The Rivals - Dylan Allen Page 0,261

onto her back and pulls her hat over her face.

I wish I’d been around more in the last year. She’s been lurching from one mini crisis to the next. Work, her husband, her kids, everything is sort of haywire in her life at the moment.

“You want to talk?” I ask after a few moments of silence.

She pulls her hat off her head and looks at me askance. “I can’t believe you’re still here. You should be running over to Kal’s place and practicing your grovel.” She shoos me away with her fingers and covers her face again.

“Are you sure?”

“Remi, I’m floating in a pool on Friday night with my three beautiful children sleeping inside. I’m grand. You go.”

“When I get back, we’re going to spend some time together, sis. We need to talk.” I slip off the raft and wade toward the stairs.

“It’s about time you remembered you have a little sister, Remi.” Her tone is light, but I know I’ve neglected her. Everyone, in the last few months.

“I’m sorry. I know. I love you.” I squeeze her hand.

“I love you, too. Don’t come home until she says yes. I’m ready to see you happy again.”

Chapter 43

CHARMED

KAL

* * *

“Bianca, don’t answer that. I’ll be right there,” I call from the storeroom. First thing I did was to install a doorbell so that we could keep the door locked without missing deliveries.

But Bianca’s opened the door twice when she wasn’t supposed to and even though I scolded her firmly the last time, I know she’ll do it again.

I wipe my hands clean of the dust that settled on them like thin white gloves and rush out. I can’t help but close my eyes and smile as I step into the store. The smell of citrus wood cleaner assails me and I’m more sure than I’ve ever been about anything in my life that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

“Mommy’s in the back,” Bianca says just as the small bell over the door jingles.

“Bian—” I stop dead in my tracks when I see Remi stepping through the doors, dressed in a white T-shirt and swim trunks that look like they’re actually wet. He’s wearing running shoes and sweating. In his hand is a wilted bouquet of bluebonnet flowers with clumps of dirt hanging from their still attached roots.

“Hey, Will.”

“Uh, hi.” I untie my apron and run a self-conscious hand over my disheveled hair. “I wasn’t expecting you. How did you know we were here?”

“Henny told me. I was headed to the hotel and I ran into her. So, you’re buying the bookstore?” He rocks back on his heels and looks around.

“Yeah, I went to see Lister.” I say vaguely and hope he gets the hint. I’m not keen on having this conversation in front of Bianca.

“I hope you don’t mind me stopping by,” he says smiling down at Bianca, too.

“Nope, we don’t mind. We’re just cleaning up.” She smiles up at him.

A clump of earth falls from the flowers and lands on my newly polished wood floors.

“Oh, these are for you.” Remi walks over to me, arm extended.

“Thank you.” I take them gingerly inspect the dangling root. “But, I’m not sure the Rivers Wilde landscapers will happy to see you went shopping in their flowerbeds.” I smile grimly at the slightly pathetic, but very pretty bouquet of bluebonnets.

“It was for a good cause.” He sounds nervous and I almost do a double take. I’ve never seen him anything less than very sure.

I’m glad to see him. I was so angry with him just a day ago, but this morning I woke up wishing I hadn’t asked for space. I’m glad one of us has some sense.

I lean forward, my eyebrows raised in mock surprise and whisper so that Bianca can’t hear. “Why, Remi. Have you come to grovel?”

“Absolutely,” he says, his expression completely serious.

I bite my lip to stop my grin and keep my eyes serious. “Stolen weeds are a dubious start…”

“I know. I just wanted to get over here… Will, I’m sorry.” He steps forward and puts a hand to my waist.

I shake my head quickly and step back. “Let me introduce you to my daughter, Bianca.” I nod over his shoulder at her.

He mouths, “Sorry” before he turns around.

Bianca stands all shy with her head of dark brown curls and the glasses she started wearing this year. She looks just like I did at her age. And she’s just as skeptical. She sticks her hand out for Remi.

“Nice to