“We’re not going as friends helping with inn business, not as colleagues grabbing a quick bite between repairs, but as an actual date.”
He'd been specific about that word. “A date, Kate,” he'd said yesterday while fixing a loose board on the porch. “I'm asking you on a proper date. Will you go with me?”
The way he'd looked at her, direct and hopeful, had made her stomach flip. She'd said yes before her brain could interfere with all the reasons why changing their friendship might be a mistake.
“You're overthinking,” Dani said from the doorway, carrying what looked like her entire makeup collection. “I could hear you panicking from down the hall.”
“I'm not panicking.”
“You've changed clothes three times. I've watched you the last ten minutes. You definitely were panicking.”
“What are you doing here? I thought you were shopping for apartment furniture.”
“I had to stop here and grab a few things I forgot.”
Dani set her supplies on Kate's dresser. “The white blouse and jeans, then the khakis and tank top, now you're back to staring at your closet like it holds the secrets of the universe.”
“How do you dress for a date with someone who's seen you covered in paint and smelling like fish? Who's held your hair while you threw up from food poisoning? Who knows all your worst moments?”
“You dress like someone who's worth all of that and more,” Dani said firmly. “Sit. I'm doing your hair and makeup.”
“Dani, I'm capable of…”
“Sit.” Dani pushed her into the chair. “When was the last time you wore makeup? Or did anything with your hair besides that braid?”
Kate couldn't remember. “Hey, I wore lipstick recently.”
“Recently? That was months ago.”
Dani began working, her fingers gentle as she brushed out Kate's sun-lightened hair. The repetitive motion was soothing, reminding Kate of when they were young and Dani would beg to play with her older sister's hair.
“Your hair has lightened.”
Kate nodded. “Yeah, summer will do that.”
“So. Ben finally made his move.”
“It's just the festival.”
“Kate, the man has been rebuilding this inn board by board just to spend time with you. This isn't just anything.” Dani began working some product through Kate's hair that smelled like coconuts. “Remember when the washing machine broke in June? He drove to Portland in a thunderstorm to get the right part. For a washing machine. That's not friendship, that's love.”
Kate watched her sister work in the mirror. “When did you become such a romantic?”
“When I realized what I'd been doing wrong.” Dani began sectioning Kate's hair with clips. “You know, I'm jealous.”
“Of what?”
“Of having someone look at you the way Ben looks at you. Like you're the answer to every question he’s ever had or will ever have.”
Kate met her sister's eyes in the mirror. “What about you? Any romantic prospects?”
Dani laughed, but it sounded a little sad. “I've had plenty of romance. Too much, actually. Bad boys, artists, men who were all passion and no stability. I'm almost twenty-nine and I've never had what you have with Ben.”
“Which is?”
“Foundation. Something to build on.” Dani began creating soft waves with a curling iron. “I dated this gallery owner in New York who swept me off my feet. Private jets, expensive dinners, constant excitement. It lasted six months before I realized I was just another acquisition to him. Then there was Corbin, the sculptor who told me I was his muse. Turned out he told that to all his girlfriends. All five of us.”
“Five?”
