When he took her back to Chicago on Friday, he would stay through the weekend. After that, they’d have to figure something out. Because she didn’t want to let him go for long.
She knew from what he had shared with her weeks earlier that holidays were now a bit lonely for him. Hoping to fix that, one holiday at a time, she asked about his plans for Thanksgiving.
Skylar had told her about the letter he had received from his mother asking for forgiveness, but thathe wasn’t ready to go into detail about his dying mother’s request or the visit from his brother, who had also invited him to Thanksgiving dinner. She understood Skylar had decisions to make, and he needed to make those decisions without her influence.
When he was ready to tell her more about the mother he didn’t know or the family Skylar wasn’t sure he’d accept, he would. Until then, she would give him whatever support he needed.
She gave him a tour of the house, and when she took him out back to see her grandmother’s flower garden, she saw a look of awe that crossed his features. That was enough to make her very glad that she paid a gardener to keep it flourishing.
So as not to disrespect her grandmother’s memory in any way by causing unnecessary neighborhood gossip, he suggested that he take a room at a nearby hotel.
She was grateful that, even in this, he was looking out for her.
When they returned to the house after looking at the gardens, he pulled her into his arms and asked, “So, what have you planned for us this week, sweetheart?”
“Umm, first, I think a couple of cooking lessons are in order. Then at some point, we can play tennis.”
He tilted his head, giving her a quizzical look. “You know how to play tennis?”
“Yes. In fact, I was a member of the Yale tennis team. I began taking lessons in high school.”
“You never told me that,” he said, smiling.
“You mean that wasn’t in Dante’s investigative report?” she asked, grinning.
He threw his head back and laughed. “If it was, I missed it. Is this where you confess to being part of Yale’s equestrian team, too?”
“No. Riding a horse is something I’ve never tried, but I look forward to you showing me how it’s done, Mr. Kingston,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“I can’t resist an eager student, Ms. McGuire,” he replied, then moved in for a kiss.
CHAPTER 26
Danielle and Wade
“Welcome back, you guys,” Dani said, giving her sister and brother-in-law a hug. “How was the trip?”
“Wonderful!” Libby said, smiling.
“It was very relaxing,” Richard added, bringing in their luggage.
“Wonderful and relaxing enough to make a baby?” Dani asked with a hopeful smile on her face. “I’m putting in my request for a niece, since I have two nephews already.”
“Either will work for me,” Richard said, grinning. “Look at how my wife became a beautiful cowgirl. My daughters will do the same. Now enough about us, what’s this I hear about you and Wade?”
Dani rolled her eyes. “I guess it was too much to hope that my sister would keep a secret from her husband.”
“Not in this household,” Richard said, laughing. “We tell each other everything. Does that mean Steve is truly out, or are you just trying to make him jealous?”
Dani dropped down in the chair across from her sister and brother-in-law. “Steve is definitely out, and I would never use Wade that way.”
“I hope not. I’ve known him forever. He, Cal, and I grew up together. He’s a good guy,” Richard said.
“Glad you think so, because he’s been spending a lot of time here. In the guest room with me, of course.”
“That’s too much information, Danielle Manchester,” her sister said, giving her a stern look.
“Heck, I want to hear more,” Richard said, grinning again. “How serious is it?”
