CHAPTER 5
Walker
“Do you think he keeps the rink open in the spring?” my nephew, Quinn, asks as he takes a bite of the pancakes Gail made this morning.
It’s a new tradition she started a few weeks ago when she found out my sister was interested in helping with the weddings.
Billie and Quinn come over to the farm for breakfast and then Gail and my sister chat while Quinn joins me out in the meadows.
The fresh air is good for him, and I like to think that Gail and Billie’s new friendship is good for them, too.
We normally do it on Saturday mornings, but Quinn had an odd day off from school today so my sister is joining us for brunch and then heading to work while Quinn hangs with me for the day.
Billie and I never had a home like this or a mother as warm as Gail. Giving Billie a taste of what life would be like here is the best way to get my sister to move in.
I shrug noncommittally. “I’m not sure.” To find out, I’d have to actually make conversation with Eli Davis, and I try to avoid the overly talkative former NHL player as much as I can.
“I bet he does.” Quinn smiles, causing the dimple in his cheek to pop just like my sister’s does when she’s genuinely happy. I’ve got one, too, although no one’s seen it in a long damn time. “I can’t wait to start playing hockey. Mom even said I could get new skates.”
Billie pauses her conversation with Gail to look at Quinn. My sister and her son are twins, with matching dirty blond hair and almond-shaped chestnut-brown eyes.
“I told you I’d consider it,” she says to him. “Don’t go putting words in my mouth.”
I’d get the kid new skates. Hell, I’d even talk to Eli if it means my sister and nephew would move here. The house has three bedrooms, and Gail swears it has more life when Quinn is here. She’s happy to have us stay on the farm.
“But if we move here—”
Quinn’s words are cut off by my sister’s stern glare. “Quinn.”
My nephew sighs, looking down at his pancakes, and I glance at my sister. I know better than to overstep in front of her son.
“Did I tell you that we got another two wedding bookings for June? At this point, we may need you to come on fulltime,” says Gail.
Quinn sits at the head of the table like a proud king, with Billie and I flanking either side of him and Gail at the other head. It’s clear to me that Gail’s trying to fill the void Peter left, but since Billie and I never had much of a home life, neither of us mind.
Growing up, I worked hard to keep Billie and me out of my father’s way.
By the time I was sixteen, he’d stopped coming home most nights, anyway.
By eighteen, he was dead. Food wasn’t an easy commodity to come by, but I did my best to raise Billie after our mother left, just before my sister’s sixth birthday.
Now I survey the scene in front of me—a family and home like I’ve only ever dreamed of having. Strawberries, bananas, whipped cream, and syrup, along with stacks of pancakes in all different flavors, are spread in front of us on the table.
“Really?” Billie almost sounds excited.
Gail breaks out into a big smile. “Yup, and Penny thinks we could get even more weddings if we’d advertise more.”
Billie laughs warmly. “Yes, I’m sure that would help drum up business.”
“Your brother is doing a good job with the socials,” Gail says proudly, eyeing me across the table.
I offer a grunt in response as Billie’s eyes lift, amused. “I’ve never seen him use any form of social media. What’s your handle, Jesse?”
Even though I hate social media with a passion, I do enjoy the lilt in my sister’s voice. “I don’t have one. We use the farm’s.”
Billie immediately pulls out her phone, and I know when she’s found the page because she snorts. I try to not roll my eyes, but when Quinn sits up on his knees and begins to reach across the table, a growl escapes from the back of my throat.
“I wanna see,” he begs.
“Don’t,” I start, right as the front door swings open, dragging in the cool March air.
From my place in the dining room, I watch as Tally, in a pair of sleep shorts that barely cover her toned thighs and an oversized sweatshirt, cautiously steps inside. “Mom?”
“In here, dear,” Gail replies.
Tally’s amber eyes go wide when she realizes there’s a crowd.
“I was just looking for you in the cottage. You’ve done a great job avoiding me,” she says pointedly.
Gail gets up and greets her daughter, pulling her in for a hug. “Give me a hug, then you can hit me with more attitude. Missed you, baby girl.”
Tally’s stance relaxes as she melts into her mother’s arms, and I look away.
“Missed you, too, Mom,” I hear her whisper, not so quietly. “But could you please tell me why there’s a man living in our home and you’ve moved into a tiny cottage?”
