Page 15 of Sweet Passions at Bayside
“I know. The very word has taken on new meaning for me.Rickfeels like home to me.”
“Andyouworried thatIfound a new BFF in Dean?” Emery was only teasing, but she couldn’t deny the sting of jealousy slipping down her back knowing she—or part of her relationship with Desiree—had been replaced by Rick. But she knew in her heart that she and Desiree were as close as biological sisters, and nothing could ever take that away. There was room in Desiree’s heart for both of them, and Violet, and probably half the town.
“You know what I mean,” Desiree said. “I never thought I’d leave Oak Falls, and then I met Rick and got to know Violet, and you were so supportive of me starting over here. Now this has become home, because it’s where my future came together, and I’m hoping it will be the same for you.”
“I hope so. I can’t wait to bring my things in here and get started with my classes. Are you sure you want to do a percentage of monthly income instead of my paying rent? I’m happy to do either, but if I have an off month, you might be better off taking a set amount.”
“Like I’d ever take rent money if you had an off month?” Desiree threaded her arm into Emery’s, and they walked out to the grass, leaving the doors wide open.
Emery loved that Wellfleet was the type of community where she didn’t have to worry about break-ins and theft. She’d never had to worry about those things in Oak Falls, and it would be a harder transition if she suddenly needed to.
“I should go see Vi and apologize for Dean barging in this morning.”
“I’ll walk with you,” Desiree offered.
The sun smiled down on them as they walked toward Violet’s cottage with Cosmos in tow. Emery spotted the sign for Devi’s Discoveries, and her thoughts turned to Desiree’s mother. Besides being an artist, Lizza Vancroft had been an absentee mother. When Desiree was five years old, Lizza had divorced Desiree’s father and moved overseas with Violet, returning only for brief, uncomfortable visits. Emery had been there to pick up the pieces of Desiree’s broken heart after each one. Lizza had been visiting the weekend Desiree had gotten engaged, and it seemed as though she was making strides at keeping in better touch ever since. Emery hoped she still was.
“What do you hear from Lizza lately?”
“She sends postcards, and sometimes she’ll call, but she’s stillLizza. The conversations are mostly one-sided, with her sharing the details of her travels and me listening. But you know what? I’ll take it. At least she’s making an effort, and now I have a relationship with Vi.” She looked lovingly at Violet’s cottage, as if she could see through the walls to the sister she’d been separated from for too many years to count. “And we both know Lizza will never be the kind of mother yours is.”
Marla Andrews was loud, opinionated, and strong in every sense of the word, but she was also loving, generous, andpresentin Emery’s life. She made herself available to her children at all hours of the day and night, regardless of what she had going on. Unfortunately, Emery’s father was also headstrong and opinionated, which probably explains why they’d raised four children who were not afraid to speak their minds, and why her parents fought like cats and dogs. But still, they were an affectionate family, with loads of hugs and friendly teasing between parents and children. But growing up in two homes with her big, loud family had its downfalls. They weren’t the easiest people to have relationships with. They oversharedeverything, from opinions and food to belongings and secrets, and that wasn’t about to change.
The door to Violet’s cottage opened and she stepped outside wearing her black bikini and biker boots.
“Hey,” Violet said as she clomped her way over to her motorcycle. “Your bodyguard was here to pick up your stuff.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Emery said. “I really appreciate you letting me stay here, but—”
“But seeing a stranger naked wigged you out? I get it.” Violet flipped her keys into her palm and straddled her bike. “Sorry about that. He’s an old friend, and he gave me a ride home last night.” The bike roared to life, and she ran her hand down the sleek curves.
“You’re not going out on that thing in just a bikini, are you?” Desiree touched the handlebar. “That’s not safe. What if you have an accident?”
Violet revved the engine with an arrogant expression. She loved to pull Desiree’s strings about as much as Emery liked to tease Dean. “Baby sister, are youevergoing to stop mothering me?”
Desiree crossed her arms, hurt rising in her eyes.
“She’s right, Vi,” Emery said, and not just because Desiree was right. She’d always had Desiree’s back, and she always would. “Shouldn’t you wear leather or something?”
Violet cut the engine and dismounted the bike. “Relax,mama bears. My friends dropped it off this morning. I was just making sure she started up okay.” She ran an assessing eye over Emery’s face and said, “If you have an aversion to seeing naked men in the morning, are you sure it’s a good idea to stay with Dean? I’ve seen him in his swim trunks, and he’s definitely packing some major heat.”
Tell me something I don’t know.The man filled out his running shorts like a porn star. “We’re friends. It’s not like he’s going to walk around naked,” Emery said. “Besides, I’m not a prude. I just didn’t expect to see your guy’s junk, and Dean offered for me to stay there. It wasn’t anything personal against you.”
“He’s notmy guy,” Violet said. “But the way Dean blew in here and barked at him, he acted like you two were an item. How did I miss that?”
“You didn’t. We’re not. We just became really close friends over the past few months and he’s protective of me,” Emery explained.
“If you call wanting to make love to you six ways to Sundayprotective,” Violet mumbled.
“He doesnot,” Emery said. “Besides, he knows I don’t date my guy friends anymore, and he also knows that I have a date tonight.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea? The date?” Desiree asked. “The way Dean looks at you, it does seem like he’s into you.”
Emery rolled her eyes, annoyed with this whole conversation. “Can you please stop saying that?”
“You share his food!” Desiree pointed out.
“So what? I share your food, too, and half the guys I grew up with. It’s no different. That’s who I am. I share food. I tease guys about being too cocky or too hot, or whatever. You know me, Des. I have always had far more guy friends than girlfriends. This is no different from me and all my guy friends back home, except he knows more about me, because…”I didn’t have you to talk to.She wasn’t about to make Desiree feel guilty for her happiness, and the truth was, she had a feeling that even if Desiree had moved back home, she and Dean would have continued to become just as close as they had.
