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“And he kissed her, don’t forget the kiss,” Annie added with poker face.
“You can’t fall in love with someone in a few days just because you’ve kissed him—it’s ridiculous.” Mitch scowled.
Vivian nodded. “You’re right. Probably just lust.”
Mitch turned red. “Lust? You know I’m your brother, right. Not something I want to think about, seriously.”
“Chill, Mitch. I do like your idea about finding out what the costs to restore this place would be.”
“You’ll also need help with the garden,” Annie said as they walked away from the house.
Vivian glanced back at the house over her shoulder. Aiden was standing on the porch, waving at her. She blinked and he was gone. Maybe she’d see him again—who knew? Maybe then she’d be able to give a name to whatever this was she was feeling.
*
Aiden was rushingtoward the boarding gates at the Portland-Tacoma Airport when a familiar voice called out his name. Traffic had been brutal, and he’d be just in time.
Without stopping, he looked over his shoulder. And stopped in his tracks. Was he hallucinating? His cousin and sister were running toward him. Out of breath, Riley reached him first, Craig right behind her.
Baffled, he stared at them. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, let’s see,” Riley began with a big smile. “You were on the morning show and didn’t tell us. When you told the listeners you were on your way back to Marietta, Montana, we decided to join you.”
“But… how?”
Riley grabbed his hand while she began to run again. “We can talk while we’re running. We’re very late, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“How did you persuade Craig to join you? Never thought I’d see the day he’s not working. Doing anything spontaneous isn’t really his thing, is it? Does Aunt Janice know?”
They’d reached the boarding gate. Craig grinned. “It was my idea to join you today. I can be spontaneous if I need to be and it’s planned properly. It’s Saturday, and I’ve missed Aunt Janice, but I didn’t think we should just arrive on her doorstep unannounced. I know she’s been helping with the ball. Riley booked rooms for us at a B and B in Marietta. Annie’s, it’s called.”
“You mean Annie, as in…” Aiden asked, his head spinning.
“Annie, as in Vivian’s sister Annie.” Riley smiled. “I was worried Aunt Janice would be peeved we’re not staying with her, but she seemed quite pleased when she heard we’re staying at Annie’s.”
She put her arms around Aiden and Craig. “Dylan has already been visiting a friend. It was easy enough to organize a sleepover, and he’s happy. I get to spend time with my big brother and cousin, and hopefully, we’ll see who the woman is who’s managed to put a smile back on your face.”
Aiden rubbed his neck. He hadn’t expected to have to explain his actions. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m flying back to Portland tomorrow.”
Craig looked surprised. “So are we, but I thought you’d want to spend more time with the lovely doctor. Haven’t you announced to the world you hope you have a date for the Valentine’s ball?”
“I’m not even sure whether she’ll talk to me at this point,” Aiden said. “But yeah, I hope I have a date. But afterward, I must return to the real world.”
They had their tickets and were following the other passengers onto the plane. “Why can’t she be part of your real world?” Riley wanted to know.
“There are major logistical problems to begin with,” Aiden said wryly.
“Nonsense. You can work from anywhere,” Riley said as she and Craig found their seats. “What other excuses do you have?”
“I have nothing else to offer her. And that’s not an excuse; it’s a fact,” he said as he moved farther down the aisle to his own seat. Thank goodness he wasn’t sitting close to Riley; she would’ve pestered him all the way to Bozeman. He needed time to settle his heart, sort out his jumbled thoughts before they landed.
He had to see Vivian again. What would happen afterward, he had no idea, but maybe if he saw her, kissed her again, this ache inside of him would subside.
*
Vivian stared atherself in the mirror. The last time she’d dressed up to go to a dance was probably on the night of her high school prom. It was a novel experience to see herself in something other than her white coat or jeans and a sweater.
A strange excitement was bubbling just below the surface of her skin. Why, she had no idea. It wasn’t as if a knight in shining armor was taking her to the ball. Her knight was back in Portland.