My head snaps back in their direction, and I can’t help but scowl. My sister gives me a swift kick to the shin. “Stop staring.”
“We’ll talk later,” Gail replies as she guides her daughter toward us. “This is Billie, Walker’s sister, and his nephew, Quinn.”
When Tally blinks but still says nothing, Gail sighs. “Manners, Tally. Introduce yourself.”
Tally shakes her head, and the long, thick caramel waves of her hair shift with her. She’s gorgeous. “Sorry, I didn’t expect anyone to be here. I’m Tally. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” Billie says.
“Billie is going to be helping me with the weddings,” Gail continues. “And her son will be starting first grade at Gardener in the fall.”
Tally’s eyes widen again. “I’m helping you with the weddings.”
Gail frowns. “I thought you were only here for a few days. Don’t you have to get back to Vermont?”
Tally steps farther into the dining room. “I left my job, Mom. This is my job now. Penny asked me to come back for wedding season.” She glares in my direction as she says it.
My sister shakes her head nervously. “Oh, I didn’t realize. I don’t want to step on any toes.”
“You’re not,” I grind out. “Like Gail was saying, Tally isn’t staying.”
“I am,” she retorts.
“Does that mean we can’t play in the fields today?” Quinn questions.
My fists clench as Tally stares him down silently.
“Of course you can,” Gail tells him. “Tally, we’ll talk logistics later. But for now, are you joining us for breakfast or not?”
The woman’s eyes flutter shut as she tries to regain some composure. “I need to shower.”
“About that,” Gail starts as I push back my chair.
“Your father and I had started renovations on the bathroom before—” She doesn’t finish the sentence as she stares out the window.
The only other full bath in the house is attached to my bedroom.
. “You’ll have to use the one in the cottage. But there’s no hot water.”
“You didn’t say anything.” I cut in. “I can take a look at it later.”
“It’s fine,” Gail replies, brushing me off. “The cold water is good for your skin.”
Tally sighs. “Well, I guess I need a shower more than hot water.” She points to the door and then does a little wave.
“It was nice meeting you,” she tells my sister and then makes a point to look at Quinn.
“Enjoy the fields today. The one in the back where the wildflowers grow was always my favorite.”
I follow her to the door, reaching for her arm and snagging it before she can escape.
“You can use the shower in my room—it’s working just fine—and I’ll go look at the heater in the cottage.
” I know it’s a mistake before she even turns, because with her this close, the sugar-like scent of her invades my senses and my whole body tenses. .
“My room,” she spits out, her head whipping around to me. “It’s my shower in my room.”
This damn woman. Try to give her an inch, and she takes back the whole house.
I’ve still got her elbow in my grip, and this close, the tiny specs of gold are visible in her amber eyes. She shakes me off, and I can see her pulse thrumming as we go toe to toe. Fuck, why does that thrill me?
“Just use the shower,” I clip, annoyed that everything is a fight with her. But even more annoyed that I can’t stop staring into those damn eyes.
“I’d rather take a cold one.” She storms back toward the cottage, and I stare after her, my own pulse racing.
“I like her.” My sister’s voice startles me from stewing. I snap back to reality as I catch Quinn in the background, laughing at something on Gail’s phone. She must be showing him the pictures of me on the farm’s social media.
I glare at Billie. “There’s nothing to like.”
“She doesn’t take your shit. Of course there’s something to like. And it looks like you don’t need my help, after all.”
My sister walks toward the kitchen with the dirty plates she picked up from the table, and I follow. “She’s not staying.”
“That’s not what she says.” Billie’s soft voice calms my pounding heart. I haven’t felt this way in a long damn time, and I’m not sure I like it. “Does she know?”
I turn on the faucet and hold out a hand, waiting for my sister to give me the dirty dishes. When I don’t reply, Billie raises a brow, holding the plates hostage.
I grab the dishes from her and dunk them in the water, ignoring her wary expression.
“You didn’t tell her?”
I remain silent as I pour soap into the basin. No, I didn’t tell her. And yeah, she’s going to be pissed when she finds out. But that’s not my problem. Tally isn’t my responsibility; Billie and Quinn are. And eventually Tally will learn that they have just as much right to be here as she does.