Page 65 of Finding Forever

Ryan reached for the chocolates, but Beth pulled the box away.

He stared at her. “What are you doing?”

“They’re mine.” The look on Ryan’s face was as close to a pout as Beth had ever seen.

“I brought them all the way from Australia,” Ryan told her. “Plus, I’m jetlagged. I need the sugar.”

Beth tucked the box against her chest. “You’ve had enough.”

Ryan pointed at the stuffed kangaroo. “Fine. If you eat all the chocolates, I’m taking the kangaroo home.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Watch me.”

Laughing, Beth pushed the box back into the middle of the table.

For now, it was enough to sit in her kitchen with her brother, sharing chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and arguing over a ridiculous stuffed kangaroo.

And it was enough to know that when she’d finally found the courage to tell him about Dave, her brother had smiled.

Chapter 34

Dave spotted Ryan’s truck pulling into Finley Point a little after seven on Monday morning. He was glad to see it.

Mostly.

For the past few months, Ryan’s absence had left a noticeable gap on the project. Dave had good people working for him, but Ryan knew Finley Point almost as well as he did. He knew the plans, the contractors, and which suppliers needed chasing before a late delivery caused trouble for three other trades.

Having him back would make Dave’s life considerably easier. There was only one complication. While Ryan had been on the other side of the world, Dave had taken his sister on a date.

Dave stepped outside as Ryan climbed out of his truck carrying a travel mug.

Ryan closed the door and stood still. “It’s been a long time.”

Dave smiled. “Good morning to you, too.”

Ryan barely seemed to hear him. His attention had gone to the cabins.

When Ryan had left for Australia, several of the sites had been little more than foundations and stacks of building materials. Now timber frames rose across that part of the property, giving shape to what had previously existed mostly on plans.

Ryan slowly turned, taking everything in. “You’ve been busy.”

“We thought we’d get some work done while you were away.”

“I can see that.”

A nail gun sounded from one of the cabin sites. A delivery truck was reversing farther along the access road, its warning signal cutting through the morning air. Men were unloading sheets of building material while another crew worked around the frame of the nearest cabin.

Ryan looked toward the main lodge. “What stage are you at in there?”

“Drywall.”

Ryan’s head swung back toward him. “Already?”

Dave enjoyed the surprise on his face. “You were gone almost three months. Did you think we’d taken a vacation, too?”

Ryan laughed and held out his hand. “It’s good to see you, Dave.”