It wasn’t the shouting match she’d had with Shane, he thought as he stood. But it was just as destructive. She’d taken him down with little more than the ugly truth.

He walked to the door and paused. Realizing there was nothing else he could say, he walked out.

* * *

CHARLIE HONEST-TO-GOD didn’t know where to look. She’d been called out to some truly horrific accidents, had pulled bodies out of burning buildings and been present at the birth of a baby. None of which had prepared her for the Fool’s Gold Firefighter calendar shoot.

There were good-looking guys everywhere. Twelve in total, in various states of undress, styling and um, oiling. Yes, one overly plucked woman in her forties walked around with a bottle of oil and rubbed it over the exposed flesh of the models. And there was a lot of exposed flesh.

Charlie wasn’t sure if she should enjoy the view or make her escape. Clay was supposed to join her, but he’d phoned to say he was running late and she should make herself comfortable. Charlie didn’t think that was possible.

A low stage stood in front of a backdrop of a barn. Lights with upside-down umbrella things were all around. There was a fan, lights on the floor and several props including a saddled horse. She couldn’t figure out the best place to stand, let alone where to look. She was pulling her truck keys out of her pocket when the back door of the studio opened and Clay strolled in. Charlie surged toward him, eager to find some small measure of comfort or even protection.

“You’re here,” she said. “Thank God. This is a nightmare.”

He grinned, then pulled her close and kissed her. “Miss me?”

“Yes. This is not my comfort zone.”

He glanced around, then looked back at her. “You’d rather be fighting a fire?”

“Of course. I understand fire. This is madness.”

“It’s a photo shoot.”

“You say that as if I’ve been to twenty.”

He put his arm around her. “That’s my girl. Speaking her mind.”

“It’s the only mind I have. How are you? Evie get settled okay?”

His good humor faded. “She’s here, but she’s not happy.”

“She’s hurt. That’s got to be upsetting.”

“I think she’s more pissed to be around us than she is about the broken leg.”

Charlie knew a little about the family dynamics. “She’ll come around.”

“I’m not so sure. We’re all guilty of not making an effort. I should have been there for her. More than I was.” He shook his head. “One more place I’ve screwed up.”

“Don’t say that. Evie could have tried, too.”

“Why would she bother?”

“Because in the end, everybody wants to connect. Look at me. I’m getting along with my mother and who would have thought that was possible?”

Clay touched her face as he stared into her eyes. “You’re right.”

She sighed. “Those words never get old. Want me to talk to Evie? Do you think it would help?”

“Maybe when she’s feeling better. Right now she’s pissed at the world. Especially the part where the Strykers live.” He glanced around. “Okay, let’s talk about why we’re here. Can I answer any questions?”

“Aside from when can we leave? No.”

He chuckled. “Want me to introduce you to any of the guys?”

“No, thanks. I already have my own handsome supermodel. One is all I can handle.”

“Good.” He took her hand. “Because this relationship is exclusive.”