"Happy days," Savannah murmured, but she smiled when Emma darted over to wrap an arm around Cassie's leg. "Hi, angel face."
"Hello. Bryan let me pet his kittens
. They're soft."
"She wants one." Shyness had never been a problem for Bryan. He scooped a hand into the cookie jar and hauled out a fistful. "Can she have one, Mrs. Dolin?"
"What?"
He stuffed a cookie into his mouth and eyed the lemonade Cassie was making. "Can Emma have one of the kittens? Shane's got extra."
"A kitten." Automatically Cassie put a protective hand on Emma's head. "We can't have animals in the house, because—" She broke off, her gaze darting to Connor's, even as her son dropped his head to stare at his feet.
Because Joe doesn't like them. She'd nearly said it, so ingrained was the habit. A habit, she realized, that had prevented her from seeing how longingly Connor spoke of Bryan's expected pets. How much Emma liked to play with the neighbor's little brown dog.
"I don't see why we couldn't."
Her reward was a brilliant and grateful look from her son. "Really?" The disbelief and hope in his voice almost made her weep. "Can we really?"
"Sure we can." She scooped Emma into her arms and nuzzled. "You want one of Shane's kittens, Emma?"
"They're soft," Emma said again.
"So are you." It was time she did this, Cassie told herself. Made simple decisions without worrying about what Joe would do. "Tell Shane you'd like one, Connor."
"Cool." Unaware of the drama, Bryan chomped down another cookie. "Then you can bring him over sometimes so he can play with his brothers. Let's go work on your pitching arm, Con."
"Okay." Connor darted after his friend, skidded to a halt. "Thanks, Mama."
"Whoa." At the door, Rafe barely avoided a head-on collision with Connor. He pretended he didn't see the way the boy stiffened and paled, and patted his shoulder, very casually. "You guys are quick. Jared and I lost you in the woods."
"I'm sorry."
"Next year you'll have to try running bases with that speed." He stepped inside, grinned at the ladies. "This was worth a tramp through the woods."
"We're nearly done," Regan told him, and tilted her face up for a kiss.
"No hurry. Hey, gorgeous."
"Hello, handsome." Savannah picked up one of her son's forgotten cookies and offered it.
"Thanks. Cassie—just the woman I want to see."
"Oh? Is something wrong?"
"I've got a problem." To bribe a smile out of Emma, he held out his cookie. "Would you give me a kiss right here for this?" he asked.
Keeping an eye on the cookie, Emma leaned forward and touched her pursed lips to his nose.
"A problem?" Cassie repeated. Nerves humming, she set Emma down and told her to go out and watch the boys play. "What is it?"
"Well, I'll tell you." He leaned back on the counter. "Regan and I found this place a little farther out of town, on the Quarry Road. Needs some work." He grinned at his wife. "We're thinking of moving over in a couple months. Probably around June."
"That's nice."
"Well, the thing is, Cassie, we need somebody at the inn. A—what did you call it, darling?"
"Chatelaine."