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“See! I told you understanding history is important.”
“I saidalmost.”
I huff. “What did you find out?”
“His family moved here because his sister was shunned by their old town after she was caught, and I quote, ‘rolling in the hay’ with another man before marriage. So instead of staying within the Upper Peninsula, they moved here after hearing about the beaches.”
“No way.”
He nods. “There were four Baker brothers and their sister, Wisteria, who refused to be called anything but Ria. She’s the scribe who kept a detailed account of everything.”
“They named the town after her?” I squeal. “How come no one talks about this?”
He shrugs. “Probably because she didn’t want people to know her real name. She said the name ‘Wisteria’ was a dainty mouthful that didn’t fit her personality.”
I clutch his arm. “What else did she say?”
“She had a lot of great things to say about her oldest brother, including how much heart and love he poured into every house.”
“Sounds like one of us.”
Julian brushes his fingers over a spot that has me bucking and laughing against him.
Once I calm down, I trace invisible patterns across his chest. “Anything about Francesca?”
“She was from their old town.”
“Oh no.”
“It gets worse. Turns out she was the mayor’s daughter.”
My bottom lip wobbles. “No.”
“It explains why Gerald never got married to her or anyone else.”
“That’s so unfair. Gerald and his family sounded like good people.” My voice shakes with outrage.
“They were, but what can you do? Not everyone was as progressive during that time.”
“It’s a shame you’re tearing down his legacy, one house at a time, especially after learning why he started this town to begin with.”
His scowl makes me shiver. “What else do you expect me to do?”
“Find whatever town shunned his sister and take a wrecking ball to those houses instead.” I smile.
His eyes sweep over me. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course. Lake Wisteria needs to be protected at all costs from people like you.”
“And who will protectyoufrom people like me?” Julian climbs over me, locking my hands above my head as he traps me beneath him.
I lock my legs around his waist and pull him closer. “You’re the one who will need to be protected from someone likeme. Mark my words.”
Julian shuts me up by kissing me until I can no longer remember anything about Gerald, the towns, or my own name.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Dahlia
