When a small red car he didn’t recognize pulled into the campground, Brian assumed Siobhan had arrived. The way Steph squealed and ran toward the car confirmed it.
Since he was stuck helping level his grandparents’ very large motor coach–style RV, the dirt road that led to the camper Siobhan would be staying in was directly in hissight line. She drove slowly because Steph was walking beside the car, talking the entire time.
When Siobhan parked and got out, the first thing she did was stretch. Brian tried not to look, but—again—she was in his line of sight. And she was wearing a red tee that hugged her curves, so that didn’t help. Her hair was a darker blond than Kelly’s, but the sun showed off lighter highlights running through the strands. He knew from the many times she’d tried to set him on fire with them that her eyes were the same hazel as her sister’s.
“That’s not howignoringworks,” Rob said as he walked by, keeping his voice low so it wouldn’t carry. “And stop growling like that. I swear, you’ve been turning more and more feral since we bought this place.”
Brian turned his back on Siobhan as she opened the rear door of her car. “Are we done here?”
“Yeah. I’m going to do the hookups for them, but you can resume the angry mannequin position in the store again if you want. You know, if you stop shaving and put on a flannel shirt before posing, you’ll look like Paul Bunyan and we can become a tourist attraction.”
He almost rose to his brother’s baiting, but then Brian took a deep breath. His family was gathered to celebrate a happy occasion and even though they were a pain in his ass, there was no bottom to the depths of his love for his family. He wasnotgoing to spend the week growling and scowling at people.
Siobhan Rowe was a nonfactor, and he wasn’t going to be a gloomy dark cloud casting a shadow over Steph’s wedding because of her presence. They didn’t like each other. That was fine. They were adults, and they could be in each other’s orbit for a week with no drama.
Then they’d go their separate ways and, if he was lucky, they’d never see each other again.
Chapter Two
The camper they’d be staying in for the week was small, but it was clean and had plenty of room for her and Oliver. And sometimes on weekends or when they were feeling under the weather, he’d sleep in Siobhan’s bed, so sharing this one wouldn’t be a big deal.
“The guys opened it up this week, so the AC’s on and the fridge is cold,” Steph said. “I think it has everything you need, but if not, just ask. Between the store and all the family, somebody will have whatever it is.”
Siobhan sighed. “According to Robin, I have more than what I need.”
Steph and Robin had met a few times at Siobhan’s, and Steph laughed. “How’s she doing? I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“Good. She sends her congrats, of course. And she managed to hide being jealous that Oliver and I get to be away from the city for a week.”
“You have no idea how much it means to me that you’re here.” Steph’s eyes welled up with tears. “Really. I’m sorry I—I’m just glad you’re here.”
Siobhan knew some women would resent being a bride’s second choice maid of honor, but she wasn’t one of them. She and Steph had been college roommates, andthey were close friends, but it wasn’t the same relationship as a lifelong best friend from childhood.
“I’m thrilled I could be here for you. I’m also thrilled there wasn’t an official maid of honor gown because a dress made for Vanessa would have covered half of me.”
Steph laughed, and the last of any awkwardness dissipated with the sound. “The dress you sent me a picture of is perfection.”
Oliver ran across the camper, a board book in his hand. He was heading for Siobhan, but at the last minute, he veered in Steph’s direction. Leaning against her knee, he offered the book and grinned up at her.
Something flitted across Steph’s face—the amusement fading to something else. Siobhan couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but there was some confusion in there.
Then Steph smiled at Oliver. “You’ve gotten so big since the last time I saw you.”
“They grow so fast, and it’s been a few months,” Siobhan said. “Plus, he kind of changed from baby to little boy while I wasn’t looking.”
“Beep beep,” Oliver said.
“The book has a truck and there’s a lot ofbeep beepgoing on,” Siobhan explained. “Oliver, Steph doesn’t have time to read to you right now.”
“I think if you’re my maid of honor, I get to be Auntie Steph. At least for the weekend.”
“Well, Auntie Steph, if you take that book from him thinking you’ll read it one time really quickly because that adorable little grin is so hard to resist, you’ll be wrong. Once you start, he’s more of a constant loop until your voice gives out kind of guy.”
“Good to know.” She ruffled Oliver’s dark hair and that same expression clouded her face again. “I shouldrun, though. I heard somebody pull in and we’re waiting for Kyle’s family to show up. I want to make sure to greet them when they get here.”
“Don’t worry about us. I’m just going to put some stuff away and then, since this guy was in the car for a long time, we might go for a walk.”
It didn’t take Siobhan long to find places to stow their stuff and put away the groceries they brought, and Oliver tried to wait patiently. He was a high-energy little boy, and he quickly got bored with exploring his new environment.
