“Mama’s so busy worrying about introducing the dogs, she doesn’t worry about the humans. I’m Mya, Brooks’s sister, and our middle sister, Sybill.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Abigail managed, as her hand was gripped and shaken.
“We blew the day off,” Mya beamed out, a lanky woman with a pixie cut in streaky brunette. “Work, kids, men. We had ourselves a fancy ladies’ lunch, and now we’re heading in to do some shopping.”
“We thought you might like to come along with us,” Sybill said.
“Come along?” Baffled, off-balance, one eye on her dog, Abigail tried to keep up.
“Shopping,” Mya repeated. “After, we’re talking about frozen margaritas.”
The puppy bounced, rolled, nipped and generally went crazy around and over Bert, who sat, quivering, his gaze slanted toward Abigail.
“Ami. Jouer.”
Instantly, he hunkered, head down, tail up and wagging, and playfully knocked Plato into an ungainly roll.
“Aw, aren’t they cute!” Sunny declared.
“He won’t hurt the puppy.”
“Honey, I can see that. That big boy’s gentle as a lamb, and God knows Plato can use a little running-around time. He’s been in the car or on the leash all afternoon. Did you meet my two girls?”
“Yes.”
“We’re trying to talk her into putting away her trowel and coming along for shopping and margaritas.” Sybill offered Abigail a warm, easy smile that showed hints of dimples.
“Thank you for asking.” Abigail heard the stiffness in her voice when compared with the other women’s ease. “But I really need to finish planting. I got a later start than I’d planned.”
“Well, it looks just beautiful.” Sybill wandered over for a closer look. “I didn’t inherit Mama’s or Daddy’s green thumb, so I’m envious.”
“It was very nice of you to come over and invite me.”
“It was,” Mya agreed, “but mostly Syb and I just wanted to get a close-up look at you and check out the woman who’s got Brooks all tangled up.”
“Oh.”
“You’re not the type I imagined would hook him so good and proper.”
“Oh” was all Abigail could think of, again.
“Something’s in Mya’s mind,” Sunny began, hooking an arm around her daughter, “it just rolls right off her tongue.”
“I can be tactful and diplomatic, but it’s not a natural state for me. Anyway, I meant it as a compliment, a good thing.”
“Thank you?”
Mya laughed. “You’re welcome. Mostly, see, Brooks—in the past—tended toward the looks without necessarily much substance to back it up. But here you are, pretty and natural, strong and smart enough to live out here on your own, clever enough to plant a well-designed garden—I did get the green thumb—and you run your own business, from what I’m told. And I guess since you’ve got that big gun on your hip, you know how to take care of yourself.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Have you ever shot anyone?”
“Mya. Don’t mind her,” Sybill said. “She’s the oldest and has the biggest mouth. Are you sure you wouldn’t like to come with us?”
“I really need to finish this garden, but thank you.”
“We’ll have a cookout Sunday afternoon,” Sunny announced. “Brooks’ll bring you around.”
