Shane caught up with her. “I get the sense it isn’t.”
She kept walking.
He brushed her arm. “April, hang on.”
“Kevin’s inside. I’m sure he’s getting into trouble already.”
“Jodie’s in today. They’re probably already working on a puzzle.” He moved in front of April, blocking her way. “Tell me what’s wrong,” he demanded, concern filling his eyes.
“What’s wrong?” She shook her head. How could she even begin to explain?
April’s little house sat along the St. Vrain, built before automobiles and still stubbornly standing through every flood and winter the mountains could throw at it. The white paint was fading to cream, and one corner of the deck still bore the scar ofthe pine that had fallen during the last big storm. You could roll a marble down the hallway where the floor had settled unevenly over the years—it creaked and groaned during every storm—and she absolutely adored it.
She’d bought it during a market crash for a price that made her father shake his head in admiration, and now it was worth four times that. Sonny still called it her fortress and refused to let her refinance a single board to pay for anything at Riversong.You earned this one outright, kid. Don’t tie it to the business.
She loved him for that, even as it broke her heart.
And now Shane would see her house if she said yes.
“Shane, the first time I ever drove up to your parents’ place, do you know what I thought? I thought I’d made a wrong turn and ended up at a ski resort.”
“April—”
“Your mother bragged to me about how your seaside cottage was twice as big as ‘this little log cabin out in the woods.’ Like it was something Abraham Lincoln grew up in.”
“That’s impossible. Lincoln grew up in Illinois.”
“Shane!” April put her hands on her hips. “Now is not the time to tease me.” She frowned at the curve of his lips and the dimples she knew would pop out if she gave it a second.
“Babe, I fail to see what my mother’s stuck-up, overblown bragging from years ago has to do with me dropping Kevin off at your place.”
She sighed. “I don’t live in a ‘little’ log cabin in the woods. I can only imagine what my house would look like through your eyes.”
Shane shrugged. “You think the size of your house matters to me at all? I can guarantee it’s beautiful because it’s full of love. That makes a shack outshine a castle.” He looked away.
“Shane, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring anything unpleasant up.” April shook her head. “You’re trying to do something nice for me, and I’m acting ungrateful.”
He looked at her. “You’re not, I promise. Your whole family has suffered thanks to mine.” He started forward and this time, April grabbed his arm.
“So did you. I remember. You aren’t anything like them. You turned into a better man than they could have hoped for. Better than they deserve.”
Shane’s expression softened. “Thanks. Just so you know, you put every woman in this town to shame.” He winked at her and just like that, he was back to being the sexy-cocky boy she remembered.
But all grown up, filling out his shirt like a dream.
She grinned and shook her head. “Whatever. Fine, yes, please, come over tonight after the party.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” He held her gaze just a beat too long. “Go home, take some time for yourself, get ready for the party. Have fun and relax for once.” He jutted his chin toward the entrance. “I’ve got him.”
TEN
April rolled down her window,letting the air whip through her hair, and tried to breathe past the knot in her chest as she braced herself for the visit.
Stop worrying. Rochelle probably didn’t say a word.
Probably.
Even if she didn’t, there was Claudia to think about.
