Page 59 of A Dream for Daphne

If her brother wasn’t smirking on the last question she might walk over and smack him.

Raine did it for her and they all laughed.

“Since this area is so small, Raine might know him. Poppy knows him and went to school with him. Laurel knows him well.”

Aster frowned. “Laurel doesn’t know that many people,” he said. “She’s new to the area too.”

“It’s Abe Cooke,” she said. “Laurel’s neighbor and Easton’s cousin. He owns Cooke Landscaping. He’s doing a big project at the McGill Estate.”

She saw Aster’s head go back and forth. “I don’t know him, but I’ve met Easton. He’s a good guy.”

“So is Abe.”

“He is,” Raine said. “River and Abe played sports together. I remember both of them. Abe’s father had the business and passed away a few years ago and Abe runs it now. He’s a standup guy. I’ve never heard anything bad about him. Nothing like you’d hear about Brooks.”

“I love you, Raine. But there is no way I would let my sister date your brother if he were single.”

Daphne’s jaw dropped. “Let me? I thought you liked Raine’s brothers.”

“I like them a lot,” he said. “But Brooks had a bit of a reputation back in the day. Raine knows. She’ll admit it.”

“He did,” Raine said. “But he’s reformed. And this isn’t about my brother; it’s about Daphne. We know who he is and you met at the McGills’. It couldn’t have been going on that long.”

She was going to gloss over how Raine said they met. It was best to let that assumption stay there.

“Not long,” she said. “We talked at the McGill property, then ran into each other at the store.”

Raine laughed. “Aster, that sounds like us. Did you drop food on the floor and Abe had to help you?”

She forgot that her sister and Aster met up again in the store and that was how they started to flirt more.

What the heck was it about this town that those weird things happened?

“He startled me and my cart ran into cereal boxes that fell. He helped pick them up. It was on July Fourth. Then he followed me through the store and we talked in the parking lot.”

“He stalked you?” Aster asked.

“Noooooooo,” she said. “We were talking and he’s funny. I can’t explain it. At first, I wondered if he took anything seriously but then realized he does. He’s just got this great personality.”

“I can see you two together,” Raine said. “He’s really down to earth and more like you.”

“I’ve been hearing that a lot lately,” she said. “That people can see us together.”

“Who else knows?” Aster asked.

“I told Poppy. She said the same thing. She actually said she wanted to set us up on a blind date before I even saw him on the grounds. I’d told her no.”

None of this was a lie. It was good to put those pieces in there.

“Poppy loves getting involved in people’s relationships,” Raine said.

“I noticed that. It was nice talking to her, but I know my boundaries. She’s my boss. She wants to be friends, but I’d never do that. Or maybe I’m thinking more of it than it is.”

“They are like that,” Aster said. “Poppy is more outgoing and friendly than the rest, but they are honest and sincere in everything. Never doubt that for a minute. I’m obviously closer to Lily than the rest because of Zane, but if Poppy is giving you advice or putting a good word in for someone, then you can believe it.”

She moved over and hugged her brother. “I needed to hear that. You know more than anyone how much I doubt myself.”

“Don’t,” he said, giving her a tight squeeze. “Never. You’re a strong capable woman, but I’m always going to be your big brother and stand in your way. Nothing I can do about it. It’s just going to happen.”

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