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From what she’d seen, Leah agreed with Gavin’s assessment of him and his half brother. “I’ve only met Vivian once. Who is older, you or her?”
He opened the café door and held it for her. “She is,” he answered, following her inside. “By ten minutes, and she never lets me forget it.”
Leah chuckled. “Must be a twin thing. Derek loves to remind Allison he’s older too. It drives her crazy,” she explained, referring to her cousins. “Too bad Allison won’t be there today. The two of you could commiserate with each other.”
She stopped in front of the display case. Everything from croissants and muffins to cinnamon rolls and breakfast sandwiches was on display.
“Maybe some other time,” he replied.
His comment had her looking away from the tasty treats and towar
d him. “You probably usually work on New Year’s Eve, but not this year, my friend. It might be months away, but I’m inviting you now to the New Year’s Eve party at Cliff House. Don’t worry, I’ll remind you a lot between now and then so you won’t forget. Allison will be there. She never misses it. The two of you can complain about how difficult it is to be the younger twin then.”
New Year’s Eve was a little more than five months away. A lot could happen in five months. Regardless, she expected Gavin to still be a part of her life, and she wanted him to ring in the New Year with her.
“I’ll put it on my calendar.” He turned toward the food on display. “Any ideas for breakfast?”
She’d stopped in Café Sorell before and to date she’d never been disappointed with anything she picked. “I’m going with the cinnamon roll and a double espresso,” she answered, not bothering to look away from him.
He always looked handsome, but this morning there was something different about him. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but since he walked though her front door, she’d been having trouble keeping her eyes off him—a fact she hoped he didn’t notice, because if he did it was going to be a long, awkward weekend.
He approached the counter and smiled at the young woman behind it. On cue she smiled back, and it was impossible to miss the light pink hue spreading across her cheeks. “We’ll have two cinnamon rolls and two double espressos to go, please,” he said.
With a nod the employee walked away. As she prepared their order, she threw countless looks Gavin’s way—looks he couldn’t have missed if Leah noticed them. Much like the night at the country club restaurant, she found herself grinding her teeth. If she kept reacting this way every time a member of the opposite sex looked his way this weekend, she was going to be in desperate need of a dentist Monday morning.
***
Unlike Cliff House, which had been built by one of Leah’s ancestors in 1895 to resemble Alexander Palace in Russia and was currently owned by her Uncle Warren, her parents’ home in Newport didn’t look as if it belonged in a history book. After purchasing the property on Ocean Drive twenty years ago following a fire that destroyed most of the original structure, they’d torn down what was left and started over. It took them a couple years to design and build exactly what they wanted, but now a gorgeous 14,000 square foot home sat overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the size, it felt like a true home instead of museum, which was how Cliff House always felt to her.
“It’s your next right,” Leah said as they drove down the street.
In anticipation of guests, the front gates had been left open, and Gavin drove up the horseshoe-shaped driveway. Several of the guests had already arrived judging by the number of cars parked, and Leah surveyed the collection. Many she recognized as belonging to family members, but a few definitely belonged to her parents’ friends and neighbors.
Gavin parked next to a SUV with New Hampshire plates. Although she’d never seen the vehicle before, she guessed it belonged to Curt. After all, who else did her parents know in New Hampshire?
“I think my brother and his girlfriend are here.” She pointed to the vehicle. “Have you ever met Curt?” She’d never introduced him to any of her family, but that didn’t mean he’d never met them elsewhere.
“Once, about a year ago. I escorted my mom to a Helping Hands fundraiser in Providence because Clark was away on business. Your brother was there.”
She’d never met his mom, Faith Williamson, or her second husband, Clark, but she knew they lived in Rhode Island and were supporters of Helping Hands, a foundation started by her great-grandmother and currently run by her Aunt Marilyn.
Mom and Dad would do everything to make Gavin feel comfortable this weekend, but she was glad he’d at least met one family member before today.
“Do you think this is everyone?” He nodded toward the many cars parked around them as they walked toward the front steps.
Leah quickly surveyed the collection again. “Doubt it.”
“When you said Fourth of July bash, you meant it.”
She didn’t bother ringing the bell. Instead she opened the door and stepped inside the cool air-conditioned home. “Mom goes all out every year for this party. The ones she throws at the holidays are much smaller.”
If everything went the way Gavin hoped, he’d find out for himself in a few months.
He followed her across the two-story open foyer. Although a stunning home, it wasn’t ostentatious, which was the only word to adequately describe his father’s home since his wife had redecorated. Considering the few pictures he’d seen of Cliff House, her uncle’s home, he’d expected her parents’ house to be decked out with marble columns and gilded ceilings. As far as he could see, neither existed here.
Leah paused at the bottom of one curved staircase. “I’m just going to run this up to my room. I’ll be right back. Feel free to wait here or head outside. Whatever you’re more comfortable with.”
He’d never met Judith Sherbrooke, but he recognized Leah’s mom right away. Although Judith had dark brown hair and dark eyes and stood at least four or five inches taller than Leah, the shape of their faces and eyes were the same.
