Evening Stars (12 page)

Once again, she didn’t care if it was a line—it totally worked for her.

“How was your trip?”

“Busy. Good.”

“A lot of flying?” she asked as they went down the stairs.

He grinned. “Yes, I flew a lot.”

“Is there a better way to ask the question? Am I showing my ignorance?”

They’d reached his car. The ridiculously small two-seater. He took both her hands in his and drew her close. “You’re showing how charming you are. I like the angels on your shirt.”

Before she could respond, he pulled her against him and kissed her.

His lips were warm against hers. She instinctively tilted her head and wrapped her arms around him, even as she parted her lips. He brushed her tongue with his. Her eyes sank closed, and she gave herself up to the seduction that he offered.

The deep kisses made her weak with longing. She honest-to-God couldn’t remember the last time she’d had sex with someone other than herself, let alone a man-induced orgasm. Kyle moved his hands up and down her back, touching her with a confidence that made her wonder if the front seat of his silly car really was too small.

He drew back and rested his forehead on hers. “I’ve missed you,” he murmured. “I thought about you while I was gone.”

“I missed you, too,” she admitted. “Even if you are too young and completely inappropriate.”

He grinned. “Think of me as a temptation.”

“Sure. That’s easy.”

He straightened. “I brought lunch.”

She stared at him. “Excuse me?”

“Lunch. It’s noon. I brought a picnic.”

“That’s so sweet. I would have been happy with the kissing.”

He chuckled. “Good to know.”

He popped the trunk and pulled out several bags of food, along with a thick blanket. The day was clear and the temperature in the high sixties. Not exactly beach weather, but it was warm enough for an alfresco meal.

Nina led the way to the side yard, away from most of the windows and whoever might be watching. They spread out the blanket, then settled on it. Kyle passed out sandwiches and cans of soda.

“I brought one of each,” he said, showing her both regular and diet soda.

“I’m a girl,” she said, reaching for the can of diet.

“I noticed. It’s one of my favorite things about you.”

“Me being a girl?”

His blue eyes crinkled at the corner. “Uh-huh. It makes for intriguing possibilities.” He glanced around, then lowered his voice. “There are anatomical differences between us.”

She did her best to keep from smiling. “Are there?”

“Several.”

“Does it make things confusing?”

“It can, so let me know if you need me to explain them to you.”

She took the sandwich he offered. “I’d like that. Or you could show me.”

The teasing was fun, and as with the sex issue, she was woefully out of flirting practice. She was about to joke about diagrams when she noticed Kyle staring at her with an intensity that made her want to squirm. Gone were the humor and the playful grin. Instead he looked at her the way a man looked at... Well, a woman.

A second later, the passion was gone, and the Kyle she knew returned. But the moment reminded her he wasn’t the kid she barely remembered. He was a soldier and very much an adult. Despite the four years between them, if anyone was going to be playing catch-up, it was her.

“I can’t see you for a few days,” he said, unwrapping his sandwich. “That’s the other reason I stopped by. There’s a drill, and I’m going to be on base.”

“Military life is complicated.”

“It can be.”

She took a bite of her sandwich and chewed. “I looked up the Blue Angels online. You have to have 1250 tactical jet flight-hours. They keep track of how many hours you fly?”

“Uh-huh, along with the number of carrier landings. Bigger is better.”

“You’re such a guy.”

“We already discussed that anatomy thing.”

“Yes, we did and we’re not going back to it. The average age of a pilot on the team is thirty-three. So you still have a ways to go.”

“I’ll get there by thirty,” he said, sounding confident. “I’m always ready to take a flight. I work hard.”

“It’s a different world than the one I’m used to,” she admitted. “You’re dedicated.”

“I know what I want and I go after it.” One corner of his mouth turned up. “In every aspect of my life.”

She admired his focus as much as she worried about not living up to his vision of her. “So, once you’ve had me, you’ll move on?”

“Not even close.”

“Maybe you will. Maybe it’s a one-time thing.”

“I’m going to enjoy having my fantasy fulfilled for more than a little while. I mean that figuratively and literally. Like I said—I’m in Everett for a few months. Why not spend them with you?”

