the curb.”
His flush intensified. “This isn’t big news.”
“Of course it is. Your love life has been in desperate need of activity.”
“You talk like I never go out.” Hell, she talked like he had a love life. “I dated Lucy for nearly a month.”
“We all knew that wasn’t going to last. We love Lucy, but you two didn’t have any chemistry. You were clearly meant to be friends, nothing more.”
He couldn’t even protest her dismissal. Hadn’t he thought just this morning that kissing Lucy had been totally sisterly? While there’d been nothing the least sisterly about kissing Avi.
“Back to the subject…When do you see her again?”
He could try to put her off, but it would be a waste of time. Both of his sisters were stubborn, but Sara was downright relentless. It was always easier to tell her what she wanted to know. “She’s driving into town tonight for dinner.”
Sara smiled so brightly that he couldn’t help but smile back, though it was tinged with ruefulness. “Will she be staying over for breakfast?”
He rolled his eyes, then dragged his fingers through his hair. “You know, most guys get to keep their social life private until they’re ready to let people know.”
“Private is not a concept the Noble family knows. Aunt Rennie practically popped the question to Rowdy’s girlfriend herself, and when Tommy didn’t ask Suz out for a second date, Aunt Laurie did.” Sara wagged her finger at him. “Consider yourself lucky that I’m talking to you and not Avi. My kids need cousins, and if we can’t count on you to give them some on your own, I have to step in.”
Resolutely he shook his head. “No chance of that. She doesn’t live here. She’s in the Army, and in a month she’s moving to Georgia. She won’t be back for eight more years.”
The finger that had been wagging now tapped Sara’s lower lip. “Hmm. That could be a problem. My kids need cousins here, not halfway across the country.”
“I need CherryBerry,” Lainie piped up.
“And I need to get back to work or I won’t be out of here in time for dinner.”
“Well, we certainly don’t want you to miss your first real date in God knows how long. Even if this one does move away, you can use the practice when you try again.” Grinning, Sara hustled the kids together and toward the door before turning back to give him a wicked wink. “I hope it makes up for all those nights you’ve sat home alone.”
Ben shook his head. Too often, a shake of his head was the only response he could come up with for Sara and Bree. But as he turned away, he wondered himself.
Would Avi be staying for breakfast?
* * *
Avi was halfway out the kitchen door after lunch when the front bell pealed through the house. She commanded Sundance to sit, then strode through the house to the door, opening it to Patricia.
“Am I interrupting anything?”
With a glance at the tablet in her hand, Avi shook her head. She had plenty of time to read, not so much to spend with people she adored. “I was taking Sundance outside. Want to come sit with me while I watch her discover a new world?”
“I thought she played in the yard every day.”
“She does, but apparently she forgets it as soon as she’s back inside. Everything’s a brand-new discovery every time she goes out.”
“I feel that way sometimes.”
When they reached the kitchen, Avi set the tablet aside and grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge. As soon as she opened the door, Sundance darted outside, tearing around, barking with delight at a butterfly, cautiously sniffing a tree root, stalking, and then pouncing on a flower.
Avi and Patricia took seats shaded by the house and the towering oak next to it. “You have plans today?” Patricia asked as she unscrewed the cap on her bottle.
Avi took a long drink, watching her friend try to act innocent. When she lowered the bottle, she said, “I saw you peeking out the window last night.”
“Oh, good. I
His flush intensified. “This isn’t big news.”
“Of course it is. Your love life has been in desperate need of activity.”
“You talk like I never go out.” Hell, she talked like he had a love life. “I dated Lucy for nearly a month.”
“We all knew that wasn’t going to last. We love Lucy, but you two didn’t have any chemistry. You were clearly meant to be friends, nothing more.”
He couldn’t even protest her dismissal. Hadn’t he thought just this morning that kissing Lucy had been totally sisterly? While there’d been nothing the least sisterly about kissing Avi.
“Back to the subject…When do you see her again?”
He could try to put her off, but it would be a waste of time. Both of his sisters were stubborn, but Sara was downright relentless. It was always easier to tell her what she wanted to know. “She’s driving into town tonight for dinner.”
Sara smiled so brightly that he couldn’t help but smile back, though it was tinged with ruefulness. “Will she be staying over for breakfast?”
He rolled his eyes, then dragged his fingers through his hair. “You know, most guys get to keep their social life private until they’re ready to let people know.”
“Private is not a concept the Noble family knows. Aunt Rennie practically popped the question to Rowdy’s girlfriend herself, and when Tommy didn’t ask Suz out for a second date, Aunt Laurie did.” Sara wagged her finger at him. “Consider yourself lucky that I’m talking to you and not Avi. My kids need cousins, and if we can’t count on you to give them some on your own, I have to step in.”
Resolutely he shook his head. “No chance of that. She doesn’t live here. She’s in the Army, and in a month she’s moving to Georgia. She won’t be back for eight more years.”
The finger that had been wagging now tapped Sara’s lower lip. “Hmm. That could be a problem. My kids need cousins here, not halfway across the country.”
“I need CherryBerry,” Lainie piped up.
“And I need to get back to work or I won’t be out of here in time for dinner.”
“Well, we certainly don’t want you to miss your first real date in God knows how long. Even if this one does move away, you can use the practice when you try again.” Grinning, Sara hustled the kids together and toward the door before turning back to give him a wicked wink. “I hope it makes up for all those nights you’ve sat home alone.”
Ben shook his head. Too often, a shake of his head was the only response he could come up with for Sara and Bree. But as he turned away, he wondered himself.
Would Avi be staying for breakfast?
* * *
Avi was halfway out the kitchen door after lunch when the front bell pealed through the house. She commanded Sundance to sit, then strode through the house to the door, opening it to Patricia.
“Am I interrupting anything?”
With a glance at the tablet in her hand, Avi shook her head. She had plenty of time to read, not so much to spend with people she adored. “I was taking Sundance outside. Want to come sit with me while I watch her discover a new world?”
“I thought she played in the yard every day.”
“She does, but apparently she forgets it as soon as she’s back inside. Everything’s a brand-new discovery every time she goes out.”
“I feel that way sometimes.”
When they reached the kitchen, Avi set the tablet aside and grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge. As soon as she opened the door, Sundance darted outside, tearing around, barking with delight at a butterfly, cautiously sniffing a tree root, stalking, and then pouncing on a flower.
Avi and Patricia took seats shaded by the house and the towering oak next to it. “You have plans today?” Patricia asked as she unscrewed the cap on her bottle.
Avi took a long drink, watching her friend try to act innocent. When she lowered the bottle, she said, “I saw you peeking out the window last night.”
“Oh, good. I
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