Reilly stopped suddenly, again scanning the area. She thought back to the last time Nico came over. The very same day that Stone came back. And then she’d conveniently gone out of town That sneaky, sneaky woman. Deborah Jameson didn’t need landscape design. That sneaky (and brilliant) woman was playing matchmaker.
“I’m on to you, Mom.”
She laughed as she hurried up the steps, her smile now firmly rooted on her face.
“Hey, Mom!” she called out as she let herself in.
“In the kitchen!” Deborah hollered back.
Reilly closed the door and forced herself not to skip through the house. “Tell me you’re makin’ cookies. I—” She cut herself off and feigned surprise when she saw Nico sitting at the kitchen island, an iPad in front of him while Reilly’s mom stood beside him.
“Oh, crap,” she said. “You have an appointment. I totally forgot.”
She silently praised herself for her acting skills.
“Sure you did.” Her mother grinned. “Nico, you know my nosy daughter, Reilly.”
Nico glanced back over his shoulder. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Reilly approached, making eyes—I know what you’re doin’—at her mother when Nico turned back around. “Whatcha doin’?”
“He’s walkin’ me through the design plan for the front yard.”
Not bothering to pretend she wasn’t curious, Reilly peeked over his shoulder at the iPad screen. “Oh, wow. That looks nice.”
“I was aimin’ for awesome, but I’ll take nice,” Nico teased.
Reilly giggled, walking around the island. As she turned, her gaze snagged on the window over the sink. More specifically, theviewfrom the window over the sink. She moved closer, her smile dimming when she saw the big white Ford dually parked beside Stone’s truck. She leaned in, reading the decal on the side of the truck.
“What the…?” Reilly turned to look at her mother, crossing her arms over her chest. “Why’s there a Double J truck parked at Stone’s?”
“I have no idea, honey. That’s a question for your brother.”
Reilly looked at Nico, wondering whether he had an answer. Based on his expression, he was as surprised by the revelation as she was.
“Good idea,” she said, flashing a bright smile. “I’ll just head on over and ask him.”
Pretending not to hear her mother’s words of warning that followed, Reilly slipped out the back door, across the patio, out the back gate, and down the driveway toward the barn. She ignored the urge to pull her keys out of her pocket and drag them down the side of the truck that didn’t belong there. Maybe whoever it was had a good reason.
Doubtful. But maybe.
Reilly bounded up the steps and marched straight for the door. She tried the knob, but it was locked. For shits and grins, she pressed her thumb to the biometric lock, only a little surprised when the lock disengaged. She thought for sure her brother would’ve changed it by now.
Taking that as an invitation to come in whenever she wanted, Reilly opened the door and walked in.
“Hey!” She closed the door, pretending she didn’t know he had company. “Just wanted to—” She cut herself off when she turned around, her eyes on the woman sitting on the couch just a few scant inches from her brother. “Oh. Sorry. I didn’t realize…”
Stone shot to his feet, his expression rife with … was that guilt? Or maybe he was grateful for the interruption? She hoped for his sake it was the latter. Otherwise, she was going to put the hurt on him.
Either way, she chose to take it as an invitation to introduce herself.
“Hi.” Reilly looked between the two of them before focusing on the woman. “I’m Reilly. Stone’s sister. And you are?”
The woman stood, her expression one of exasperation for being interrupted. “Leah Johnson.”
Reilly frowned, pretending to be searching her memory for the name. She didn’t have to search hard. She knew exactly who she was.
Right before her eyes, Leah’s countenance shifted from annoyance to downright pleasant as she thrust out her hand.
