Page 63 of The Guest Cottage

Unfortunately, she couldn’t be seen for a week, but the Monday appointment was early enough that it wouldn’t interfere with Marlow’s schedule at the tavern.

They’d just finished adding the date and time to both their phones when a knock sounded on the front door.

Immediately worried, Pixie locked eyes with Marlow. “Who could it be?” she whispered.

Marlow gave a negligent shrug. “Possibly Cort?” Although he hadn’t yet called as they’d agreed. Before either of them could stand, Andy cried out to let them know he was awake. It was almost amusing how quickly Pixie shot out of her seat. As she rushed past, Marlow teasingly said, “Fine, you get the baby and I’ll get the door.”

“Thank you,” Pixie called back without stopping.

Definitely an attentive mother. Overall, Marlow liked her. Pixie was unpretentious, earnest, and determined. She was also a survivor, but then, she’d had no choice in that.

The cries stopped just as Marlow reached the door.

She pulled it open and found Gloria and Bobbi standing there with smiles, baked goods, and a load of curiosity.

* * *

Cort was a soaked mess by the time he got Bren’s plumbing under control. The pipe had been spraying water and Bren, who was eighty and cranky, couldn’t hear, and didn’t have great eyesight, hadn’t been able to do a thing about it.

The valve was in his basement, the floor quickly flooding, and it would have been dangerous for Bren to attempt the repair on his own.

At least the seat of his jeans was dry, Cort thought, as he slid into his truck to head home. He started the engine, pulled out of Bren’s driveway, and then gave Marlow a call.

When she answered with a perky, “Hey, Cort,” he heard laughter in the background.

He was curious but didn’t ask. Yet. “Sorry that took so long. I had to run into town to get a few parts before I could fix the pipe.”

“It’s okay now?”

“Yeah. Basement was a mess. I stayed to clear out as much of the water as I could. Luckily, it’s just concrete, not a finished space.”

“You must be beat.”

He was something all right, but tired wasn’t in the equation. He wanted to see Marlow, to continue what they’d started last night, but it was now past lunchtime and she had to be hungry. “I’m fine. How about you?”

“I’m with Pixie. Gloria and Bobbi came by, and of course they love the baby.” She lowered her voice. “Want to stop by and get me, then I can politely suggest that Pixie take another nap?”

“Politely, huh?” If she thought it’d be that easy, she didn’t yet know Gloria and Bobbi well enough. “Yeah, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

She disconnected with the promise that she’d be waiting.

He knew the right thing to do was to get a shower, clean clothes, and take Marlow out to eat. They’d have the rest of the day together. Not sure he could do that, though. The entire time he’d been dealing with rusty pipes and broken fittings, she’d been on his mind.

He wasn’t a man to obsess over a woman—never had before, didn’t want to start now—so he’d fought the inclination to dwell on her. It happened anyway. By the time he had Bren squared away, he’d readjusted his attitude.

As a Marine, he didn’t indulge weaknesses. He used them to his advantage. Marlow didn’t make him feel weak, though. Just the opposite. She had a way of pointing out the obvious pleasures that, far too often, people took for granted.

He smiled as he thought about the fireflies.

By the time he pulled up to the lake house, he was more than ready to grab Marlow for some private time. She met him at the door with a kiss, then asked him in.

Gesturing to his soggy jeans and boots, he said, “Better not. It was a dirty job.”

“Give me just one minute, then.” Leaving the door open, she went back into the kitchen and said, “Bobbie and Gloria, thank you both so much for stopping by. I need to get going now, but I want to make sure Pixie is settled first. I’m sure you understand.”

Grinning, Cort propped a shoulder on the door frame and waited for Marlow to realize that subtle hints wouldn’t work with the siblings.

Bobbie said, “We can get her settled.”

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