A Thousand Sunsets (Band of Sisters)

by Rice, Marianne

  “Too old for her though, huh? And here I was hoping she’d be my new BFF. Maybe do the sleepover thing and tell each other our secrets. Of course, I’d want to know the dirt on her older brother too.” She chewed on the tip of her fingernail intentionally doing the overkill in the flirty department, but his frown didn’t lift.

  “Olivia needs to spend more time with—”

  “I know. Girls her own age. I’ve been thinking about holding some kid-friendly cooking classes when we don’t have a camp in session. I mean, it’ll be an option during camp too, but something on the side for the locals. Maybe Olivia could come to one. There would be other kids her age.”

  Okay, so she’d lied a little. She hadn’t thought about the class idea at all until Olivia mentioned she wanted to learn how to bake.

  “What else do girls do?”

  Dang, he was cute when he was clueless. “Paint our nails, do our hair, talk about boys, have pillow fights while we jump up and down on our beds while wearing sexy lingerie.”

  “She’s ten.”

  “She’ll be eleven next month.”

  “She told you that?” Owen crossed his guns across his chest and she nearly sighed like one of those peasant girls drooling over Gaston in Beauty and the Beast. Only Owen wasn’t Gaston and he sure as hell was no beast.

  “Yeah. And she told me you get her a crappy birthday cake from the grocery store.”

  “They’re not crappy. I don’t want to give her the same cakes from...”

  “The diner. I figured. She told me they were delivered there because your mom doesn’t bake.”

  “What else did my little talkative sister tell you?”

  There was a sense of worry and apprehension across his face that didn’t sit well with her. Her first instinct was to crack a joke or to poke at him for the dirty little secrets he was keeping, but something made her stop.

  Taking a step back, Charlie thought about the nagging warning bells that went off in her head about Olivia. Now was not the time to talk to Owen about them. Maybe never since it wasn’t any of her business, but she wanted to help Olivia as much as she could.

  If baking a cake brought her a smile, then she’d do it.

  “She told me her one birthday wish was to make a black forest cake.”

  “A forest cake? You said she didn’t want to go in the woods with Gina to collect stuff.”

  Charlie laughed. Hard. She wiped the tears from her eyes and patted Owen on his pecs. “You silly, ignorant man. Let me teach her how to make this cake and we may even share a slice with you. I want to do this for her.”

  “Why? You don’t even know her.”

  “Just like we don’t know any of the kids coming to our camp this summer. Our mission is to illuminate kids. To let their wishes and dreams come true. I don’t know if she’ll want to come to any of our sleepover camps, but I can offer her a cooking class. I know it would mean a lot to her. Will you let me?”

  He let out a deep sigh only a man of such size could. “Only if you do me one favor.”

  “Rub oil all over your body?” It was something she’d asked him about fourteen times the first time she met him.

  “Maybe after this other favor.”

  “Really?” She opened her mouth and did a fake scream and jumped up and down in excitement.

  Owen closed his eyes and laughed. “When she’s done being your slave in the kitchen, get her involved in another activity. With Gina or Brooke, I don’t care, but show her how to be a kid.”

  “Oh, I’m very good at being a kid.”

  “I know,” he said with another sigh. “I know.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Owen didn’t know why seeing Liv with Charlie rattled him so much. His sister was happy doing what she loved but, hell. Charlie?

  The woman wasn’t around much while he was working at the camp—thank God—or he’d never have finished the job. To say she was a distraction was putting it mildly. He couldn’t do anything without her teasing him and purring like a kitten in heat.

  Was that even a thing? Weren’t kittens too young to be in heat? That’s what Charlie did to him. She was cute and quirky and not afraid to show her sex-kitten side. Yeah, a kitten in heat totally described the woman.

  Which was why she shouldn’t be with his little sister. He wasn’t worried Charlie would be a bad influence, but he didn’t want to be thinking about sex while Livy was in the same room.

