Page 35 of Hired Husband

Because I thought we’d be spending the day together and I’ve really been looking forward to it. “Stop with your crazy logic. I just thought I was going to get to show him around, is all.”

“And as soon as he’s done doing his actual job, you will,” she said with an annoying hint of patient big sister in her tone. “He didn’t choose Dad over you. You know as well as I do that there wasn’t really a choice.”

I sighed, but the irritating thing was that I already knew all of this. The way I was feeling honestly wasn’t logical, and yet, I felt it anyway. How am I supposed to explain that I enjoy his company and that I’m disappointed not to have it while fully understanding that he has to work?

“You’re right. I know. Maybe I’m just bored.” I stared out at the sparkling blue sea before letting my eyes slide shut. “I’ll just go do some exploring on my own. That’ll probably help.”

“That’s what I thought you’d be doing already,” she said. “It’s not like you to sit around sulking just because you have to go out alone. You usually even prefer that.”

“I know. I just don’t like it when Dad sabotages my plans.”

She laughed again. “All of these were his plans, my dear sister. You’re just along for the ride. The sooner you accept that, the better off you’ll be.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Gee, thanks for your support. You know what? I have to go. I suddenly remembered I’m busy.”

“With what?”

I glanced at the basket of tomatoes I was supposed to be bringing inside for Nanna before I’d decided to sit down and call my not-so-understanding sister. “Fruit. I’m busy with fruit.”

“Let me guess, the fruit is suddenly demanding every ounce of your attention?”

“Exactly.”

She burst out laughing. “I love you, but you really need to stop pouting now. Isaac will be back as soon as he can, and you can have your playdate then.”

I rolled my eyes despite the warmth rising to my cheeks. “It’s not a playdate. I just wanted to do my job and here, that’s being his tour guide. The sooner he gets inspiration, the faster I can go home.”

“Uh-huh,” she said with a smile in her voice. “If that was all it was, you wouldn’t have called to tell me about it. Just admit it. Dad stole your friend and it hurt your feelings that he didn’t stand up for you.”

“I don’t have feelings where Isaac is concerned,” I said crisply. “I’m just annoyed because Dad made me come out here for nothing.”

“Sure.” She chuckled again, but then her voice became a little gentler. “I hope he doesn’t have to work too late tonight. At least that way, you can still make him buy you dinner. Good luck with the fruit.”

She hung up before I could remind her that I didn’t want to have dinner with Isaac, but as I lowered my phone slowly from my ear, I wondered what the hell I was supposed to do now. Outside of bringing those tomatoes inside before Nanna noticed I hadn’t done it yet.

Finally standing, I wrapped my fingers around the wicker basket and carried her ingredients to the kitchen. I found her humming to herself behind the stove, the fragrant aroma of dinner in the making already filling the air.

“Finally,” she said without even looking to check that it was me. “I was starting to think you forgot. Score those for me, will you?”

“I didn’t forget. I just got sidetracked.”

“That’s no excuse,” she said, tilting her silver-gray head toward the block of knives of the counter. “Score them while you tell me how Deja is doing.”

“How did you know I talked to her?”

She finally turned away from the stove to face me, her wise, black eyes locking on mine and a knowing smile on her face. “I saw you on the phone outside and I’ve known you since before you were born. Whenever you don’t get your way, you turn to your sister. That’s how it’s always been.”

I exhaled a heavy breath through my nostrils and folded my arms. “That’s not what it was about.”

Her head tilted and the deep laugh lines at the corners of her eyes crinkled. “You didn’t call Deja to complain about your father?”

“No, I called her to complain about her brother-in-law,” I said, then started backing toward the doorway. “I’m going out, but I’ll be back later.”

“We just got back from being out,” she said. “You can’t possibly be that bored already.”

“Oh, but I am.”

“So score the tomatoes.”