Page 77 of The Perfect Distraction

Chapter Twenty-One

The next day, right before noon, her doorbell rang, and when she swung open the door, she was immediately pulled into a tight hug.

“You came,” Beth said, tears pricking her eyes.

“Of course I did. I could tell that you needed me. Well, aren’t you going to let me in?”

Beth laughed and stepped out of the way so her sister could enter.

Setting her purse and keys on the kitchen counter, Becca glanced around the kitchen and said, “Wow! This place looks so different than the last time I was here.”

“Doesn’t it, though? Check out the floor.”

Becca looked down and admired the smooth wood floor, and when she lifted her head up, she said, “Colton did this, right?”

“Um-hmm.” His name made her tear up again, and Becca reached for her hand.

“I’d love to see the rest of the house, but do you want to sit down and talk first?”

Beth shook her head. “We can talk later. Right now, I just want to enjoy the day with you.”

Yesterday, when she’d called Becca, she’d never expected her to show up. She’d just needed someone to talk to, but after she’d shared all that had happened—from Christopher’s email to her argument with Colton—Becca must have sensed that she could use the company.

“Did you tell anyone that you were coming here?” Beth asked as they moved into the living room.

“I told my broker, but that was it. I didn’t want Mom and Dad to worry, and Brooke’s working this weekend. So, here I am!”

“I still can’t believe it, but I’m glad you came.”

After Beth gave her a tour of the house, they went outside to collect Becca’s bags from the car.

“Geez. How long are you planning on staying?” Beth teased when her sister opened the trunk.

“Some of this is my real estate stuff. I only brought two bags.”

They each grabbed a bag, and when Becca closed the trunk, Beth froze. Becca had started walking toward the house and was talking about what all she’d brought, but Beth hadn’t budged.

When Becca realized Beth wasn’t behind her, she turned and said, “What…? Oh. Hello. You must be Colton.”

“Colton Woodward. And you are?”

“Becca Summers. Nice to meet you.”

Beth watched her sister and Colton shake hands while Becca not so subtly gave him the once over. She went over to join them, feeling slightly uncomfortable after the way she and Colton had left things yesterday.

“Beth didn’t mention that you were coming for a visit,” he said, looking between them curiously.

“Oh. Well, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision on my part. I haven’t been up here in a long time, and Beth was making me miss it, so I thought I’d come and visit.”

Beth had to give her sister credit for sounding so smooth and believable. Of course, her explanation was partially true. She’d simply left out the part about Beth needing a sounding board.

Just then, Joey came running out of the house clutching a soccer ball, and he came to a halt when he saw them all standing there.

“You look like Miss Beth,” he said to Becca.

She laughed. “I’m her sister, Becca. And you must be Joey.”

“How did you know?”