  Owen paused on the end of the farmer’s porch to the mess hall. He was the problem not her. He’d watched the two of them work side-by-side for a few minutes and, too enamored with the scene, hadn’t paid attention to their conversation. When he heard Charlie ask about their mother, he nearly flipped a lid.

  Keeping his personal life private had been his sole mission in life. That and protecting his sister. And protecting her meant keeping their family secrets locked away as tight as possible. All he wanted was for his sister to grow up as normally as possible and have a well-rounded childhood.

  Something he didn’t get to have. Gina surfaced from behind the building, a line of kids swarming around her all chattering at the same time. One kid talking nonstop gave him a headache; he couldn’t imagine twelve.

  Once the herd was inside, he made his way off the deck and searched for Brooke. He came up short but spotted Drew having a conversation with another couple. A kid hung off his back. His nephew, if Owen remembered correctly, was about five, and there was a niece too. Younger by a few years.

  “Owen, have you met my sister and brother-in-law yet? Alan, Katie, this is Owen. He’s the one responsible for the rebuild.”

  “Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand to both of them.

  “I spent a lot of time here as a kid. You did a fantastic job rebuilding the mess hall. I’m so glad the fireplace didn’t get destroyed in the fire.”

  “We weren’t sure if we’d be able to keep it at first. I’m glad it only needed a few reinforcements.” And hundreds of extra hours of labor.

  The insurance money and donations covered the cost, and he’d continued to work at a discounted rate. It was for the kids. He couldn’t take from them or from Brooke and her friends with the good work they were doing.

  He could have used a camp like this as a kid. Livy could use it too, but then he’d have to reveal his family’s history. It would mark Livy like it had marked him. Not something he wanted to do.

  There had to be other camps not too far that didn’t focus on some sort of need. Some sort of regular camp for regular kids. He’d find one for his sister. Sign her up for playtime this summer.

  “It was nice meeting you. I’m going to wander around a bit.” With a new plan forming, he strolled down the various paths which led to the cabins.

  He’d never thought about arranging activities for Livy before. Spending time with her and keeping her safe had always been his number one priority. Knowing how to raise a kid wasn’t in his DNA.

  The dinner bell rang, the chime echoing through the trees. He followed the foot path back to the mess hall and stood outside in line listening in on the conversations around him.

  “Those Army girls are a gift from God.”

  “Can you imagine how much money it took to get this place up and running?”

  “I heard the Shermans sold Brooklyn the land for a dollar.”

  Owen didn’t engage in the talk or the gossip and kept moving forward with the line until he finally made it inside. The tables were filled with excited kids and parents, some taking their plates out the backdoor to eat outside.

  Charlie and Livy stood behind the long food table serving spaghetti to hungry folks. He took a paper plate from the stack and filled a paper bowl with salad, dousing it with ranch dressing.

  When he got to Livy, he held out his plate. “Charlie still slave driving you? Why don’t you come eat with me?”

  “I think it’s a great idea.” Charlie tapped the two pots in front of her. “Meatball or no meatball?”

  “I forgot to
make you a special one,” Livy apologized.

  “I’m sure they’re all special if you made them.” Owen felt his cheeks warm. He didn’t usually say cheesy stuff like that to her.

  “Well, aren’t you a sweetie.” Charlie snorted as she loaded his plate with meatballs.

  “Thanks. Livy, come eat with me.”

  “Aw, poor boy has no friends to sit with? Must be that ugly mug of yours.”

  “You’re more than welcome to join us as well.”

  “Maybe I will.”

  Owen needed a minute to figure out how he felt about her joining them for lunch. She didn’t give him much time by serving herself and Olivia so quickly.

  She served the two remaining people in line behind him then wiped her hands on her apron before untying it and setting it on the table.

  “Inside or out?” Charlie tucked two water bottles under her arm and held up her plate in question.

  “Can we eat outside?” Livy asked.

  “Your wish is our command,” Charlie replied, not sounding nearly as cheesy as he had a few minutes ago.

