“You aren’t responsible for Bruce’s behavior, Dahlia,” Milo says.
“I knew he wouldn’t be reasonable about this,” I say. “The whole Whitman/Granger dynamic.”
Everett leans forward, elbows on his knees. “I could talk to him.”
Dylan stiffens, but Everett keeps going.
“I don’t know if it would do any good at all,” Everett admits, “but I could at least try. Try to convince him to bury this feud once and for all. If he cares about his girls at all.”
“I wish I thought it would help, but I don’t.” Ava pats his knee. He looks at her and squeezes her hand, then looks at me.
“I believe he does care about you,” he says quietly. “Or else he wouldn’t be so upset about this.”
It hits me with a jolt all over again—that overwhelmed, mushy warmth. They aren’t treating me like the daughter of a man they despise. They’re treating me like someone worth protecting.
“I can’t believe…” My voice cracks. I swallow hard. “You’re all being so…nice.”
“Dylan loves you,” Juju says. “And the way your dad acts isn’t your fault.”
Dylan squeezes my knee gently. “She’s right about that. I do love you,” he says softly.
I laugh and blink back the tears. “I love you too.”
“I’m nervous about you going back to work for him,” Dylan says, turning to face me. “I know you don’t want to lose your benefits, but he was unhinged today.”
I nod. “I haven’t told you this, but I’ve been looking for another job for at least a month,” I say quietly.
“You know…there are some openings at the resort,” Milo says. “Guys, she is the chief accounting officer at her dad’s company.” He nudges me and grins. “Graduated at the top of her class. Crazy smart and organized and I’m not just saying that because she’s my cousin.”
“No kidding!” Everett says.
I laugh. “Thanks, Milo.”
“You know…we’re in desperate need of an accounting manager,” Everett says.
I look at him in surprise. “You just met me today, and you’re all being incredibly gracious. I don’t want you to feel pressured to consider me for a job.”
He grins. “I trust my son, and I trust Milo. And if I know anything about Bruce, it’s that he wouldn’t just trust anyone with his money.”
I nod, laughing. “You’re right about that.”
“We can show you around and see if working at Windhaven would even be something you’re interested in, but we certainly need the help,” Everett says. He looks at Dylan. “And you know, there’s room at the house for the girls, or one of the cabins…I mean, not to put the cart ahead of the horse”—Everett smiles lightly—“but if that’s where your relationship is. And it being safer and all…” He trails off and chuckles. “I just made it really awkward, didn’t I?”
“Not at all,” Dylan says. “Thanks, Dad. We’ll need to talk about our options after everything that happened today. For the record, I’m madly in love with this woman,” he continues, eyes on mine. “And she says she’s madly in love with me.”
My chest tightens. Fills. Overflows.
“I am,” I say.
The room freezes for a beat and then erupts with a loud “Awwww!”
“Okay,” Goldie finally says. “No one is happier than I am about all of this…the good parts, not the scary Bruce stuff. I get keeping it a secret from your side of things, Dahlia, but you, baby brother…” She points at Dylan. “You knewwe’d keep a secret. I’m not sure you’re quite off the hook, bucko.”
Dylan winces. “I know. It’s been eating me alive. I’ve been dying for all of you to get to know each other.”
Goldie softens, leaning her chin into her hand. “Okay, that’s all you had to say.”
Dylan laughs, and she leans over and hugs him hard, and then me.
