“I think it’s the West Wind’s place.”
She stopped in her tracks. “Wait. Grant Weston? The baseball player?”
“Yeah, that’s what he said.”
“What who said?” She’d narrowed in on Jeff’s vague answer easily. “I know you, Jeff Morrison. You’re hiding something from me.”
“Duh. I hide a ton from you. You’re terrible at lying.”
“That hurts.” She glared.
A familiar face opened the front door as they approached, and she realized Jeff must have texted ahead about their arrival.
“Will?” She stared at her brother.
“Hey, guys. Come on in. You’re my plus-ones.” Tall and handsome, like the rest of her siblings, Will looked like their mother more than Steve and Marlie did. He had sandy-brown hair, brown eyes, and a dimple in a face that had crowned him Prom King and Mr. Popular over a decade ago.
He had no shortage of dates whenever he wanted them, though no one seemed to stick. Everyone loved the guy. Too bad he’d inherited his bossiness from their mother.
Dragging them inside, he yanked their coats off and disappeared.
Marlie stared at the home, impressed by the warm coziness and sophistication that she’d never manage without a professional decorator.
The home opened up into a spacious living area filled with laughing and smiling guests.
A large fire burned in a stone hearth. Teak woods and Scandinavian style furniture provided several seating areas, the sofas warmed by colorful accent pillows and throws. Landscapes of the mountains decorated with walls, with a few pictures of a wedded couple and family on a larger wall painted navy blue.
The festive air, filled with conversation, low jazz, and the scent of spiced cider and something delicious made her stomach rumble.
“I know, right? Time to chow down.” Jeff rubbed his hands together.
She smelled his fancy cologne, noticed how handsome he looked in his lucky dark jeans and emerald-green pullover, and smirked at him. “Come on. Tell me. Where’s your newest boy-toy?”
Will rejoined them and grinned. “New boy-toy? Oh, tell us, Jeff. Where is he?”
Jeff scowled, his cheeks red. “You’re both super annoying. I’m getting a beer.” He hurried away.
Will laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You have the best friends.”
“I know, right?” She recognized a ton of people yet still saw many she didn’t know. Though Hope’s Turn was a small town, with nearly thirty thousand residents, it had enough people that she could always meet someone new. “Hey. How are you here?”
“Grant—this is his house—is brothers with Cade. We do a lot of work together.”
“Oh right. CLWC.” CL Weston Construction, a popular construction company in town.
Will nodded. “He throws a lot of work my way. Good guy. Pretty funny too. He’s here and extended the invite to me.”
“Thanks for inviting us.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I was being sarcastic. You didn’t invite us.”
“Um, how do you think you got in?”
She frowned. “Why text Jeff instead of me?”
“Because I like Jeff. You, I’m not sure of.”