  “Can we sit by the water?”

  “As long as you promise not to jump in.”

  “I didn’t bring my bathing suit. Can I bring it next time and go swimming?”

  “Sure,” Charlie said while Owen said, “Maybe.”

  He didn’t think there’d be a next time at Camp Illumination. A camp closer to Sugarloaf or maybe on Rangeley Lake would be better. More privacy. More anonymity.

  They made their way down to the dock and found a space at the end that wasn’t occupied. He waited for Livy and Charlie to sit and then took a seat on the other side of his sister.

  “Can I take my shoes off and put my feet in the water? I promise not to get my jeans wet.” Livy was already shucking her shoes and rolling her pants before Owen could reply.

  He moved her plate out of the way so it wouldn’t get a sneaker in it and set it back in her lap when she settled down.

  “I like your meatballs,” Livy said to Charlie around a mouthful of food.

  “You helped.”

  “It’s not the same. I didn’t help with the ingredients.”

  “Livy. Don’t be fresh.”

  “I’m not.”

  “And don’t talk back.”

  She sighed with a trace of attitude and dug into her food. Owen caught a glimpse of Charlie’s grin over the top of Livy’s head.

  “The spaghetti is delicious. Thank you both for making lunch for this large crew. You’d never know there were only two of you working in the kitchen.”

  “I have years of experience,” Livy said with another huff of tone. “Can I feed the ducks my bread?”

  “Sure.”

  She scrambled to her feet and ran down the dock and over to the shore.

  “No running so close to the water,” he called after her.

  “Your sister’s a spitfire.” Charlie laughed, wiping her mouth with her napkin.

  “I swear, she aged overnight. Last week I was her hero and today I seem to be infringing on her teenage attitude.”

  “She worships the ground you walk on. Not that you need to hear this with the line of women I’m sure you have knocking at your door.”

  “Wrong on both accounts.”

  “Please. Modesty is not attractive on you. You’re a good-looking guy. Own it.”

  She did that a lot. Complimented his appearance, his body. Last summer it had entertained him, even though he told himself he wouldn’t ever cross the line with her. Mixing business with pleasure was his father’s habit, not his.

  Owen didn’t think he was an ogre, but for the past ten—almost eleven—years his looks and his sex life were the last things on his mind. The only reason his body was in shape was because he had a physically demanding job.

  Back in his teens and early twenties he’d been a gym rat powerlifting and drinking protein drinks for lunch seven days a week. But Livy’s birth tilted his world on its axis and showed him where his priorities needed to lie. Granted, he still found time to hit the weights in the gym from time to time.

  “Maybe I’m wrong. Quiet modesty is pretty attractive on you as well.” Charlie stacked her paper plate on top of Livy’s and leaned back on her elbows as they watched Livy feed the ducks.

  “You’re quite free-flowing with compliments.”

  “I call ‘em as I see ‘em. Your sister, does she live with you?”

  Owen tensed his shoulders, and he clenched his jaw. The line between making friendly conversation and getting personal were inching too close to each other.

  “I spend a lot of time with her, yes.”

  “That’s sweet of you.”

  Sweet had nothing to do with it. Survival was what it was.

  He pulled his legs up and got to his feet. “Thank you for keeping my sister busy for the past hour. It sounds like she had a lot of fun.” He bent down to pick up their plates.

  “I appreciated the help. Like I said, I’d like to teach her how to make a cake. Will you call me so we can schedule something next month?”

  “Are you living around here now?”

  “Just moved in last night.”

  “You’re staying at Brooke and Drew’s place?” They had a massive house within walking distance from the camp. It only made sense she’d live there for the summer.

  “Nope. I’m taking over the director’s cabin. Brooke will have sleepovers with me when camp is in session.”

  “You’re staying out here alone?”

  Owen tried not to think about last summer when the camp was vandalized and then set on fire. Michael Westleigh wouldn’t be a problem anymore as long as he remained behind bars.

