Know Your Heart: A New Zealand - Tracey Alvarez Page 0,57
don’t forget to study.” Tom got to his feet. “I’m going to my room.”
Glen didn’t need to be a Teenager Whisperer to figure out what the kid really needed. “Tom?”
His nephew paused at the sliding door and looked back over a rigidly held shoulder.
“Give me an hour to wrap up this scene, then we’ll play a few hands of poker while we wait for the chicken to roast.”
The lines creasing Tom’s brow smoothed and he grinned, looking so much like Jamie at the same age that Glen’s gut clenched. He hadn’t seen his big brother smile in months.
“You’re on. Prepare to have your wallet cleaned out.”
***
Savannah had three choices since Daisy was a gone-burger. Auckland—back to party-hard friends and the cameras ready to send her candid jogging photos viral. Nate’s—because being near Nate and Lauren was like wrapping her dented spirit in a snuggly blanket. Or the Sea Mist Resort.
Savannah rolled up her borrowed yoga mat and took a long draw on her water bottle.
Three sharp bangs rang out on the workshop door, followed by a deep whuff—Savannah could guess who her visitors were.
“Aunty Sav! Are you awake?”
“Coming.” Savannah crossed the concrete floor and opened the door.
Drew held out a plump, deliciously scented muffin. Her nose twitched, catching the delicate sweetness of baked peaches.
“I bringed you a muffin,” he said.
Beside him, Java licked his chops and cast wistful glances at the boy’s hand.
“Mummy made them this morning, and I stole one to give to you.” He giggled. “Here.”
Other than letting it drop to the ground where the giant Rottweiler would be on it in a flash, Savannah had no choice but to take it. Ah, hell. It’s still warm.
“You could come upstairs,” he said. “Spongebob’s on, and we could watch it while you eat.”
Sav glanced over her shoulder to the futon, made up with Lauren’s spare linen. A little ache in her belly reminded her of Daisy’s cozy if not overly comfortable bed, and the little ache spread into a dangerous warmth when her memory shifted to being in Glen’s bed, his big body wrapped around hers.
But he hadn’t even hinted that he’d like her to stay on the drive back from Bounty Bay. So, the Sea Mist it was.
“I’d love to. Spongebob and Patrick are cool, but Squidward’s my favorite.” Sav stepped outside and patted Java’s block-shaped head, keeping the muffin out of his reach.
Nate waited for her in the kitchen, mug of tea in hand. “Spill. What’s the next phase of your evil plan.”
Drew disappeared through the brick archway to turn on the TV.
Sav sniffed the fragrant warmth rising from the cup. “No evil plan. I’ll be heading to the Sea Mist for a few weeks.”
Nate’s brow crumpled. “Weren’t you supposed to be helping Tom and vice versa?” He added a mock glare. “Since you laughed at my mad acting skills after we read your script through the first time.”
“I’m not sure if that’ll work out. Where would we rehearse?”
“Clear the old barn; there’s plenty of room.”
“Huh.” The barn was big and airy inside. When she felt a little cabin fever alone at the Sea Mist, she’d drive up and spend a few hours rehearsing and helping Tom.
“And you could stay with us, you know.” Nate grinned and snatched the muffin out of her hand. “We’d love having you close by.”
But baking was Lauren’s thing. Muffins, brownies, cookies… A quick mental calculation of potential calorie intake versus pounds lost so far, then a comparison to her total lack of willpower and a sweet tooth, led Sav to a simple conclusion. Much as she loved her cousin and his new family, staying with them was a sucky idea.
“Thanks, but I’m looking forward to my little luxuries at the Sea Mist.” Since she couldn’t have her own spa bath and a writer-in-residence eye candy, then the resort was second best.
“But you’re right about the barn. It’ll be perfect once I give it a spring clean.”
***
Two hours later, Nate dropped her and two armfuls of cleaning equipment off at her place, promising to return after lunch to help.
The house was silent, the drapes still pulled in the office where Tom slept—no surprises there, since she’d once been a teenager. Giving the tree-damaged Daisy a wide berth, Sav followed the overgrown track past the caravan to the barn’s double wooden doors.
She put down the bucket, loaded with cleaning products and a couple of scrubbing brushes, leaned the broom and mop against the wall, and unlatched the door.