Instead of answering her, he held out the bundle of flowers.
His mother’s eyes narrowed at him as she took them and held them up to her face. After taking in a deep breath of their scent, she pointed a finger at him.
“You’re just coming in,” she accused him. “From?”
Shit. He hadn’t thought of a lie about where he’d spent last night. If he was going to keep his word to Robin, his family couldn’t know anything.
“Getting you those from Suzie’s place,” he said quickly and noticed his mother’s eyes narrow again. “And from talking to Kathy about renting the empty unit next to Suzie’s shop.”
This had his mother’s eyes popping wide open in question.
“You’re thinking of moving back to Pride?” she asked. He could tell she was no longer thinking about whether he’d spent the night somewhere else. Instead, she was focused on him moving back home, permanently.
“I’m thinking about it,” he admitted, not wanting to own up to the fact that it was just a quick thought but not one he could take too seriously.
“It’s about damn time,” his mother said, walking back to the kitchen to put the flowers in water. Before she got too far, she turned and glared down at his feet.
George was no fool. He quickly removed his shoes and set them by the front door before following her inside the rest of the way.
“Pride could use a good lawyer. Everyone has been complaining ever since Ed Sharp retired a few years back that there isn’t one in town.” His mother took her time filling up a vase and arranging the flowers.
“Really?” He sat on the barstool and watched her. “I thought everyone was content getting legal help from Edgeview.”
“No.” His mother glanced over at him. “Even Todd was complaining about it the other day when he had to file some paperwork. Not that he minds using Josh Scott out of Edgeview, but…” She shook her head. “It does get old driving all the way to Edgeview just to sign papers. Besides, we didn’t put you through law school not to enjoy some of the benefits.”
“If I move back to Pride, you might have to pay for my services like the rest of the townspeople.”
His mother set the vase down in front of him and shook her head, putting her hand on her hips. “You’d charge your own mother?”
He chuckled, then walked over and wrapped his arms around her, marveling instantly at how very small but powerful she was. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you the family discount,” he answered quickly. The statement earned him a poke in the ribs.
Chapter Five
Having her sister hang around the cottage for the entire day used to be a joy. However, on only a few hours of sleep, and needing time to think about the night before, the longer Kara hung around, the more irritable she felt.
By lunchtime, Robin finally got out of her sister the story of why Kara was hanging around all day.
“So, that’s why Conner wanted me to hang around with you all day,” Kara explained.
“Because he saw a couple of strange men hanging around town last night?” Robin asked.
“Yeah.” Kara rolled her eyes. “Something tells me that every time a stranger comes into town, we’re going to be watched over.”
She thought about George and wondered if he knew about the men last night. If that had anything to do with why he’d stayed with her. No. Whatever last night had been about, George hadn’t been thinking about protecting her. That much was true.
Last night had been all about lust. About release. She’d needed it as much as he had. They’d been skirting around one another for over a month and last night was the result of that flirting.
Her sister helped her set up for the birthday party on the schedule for later that evening before heading out to make her special dinner for Conner. Kara’s left arm was still in a sling, but she knew that her sister was well enough to help straighten the chairs and to set the vases of flowers on each table.
An hour before the birthday guests were due to arrive, George showed up. She hadn’t seen him yet, but she’d noticed his car out front. He was probably outside, making his rounds around the property to ensure that no one was hiding in the shadows.
She hoped that he planned on staying with her again that night. When she’d woken in his arms, she’d wished more than anything that the text message from her sister hadn’t woken her and that she’d have an entire morning to enjoy the sexy muscular body she was up against.
Just thinking about it, she found herself scanning the barn for a glimpse of him. When her eyes landed on him, a smile curved her lips up and, as if he’d felt it, his eyes moved over to land on her. His instant smile matched hers.
Then the party guests started arriving, and she became so busy that she didn’t have time to think about their time together the night before or worry if he’d stick around after the party to be with her again.
So much had gone into her business, and she knew that she couldn’t afford to be distracted. Not for long. Having fun couldn’t get in the way of her business. Period. Still, she had a libido and after last night, just knowing what sex was like with George, what it could be like, desire flooded her quickly.
The sweet-sixteen birthday party seemed to go by in slow motion. She’d outdone herself on the decorations for the young Ester Ellison, or Essie as all of her friends called her. The massive barn was decked out in pale pink decorations with Edison lights hanging overhead, and boys and girls danced to the latest songs played by her favorite DJ, Brett Lyons. She used Brett for all of the parties that required music. She liked the young guy and knew that he’d graduated from high school the previous year and was working part time down at the Golden Oar as a waiter.
There were a handful of people in Pride that she relied on to keep her business running smoothly. She’d be totally lost if it wasn’t for the kitchen crew. Joy Smith, the head chef Robin had hired two weeks after they’d open their doors, had been one of her best hires. A few of the other kitchen staff came and went, but Joy was steady.
The older woman knew how to manage the other employees, and Robin only needed to pass the client’s requested menu on to Joy to ensure that it would be done.
Her sister had made sure that all the flower orders had been delivered, so that was another thing she hadn’t had to worry about. Actually, the more Robin thought about it, the hardest part of the business was the cleanup.
Sunset Weddings, or Sunset Venue, as most people were now calling it, had earned its reputation as one of the swankiest and most unique barn venues on the Oregon coast. To Robin’s knowledge, it was the only barn venue that overlooked the Pacific Ocean.
They were completely booked every Friday and Saturday night until next fall, which ensured her that she’d made the right career choice.
It had been a hardship leaving the city. She’d really liked the hustle and bustle of city life. But she’d never been a partier and hadn’t really liked driving on the overcrowded streets.
What she had liked was being able to entertain herself with friends and family. Family that was now living just a few blocks from her. Well, at least half of that family. Her cousins and her aunt and uncle were still in Portland. But the important people were there, with them.