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es.” She frowned. “However, I believe the two of you were coming down the stairs together.” She crossed her arms. “And why would that be?”
I straightened. “About that.”
Ian brightened and curled his arm around my aunt. “Aunt Laverne, Zoe has finally seen the light.”
“Well, it’s about time.”
I squinted at my aunt. “Again, how about that loyalty?”
She leaned into Ian. “It’s obvious you two are meant for each other, you just had to catch up to it, sweetheart.” She wrinkled her nose. “Takes a little wind out of my sails though. I was hoping I could ask you for a little favor, Ian.”
“Anything for you.”
I rolled my eyes and came down the stairs. “I need food if this is how the conversation is going to go.”
“Don’t mind her, she gets grumpy when she’s hungry.” My aunt hooked her arm through Ian’s. “I just cut up some fresh tomatoes from Sarah’s garden. Would you like a toasted cheese?”
“Oh, I like those.”
I dropped into a chair in the big dining room and kitchen area of the lodge. “I see you’re the one that’s been fattening up my…” What the hell was she supposed to call him?
“Future father of your children?”
I blinked at him. “Ian.”
“Too much?”
“Ya think?” I pulled over one of the complimentary waters from the middle of the table and took a swig.
My aunt clasped her hands together. “Oh, you really are back together. A spring wedding would be lovely here at the orchard.”
I choked. “Aunt Laverne.”
“What? Is it an extended engagement?”
“It’s not an engagement at all.” Yet. Maybe. God, we sort of hadn’t talked about that part. Ian went right for babies and family. I spared a glance at him, but he was too busy filching slices of tomato.
“Don’t scare her, Aunt Laverne.” Ian popped a pickle slice into his mouth. “I just got her to stop hating me.”
“Well, you were talking babies.”
I cleared my throat. “You sent for Ian. Did you need something?”
He walked around the kitchen island to stand by me. He pushed a plate full of my favorite things in front of me. When had he figured those things out?
“Right. You know how we’ve been trying to make the big harvest celebration a little bigger each year?” When I nodded instead of speaking with my mouth full, she went on. “Well, I finally convinced your Uncle Fred and your father to bring in some musical talent. I thought maybe you’d want to play, Ian?”
“I’m sorry?”
“You have a band, right?”
“Yes.” He swallowed hard and pounded on his chest a few times. “I do have a band.”
“I know it’s sort of short notice. The festival is in a few weeks. Do you think you could arrange it? Maybe you could call LeeLee, Zoe?”
I paused with my fingers hovering over a sweet pepper. “Pardon?”
“LeeLee?” Ian frowned.
