The Merriest Magnolia (Magnolia Sisters #2) - Michelle Major Page 0,102

to ensure both the properties downtown and Last Acre are secure.”

Avery parked the car across the street from the gallery and turned in her seat to face Carrie. “Are you sure? We thought you might eventually want to move back there.”

As she glanced between Avery and Meredith, Carrie understood her sisters hadn’t brought up the issue of Niall’s house because they didn’t want to upset her.

“I’m positive,” she assured them. “That house is part of the past. I’m looking toward my future.”

Meredith hitched a shoulder toward the gallery. “Could Dylan still be a part of that?”

“We don’t want the same things.” Carrie ran a hand through her hair, feeling suddenly exhausted from her trip. “But I don’t want to be his enemy, either.”

“I guess you should go see what he wants,” Avery told her with an odd smile. “Who knows with that man.”

“He did adopt a dog and a kitten this month.” Meredith sighed. “I suppose he can’t be totally evil.”

Carrie raised an eyebrow at her younger sister. “That’s high praise coming from you.”

“Just make sure you take care of yourself,” Meredith answered cryptically. “And know we have your back no matter what.”

It felt like there was some deeper meaning in her sister’s words, but for the life of her Carrie couldn’t decipher what it could be.

“I’ll drop your suitcase at your house on my way home,” Avery promised then did a little shooing motion with her fingers. “Stop dawdling.”

“I’m not dawdling.” Carrie sniffed but dug around her purse for a tube of lip gloss. Of course she was delaying seeing Dylan. Just the thought of it made her stomach hurt. She could tell herself all day long that she simply wanted to make peace with him, but that wasn’t the truth. What she wanted was to throw herself into his arms and share every detail about her trip.

She should hate him, but her heart hadn’t quite gotten that memo. Despite being on different sides with regard to the town’s future, she truly believed he was on her side as far as supporting her personal goals.

“Here goes everything,” she whispered and exited the car.

She winced when Avery honked as she pulled away from the curb and watched the taillights disappear around the next corner.

For a moment she looked around the town where she’d spent her entire life, trying to see the old buildings with new eyes.

She and her sisters really had done a lot to transform things in Magnolia over the past few months. Main Street was quiet, as she’d expected for a Wednesday afternoon, but the shops and businesses looked welcoming and cheerful in a way she couldn’t have dreamt of last year at this time.

Glancing behind her, she could see a few tables filled within Il Rigatone. Vinnie Guilardi stood next to one booth, his arms outstretched and his face animated. She could imagine the stories he was telling the family who waited for their food. The man had never met a stranger.

Carrie drew in a deep breath and considered the ideas that had bloomed in her mind as she toured New York City with her mother. There was still a vacant storefront on the far corner of the block in one of the buildings her father had owned. If her paintings actually sold in the way Max anticipated, she might be able to qualify for a loan and help the Guilardis relocate their restaurant.

That would put her back into direct competition with Dylan, a thought she didn’t relish. But she remained determined to focus on the positive. She’d find a way to muddle along with him in town, even if he wasn’t a part of her life in the way her heart craved.

A movement from across the street caught her attention and she started forward as Dylan appeared in the doorway of the gallery.

She liked seeing him there, more than she should, and reminded herself that this wasn’t a reconciliation. At best, she hoped for a truce. A way to move past what came before.

“Thanks for meeting me,” he said as she approached, looking annoyingly handsome as ever in a navy fleece and faded jeans, stubble shadowing his jaw. “How was New York?”

“Good.” She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Okay, this might have been a mistake. When she’d thought about seeing him again, she hadn’t counted on her heart’s reaction or feeling the heat that always seemed to radiate from him or the way he smelled like a mix of mint and spice and how she’d want