Drew sidled up to me and extended his hand. “DrewAnderson,” he said with a smile. “Youmust be the otherWhitlock.”
Aurora’s brows lifted, and she glanced at me for a fleeting moment before nodding. “Aurora.”
“Pleasure to meet you, ma’am,” he said with a flirtatious smile thatIwanted to punch clean off his face.
AndAurorafucking blushed.
Jealousy ripped through me, cutting to the core.
“Um, these are my friends,” she said toDrewas she turned to the ladies. “WhitneyWestandWillowWinslet.”Hergaze lifted to me. “Wemade some pies to bring by as a thank you.Youknow—for cleaning up the bonfire after we went inside.Well,Whitneymade them.WillowandIwere there for moral support.Ican’t bake.”
Willow clapped a hand overAurora’smouth to stop her rambling. “WhatWandermeans to say is ‘thank you.’”
The momentary jealousy quickly morphed into amusement.
Drew laughed under his breath. “Ican take them up to the kitchen.Youladies want a tour?”
Whitney andWillowshared a giddy look.
“Weird question,”Whitneysaid. “Butare you okay with being recorded?We’reauthors, and this might end up in a book.In-person research is always the best.”
Drew grinned. “Aslong as you get my good side.”
“Pretty sure you don’t have a bad side,”Willowsaid with a snicker as she pulled out her phone and opened the camera.
Aurora shuffled the covered pie tins intoWhitney’shands.Drewwinked and cocked his head toward the open bay door before clapping his hands. “Alright, ladies.We’llhead upstairs first.Pleaseremember to keep all hands and feet inside the ride at all times.”
I was fairly certainIsaw wedding rings onWhitney’sfinger, butDrewhadWilloweating out of his hand.
Aurora hung at the back of the pack, a little hesitant to join the tour.Asoft gasp escaped whenIgrabbed her hand to hold her back.
I cocked my head toward the bay doors. “Comeon.They’llbe fine withDrewfor a few minutes.”
The morning sun was bright and blazing; not a cloud in the sky.Ileaned against the frame of the open bay and hoped our conversation wouldn’t carry.
“Hey.”
“Hi,” she said quietly. “Ihope it's okay that we popped by.MoviesandTVshows always make it seem okay.”
I chuckled. “Wehave people drop in a lot.Bringingfood is even better.Theguys will like that.”
Aurora sighed. “Inthe harsh light of yesterday morning’s hangover,Irealized we were pretty stupid to drink and light up a bonfire at the same time.Sothanks for putting the fire out before something happened.Andfor cleaning it up for us.Idefinitely did not want to trek through the sand this morning.”
“How’s the ankle?”Iasked asIcraned my head to the side to get a look at it.
She was in a pair of foam flip-flops, but still had her ankle wrapped.
“A little sore.Kindof stiff.Butnot too bad.”
I nodded. “Restanother day or so, and you should be good as new.”
“The girls have been helping with the house.It’sbeen nice to have extra sets of hands.”
“How long are they in town?”
“They leave this afternoon to drive back toRaleighand fly out.”Anacute sadness washed over her like clouds eclipsing the sun, turning high noon into dull grays.
“You gonna miss ‘em?”
