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He felt like the Grinch. Like his heart grew three sizes in her embrace. The pressure in his chest didn’t ease.
Longing—a deep ache in his soul for the open spaces of central Oregon—collided with the unfamiliar weight of seeing his sister again.
She drew away, her eyes glassy.
Aw, Robin.
“I thought you might slug me.”
“Tempting,” she answered.
He shook his head. His nerves still coiled his gut. “I got in this morning. Had some horses to deliver for Noah.”
He sidestepped out of a customer’s way and rubbed the edge of the Stetson he still held in his fingertips.
His hat. His boots. He didn’t exactly blend into Deep Haven, where the customer apparel was all summer tees with flip-flops or logger plaid with work boots.
He shifted his weight. He stood out like a Black Angus in a herd of Herefords.
“I’ll bet Noah’s excited to have them.” She shoved her hands into her back pockets.
Oh yeah. So excited. Maybe if he were running a rodeo instead of a children’s camp.
Several beats passed between them.
“I brought you something.” He held up the gift bag.
She smiled. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know how much you like being spoiled.”
“Ha-ha.” Robin lifted the tissue paper from the bag, peeked inside. A smile spread across her face, and she drew the silver-and-turquoise necklace out. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He cleared the awkwardness from his throat. “It’s from a local artist in Oregon.” He shifted, rubbed the edge of his hat, and fought the sense that the bakery would implode on him.
She latched the necklace around her neck and set the turquoise pendant to the center.
A big football-player-sized man walked in. He set his eyes on Robin, smiled.
“Hey, Sammy,” she said.
Ah, yes. Grandma had mentioned Robin’s new boyfriend. He remembered Sammy from school.
“Good to see you, Grayson.” Sammy extended a hand.
He returned the handshake. “You too.”
Sammy turned back to Robin. “Do you have the cake Megan called about?”
She nodded. “It’s in the cooler, boxed up.” She patted his arm. “Thanks for delivering it.”
“No problem. I’ll catch you later.” He leaned in and gave Robin a discreet kiss on the cheek before heading through the kitchen.
Robin gave Grayson a soft smile, her face still glowy from Sammy’s interruption.
Huh. He didn’t suppose he had too much room to talk as her big brother after being gone so long, but that didn’t stop him. “He’s a good guy?”
“Stop—of course he is.” She shook away his question. “Hungry?”
