“On duty. But thank you.”
Arden opened her mouth like she might argue, then read something in his face and nodded once. “Gotcha. Virgin coladas all around then.” She turned her attention back to Maren. “Are your brothers twins as well?”
“No. Reid is the oldest, then Beckett. Beckett is eight years older than Mira and me. We were oopsie babies.”
“Whoops.” Arden was at the fridge scooping ice into the blender. “And twins, too.”
“Yup. Double-whammy, as Mom used to say. I guess when you get older the chances of having twins goes up? And Mom was older.” She looked up toward heaven. “Sorry, Mom, but it’s true.”
“Hang on.” Arden raised her pointer finger, then hit a button on the blender. Camo started as the sound of grinding ice filled the house. “Sorry, Buddy,” she apologized to the dog, who huffed and looked at her likeI deserve a treat for enduring that.
Arden opened a cabinet and rummaged for a moment. “I think I have…there they are.” She pulled out two tiki glasses. “These are from my friend Elissa in Los Angeles. She got them when she was in Maui for a…um, competition.” Arden glanced away and Maren sensed there was a lot more there.
“So, I guess she would have preferred a vacation somewhere else as well?” Maren asked.
Arden smirked and tilted her head as she poured their drinks. “Anyone else would have, but you haven’t met Elissa yet. My girl drinks adrenaline for breakfast.” Arden carried the piña coladas to Maren and handed her one. “Want to go outside? We don’t exactly have a tropical beach to sit on, but the sunsets can be pretty spectacular over the mountains.”
“Sure.” Maren grabbed the plate of snacks, stood up, and Camo was instantly at the women’s sides like the four-footed bodyguard he was. “Arden, thanks again. I’m so thankful that Juni’s other family is so wonderful, starting with her aunt.”
Arden grinned. “What do you say we exchange stories about Mira and Sean? I’m sure you’re just as curious about Sean as I am about your twin.”
“Absolutely.”
Arden paused as they walked to the back deck. “Unless it’s too painful?”
“No. Not at all. It’s been a couple years, and I’ve had time to adjust. Besides, talking about her brings her right back to me.”
“Good. I feel the same way about Sean. But first, I want to hear all about your day.”
Arden had a charcoal grill set up at the far end of the deck, coals already banked and beginning to breathe orange at the edges. She checked them with the ease of someone who’d done it a thousand times, placed four foil-wrapped potatoes directly into the coals, and closed the lid.
They settled into the patio chairs—two Adirondacks with a small table between them for the cheese and crackers—and Camo stationed himself between their chairs like he was chaperoning. Through the open patio door behind them, Maren could hear Juni’s voice, low and serious, conducting what sounded like a very important meeting involving Mr. Kibble.
She’s fine.
Then she heard Colin talking to her, telling her something that made her giggle.
We all are. At least for one night, everything is fine.
By the timeKyle got home, Maren had told Arden all about her day—minus the dancing of course. Kyle was carrying a platter of burgers. Camo greeted him, then scooted inside. Kyle bent to kiss Arden and straightened up to shake Maren’s hand.
“Good to have you here,” he said. “Both of you.” He looked back through the open patio door with a grin. “Your niece has commandeered the guest room. She’s putting Mr. Kibble, Snoopy, and the fairy to bed. Very seriously.”
Maren laughed. “She does everything she thinks is important seriously.”
“I noticed.” He looked at Arden. “Coals ready?”
“Ready.”
He rolled up his sleeves and took over the grill without ceremony, and Colin materialized from inside and Kyle looked up at him.
“Beer?”
“Not while I’m on duty, Boss.”
Kyle grinned. “Fair enough. Got some sodas in there, too.” He nodded at the cooler beside the grill. “Help yourself.”
Maren watched Colin pull out a soda and lean against the deck rail. She liked seeing him there, easy and unhurried in the evening light. It looked good on him.
