Season of Love

by Jill Sanders

  Riley’s gift was a little bigger. She pulled out a silk box.

  “They’re specialized chopsticks,” he told them, reaching over and pulling the silk bow. The box opened to a beautiful set of chopsticks in a variety of colors of wood from black to the lightest bamboo.

  “Wow.” Riley smiled up at him. “I love it. I’m going to eat my spaghetti with these.” She pulled out the lightest pair.

  “I taught you how to use chopsticks back when you were five,” Matthew joked. “Let’s hope you’re a great deal better at it now or I’ll have to sit next to Lilly instead.”

  He put an arm around Riley and leaned back.

  “You’re staying for dinner?” Lilly asked, looking between the two men.

  “If you’re buying.” George earned an elbow in the ribs from Lilly.

  “Sure.” Matthew waved Emma over. “We need a bottle of champagne if you have it.”

  “I’ll check…” Emma bit her lip as she avoided George’s gaze. “I’ll see what we have that’s close.” She finished taking their orders and disappeared.

  “Does she still have a thing for you?” Riley blurted out towards George.

  “Jesus,” Lilly hissed, “ever hear of tact before?”

  “He’s family. There is no tact in the Jordan family.” Matthew chuckled.

  George shook his head. “No, Emma and I are just friends.”

  “Good, because it got weird there for a while.” Riley relaxed.

  A few minutes later, Emma brought out a bottle of sparkling wine. “It’s wine, but with the muselet and a cork.” She handed the bottle to Matthew and set down three glasses. When the entire table just continued to look at her, she rolled her eyes. “You open it like champagne,” she supplied before walking away again.

  “That’s what the problem was!” Riley snapped her fingers and looked over at George. “She was too smart for you.”

  George reached across the table and tapped the end of Riley’s nose playfully with his finger, a move that Lilly knew was designed to annoy.

  “Celebrating?” Corey walked over as Matthew filled the glasses.

  “Yes.” Riley smiled. “I’m twenty-one.” She took the glass Matthew had poured. Since George would only be celebrating his twentieth birthday early next spring, he was stuck drinking the soda Emma had set in front of him.

  “A toast.” Matthew stopped her from taking a sip. “Miller, grab a glass and pull up a chair.” He motioned.

  They waited until Corey had returned with another paper cup, pulled up a chair, and sat at the end of the booth.

  “To my baby cousin turning twenty-one and to both my cousins, for the success of their first business day.”

  They all drank from their paper cups.

  “Now…” Matthew rubbed his hands together. “What does a man have to do to get a pizza around here?”

  Corey chuckled and waved Emma over. “Right here. And it’s on the house tonight.”

  Sure enough, Emma and Robin walked over carrying pizza, a plate of spaghetti, and a massive basket of breadsticks.

  “This looks amazing,” Riley said to Robin as she set down the large plate of noodles.

  “Veggie pizza.” Emma set a small pizza in front of Lilly. “And for you.” She set another pizza in front of George, this one topped with meat and extra cheese. “I don’t know how you stay in shape eating like that.” She sighed and looked longingly at the pizza, then walked away.

  “She still has it bad for you,” Riley said as she used her new chopsticks to pick up a strand of spaghetti.

  “She has it bad for the pizza,” George retorted, then took a bite and groaned. “So do I.”

  By the time all of the pizza was gone, they had filled Matt in on their opening day success. She also told him about the interior designer, Blake Shelby. Her cousin seemed very interested in the woman, since he was remodeling the old place he’d purchased last year.

  “Most of the big stuff is in the works. I’m getting ready to move in soon, even though it’s not all the way done. I can work on it when I have time. But right now, the place is empty.”

  “I’m sure I could help,” she said but he just looked at her.

  “You have a business to run,” he reminded her.

  “I do, but I might…” She stopped when he gave her a look. Sighing, she gave up. “I’ll text you her number.” She pulled out her phone and shot the number off to her cousin. “But, I still want to help when I can.”