In bed.
He didn’t say that part, but she hoped he was thinking it. Because she was.

“The Mariners are having a good season,” she said, thinking baseball had to be a safer topic. “They’re in second place in their division.”

“Can’t take the heat?” he asked.

“I’m making a strategic retreat.”

“Don’t know the meaning of the word. I gotta keep moving forward.”

“So you’re relentless.”

“I’m determined.”

He overwhelmed her, she thought, wondering if she was getting aroused or having her very first-ever hot flash. With Kyle there was no maybe. No almost. After years of being the one who decided, it might be nice to put her fate in someone else’s hands...so to speak.

“When are you back?” she asked.

The slow, sexy grin returned. “Early next week. I’ll call the second I’m free.”

“You do that.”

* * *

Averil got over her annoyance with the world in time to bang out an article. It was about surviving a bossy older sibling, complete with breathing exercises and escape plans. She would edit it later and then send it in. As long as she stayed on her writing schedule, she would keep her manager happy. Right now Maya seemed to be the only person still on Averil’s side. Best to keep things that way. Besides, steady freelance work paid.

After lunch, Averil loaded Penny in the car. She drove across the island and parked in front of Blackberry Preserves.

The store had been in her family for a couple of generations. Averil had grown up in and around the store. She and Nina had played dress-up with the old clothes and made forts out of moth-eaten cushions. Later, in high school, Averil had worked shifts to earn money, although she’d preferred her job at the local diner. At that point, getting away from her demanding older sister had been a priority.

Averil and Penny walked into the store. It was as crowded as she remembered, with stacks of furniture, overflowing shelves and boxes of yet-to-be-discovered treasures. There was a musty smell, which was familiar, mingling with the scent of what she would swear was an orange-scented cleaner.

“Hello,” she called. “Anybody here?”

A pretty woman with short dark hair walked around a shelving unit and smiled. “Hi. Can I help you?”

“You work here?” Averil asked.

“Yes. I’m Cindy. I’m new.”

Averil smiled. “Averil Wentworth. Nina’s ne’er-do-well baby sister.” She nodded at the dog. “This is Penny.”

“Oh, hi. Nice to meet you. Nina didn’t mention a sister.”

“I live in Mischief Bay. I’m visiting for a few weeks.” She sniffed. “Have you been cleaning? It smells good in here.”

“Yes, and it’s daunting, but I’m getting there.”

“You sure you want to take on a project this big?”

Cindy laughed. “I’m also unearthing treasures as I go. Just this morning I discovered several quilts that are handmade. I’ve been online trying to figure out their ages. If I’m right, a couple of them are valuable.”

“I’m not surprised. My mom only buys what she likes. She searches for beauty and then either keeps it in the family or shares it with the world. Bertie is more practical and generally has a good idea of what’s valuable.” The first year Bertie had worked in the store, sales had been up fifty percent. They hadn’t moved any more merchandise, but nearly everything sold had been more expensive.

“How long have you worked here?” Averil asked.

“Only a week. There were some issues with the woman who was here before.”

No doubt Nina had run her off, Averil thought.

“I have tea brewing in the back,” Cindy said. “Want some?”

“That would be nice. Thank you.”

They walked into the crowded back room. Averil could see how Cindy had already made changes. While there was still furniture everywhere and plenty of boxes, the counters were clean and the floor had been swept.

Cindy poured two mugs of tea and offered cookies from a box.

“Thanks.” Averil took a sugar cookie, broke it in half and gave the smaller piece to Penny.

“There’s so much to do,” Cindy said. “Most of the inventory isn’t in the computer. I’m splitting my time between cleaning and organizing. I start to go crazy if I’m on the computer too long. I guess it comes from all the years I spent typing on mine. I was a paralegal in my past life.”

“What brings you to the island?”

“My husband retired. He’s a little older than me and has worked hard, so he deserves it. But I just can’t stay home. My mother-in-law lives with us.”

“Oh.” Kevin’s mother was a lovely lady, Averil thought, but she wouldn’t want the other woman living with her. “That could be difficult.”

“It’s rarely boring,” Cindy said with a grin. “She hates me, but I think she’s accepted that, after twenty-five years, I’m not going anywhere.” She lowered her voice. “I’m the second wife. His first wife died.”

