Zane sipped his coffee to hide a smile at the banter. The Flint family had a definite style. Joking, teasing, pushing the limits, all tempered by love and caring. It was what he looked for in a relationship. He’d been through a few long-term relationships; none of them had given him the bonding, or the give and take he desired and needed.
“One cookie. Just one,” Clara stated. “A small one. That’s a good compromise, right?” She set a single gingersnap on a plate in front of Robert. “You other two can help yourselves.”
Robert grumbled but he devoured the still-warm cookie in two bites. “You sure I can’t have another? That was delicious. But don’t tell Sue I said that.” Sue Flint prided herself on being an incredible baker, second only to Cakes and More Bakery.
“Are you kidding me?” Clara’s laugh tickled down Zane’s back raising goose flesh. “Aunt Sue would kill me. I’m not messing with her. E-ver.”
She placed her hand on Zane’s shoulder as she sat down beside him. It took everything he had not to stiffen. The warmth of her touch chased away the room’s chill. “We should get a dehumidifier. It’ll suck the moisture out of the air, and we can close the windows.” He voiced his earlier idea to get his mind off her brief touch. This woman was lethal to his sanity.
“That’s brilliant.” Clara beamed at him. “If I pay for it, can you pick it up, Riley? It probably won’t fit in my car.”
“Anything for more of these cookies,” Robert joked, making them all laugh.
The dynamics among the trio was fascinating. Good natured ribbing, casual affection, but above all else, unspoken caring. These were good people. The kind of people he’d searched his whole life for.
He’d only had one English class with Riley at university, a remedial class, but they’d connected as friends instantly, and maintained that connection over the years through sporadic texts and emails. It had been Riley’s idea that Zane spend his vacation in Coyote Creek. Riley had even suggested Sweet Dreams as a great place to stay.
Zane had made the reservation, securing the room, and a discount for his long-term stay, with a phone call. He was lucky to have easy access to funds. His father hadn’t been wealthy, but he’d left a tidy nest egg behind when he passed two years ago. As his only living relative, Zane had inherited everything. The money had sat, untouched, in the bank until he decided to take a sabbatical and write a book.