  He smiled down at his phone. “Thanks, I need all the help I can get with the place.”

  “That’s because it’s haunted,” Riley added.

  “Haunted?” Carter asked. Emma and Robin had closed up and they were the only ones left in the place. Carter had joined them by pulling a free chair up to the end of the booth. He nursed a beer and looked tired, as did Corey, but they stuck around and didn’t say anything about needing them to leave so they could close up fully.

  “Yeah.” Riley leaned forward, and Lilly could tell she was in full storytelling mode.

  “Here we go again,” Matt said under his breath.

  “Shush.” She waved Matt away and turned back to Carter. “The story goes, the house was built by a young doctor, long before the first Dr. Stevens came to town. That’s Lilly’s great-grandfather, and he was the local doctor for as long as anyone could remember, until her dad took over, anyway.” She took a deep breath. “This doctor built the house for his young bride, whom he’d fallen in love with long before coming to America to start his life. They had been childhood sweethearts. He built the house for his soon-to-be-bride since she’d promised him that she’d move from her home in Sweden as soon as the house was completed. He spent almost two years building the place himself, working on it every day between clients. Finally, the massive house was done, and he sent word to tell her, along with tickets for her passage across the ocean to America.” Riley reached for her soda, which Lilly had been pleased she’d switched to after one glass of sparkling wine. “Anyway, his bride loaded up everything she had and left her family and her life behind. She left Stockholm in early spring—”

  “Let me guess, her boat sank?” Carter jumped in.

  “No.” Riley frowned. “It didn’t. His bride-to-be made it safely to the shores of the East Coast, where train tickets waited for her, but…”—Riley smiled— “during the three-week-long boat journey overseas, she fell madly in love with the ship’s captain, and they married onboard. The happy couple wrote a letter to the young doctor, explaining what had happened.” Riley sighed and glanced out the window. “Of course, the doctor’s heart was broken. Rumors are that he hung himself that very night.”

  “That’s a terrible story.” Corey chuckled. “So, what? There’s a suicidal doctor hanging around, no pun intended, in your house?” he asked Matt.

  Matt laughed. “So, the story goes. I haven’t had any issues. Of course, I’m not staying there yet.”

  “The place has sat mostly empty ever since. Several people have purchased it and tried to fix it up, but the moment they start living there, strange things happen and…”—Riley waved her hand like an airplane flying away— “they hightail it out of there as quickly as possible.”

  “Me and some buddies went up there one night my senior year,” George started, earning everyone’s attention. “After a few six packs, I could have sworn we heard someone upstairs. Spooked the hell out of us. Haven’t been back since.”

  “My dad swears that he saw Grandpa George several times before my parents married,” Riley added in.

  Everyone was silent for a moment. Iian Jordan wasn’t someone to exaggerate or make up stories.

  “You’re going to start sleeping there soon?” Lilly asked Matt.

  “Yeah, as soon as I can move some of my stuff in. I’m hoping to have it fully done for Christmas, maybe convince the family to have the festivities up there. Get everyone there.”

  “That would be great. But that doesn’t give us a lot of time to find the right pi
eces…” she started. When Matt gave her a look she raised her chin. “I’ll find the time for you.”

  “Just don’t spread yourself too thin.” He took her hand. “I know how the two of you get. Once you get your minds set on something, you tend to get obsessed.”

  “Me?” Lilly smiled. “Never.”

  “Speaking of furniture…” Corey started. He glanced over at Carter, who nodded quickly. “We were kind of hoping you’d help us out. When our grandfather died, he left a large place near Seattle full of stuff that we have to liquidate.” He ran his hands through his hair.

  “Any of it good?” Matthew asked.

  Corey shrugged. “I have no clue, which is why I was hoping on your next day off, you’d join me on a trip up there to take a look at some of it,” he said to Lilly.

