The Moonglow Sisters - Lori Wilde Page 0,27
tossed the ice pack onto the circular picnic table.
“That cat is still a scamp in her old age—” Gia started to smooth things over, but for the first time noticed the frame. “Oh, my gosh, you guys set up the quilting frame!” Surprised and delighted, Gia clamped her hands over her mouth. “This is amazing. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.” Madison efficiently dusted her palms together.
“Where’s the quilt?” Gia glanced around for the triple wedding ring quilt.
“Dry cleaners.” Shelley inclined her head toward Madison. “Maddie took it in. That’s why she’s so gussied up.”
“Really?” Pressing a palm to her heart, Gia sighed, endorphins flooding her body with happiness.
“Don’t look so shocked,” Madison said. “We promised to finish the quilt.”
Gia rubbed her chin with the pad of her thumb. “I wasn’t sure you meant it.”
Hope planted roots, sprouted, grew. Maybe this would work. Even if she had to create a fake engagement to make it happen. Gia toyed with the unaccustomed weight of Mike’s ring on her finger. They’d just picked it up from his safe-deposit box at his bank and she wasn’t used to the pressure of it yet.
The ring fit perfectly. How coincidental was that?
Mike, the optimist, had simply said, “It’s a sign that this story line is meant to be.”
She wasn’t sure if by story line he meant the fake engagement or the two of them as a couple, and she was afraid to ask him to clarify, uncertain if she wanted his remark to signify the former or the latter.
The porch steps creaked behind them and they all three turned simultaneously to see Mike wearing starched chinos and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The man had the sexiest forearms. He came over and slid one of those delectable arms around her waist, playing his part.
It was unfamiliar, his proprietary touch, but it felt nice, too, and that freaked her right out. Settle down.
“Ready to go to the hospital, Honeysuckle?” he asked.
Honeysuckle? A sweet shiver ran through her. He’d traded in Short Stack for Honeysuckle? He’d already given her a romantic nickname? She had to hand it to him, when the man played a role, he Tom Hanksed the hell out of it.
“You bet, Sugarplum,” she shot back, grinning.
Madison raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re coming with?”
Mike linked his arm through Gia’s, enveloping her in his sandalwood-and-basil scent. “Wherever Gia goeth, I goeth.”
Madison rolled her eyes and mumbled, “Sounds codependent to me.”
“Blow her off.” Shelley waved a dismissive hand at Madison. “You two are adorable as a couple.”
“He’s almost family.” Gia leaned over to pat Mike’s taut abdomen the way she imagined a fiancée might do. But she was unprepared for the jolt of awareness that blasted through her fingers. Her eyes rounded, and she did her best not to look astounded.
“Who’s driving?” Madison asked.
“We can take my King Ranch, room for five,” Mike volunteered. “Is Darynda coming?”
“I just came from the hospital.”
Everyone turned to see Darynda climbing the steps, a large, brown paper H-E-B grocery bag in her arms.
“How?” Madison asked. “The visiting hours aren’t until eight and it’s just now seven forty-five.”
“I was the nursing supervisor’s high school English teacher.” Darynda looked pleased with herself. “I have pull.”
“What’s with the groceries?” Shelley peeped into the bag.
“Let me carry that for you.” Mike took the bag from Darynda.
“I’m making lunch for you all,” Darynda said. “Mike, you’re included.”
“Thank you.” He carried the groceries inside and they all followed.
“That’s good that you included him,” Madison said. “Because apparently wherever Gia goeth, Mike goeth.”
Darynda tilted her head to study Madison. “What?”
“You didn’t know they were engaged?” Madison’s eyes narrowed as if she smelled a rat. “Grammy didn’t tell you?”
“W-we . . . hadn’t told Grammy yet,” Gia said. Oof! She was such a terrible liar.
“Let’s see the ring.” Darynda held out her hand.
Feeling like Pinocchio, Gia flashed the sparkler on her left hand. Mike had been modest. The one-carat diamond was impressive enough for anyone.
“Nice.” Darynda smiled. “Good job, Mike.”
“What are we having?” Shelley dug through the bag Mike settled onto the kitchen table.
Silently, Gia blessed her sister for shifting the attention off the fake engagement.
“Fried chicken, your grandmother’s recipe, mashed potatoes with real cream, and buttermilk biscuits,” Darynda said.
“Omigod.” Shelley splayed a hand on her belly. “I’ve died and gone to heaven. I could kiss you so hard right now, Darynda.”
“I thought you were vegan,” Gia said.
Shelley flapped a hand. “That’s way over.”
“When is the wedding?” Darynda’s gaze drifted from Mike to Gia and back again.
“September,”