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“Nicole, this is Isabel Perri,” Jackson said. “Isabel, this is Christian’s poor misled fiancée, Nicole Travers.”
Nicole put down the knife she’d been using to cut a lime, wiped her hand on a towel, and extended that hand to Isabel to shake. “Nice to meet you, Isabel.” She shifted her gaze to Jackson. “I’m not misled. I know what I’m getting myself into and I couldn’t be happier about it.”
Jackson looked at Isabel. “It’s worse than I thought. Not only is she misled, but she’s completely brainwashed too.”
Nicole launched her fist into Jackson’s arm, much like Isabel had done in the jeep. “Not brainwashed. Just in love.” She batted her long eyelashes on the word love.
“Congratulations on your engagement,” Isabel said. “How did you meet Christian?”
“He used his body to save me from getting squished by a runaway van my evil sister sent to kill me on the busy streets of Boston.”
Isabel jerked her head back. “That was not what I expected you to say.”
Nicole and Jackson laughed as Nicole picked up her knife and continued slicing the lime.
“You expected the run-of-the-mill stories,” Nicole said. “The we-met-at-a-bar tales.”
“Or the online-dating-app anecdotes,” Jackson added.
“Ha! I just imagined what Christian’s online dating profile would say.” Nicole filled a metal shaker with ice and poured a generous amount of gin into it. “Hot cowboy farmer seeks sexy female farmhand to plow his field.”
Jackson rolled his eyes. “He would totally call himself a hot cowboy farmer.”
“That’s because he is a hot cowboy farmer,” Nicole said with a serious face that made Isabel chuckle.
“See?” Jackson turned to Isabel. “Completely brainwashed.”
“Aw, shush, you.” Nicole added something blue to the drink she’d mixed and handed it to Isabel. “Drink this Blue Monday and tell me how you know Jackson.”
Isabel took a hefty sip of the blue concoction, knowing she’d need it to tell Nicole how she’d met Jackson. The drink smelled of juniper and tasted like... like blue should taste somehow.
“I knew Jackson in high school.” With any luck, that would be enough commentary, but Nicole immediately shifted her gaze between Isabel and Jackson, and Isabel could practically hear the calculations taking place in the woman’s brain.
“You guys dated.” It wasn’t a question.
“We did.” Jackson toyed with the curls of ribbons still around his neck.
“I see.” Nicole stared at them for a moment longer, and Isabel feared more questions were about to come pouring out, but instead, Nicole snagged the blond woman and spun her around. “Tessa, meet Isabel. Isabel, Tessa is Donovan’s wife.” She elbowed Tessa. “Isabel and Jackson dated in high school.”
“Oh, really?” Tessa’s smile widened as did her eyes. She leaned her elbows on the kitchen island. “You mean to tell me this woman has inside info on the Henley brothers as youngsters?” Tessa rubbed her hands together and Jackson groaned.
“I may have some intel on the Henley Hellions,” Isabel said.
“Henley Hellions!” Nicole and Tessa shouted together.
“Confidential intel,” Jackson said. “Intel Isabel couldn’t possibly share with you two civilians.” He nudged Isabel away from the kitchen island, but the chestnut-haired woman appeared in front of Isabel, blocking their path.
“Hi, Isabel.”
“Aliza Danahy?”
“Yup. Except it’s Aliza Henley now because I’m the holder of the esteemed title Landon’s Wife.” She did a little bow in front of Isabel. “Did I hear that you knew these four clowns when they were boys? While I grew up in Maplehaven and did know you, I didn’t know the Henleys and then I moved to Boston for a time.”
“You did hear that.” Isabel released some of the awkwardness she’d felt upon entering Christian’s home. Christian had been welcoming and these three women gave off a fun vibe that appealed to Isabel, especially because she’d left any friends she’d had back in Pennsylvania. She had Charlie here in Maplehaven, but Isabel hadn’t seen her yet because Charlie was using her helicopter skills to work with some rescue group in the Dominican Republic.
Aliza looked at Nicole. “You keep the alcohol flowing in her direction so we can get her to spill all she knows.”
Isabel waved a hand. “Oh, I don’t need to be drunk to unload Henley Hellion secrets. I’ll do it freely.”
