Emily smiled. “I told you.”
“Yes, you did, and you were right, but I’m still not giving up Tag.”
Chapter 22
“I am impressed!” Brooke said as she stood inside the cottage, admiring the progress Emily and her crew had made.
It was Wednesday morning, and Emily hadn’t heard from Ryan since that brief text Sunday, which shouldn’t bother her, because, you know, they’d agreed to not do the kissing thing again. Nonetheless, she missed him. She didn’t want to miss him, but she did.
Fortunately, the praise from her sister lightened her mood considerably, and Emily had to admit, the place was starting to shape up. The outside had been scraped, power-washed, and repainted with a pale green and lavender palette that would have looked garish anyplace else, but it fit in on the island quite nicely. All the floors had been stripped and refinished to a nice glossy sheen, and modern wallpaper with a vintage design was up in most of the rooms. Even some of the new furniture had arrived, including several wrought iron beds and mattresses, charmingly distressed bureaus that Emily had found at the antique shops in town, a red velvet sofa, and even an old pianoforte.
“Thank you. It has come a long way,” Emily agreed, looking around.
“No kidding. The last time I was here, a family of raccoons was living in one of the upstairs bedrooms. They’re gone, right?”
“They must have moved on to nicer accommodations before I got here. Come sit outside. Tiny just added a porch swing. You may christen it with your butt because no one has sat there yet.”
“My butt is honored.”
Emily grabbed two bottles of water from the newly installed refrigerator and joined her sister on the porch.
Brooke sank down on the swing with a relaxed sigh and accepted the bottle of water. “It’s really nice here, Em. You have done an amazing job. Gigi needs you to remodel all of her places. What do you think of that?”
“I think it would be hard to do from San Antonio.” She sat down next to her sister.
“Mmm, I suppose.” Brooke opened her bottle and took a sip as she gazed off toward the lake. “How are you and Dad getting along? It seems like some of the tension is gone.”
“Some of it is. He likes Chloe. That helps. They’ve even gone hiking together, so apparently he can be nice to her without actually forgiving me, which is good enough.”
“I think he forgave you a long time ago. I’m certain he’s glad you’re here, not that he’d ever say so.”
“Certain?” Emily crooked an eyebrow. “That’s a pretty strong word.”
Brooke smiled back. “Okay, ninety-nine point nine percent certain that he’s glad you’re here. I know I’m glad you’re here. It’s been nice to have you around again.”
Brooke was as effusive with her feelings and compliments as their father was, so this was a big statement from her, and whether it was from the soothing motion of the swing, the nostalgia of sitting next to her sister, or Brooke’s nice words, Emily realized she felt the same way.
“I’m glad I’m here, too. This summer has gone better than I’d expected, in spite of all the hard work at this place.” She motioned with her thumb, pointing at the door. “Chloe and I have managed to have a little fun, too. Hey, speaking of fun, Gloria told me she’s hosting drunk puzzle night next week. You should come.”
Brooke shook her head. “Sorry. Can’t. I’m fun-repellant.”
Emily laughed. “You are not. Don’t be silly.”
“I’m not silly. That’s my whole point, and drunk puzzle night is all about being silly. Hey, isn’t that Ryan?” Brooke leaned forward from her spot on the swing to look down the hill.
Ryan? The long-lost Ryan who had kissed her senseless on Saturday but hadn’t called her since? Emily stood up, and sure enough, there he was coming up the hill. She leaned against the railing and waved. He waved back and she nearly giggled, forgetting for the moment that her sister was there, until Brooke uttered, “Oh shit. Not you too? Don’t we have enough to worry about with Tag and Lilly?”
So much for discretion. Emily turned and shrugged. “I don’t know what to do about it. I like him.”
“Well, stop it.”
“I’m not sure if I can.”
Brooke was right. Emily knew that. She should stop liking Ryan, but she knew she wouldn’t. Getting his advice and sharing her ideas about this cottage with him had been fun. Riding horses and taking walks and having coffee with him—all fun. And heaven knew kissing him had been fun. More than fun. It had been thrilling, and she hadn’t been thrilled about anything in a very long time.
Her sister sighed and pushed her feet against the porch with a squeak, making the swing sway back and forth. “I’m just going to mind my own business from now on. No one listens to me anyway.”
Ryan reached the bottom of steps in another minute, and Emily’s body hummed with anticipation, which she tried very hard to contain. It wasn’t as if she could, would, should fling herself into his arms, even if Brooke wasn’t there.
“Hi,” she said. “You’re back.”
“I’m back,” he answered, and then they stood there staring stupidly at each other and smiling.
“Oh good Lord,” Brooke muttered.
Ryan’s head turned in surprise. “Oh, hi, Brooke. I didn’t see you there.”
“Gosh, I wonder why?” She stood up. “Did you just come through Bridget O’Malley’s yard?”
He looked over his shoulder and down the hill. “What? No. I mean, I don’t know. I just came up this way because, um, I got lost.”
“Lost.”
“Yeah, I was heading here and I guess I took a wrong turn somewhere.”
“That’s generally how people get lost,” Brooke said mildly.
“Yeah. Hey, listen, Emily. I can’t stay because Tag’s waiting for me at the Clairmont, but, um, we’re back from Seneca Falls, obviously, and he’s dragging me to that square dance tonight. I’m a little terrified. Are you still going? To help out Tiny?”
“Of course she is,” Brooke said, stepping up to the railing and resting on her forearms. “She wouldn’t miss it for the world, would you, Em?”
“So, you’ll be there?” He looked up at Emily, his expression so optimistic and mischievous she knew there was just no way she wasn’t kissing him again.
“I am. I guess I’ll see you there.”
“I guess you will. Okay, see you later then.” His smile was lopsided, his gait a little jaunty as he turned and walked back down the hill. The sisters watched him until Brooke rested her chin on one hand. “I wonder if he knows where he’s going?”
Chapter 23