“No,” I admit with a sigh, hating that I had to lie to my friend. “I saw your messages with Wilder the other day.”
She hooks a hand around the stair post and spins in a slow circle, all charm and glow, like she doesn’t have a care in the world. My stomach flips with delight for her. “I figured. That’s why I brought you here.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Here? I don’t follow.”
“Look, you’re not staying at the Inn when this place iscompletelyempty, and Dallas is gone through Sunday. Why let all this go to waste?”
My eyes dance around the space. “And where do you propose I sleep?”
“Don’t worry about it. Dallas spends the night all the time when he’s working on the house.”
I bite my bottom lip. “And no one will mind?”
She rolls her eyes. “No one willknow.”
I shake my head at her. “You really are a wild one.”
She gives me a mischievous grin. “Come on, it’s still early. Let’s grab some dinner in town and I’ll bring you back here later.”
6
“Thanks,” I rasp as Wilder drops me off in front of my house on Friday night. “And thanks for keeping it quiet for now. I don’t want Ellie to know I’m here this weekend.”
Wilder nods, looking at the house skeptically. “Think you can get a lot of it done this weekend?”
“Sure as hell going to try.”
“Well, don’t start tonight. It’s late.”
The drive back did take longer than planned. But we got everything we needed.
“Go on.” I hop out of the truck. “Get home to your girl before she falls asleep waitin’ up for you.”
My brother checks his phone. “Might’ve missed my window. Hey, think you’ll need any help this weekend? With Ellie at Ginger’s I was thinking of taking a trip with Rose tomorrow. Just over to Hideaway Springs. Spend a weekend with some friends.”
“Told you, I don’t need help.” I glance back at the house. “Think Ellie’s mad I sent her to Ginger’s for the weekend?”
Wilder scoffs. “How should I know? She’s your kid. But it won’t matter when they drop her off here on Sunday afternoon.”
I nod as I make a mental list of the finishing touches the house still needs. Furniture to unwrap, curtain rods to put up, grocery store to clean out, rugs—shit, I know there was more .?.?.
“Sure you’re ready?” Wilder snaps me out of my daze.
“I’m sure I don’t want her doubting that I am.” My hand tightens on the top of the door. “That and .?.?. I can’t deliver the news without giving her this.”
My brother releases a breath, nodding slowly. Then lightens the mood with a perked brow. “That’s not a yes.”
I flash him a cocky grin. “Get out of here before you miss that window.”
“Night,” he mutters and backs out of my driveway.
I move toward the house, gravel crunching under my boots as I go. The light on the porch flickers and I make a note to replace the bulb before sundown tomorrow.
Something’s off when I walk in. Maybe it just feels cooler in here than last week.
Place needs heat. I’ve already arranged for heating installation on Monday. There’s a space heater in the master bedroom that I’ll move to Ellie’s room for Sunday night.
Still too much to do there as well. Dresser to build. That damn canopy to hang over her bed. Rose found it in a catalog a few weeks ago and I didn’t think twice. It looked simple enough to fasten over the bed, the decorative gold crown giving way to a sheer, pale pink veil that will fall around the headboard. According to Rose, it’s “the perfect addition to any princess’s bedroom.”
