“Who are you?” the woman asked with wide eyes.
“I, uh, I’m Brynna.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m the office manager. I’ve been living here.”
“Gina said you were gone. She told me I could stay overnight in the cottage.”
“Who are you?” Brynna asked.
“I’m Luna Sorrentino.” The petite woman straightened her posture.
“Oh.” Brynna nodded. “Leroy’s middle daughter.”
“That’s right.” Luna frowned at the table still on the porch. “What’s going on here?”
“Oh, that was just dinner. I was about to clean it up.” Brynna slipped past Luna and started to stack the plates from their dessert, trying to think of what to do about Luna. “So, I assume you need a place to stay?” Brynna stood, looking directly at her.
“That’s the main objective. All the rooms in the house are occupied with Gina’s friends.” She scowled. “But I suppose I could bunk with Gina.”
“Why don’t you stay here? You can have the bed. The sheets are fresh. And I’ll sleep on the sofa.”
Luna tilted her head to one side. “I don’t want to put you out.”
“It’s okay.” Still holding the dirty dishes, Brynna led the way inside.
Luna stopped to stare at the kitchen. “Looks like you had quite a dinner party.”
“Not really. I just haven’t had time to clean up yet.” She set the dishes by the sink.
“Well, I’m exhausted. It’s been a long week. I want to take a nice soak in that old claw-foot tub and then I’m going to bed.”
“Right. Just let me get some of my things out of the bedroom first.” Brynna hurried in to grab a few necessities.
Luna leaned against the doorframe as Brynna packed. “Excuse me for asking, but where did you get that dress?” She stared intently at Brynna’s outfit.
Brynna felt her cheeks grow warm from embarrassment. “Uh, your sister Sophie gave me some used clothes. I think they belonged to you.”
Luna laughed. “I thought it looked familiar.”
“I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, of course not.” She came in and sat on the bed, crossing one leg over the other and looking quite stylish in a nicely tailored gray pantsuit. “I never did like that dress. Too juvenile.”
Despite being old enough to be Luna’s mother, Brynna felt “too juvenile” too. “Well, I do appreciate the recycled clothing,” she said quickly. “I’d left most of my things back home in Oregon.” She headed for the bedroom door, eager to escape more criticism. “I hope you get a good night’s sleep, Luna.”
“You too.”
Brynna closed the door and instantly longed to be somewhere else. Anywhere else! If it wasn’t so late, she’d sneak over to Jan’s trailer and beg for her old bed back. But seeing the messy kitchen and some things still out on the porch, she decided to do the adult thing and clean everything up. Quietly. Hopefully by the time she finished, she’d be so worn out she’d sleep soundly tonight.
It was nearly midnight by the time she crawled into her makeshift bed in the living room. Despite her fatigue, the sofa was not comfortable. But it was her overly active mind that kept her tossing and turning for what felt like hours. Her encounter with Leroy’s middle daughter was more than unsettling. Luna clearly did not want Brynna to be here.
Leroy couldn’t remember the last time he’d woken up happy on his birthday. But today was different and he knew why. He wasn’t completely sure where this thing with Brynna was actually headed—and he was determined not to get his heart broken—but something about the whole thing just felt right to him. Still, as he showered and dressed—and considered everything—he knew that only time would tell. Life had taught him to be a realist, to take what was dealt him and make the best of it.
As he went downstairs, he prepared himself for some sort of recognition of his birthday, but for a pleasant change, his house was very calm and quiet. Of course, it was still early for a Sunday. They might all be sleeping late. He made a pot of coffee, wondering how much longer Gina’s “working” houseguests planned to stay on. Clearly Gina’s attempt at matchmaking, if that’s what ithad been, was a flop. It seemed like Judith would take the hint and move on. Unless ... maybe she thought he was playing hard to get.
He filled his coffee mug and, worried the women might suddenly pop in and start cackling like a flock of agitated hens, he quietly whistled for Babe, and the two of them slipped out to his back terrace to sit in the sun. With his coffee in hand, he gazed out toward the guest cottage and briefly toyed with the idea of a surprise visit. Maybe he could invite Brynna to go to town with him and have breakfast. His stomach was growling.
