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“Pool party? I’m in,” Harper says as she comes around the corner and joins our group.
“Harper in a bikini? I’m in too.” Latham has an ornery smirk on his face as his eyes travel down his girlfriend’s body. She’s wearing a cute pink smock top and white Bermuda shorts.
“Give the girl some room,” Mary Ann says, pushing through the small group until she’s standing directly in front of me. “Come here, you.” Then her arms are around me and I’m engulfed in a fierce hug. Jensen’s mom smells like vanilla and cinnamon, a familiar scent that takes me back to a time when I spent a lot of my childhood with this family.
I open my mouth to say something, but my throat is closed. I’m choking on emotions and I’m not sure where they came from. Out of the blue, I feel overjoyed and elated to be here, wrapped in Mary Ann’s arms. I blink rapidly, trying to will away the tears, but one slips out. She pulls back and smiles at me, her hands still holding me firmly by the arms. “Oh, don’t you do that, sweet girl. No tears or you’ll make me cry too.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, not really sure what I’m apologizing for. The tears or the past. Probably both.
Mary Ann scoffs. “Don’t you worry about any of that. What’s in the past is past. You’re here now, and that’s all that matters,” she says with a wink. “Besides, I made the cheesy mac and cheese with extra bacon just for you.”
“I can’t wait,” I reply, a smile playing on my lips.
“Now, I better get back inside before my grandson eats more than the one cookie I set out for him,” she says, patting my hand and then turning and heading back to the house.
“You left him alone with the cookies?” Jensen hollers at his mom.
She turns and shrugs. “I’m Grandma. He can have whatever he wants.”
Jensen groans and Harper laughs. “Just you wait. You’ll have kids soon and you’ll know what it’s like to be completely undermined by the grandma factor.”
A look passes between Harper and Latham and I can’t help but wonder what it means. As far as I know, they’ve only dated for a handful of weeks and recently moved in together. But their attraction has been brewing for a long time. Even when we were in school, there was just something about their love/hate relationship that screamed sexual chemistry. It may have taken them a while to get here, but I have a feeling, just by watching them interact the two times I’ve seen them, they’re forever.
“Oh, Riss, don’t forget the Ladies’ Night Out is set for Thursday night. Can you still whip up a few batches of cookies?” Harper asks her sister.
“Absolutely. I’ll make you those new s’mores muffins too.”
“That sounds amazing. Whatever you want, just let me know how much. I’m serving lemonade and bought a few bottles of wine from a North Carolina vineyard,” Harper adds, her eyes connecting with mine. “Kathryn, if you’re not doing anything Thursday night, you should come by the shop. Some of the small businesses have organized a Ladies’ Night Out. I’ll have some goodies to eat and some wine. Plus, I’m running a special on bra and panty sets.”
I can feel the blush creeping in. There’s just something about discussing bras and panties in front of Jensen and his family that makes me a little nervous. Obviously, Harper isn’t fazed in the least. She tells her sister about some of the new items she got in as if she were talking about the weather.
“Seriously, come by the shop,” she adds.
“I will, thank you.”
Latham pulls her toward the coolers that are set outside, but before she’s completely out of earshot, she hollers, “Anytime after seven.”
I feel Jensen’s hand on my lower back. “Looks like you have plans on Thursday night,” he says.
My reply is a small smile and a nod. It makes me feel good to be invited to their gathering, even if it’s only in the hopes I’ll spend a little money. I realize I’m looking forward to Thursday night. I’m excited to shop at Harper’s boutique and maybe even spend a little girl time with Jensen’s sisters.
The rest of the afternoon progresses wonderfully. The weather is warm, yet the yard is shaded enough to provide comfort against the heat. A handful of guests staying at the bed and breakfast mill around and visit, enjoying appetizers and drinks Marissa prepared.
Samuel arrived a bit ago in a full suit. He said he just finished a funeral for someone I vaguely remember, but apparently had no desire to stop by his place and change his clothes into something more comfortable. When Freedom arrives a bit later, it’s like the air changes. Samuel becomes tense (even more tense than normal), and even though he gives off the appearance of ignoring her, I catch the way his eyes casually follow her movements around the yard.
Latham and Rhenn fire up the grill and the guys seem to all congregate in that area. Marissa hovers nearby, but doesn’t actually step in. I can tell she’s not used to giving up control over a meal, but she does so when Rhenn takes the grill spatula, kisses her on the tip of the nose, and sends her off to sit with us under the oak tree. I split my time between visiting with those sitting around me and watching Jensen and Max play catch. They’re off to the side so they don’t hit anyone, and I can’t get over how effortless their play is. I excuse myself from the group and make my way to where father and son are playing.
“Hey,” I say as Jensen catches the ball in his mitt and throws it back to Max.
“Having fun?” he asks, glancing my way, but quickly returning his eyes back to the kid across from him.
“Yes. Today has been very relaxing and enjoyable,” I tell him as the ball comes sailing back our way. Jensen easily catches it before tossing it back. “Wow, he’s really good at that,” I observe as Max snatches the baseball from the air and lobs it back to his dad.
“He is. He’s been playing all summer. Here.” Jensen holds out his hand, the ball between his fingers.
“Oh, no, I can’t.”
“You can’t?” he asks, eyebrows arched toward his hairline.
