I smirked at Caro, having caught her in an out-and-out lie. She glared back at me.

“I’m sure Easton has better things to do with his time.”

“Nope.” I pushed past Caro and followed the kids into the living room. My disapproving gaze swept around the room and landed back on Caro.

“It’s a little messy,” she stammered.

“Junie? Hey, how are you?” I gave her a big hug. I’d met her that summer too. We’d hung out as a group and drunk beer and partied, typical teenage shit, which, if I were honest, I was still doing.

“Big E, you’re looking hot as ever.” She beamed at me, oblivious to the daggers being sent her way by her best friend.

The two kids stood nearby, watching the exchange in silence. Something rubbed up against my leg. I looked down and my grin grew wider.

“Rusty, my buddy!” I picked up the fat orange tabby and held him in my arms. He assaulted me with loud purrs and kneading claws in my arm. I remembered Caro’s cat well. He and I often hung together, him on my lap demanding pets, and me complying. “How old is Rusty now?”

“Ten. Can we have a word?” Caro’s words were clipped and tense. I grinned easily at her, knowing my mere presence was annoying her beyond belief, and my easygoing attitude made her even more irritated.

“Sure, what’s up?” I placed Rusty on the nearest chair and shoved my hands in my pockets.

“Privately.”

“Love to.” I gave her the once-over, knowing she’d be ready to explode after my gaze raked up and down her body. She was madder than hell and stalked toward the open doorway. I leisurely followed her into the room and shut the door. I leaned against the door, my expression impassive.

She spun on me, her face contorted in rage. “What are you doing here?”

“Visiting my children, as I have a legal right to do,” I answered calmly.

“I told you tonight wasn’t a good night.”

I merely cocked one eyebrow and crossed one ankle over the other.

“Easton, please, this is difficult.”

“You’re making it so.”

“I’m worried about the twins. You don’t have any idea what they’ve been through.”

I frowned, pushing away a twinge of guilt. She was partially right, and I knew it as well as she.

“I’m sorry. I needed to see them. And I do know what they’ve been through. I lost my dad in a fire when I was ten. Remember?”

She deflated before my very eyes, as if all her courageous blustering had been nothing but hot air and someone had poked a hole in it. She looked down, but not before I caught her lower lip quivering.

Oh, crap, she was going to cry. I couldn’t handle tears. We were doing quite well sniping at each other; why’d she have to ruin it by crying and revealing her vulnerability?

“Please, just leave.” She lifted her head, and that beautiful face contorted in agony, and I’d done this to her. I should’ve been an asshole and merely shrugged, but I wasn’t made like that. I was basically a good guy, and she was getting to me in ways only she could. A tear slid down one high cheekbone and dropped off her chin, followed by another and another.