Second Chance His Unending Love (Calista Hartwell) novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98

He schooled his expression at once, hiding his disappointment behind a calm, neutral mask, and

nodded. “Sure. I’ll go shower in the master bedroom first,

then head over to Connor’s.”

With that, he turned and walked up the stairs, his back straight and tall.

Calista stared at his retreating figure, her mind going completely blank.

A shower was just a shower-why had he told her? She was just a guest.

His words had sent her imagination spiraling, silly, warm, dangerous thoughts filling her head that she quickly tried to push away, her cheeks still burning.

Olivia waved a small hand in front of her mom’s face, grinning mischievously. “Mom? Mr. Hayes is already upstairs. You’re gonna stare at the stairs all night?”

“OH-no,” Calista said, snapping back to reality, her face. stih pink with embarrassment.

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She pinched Olivia’s cheek playfully, a mock scold in her

voice.

“You little rascal. Next time, think before you speak-you embarrassed me half to death with that brother-sister

comment.”

Olivia wrapped her arms around Calista’s waist, pouting and cuddling into her side, her voice soft and pleading.

“I was just excited! Mom, c’mon-how can you not have a crush on him? He’s handsome, kind, and sweet!”

Calista fell silent, her smile fading a little, the light in her eyes dimming.

“I’m past the age of crushes, baby. All I want now is to work hard, make good money, and take care of you. No matter what you do, no matter where you go in life, I want to have your back.”

Olivia pulled back, her small face serious, her big eyes locked on Calista’s, full of wisdom beyond her years. “Mom, I saw your marriage to Dad. I saw how unhappy you were, how you two fought all the time, how the house

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for now.”

“Promise me you’ll think about it,” Olivia said, stubborn, her lower lip sticking out in a pout.

Calista sighed, giving in to her daughter’s stubbornness, “Fine. I’ll think about it. Happy now?”

Their quiet, tender moment was broken by a warm, smooth voice from the top of the stairs, floating down to them. “Think about what?”

Looking up, Olivia saw Evander standing there.

He was leaning against the banister, wearing a pair of silver silk pajamas, a white towel in his hand as he ran it through his damp hair.

Olivia patted Calista’s hand, grabbed her chess memoir from the couch, and bolted up the stairs, her feet thudding on the wooden steps.

Just like that, she ducked into the guest room, closing the door softly behind her, leaving Calista and Evander alone in the quiet, warm living room.

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Evander walked down the stairs slowly, a faint, fresh mint scent clinging to him-shower gel, Calista guessed.

His silk pajamas were loose, the drawstring untied a little at the waist, a deep V-neck opening up to reveal the smooth, toned skin of his chest, the faint outline of his abs peeking through.

Calista’s eyes darted away at once, her cheeks flushing bright red.

However, Evander stopped beside her, his body close enough that she could feel his warmth, a smile on his face, his eyes dancing with mischief.

He bent down, leaning in, his face just four inches from hers-his clean breath fanning over her cheek.

Calista froze, her brain going completely blank, every muscle in her body tensing up.

Facing his face, she could hear nothing but her own heartbeat, loud and fast in her ears, thudding against her

ribs like a drum.

Her nerves were frayed, stretched tight to the breaking 47

< Chapter 98

point.

And then-Evander laughed, a soft, quiet sound, right in her ear, warm and ticklish. His hand reached past her, grabbing his coat from the back of the couch.

Evander stood up straight, grinning like a kid who’d just pulled off the perfect prank, his eyes sparkling with

amusement.

Calista realized she’d been teased, her lips pressing together in a soft pout, her face burning with embarrassment and a hint of frustration.

What had she been thinking?

She’d really thought he was going to kiss her.

Evander stood there, his pajamas still loose, half his chest exposed, drinking in her flustered expression.

His voice dropped to a low, husky murmur, warm and tempting, thick with double meaning. “So-think about what? Late-night snack?”

Memories came flooding back, sharp and clear—her 679

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childhood, nights at the lake house with Evander and

Kyle, Kyle teasing her relentlessly, saying, “Calista, if

you’re hungry, just eat Evander-he’s basically a walking ‘late-night snack”!”

Back then, she’d been young and silly, joining in the teasing, repeating Kyle’s words.

Now, his words hung in the air between them, double meaning thick and sweet-and Calista’s mind went straight to the gutter, her cheeks burning even hotter.

She crossed her arms over her chest, huffing, “No!”

Evander laughed, and his long arms braced on either side of the couch, caging her in, his body close, his face leaning in again. “Really? No snack at all? If you change your mind, I’ve got plenty to share.”

He said it so seriously, so innocently-talking about a snack, about food—and yet Calista knew he was teasing her, knew he was having fun with her fluster.

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