“Ryder can do it.”
“Ryder, Bo, and Mason are hanging lights along the east property-line fence.”
“Yes, ma’am.I’ll be right back.”
I smile to myself.I always find it funny how Jake can start bloody brawls in a hockey rink but surrenders whenever Mom tells him to do something.All my brothers are like that, actually.
We walk into the foyer and Jake shuts the front door behind us.We stomp on the waterproof rug, knocking off old snow and slush from the bottom of our shoes before we step inside.
“Their electric bill must be thousands a month,” Jake mumbles.
“Good thing all of their sons are well-paid professional athletes.”
I hang the garment bag on the coat tree and start peeling off my reindeer suit.
“Did the kids like your costume?”
“They loved it.Seems I was very entertaining.”
Jake gestures to the dress bag.“What’s in there?Another costume?Mrs.Claus, maybe?”
I decide to tell Jake the truth, even though I know I’ll be stepping in it.“It’s the dress I’m wearing to Finn and Emma’s wedding next week.”
“You spend too much time over there.”
I turn to him and sigh.“It’s been months since I even set foot on Yosemite Ranch.”
“I just don’t think it’s smart to be around the MacLames.”
“First of all,” I smooth down my nursing scrubs.“I’m a grown woman.And second of all,” I pause to take off my nursing clogs.“Two of the MacLainesare married or are about to be and the others aren’t even aware that I exist.Happy?”
Jake scowls at me, his dark eyes serious.“It’s Evander I’m most concerned about.”
I ignore him and head into the kitchen.He follows, watching me while I put the kettle on for tea and get out what I need to make myself an omelet.I’m starving.All I’ve had to eat in the last twelve hours is candy canes.Too many of them.
“I’m worried that you spent too much time with him after he broke his leg.I remember how giddy you seemed when I visited in early summer.”
I open the bread bag and shove two slices into the toaster, then I slam my hand against the lever.
“I just don’t want you to get your heart broken.Evander is--”
“Good heavens!”I cut him off and spin around, seeing that he’s perched at the kitchen island, scowling.“We certainly can’t have Phoebe being too happy, can we?Orgiddy,for crying out loud!Absolutely not!”
“That’s not what I—”
“You don’t approve of me attending our neighbor’s wedding while wearing a nice dress, is that it?”
“That isn’t—”
“Oh, so you’re opposed to me providing medical aid to a man with a compound fracture of the femoral shaft?”
He winces.“All I’m say—”
“Well, listen up, Jake Travis.You are hereby officially released from your duties as protector of my womanly virtue!You no longer have to worry about what I’m wearing or whose injury I’m treating or what names are on my dance card.Sound good?”
I turn my back to him and crack two eggs into a bowl.I grab the whisk and go to town.The kitchen is silent except for the clicking of the toaster timer, the hiss of the tea kettle, and the swirl of the whisk.
I’m not ignorant.Despite my fantasies, I know that Evander MacLaine is out of my league and out of my reach.
