Her Wilde Marines (Wilde, Nevada 4)

“I am. Pleased to meet both of you.”

She was proud of how polite Andrea was being.

“And your mother told us that you play the piano quite well,” Bane said.

Andrea shrugged, but the smile on her face could not be missed. “My sister and I play duets for our grandparents and their friends.”

“Don’t be modest, child. Our granddaughters play for all kinds of events around town,” her grandfather said with pride. “They will be missed. Our girls are very talente

d, gentlemen.”

Emma knew that her girls were exceptionally gifted.

Adam grinned. “Would you play for us, Andrea?”

Smiling, her daughter nodded. “Mom, you sit next to Grandma and I’ll sit with Bane and Adam. Okay?”

“Sure, sweetheart.” Emma was shocked to see how quickly Andrea was warming up to Adam and Bane.

They all took their seats. Andrea continued talking to Bane and Adam about music, her favorite topic.

Emma’s grandfather sat on the other side of her grandmother. “Honey, if you and your friends need any help packing up your apartment, let us know.”

“I will, Grandpa. Thank you for offering”

He winked and sat back in his chair.

Emma turned to her grandmother and said softly, “Thank you so much for everything, Grandma.”

“Sweetheart, your girls are no trouble at all.” Her grandmother leaned forward and looked past her to Bane and Adam. When her blue-eyed gaze returned to Emma, her lips curled up into a smile. “Just friends?”

“Grandma, please.” She’d never been able to hide anything from her grandmother.

“Just saying, dear. My eyes still work well, and I notice how you look at each other.”

“You always could read me well, Grandma. I am quite fond of them, but I don’t want to let on to the girls just yet. Don’t know where this is going and I don’t want them hurt.”

Her grandmother placed her hand over hers. “Of course you don’t, angel. You are such a good mother.”

“I don’t know about that, but I do try. By the way, where is Larry?”

Her grandmother frowned. “You know him. He probably won’t even show up.”

She sighed. “I thought he might start coming around more. He seemed different that day he came up on your porch. My girls could use more attention from him.”

“Mark my words, Emma. He’s up to something. I don’t trust him. The one thing I’m glad about you moving to Wilde is, Larry will likely never see Autumn and Andrea again.”

“Grandma, he has visitation rights. It’s in the court order.”

“And how many times has he visited them since they were born.” Her grandmother held up her hand. “I bet I have enough fingers to count his visits. It’s strange to me that all of a sudden he’s Mr. Nice Guy, Mr. Dad. He’s up to something.”

“Maybe.” She couldn’t deny her grandmother’s logic. Larry always did have a scheme going.

“Autumn and Andrea are so uncomfortable when Larry comes around now.” Her grandmother shook her head. “I try to make his visits as short as possible. He keeps bringing gifts for them and for Leland and I. Something doesn’t smell right about it at all to me. Your girls don’t even know him, Emma. It’s best it stays that way.”

If she hadn’t started hearing her dead sister’s voices, she would’ve thought so, too. In her heart she hoped he would come around. Her grandparents might need his help raising the girls if she lost her mind completely.

Stop it, Emma. I am not going to lose my mind.