“Quick trip.”
Harper nodded. “Yeah, tiring, too. But I’m going to try to stay awake so I can sleep tonight. Being in another time zone for such a short period really messes with your head.”
“I bet.”
The doors opened. They stepped off and wheeled the suitcases into Harper’s bedroom. She grabbed the new suitcase. “Help me get this onto the bed, will you?”
“Sure.” Frankie took the other end, and they lifted it together. “Why is it so heavy? I thought it was your mom’s stuff.”
Harper unzipped it and flipped it open. She took out a white plastic bag, then nodded at the suitcase’s interior. “This is why.”
Inside were a lot of books and a few smaller items. Frankie nodded. “Makes sense now.”
Harper dug into the white plastic bag and pulled out a folded T-shirt. “This is for you. Just a silly T-shirt. I got one for Willa, too. Everything else is my mom’s. Mitch suggested we get a suitcase to bring everything back, so I didn’t have to decide right then what to keep. I’m glad he did.” She smiled. “I don’t have a lot of stuff from my mom but now I have all this.”
Frankie looked at the T-shirt. It had the Welcome to Las Vegas sign on it. Perfect for yoga. “There’s room for those books on that small shelving unit in the living room. Next to the TV. There’s even a pair of bookends with no books between them.”
Harper’s mouth opened. “You’re right. I hadn’t even thought about that. That’s perfect.”
“You want me to help you carry them out there?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
They each took a big handful to the living room.
Frankie set them on another shelf, letting Harper organize them how she liked. “How was it being with Mitch like that?”
Harper looked up from the books. “It was good. Easy. Comfortable. Not at all like the first time we were together twenty-four-seven.” She got a funny look on her face, an almost dreamy look. “We went into this fancy jewelry store at Caesars Palace so he could look at a watch, which he bought, but while we were in there, he had me try on averyexpensive engagement ring.”
Frankie gasped. “Are you engaged? What did it look like?”
“No, no!” Harper laughed. “It was gorgeous. A fat oval diamond in the center, flanked by two big triangle sapphires on either side, all in platinum. But it was too much, and I told him that. He knows we’re not at that stage yet. He was just…” She shrugged. “I don’t know what he was doing, playing, I guess, but nothing like that is happening for a long,longtime. I promise.”
Frankie sat on the arm of the couch. “Does he know that?”
Harper lined up the books they’d brought out, then stood. “Yes.” Her eyes narrowed. “I mean, I think he does. I’m sure he does. Listen, whatever you’re thinking, stop. Mitch and I aren’t there yet. And we won’t be for some time to come.”
“If you say so. Men can be impulsive.”
“So can women, but neither Mitch nor I are like that. I’m going to get the rest of the books.”
Frankie wondered if her sister could be wrong about Mitch and his ability to be impulsive. She got up and went with Harper back to the bedroom. “Would you marry him? If he asked?”
“Right now? No.” Harper scooped up another big armful of books.
Frankie did the same. “But in time? When you’ve gotten to know each other better?”
Harper paused by the door and turned, smiling. “Yes. I think I would.”
“I knew it,” Frankie said. “Do you love him?”
Harper didn’t answer until she was back at the bookcase. She kneeled to add the books. “I…I’m falling for him, how’s that?” She looked up at Frankie. “You’re full of questions.”
“It’s interesting. My sister might be marrying one of the most famous authors in the country. Can you blame me for asking?”
“Okay, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Mitch and I need to get to know each other better. We need to learn about each other’s likes and dislikes. A few weeks is barely the basis for arelationship, let alone a marriage.” Harper took Frankie’s books from her and added them to the shelf.
“Still,” Frankie said. “It seems like things between you are going somewhere. Somewhere good.”
