“No one’s home.” She waved her brother back to her side and shoved the note into his hand. “Put this under the door and we’ll go.”
“Or you could give it to me.”
Her shriek was matched by Robbie’s pained yelp as her nails dug into him.
“Good grief. You’d think I was a monster.”
Emil stood at the corner of the deck, watching them with an amused expression. Olive’s gaze skittered over him, taking in the casual knit sweater, the house slippers, the mug, and the newspaper tucked under one arm with growing horror.
“I—that is to say, we—interrupted your morning. Mr. Meany told us where you…I’m so sorry.”
“Not at all.” He gestured with the newspaper. “Come aboard.”
Robbie wrenched free of her hold and hopped onto the deck with a whoop before Olive had gathered her wits.
“Slowly,” Emil admonished in a kind, firm voice that Robbie miraculously obeyed. “Hit a patch of ice and you’ll go skipping into the lake. What then?”
Robbie crossed his arms over his chest and considered the question. “Will a cold swim earn me pirate credentials?”
Emil threw his head back and laughed. “You’ll have to ask Old Meany about that. He’s the swimmer. And it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he were a pirate in his former life.”
“I knew he was interesting.”
“He is.” Emil opened the door and held it open. “Now come in before your sister expires from worry.”
Robbie ducked inside. It was either leave without him…or enter Emil’s home. She let out a slow breath and carefully made her way to the door.
Pausing beside Emil, she asked, “Is this…is this all right?”
“Well, now, that depends,” he said, his voice slow and smooth. “Why are you here?”
I was thinking about you. I wanted to see you.
“To deliver this thank-you note. And—and to see how your shoulder fares.”
“How proper Bloody Ollie is this morning,” he teased, but was she silly to think she’d seen a flash of disappointment before he covered it up? “And I’m much better, thank you. Well enough to get back to rowing this morning.”
She stared at him in helpless fascination. “You’re a rower?”
“In my family, you have to be.” He jerked his head toward the inside. “Come in and I’ll tell you all about it.”
She cast another glance around. “Is there anyone here who might be…troubled by my presence?”
“The community is quiet these days. Mostly just me and Old Meany, and we have an understanding.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“Nothing of the sort. As long as I don’t comment on his early morning swims—clothing optional—he minds his own business. Though he does have a habit of striking up conversations with visitors now and then.”
Her lips quirked at the thought of the sprightly man leaping off the docks in the nude. “Like me.”
“Exactly. Now, in.”
She bit her lip and ducked into what turned out to be the kitchen. She turned in a slow circle, taking in the cheerful, well-designed space. Her mother would adore the painted wood paneling and the spacious built-in cabinets. Sunlight shone through a large window, highlighting the open cabinet lined with dried herbs and preserves. Fresh-brewed coffee scented the small room, and a few dirty dishes sat near the sink, waiting for attention. It was far more than she’d expected of Emil’s living quarters.
“This is the family vacation home,” he said, as if reading her mind. “I’m keeping an eye on it over the winter.”
“It’s beautiful.”
