“That’s what I said.” I laugh as I pull her down to kiss me once more. “Go take a bath. I’m sure you’re sore from last night.”
She hums as she rolls her hips against me. “Awfully cocky there, Cowboy.”
I smirk. We both know I stretched her in ways she’s never been stretched before. Worked her over for hours. There’s no way she’s not sore. I’m going to love watching her walk around today, knowing why she’s wincing.
“Don’t think we’re not going to talk about what my mom said,” she says as she shifts off me. “About this place being for your sister.”
“I know.” My chest strains because the lies are starting to bleed together and I’m not sure what’s the truth anymore. “I promise we’ll talk later.”
She bites on her lip and nods. I don’t like leaving her this way. Don’t like that we can’t just live in the bubble we created last night for a bit longer. Before I make it past the door, she calls after me. “Hey, Walker?”
I grip the door and turn back to face her. “Yeah, Tal?”
She smiles at me. It’s big and gorgeous, just like her personality. “I had a really nice time last night.”
My heart takes off at a gallop. “Me, too, Wildflower.” I knock my fist against the wall. “Me, too.”
CHAPTER 32
Tally
The sun kisses my cheeks the moment I step outside the cottage. I’d been nervous that once I left the bubble of happiness I’d found with Walker last night, everything would return to normal. But even the air feels different. There’s a gentle breeze that rustles the flowers, awakening them as I walk up the path toward the house. It feels like the daffodils are spilling my secrets to one another, leaning slightly in my direction, gawking at my big smile. I can’t wipe it from my face, though. Walker brought sunny days after a very dark winter.
I smile up at the sky and feel the sun smiling back. What an absolutely perfect day for the Daffodil Festival. Spinning on my heel, I inhale deeply, soaking up the scent left over from the midnight rain. An osprey takes flight overhead, and I watch as it soars over the meadows, which are now a tapestry of vibrant hues. Magenta tulips, violet hyacinths, rosy pink azaleas, and rows and rows of daffodils, with their petals spread wide and their mouths open.Gossips.Just like the Liberty Ladies. It’s a good thing Walker got me clean clothes, or I’d have given them all something else to talk about.
The festival starts at one p.m. today and runs until sunset. Then we’ll do it all over again tomorrow. It’s already nine a.m., which means people will be arriving any minute now to help set up.
At that thought, I hear a car rumbling in the distance, taking the turn from the marina down the long road past the brewery. I’ve got five minutes tops to get inside and get my act together before our first visitor. As I approach the house, I slow my steps, not wanting to alert my mother to my presence if she’s in the kitchen. I’ve got to text Rosie and get our stories straight so Mom doesn’t figure out who I was actually with last night.
“She’s probably at the brewery,” I hear my sister’s voice saying right as I step inside the living room.
I blow out a breath. I can work with that.
“Then why did Walker think Rosie was here?”
I enter the kitchen to find my sister and mom both sipping coffees and eating the raspberry lemon Danish I made yesterday. “Good morning! Is everyone ready for the festival?” I plant a beaming smile on my face and hope the question distracts appropriately.
“Ah, there’s the little hussy,” my sister teases.
My jaw falls open right as my mother laughs loudly. Despite not loving that it’s at my expense, boy, do I love the sound of it. Penny eyes me, a surprised smile on her face as well. It appears she’s just as shocked by the melodious noise coming from our mother.
“I was—” I stammer and shake my head. I don’t want to lie. I may not be ready to share who I was with, but with my mom finally smiling, I’d rather be truthful. “Oh, forget it. Clearly you’ve caught me.”
“I won’t ask any more questions …” My mother’s brown eyes dance, and she leans back against the counter. “But Tally, this pastry is delicious. Maybe you can give me the recipe? Or teach me how to make it.”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. I appreciate her changing the subject. But even more than that, I appreciate the opening to spend more time together.
“I’d love that, Mom. All right, what do we need to do to make this the best Daffodil Festival ever?”
My mom holds open her arms. “Just the two of you. Here. With me.”
I rush toward her, and taking one side while my sister takes the other, we all embrace. Mom’s scent, a blend of peonies and jasmine that is another Rosie special, smells like home.
“We’ll make Daddy proud,” I murmur.
“He was already so proud of you both. But yes, let’s make it the best festival yet.”
My sister swipes a tear from her eye and smiles. “Deal.”