“And your husband’s mother has turned her into a saint.”

“Pretty much. But that’s okay. I would never tell him, but he’s worth it. And I have three great kids. One from his previous marriage and our two. I’ve been lucky. Now I have this job. I love it, except for the obvious stress.”

“What stress?”

Cindy laughed. “Selling a chair for ten dollars only to have it pop up on
Antiques Roadshow
with an auction value of twenty thousand.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Averil told her. “Bertie is good, but she’s not that good.”

“I don’t know. I’ve found a few amazing pieces. Speaking of which, I should get back to work. I’m not trying to kick you out. I just need to be cataloging.”

“I understand.” Averil took a sip of her tea, then followed Cindy back into the store. “What are you working on now?”

“The lunch boxes. They’re easy enough. I look them up on eBay, figure out a good price and then enter them in the computer.”

Averil thought about the novel she had yet to start, the angry email from Kevin and the fact that Nina wasn’t speaking to her.

“Want some help?” she asked. “I can sticker or enter in inventory.”

“Thanks. It will go faster with two of us. If you’re sure you don’t mind.”

“I don’t,” Averil assured her. “Any old blankets around?” she asked, motioning to Penny.

“In the box in the corner.”

Averil collected a couple. “I’m going to make a bed for her.” She thought about how long they’d been out. “Let me take her on a short walk and then I’ll be back to help.”

“Sounds great.”

Averil smiled. See? She could be responsible, she thought, heading for the front door. Kevin and Nina were wrong about her.

Chapter Nine

NINA PUSHED A piece of chicken around on the plate. This was ridiculous, she told herself. How could she and Averil not have anything to say to each other? They were sisters who hadn’t seen each other in months. They sure had enough to talk about on the phone, but there was silence when they were in the same room.

Averil was pouting, no doubt because Nina had snapped at her about Penny that morning. Though maybe Averil hadn’t been as careless with Penny as Nina had first assumed, but why go there? This family was exhausting, she thought. If it wasn’t her mother forgetting to get the roof fixed, it was her sister picking up stray dogs.

She drew in a deep breath and decided she would remember her lunch with Kyle instead. That had been perfect. The man was funny and charming and just intense enough to be irresistible. If she could bottle his brand of determined flirtation, she could make a fortune.

The phone rang. She reached for it and glanced at the caller ID.

“It’s Bertie,” she said, pushing the speaker button and setting the receiver in the middle of the table. “Hi, Bertie.”

“Hello, my sweet. How are you?”

“I’m good. Guess who’s here?”

“Hi, Bertie,” Averil said from across the table.

Bertie laughed. “What brings you to Blackberry Island, Averil? Did we know you were coming?”

“No. I’m just here to do some thinking.” Averil stuck out her tongue at Nina. “I have a dog. She’s beautiful and her name is Penny.”

“I can’t wait to meet her,” Bertie said. “Bonnie, Averil has come home for a visit.”

There was a squeal in the distance, then they heard Bonnie’s voice. “We’ll be home in a few days. You’ll still be there, won’t you?”

“I promise,” Averil said. “Tell Nina to be nice to me, because she’s been surly.”

Nina told herself to act like the adult. That she had to believe in karma and that she would be rewarded in a later life.

“Nina, be patient with your sister,” Bonnie said. “We all aspire to be more like you and we all fail.”

Nina felt the slap from over a thousand miles away. Did it occur to Bonnie that Averil was the problem? Of course not. But she didn’t say that. “Have you had a good trip, Mom?”

“The best. The van is full of wonderful treasures.”

“Tell her about the painting,” Bertie said.

Bonnie laughed, the sound carrying clearly over the phone lines. “I found the most hideous painting. There was an estate sale of an old man who bought storage unit contents. There were crates and crates of them. We bought two of the crates.”

Nina held in a groan. “Let me guess. Without knowing what was inside.”

“Of course. If you know what you’re getting, where’s the fun? Anyway, mostly there was junk but there was also a painting. It’s truly ugly, but the frame is beautiful. I wanted to toss the picture right away but Bertie said you had to see it. So we’re bringing it home.”