  “I’d love to.” She stuck her tongue out at Matt. “See, I do have days off. We’re closed Sundays.” She smiled. “I’m sure I can convince someone to fill in for me next Friday and Saturday, so we have time to get up there and back?”

  “That won’t be an issue. But the extra days… I’ll take.” Corey smiled.

  As everyone shuffled out of the building, Carter flipped the lights off and locked up behind them. Emma and Robin had left long before.

  It was nice, having the two of them walk them to their cars in the alleyway. Matthew had left with George and a promise to stop by the store the next day during business hours.

  “I’ll arrange everything for Friday,” Corey told her, taking her hand so she would stop by her car door.

  “I’m looking forward to having a few days in Seattle.” She smiled. She was. She hadn’t been to the city in at least a year. Besides, she wanted to see what kind of place his grandfather had. She knew her own grandparents kept a couple condos around the world, one in Marseille, France, another in New York. They hardly ever came out to visit and once, on her sixteenth birthday, they paid for a plane ticket for her to visit them. She was pretty sure they were hoping she’d follow in their footsteps and leave the small town of Pride far behind her, but the small town was in her blood, in her soul.

  “We really appreciate your help in this. We’ve talked to a few agents who want to hold an auction, but so far, they seem to be trying to swindle us.”

  “How so?” She leaned on her car and he moved closer to her, brushing a hand down her arm. It felt wonderful, having him touch her, even if she had on a jacket.

  “Their fee was outrageous.”

  She giggled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “The only millionaire I know that squabbles over petty fees.”

  He smiled. “They weren’t petty. Forty percent.”

  She winced. “Okay, that is outrageous. Did you try other ones?”

  He nodded. “To be honest, we’re really out of our element here. Which is why we decided to ask you to come up and take a look. We trust your judgment much more than someone who sees dollar signs in their eyes.

  He brushed his lips across hers and she melted next to him.

  Someone cleared their throat behind Corey and they glanced over to Carter, who was standing alone in the alley.

  “You’re my ride, remember?” he said to Corey. “And the car is locked.”

  “Right.” Corey sighed and leaned his forehead against hers. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She nodded and enjoyed another kiss, then watched him walk away, wishing more than anything that Friday would be here soon.

  12

  If he could, he’d take her away for longer, but as it was, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday would have to do. He spent the week planning their trip. Every day he stopped in and had breakfast with her at her store and hung out with her after closing.

  He went by Carrie’s Sanctuary and picked up the small gray kitten, which appeared to have doubled in size in that short amount of time. The cat still wobbled when it walked, not yet used to only having three legs, but it got around just fine and he could tell that soon, it wouldn’t even slow him down.

  He snuck in a few kisses with Lilly when they could, but by the time the end of the week came, he was burning for her. Something deep inside his chest had built to a level he hadn’t experienced before.

  Finally, it was time for him to pick her up. She and Riley were preparing to move into the apartment above the local grocery store the following weekend. She’d debated, verbally, if she should cancel the trip to Seattle. He was thankful that when he pulled into her parents’ driveway, she was standing on the front porch, a suitcase at her feet, waiting out of the rain.

  He pulled out the umbrella he kept in his car and rushed up the stairs. Before taking her bag, he kissed her lightly.

  “I’m so glad you didn’t change your mind.”

  She smiled. “I debated it.”

  They started walking down the stairs. “What made up your mind?” he asked as he opened the car door for her.

  She waited to answer until after he shut her door, put her bag in the trunk with his, and got behind the wheel. He turned to her and waited.

  “Curiosity.” She smiled. His eyebrows rose slightly.

  “About?” he asked.

  “About how he lived, the man who missed out on his grandchildren.”

  He nodded. “It is something,” he said lightly. He turned on the engine.

  When he turned right instead of left to head to the main highway, Lilly asked, “Where are you going? This isn’t the way I usually drive up there.”