  “Aw, now it sounds like you care. There’s an extra bunk in my cabin if you wanna sleepover.”

  There was nothing he could do to stop the vivid picture of Charlie’s blonde hair splayed across her pillow as she wore nothing but a tiny tank top and sexy underwear.

  “I’m all outta bread,” Liv hollered from her spot by the water.

  And just like that Owen empathized with Clark Griswold when his beautiful daydream of a skinny dipper by his backyard pool got blown away by a child.

  He crouched to pick up the empty plates and gave her a curt nod. “Thank you again for lunch and for entertaining Livy. I’m going to see about getting her involved in some other activities.”

  “What, you’re skipping out on dish duty?”

  Ashamed of his manners, he opened his mouth to apologize.

  “Kidding. Drew had already offered to be on clean up patrol so I could have some fun outside of the kitchen as well. Come on. I’ll help Olivia find those friends you wanted her to have.”

  She looped her arm through his and guided him off the dock and over to his sister. It was a little scary how much the two of them were alike. Minus the flirting. Olivia replaced that with an attitude. He wasn’t sure it was any better.

  For the next hour Charlie made herself Livy’s personal tour guide introducing her to other kids—not that Charlie knew them either—and actually got Livy to try almost every activity.

  Owen watched from the sidelines as Livy tried her hand at tennis and basketball. Those games lasted less than ten minutes before Charlie came to her rescue and dragged her to one of Gina’s stations. Livy seemed to enjoy painting a piece of bark much more than playing sports.

  Of course, she painted a three-tiered birthday cake, but still, it was something new. What surprised him the most was Livy’s willingness to try pretty much anything as long as it was Charlie suggesting.

  Owen had lacked in the suggestion department. They basically stuck to shopping, bowling, and the movies when they went out.

  “Have you ever been in a canoe?”

  “Like on the water?” His sister’s eyes danced with excitement and Owen kicked himself for never bringing her down to the lake before. It was less than thirty minutes to Autumn Pond, and there were plenty of rivers lining the roads he could have taken her to as
well.

  “I suppose we could sit in the canoe on the shore until you’re sure you want to—”

  “I want to!” Livy took off toward the water.

  “Hold up,” he called jogging after her.

  “You’d think this was the first time she’d seen water before today.” Charlie laughed next to him as she jogged after Livy as well.

  He avoided looking at her and kept his focus on his sister.

  “Wait.” She grabbed his arm and stopped him at the top of the slope. He could see Livy as she stepped into the canoe. Thankfully it was still on dry land or he’d have a heart attack. “Don’t tell me that sweet little girl has never been swimming or boating or even dipped her toes in a lake before.”

  The line.

  Professional.

  Personal.

  Too close.

  “She hasn’t had many opportunities, no.”

  He didn’t need to face Charlie to feel her sharp gaze on him. She released her hold and patted his shoulder. “Well then, McDougall. Let’s give your sister an outing to remember.”

  She skipped ahead of him to join Livy. He waited while they put on their life jackets and then joined them.

  “You can take the rear, skipper,” Charlie said, handing him an oar. She inspected Livy’s lifejacket. “I’ll take the front on our first tour so you can chillax in the middle. If you want your turn at paddling, we can swap out. Sound like a plan?”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Livy hopped in the canoe as instructed as he and Charlie took off their shoes and waded in the water before climbing in.

  The afternoon was nothing like he’d expected. Instead of watching the time wishing he were at the construction site, he found himself actually enjoying his time at the camp, and he wasn’t even doing anything incredibly fun.

  What he enjoyed most was watching his sister have the time of her life and wondering how the woman he’d only considered a flirt and a tease had somehow managed to work her way into their lives.

  And possibly hearts.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Charlie couldn’t remember the last time she had so much fun without having a drink in hand. She wasn’t an alcoholic or a major party girl. Usually when her sisters as they liked to call themselves, got together there was wine or sangria, and a beer for Charlie.