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Jillian laughed. Her blue eyes lit up. They sparkled like sapphires. The breath hitched in his throat. There was something different about her this evening, but he couldn’t put his finger on the change. Had she always been this beautiful?
“I don’t think that’s the right term.” Jillian’s words cut through his troubled thoughts. “I think he likes her. And I think she likes him too, but she isn’t ready to admit it yet.”
“I wonder if this is the beginning of a routine. At least you’ll know where Romeo is when he escapes.” Avery thought that would please Jillian, but she continued to frown. “What’s wrong?”
“I just hate the thought of him crossing roads. It’s so hard to see a black cat at night.”
“He’ll be fine.”
“Says the man who almost ran him over.”
Her words wounded Avery. Surely she knew how much he loved animals. “Hey, I wasn’t even close.”
Jillian’s eyes widened. “How would you know? Remember, you never saw him?”
She did have a point, but he wanted to believe he hadn’t been that close. The thought of hurting an innocent animal was quite upsetting.
“I see you’re working on the kitchen.” She glanced around. “It looks really nice. I like the green paint with the white trim. Are you replacing the appliances?”
He nodded. “I ordered them before my accident, when I thought my career was on the way up.”
“It still can be. You just have to give your body time to heal. Speaking of which, I doubt you’re supposed to be on your feet all day.”
“I’m not one of the twins. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“If I don’t, who will?” Jillian paused as though just now comprehending what she’d said. “Unless, of course, you’re seeing someone.”
He wasn’t, but she was obviously involved with someone. “The only female in my life aside from Beth is Marshmallow. And she doesn’t give me any grief unless I forget to feed her on time.”
“Sounds about right.” Jillian glanced around some more. “Are you almost finished?”
“I’m getting there.”
“Are you installing recessed lighting beneath the cabinets?”
“Already installed.” He walked over to the counter and flipped a switch. The new granite countertops were illuminated.
“Wow. Very nice.”
As much as he hated to admit it, her compliment meant a lot to him. But it still rankled him that she was involved in a romantic relationship. He wis
hed she’d mentioned it when he’d approached her about the tutoring. He would have backed off. Now everything was awkward.
“Thank you. I’m glad you like the changes,” he said. “I thought it was time this place received a makeover.”
“Any special reason?”
He shook his head. “I just wanted it nice for Beth.”
“She’s moving back here to Marietta after college?”
“I assumed she would.” And then a thought struck him. “Is there something you know?”
Jillian shook her head. “She didn’t say anything to me. I was just wondering with Beth always talking of the ocean if she would ever live in this house again.”
Jillian’s words triggered a lightbulb for him. He wasn’t the only one striving to get away from here—from the memories of the family that had once been and was no more. He’d tried so hard to fill in for his parents, but he’d obviously failed as everyone wanted to go in a different direction.
As though Jillian could see the impact her words had on him, she said, “Of course, I could totally be wrong about this.”
