“That they were cousins?”
“No, Renie, that he was coming for a visit.”
Renie didn’t like the tone of Billy’s voice. “Since yesterday afternoon. I didn’t even know he was back from Spain.”
“When were you going to tell me?”
“Stop it. He’s a friend, and he’s Ben’s cousin. You’re starting to sound a little…I don’t know…angry.”
He was angry. Ben’s cousin signed a postcard to her with the word love. She hadn’t mentioned that he was related to Ben. What else had she left out?
“How long’s he stayin’?”
“For a couple of hours. I mean, I don’t know. For coffee.”
“He’s driving from Aspen for coffee?”
“Billy, stop it. You’re making too much of nothing.”
He wished he could put Willow in the truck and drive straight there. Or ask Ben to fly over and get him so he could meet this Jace character for himself.
“Okay, but I want you to call me after he’s gone. I want to see your pretty face. I miss you so much.”
“I miss you, too.”
She saw Jace drive up to the house an hour later. He looked good. Really good. And she was surprised she noticed. She was even more surprised at the surge of excitement she felt when she saw him smile. Jace was such a good man, a nice man, and one whose company she enjoyed very much. She hoped he wouldn’t mind if they were just friends from here on out.
She went out the front door and waited for him on the porch.
“There she is,” he said, walking up the steps. He pulled her into his arms and drew her into a kiss before she could protest. More surprising than the surge of excitement she felt when she saw him, was how unwilling she was to pull away from his kiss. It felt good to be in his arms, better to have him kissing her.
“Wow,” he said. “I missed you more than I thought.”
Renie stepped back, out of arms’ reach. “Good to see you, Jace. How was Spain?”
He laughed. “It was fun. Tucker is…well, he’s a lot of fun to be around.”
“Oh, yeah? And what kind of trouble did you two get yourselves into?”
“Oh, girl, you know me too well.” He threw his arm over her shoulder and they walked into the house.
/>
Jake and Luke were standing in the family room. It was obvious that they had been looking out the window.
“Close your mouths,” she said. “You’ll catch flies leaving them open that way.”
Luke stepped forward to say something and Ben put his hand over his son’s mouth. He leaned down and whispered, “Not a word out of you.”
“But—”
“Not. A. Word.”
“Not even hello?”
“That’s it, nothing else. No questions. Got it, Luke?”
“Got it, Dad.”