Page 31 of Summer on Sunshine Bay

With a baby on the way, it was the perfect solution. She could work from home and do virtual meetings, or line up face-to-face meetings that required a commute only once a week.

Sage smiled. “Knowing you, if you’re admitting you’re thinking about it, you’ve weighed the pros and cons and already have a business plan.”

Lila laughed. Her cousins knew her so well. Too well sometimes.

“That’s a great idea, babe. No bosses, and you get to work from home,” Willow said, tapping her almost-finished ice cream cone against Lila’s.

“It is a great idea, and one you should start thinking about too, Willow. Maybe it’s time you freelance instead of just giving the idea lip service.” Sage glanced at Lila. “What does David think?”

“With everything going on, I haven’t had a chance to mention it. I also haven’t found a place for us to live, and I have to get on that.” She didn’t mention that David had been hoping they’d live at Windemere. She had a feeling he hadn’t given up on the idea. She glanced at her phone. He also hadn’t responded to her message from this morning. She’d invited him to join her and her cousins for ice cream.

“Are you looking to buy or rent?” Sage asked. “If you’re looking to rent, you’ll have more luck at the end of summer. But you should talk to Megan. She’s into real estate now and doing really well.”

“I’ll do that. And if we can afford to, I’d like to buy. But I haven’t had a chance to look at what’s available. Willow—” Something had caught her cousin’s attention, and she’d tuned out of their conversation.

“Hot guy alert,” Willow said. “That man is so fine.”

Her cousin was as big a flirt as Lila’s mother. Lila glanced over her shoulder with a laugh. “Who are you… Oh.” Her laughter dried up at the sight of Luke Hollingsworth walking their way. Luke who might’ve had a thing for her back in the day. Luke who wore khaki board shorts, a white T-shirt, and a smile. A really great smile.

“Watch out, Sunshine Bay, the Rosetti cousins are back together again,” Luke said as he approached their table. “You ladies enjoying your day?”

“We are.” Willow pushed out the empty chair with her foot. “Why don’t you join us?”

He glanced at his watch. “Sure. I’ve got a few minutes. I’ll just grab a cone. Anyone up for seconds?”

They declined and watched him walk into the creamery, holding open the door for two older women. “How is that man still single?” Willow asked.

“Is he?” Lila asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“According to the members of my book club, he is. He’s a regular topic of conversation,” Willow confided.

“Do you actually discuss the books you read, or do you just drink wine and gossip?” Sage asked.

“It depends on the book.” Willow laughed and then said to Lila, “You should totally join. You know some of the women in the group. They’re a fun bunch.” She leaned over and hugged Lila. “I’m so glad you’re moving back home, even if you had to get married to do it.”

“I don’thaveto get married, Willow,” Lila said defensively. “I want to marry David.”

“Right, of course you do,” she said, sharing a telling glance with Sage.

Lila didn’t get a chance to call them on it because Luke had rejoined them at the table.

Willow eyed Luke’s ice cream cone. “That looks so good. What kind is it?”

“Salted caramel brownie.”

“You see, Lila. Luke’s not boring,” Willow said, adding for his benefit, “She only ever orders plain vanilla.”

Luke was definitely not boring, Lila thought as she watched him lick his cone.

“You don’t know what you’re missing. You want to give it a try?” He offered her his cone.

“You want me to lick your cone?” Lila asked, and then held back a groan. That just sounded wrong.

“When you say it like that…” He smiled and handed her his cone.

She made the mistake of looking at him as she licked the ice cream, and their gazes met and held for what felt like a long time. “It’s really, really good,” she said, hoping the warm flush rushing through her hadn’t translated into bright-red cheeks or, if it had, that no one noticed.

Her cousins shared another one of their annoying glances.

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