“He did?”
“Well, not literally, but for all practical purposes. Every adult on this island was watching out for me. I couldn’t go anyplace without Dad knowing. Do you know how hard it is to get kissed by a boy under those circumstances? I finally had to drag poor Percy O’Keefe out behind Colette’s Riding Stable and plant one on him just to get that first one out of the way.”
Emily chuckled at the mental picture of her sister, or anyone for that matter, locking lips with Percy O’Keefe, but her thoughts turned quickly. She’d never really thought about how anyone else’s life had changed after she left. She’d been so absorbed in her own drama and just assumed life on the island would remain business as usual. Because who would have really missed her anyway? But in hindsight, maybe that was kind of selfish.
“I’m sorry, Lil. Sorry you had to deal with that, and with Dad.”
Lilly’s slender shoulders rose and fell. “It’s okay. I guess I didn’t even realize that’s what Dad was doing until years later. I thought everybody’s father was overprotective like him, but once I got to college, I realized that all the other girls had managed to gather up a lot more experience than I had. I’m pretty sure I was the only virgin in my entire dorm, and I’m also pretty sure there was a betting pool on when I’d finally lose it. Rumor has it that if I’d waited one more week, my roommate would have made two hundred dollars.” There was a chuckle lacing Lilly’s voice.
Emily smiled, glad her sister was seeing some humor in it now that it was behind her.
“That’s what I mean, though, Lil. I didn’t rack up much experience while I lived here, either. The few times with Reed were . . . unsatisfying because neither one of us had a clue what we were doing. Nick came along, and it was so easy for me to get swept away because apparently he had gotten lots of practice. Maybe that’s what’s happening to you. Maybe you think what you have with Tag is awesome just because you have so little to compare it to, and no offense against him, but somebody your own age might be more . . . exciting.”
Ryan would probably be pretty exciting in bed, but Emily shoved that thought from her mind with the force of a charging rhinoceros.
Lilly’s cheeks went pink. “Tag and I manage quite nicely, thanks.”
Emily’s mind went from picturing herself with Ryan to picturing her sister with Tag. It was not a good comparison. Tag was definitely handsome for an old guy, but no matter how Lilly wanted to spin this, he was too old for her.
“Um, that’s great. Really. But again, a younger guy could manage nicely, too, without having to take a Viagra first. Yoga Matt probably doesn’t have to take a Viagra.” Yoga Matt was the poster child for masculine virility.
Lilly’s tiny smile evaporated. “I told you, Tag’s very fit. He does a lot of cardio. Plus, he thinks I’m clever and beautiful.”
“You are clever and beautiful. I understand his attraction to you, and I also understand why you’re flattered by his attention, but I think you’d be happier in the long run if you focused on someone your own age.”
“Like Yoga Matt?” Lilly crossed her arms again and arched a brow, daring Emily to answer that one. She rose to the challenge. Yoga Matt might ultimately be just a little too head-in-the-clouds to make a good long-term boyfriend, but he certainly was hot enough to distract Lilly from Tag. “Sure. I could introduce you. Or we could take his class together. Just meet him and see if any sparks fly. If you’re so certain about Tag, what could it hurt?”
Lilly looked at her as if weighing her options. “Here’s my counteroffer. I’ll take the yoga class with you if you agree to have dinner with Tag and me. I want you to get to know him better so you can understand where I’m coming from.”
Dinner? Together? She didn’t want to spend an evening with Tag and Lilly. According to Ryan, it was hard to watch. She wasn’t about to face that alone.
“Um, could we invite Ryan, too? That way he can get to know you better, and see that you’re not a gold-digging bimbo.”
Lilly’s gaze turned from contemplative to coy. “I see what you’re doing here. You like him, don’t you?”
“Who? Tag?”
“No. Ryan. That’s why you want him to come to dinner with us.”
Now this was an interesting hiccup. She did kind of like Ryan, even though she wasn’t going to do anything about it, and she certainly didn’t want anyone to know because, well, because the last time she’d been attracted to someone on this island, everyone had seen her make a fool of herself, and she was not going through that again. However, if Lilly thought she had her eye on Ryan, it would sure make the four of them spending time together easier to arrange. Oh, what tangled webs.
“He’s okay. I guess. And dinner is okay, too, but do you know what would be even better? Horseback riding.”
Chapter 14
“We understand this is a risk, Mr. Taggert, but it’s one we are willing to take.” June Mahoney adjusted her black-framed glasses and stared at Ryan like a bull about to charge. She was a formidable woman wearing a navy-blue dress and big, chunky jewelry made of red plastic beads. Ryan didn’t typically notice jewelry, but this stuff was so big that it was loud. Every time she leaned forward, her necklace went thunk against the table, and her bracelet did the same every time she set her arm down. It was distracting.
So was the fact that one of her sisters sat next to her and continued knitting throughout the entire meeting. The needles went plink-plink-plink and kept catching rays of sunshine and blinding him in the eye. He couldn’t remember the name of that other sister, but it didn’t seem to matter. June was clearly the boss here, and her sister just repeated what was already said.
“Willing to take that risk,” she muttered, twirling soft pink yarn around the needle. Plink-plink-plink.
“My sisters and I have had our eye on that property for some time,” June continued, “and when my cousin Herb, who owns the Clairmont Hotel, told me about your company, well, I considered it divine providence. Then I discovered my nephew knew your father, too. It was just too much of a coincidence to be ignored. Tag has been kind enough to sketch out some ideas for the bed-and-breakfast, and I cannot tell you how impressed we are.”