Page 74 of Breathless

Bev looks positivelydelighted.

Oh, sweet Jesus. She totally knows I’ve slept withLogan.

I feel like I’m a teenager who just got busted for having a guy in mybedroom.

Flushing redder than the cherry tomatoes in Bev’s garden, I smile weakly, but I don’t have time to figure out what to say because Logan grabs Ethan in a headlock, and next thing I know, they’re wrestling on the ground like idiots, laughing and razzing each other. Everyone clearsback.

“Boys!” Tori claps. “I swear, if either of you ends up concussed for my wedding and sports black eyes, I’m gonna pour laxative in your coffee when you least expectit.”

That does the trick. The brothers break apart, although they’re still trash-talking. It’s mostly G-rated, of course, since there are littleears.

I’m still chuckling about the guys’ antics twenty minutes later when the women settle in the living room to help Tori assemble the party favors her sister made for thewedding.

“This smells incredible.” I take another big whiff of the lavender sugar scrub before I replace thelid.

“I brought extras if anyone wants to try this out before the wedding,” Kat says from behind a giant pile oftulle.

Always the hostess, Tori hands out drinks to everyone and then reaches for aglass.

With a sigh, Bev sits next to me and starts tying ribbon. “All I wanna know is when I’m gonna get some moregrandbabies.”

Tori chokes on her water, and Kat pats her on theback.

I nudge Bev. “Dontcha think you should take it easy on the bride-to-be?” Itease.

Her right eyebrow spikes up. “Who says I wasn’t talking aboutyou?”

That shuts me up, and everyone snickers. At least the guys are out in the barn and not here to witness this conversation. Bev winks at me, and I shake my head at her antics, a smile on mylips.

She leans close. “You know you’re like a daughter to me,right?”

The smile stretches across my face. “Thanks, Bev. That’s a lovely thing tosay.”

“I mean it. And because of that, I get to tease you from time to time. It’s part of parentalprivilege.”

My parents never teased me affectionately. To them, I was too shy, too awkward, too annoying, and it got me in trouble. It taught me to mind my own business and keep to myself. To keep my mouth shut. If ever the real me came out, it was with the Carters and their wild child Logan. Who’s not so wild these days, I’mrealizing.

“Well, I’mhonored.”

“It’s really good to have you home, kid. I was wondering if you might want to help me with the garden thisweek.”

“I love your garden. Of course I canhelp.”

She takes a sip of her sweet tea. “I have photos of you where you were this tall”—she motions with her hand—“tilling that soil for me. You planted the first tomatoes, carrots, peppers, andpotatoes.”

“Your garden is my happyplace.”

“I’ve never seen anyone with a greener thumb than this girl,” Bev tells theroom.

I might never win an award for anything, but this right here, praise from a woman I admire, means so much tome.

Kat perks up from across the room. “Are we talking gardening? Honestly, there’s nothing moresatisfying.”

I nod. Granted, I’ve never grown fields of lavender like she has, but the modest garden I helped Bev maintain over the years inspired me. “I always wanted to have my own garden and grow everything I put on the dinner table. I binge-watch this guy on YouTube who grows most of what his family eats, and his four adorable sons pitchin.”

And if I imagine it’s Logan and our kids from time to time, well, no one has to knowthat.

Kat pulls out her phone. “Bev, you have to see that show. I watch it too. I’ll email you thelink.”

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