  He glanced at her. She was biting her bottom lip and looking out the window.

  “We’re not driving,” he said. “We’re flying out of Edgeview.” She visibly winced. “Afraid of flying?”

  She shook her head slowly. “Not… really.”

  He smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ve met the pilot.”

  “You have?” She frowned. “How?”

  He shrugged, not really wanting to go into details about how the man now worked for him and Carter.

  “Later,” he added. “Are you ready for your move next weekend?”

  She waited a beat and he could tell she was trying to decide if she’d allow the topic change. Then she sighed and smiled. “Not really. I’m excited, of course.” She turned slightly towards him. “How did you feel, moving out on your own?”

  “I had Carter,” he told her. “I’ve never been alone.”

  She smiled. “That must be nice.”

  “You have your cousins,” he supplied, “and your siblings.”

  “I imagine it’s not the same.” She folded her hands on her lap. “Sure, Riley and I have always been close, even with our age difference.” She shrugged. “But twins… there’s a bond that is just… different.”

  “I wouldn’t know.” He turned off the highway and pulled into the small airport. “I have never had anything else to compare it to.”

  She smiled. “Trust me, Riley and Jacob have that eerie twin mind meld thing going. Even though they are fraternal twins, they are closer than any other siblings I’ve been around.”

  He parked and shut off the engine. Her eyes followed his and landed on the plane sitting next to the small terminal.

  “Whose plane is that?” she asked, leaning forward.

  “Ours,” he answered and opened his door, pulling out the umbrella. He rushed around and held it for her.

  “What do you mean, yours…” She gasped. “You mean…” She turned back to the plane. “Why did your grandfather have a jet?”

  He shrugged. “Not sure, but there it is.” He smiled. “Shall we?” They walked around and pulled their luggage out of the back. He tossed his backpack over his shoulder and rolled her bag behind him, shifting the umbrella in his hand.

  “I can carry that.” She motioned to her own bag.

  “I’ve got it,” he said as they walked across the pavement.

  She shook her head. “How did you arrange this?” she asked, looking at the Gulfstream.

  “I’ll tell you along the way.”

  A man appeared out of the da
rkness and took their bags.

  “Go on.” He motioned for her to climb the stairs of the jet. “Take a look inside.”

  She walked in and he could tell she was impressed. “We’re going to have this all to ourselves?” She glanced back at the building.

  “Yup,” he said behind her. “We’re ready when you are,” he told the pilot after following her inside.

  “Take a seat.” He motioned. There were nine seats, a long sofa, and a small bar area. “Wherever you want.”

  She moved into the plane and sat at one of the double seats. He took the seat across from her, facing her.

  “I’m glad you could arrange the free time to come along. There’s a lot I want to show you.”

  The plane angled up and, suddenly, they were in the air.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked. He moved over and opened the bar area, pulling out a basket of muffins. “There’s hot coffee.” He stood up when the plane leveled out and poured her a cup.

  “Is that champagne?” She motioned to the bottles. “And orange juice?” She smiled.

  “Mimosas?” he asked. “There were some…” He pulled out a basket of fresh berries. He put a few fresh blueberries in the bottom of two champagne glasses, poured their drinks, and then sat across from her.

  “To possibilities.” He held up his glass.

  “To possibilities.” She clicked hers against his. “And to your grandfather.”

  For the rest of the trip, they enjoyed the food and drinks as he filled her in on everything that their grandfather had left them. They had talked briefly about it over the week, but now, in the privacy of the airplane, he felt like he could open up a little more to her. He even confided in her about some of his fears.

  Roughly forty minutes later, they landed at a small airport on Vashon Island.

  “The house is on Maury Island, but the two are connected and we can drive from here.” He motioned to a shiny silver BMW i8.

  “Is that…” She walked over to the car.

  “Mine.” He smiled. “Carter beat me out for the Vette,” he smiled. “I think I got the better deal.” He chuckled.