Page 35 of The Kissing Part
Owen points to him. “Cooper rescues women. It’s his thing.”
Cooper scoffs. “It’s not mything. I’m just helpful.”
I smile at Cooper. What a sweetheart. “Well, we don’t need rescuing, but I sure do appreciate you being here to take a look around. There’s some damaged plaster in my room, and I would love some shelving in my closet. Right now there’s just a single rod.”
“I’ll take a look,” he says. “Which room?”
“Last one on the right.”
He jogs up the stairs.
Owen gives me a sour look before heading to the front door and locking it. “We need better locks for this and the back door.”
“I trust your judgment,” I say cheerfully before joining my new roommates.
A short while later, everyone’s upstairs, inspecting every bedroom, bathroom, and closet. We’ve each claimed a bedroom. Harper has a new job in the city, but only goes in twice a week. She works from home the other days. Mackenzie says she also works from home unless they have a team meeting or she just wants a change of scenery.
Mackenzie looks out the upstairs window of her room. “So when’s the B&B supposed to open across the street?”
I join her, admiring the old Victorian. Owen stands in the doorway behind us. “Not for a while. Madison says the house was inherited and the estate settled, but the owner is still waiting on a permit to make it a B&B. Apparently, it was her grandmother’s place.”
“That’s Maggie O’Hare’s old house,” Mackenzie says. “She’s a legend. Talk about someone who knew everyone and everything going on in town. She lived to be a hundred and wore leopard bodysuits and leather pants to the end. That’s how I want to be at that age.”
“Senior goals,” I say.
We laugh.
Owen joins us. “How am I just now hearing about a B&B across the street? This is not good. Matt could legit check in as a guest and blend right in.”
“Wouldn’t that be violating his restraining order?” I ask.
“It’s more than one hundred yards away.” He pinches the top of his nose, closing his eyes.
“It’s okay, Owen,” Mackenzie says. “By the time the permits go through and they finish renovating, Shayla will be on to her next project.”
“But she said this would be her home base,” Owen says.
“That’s so sweet, Shay!” Mackenzie says. “I thought this would be more like your vacation house.”
“It’s not sweet,” Owen says. “It’s insane, and she’s putting all of you at risk.”
I ignore him. “You’re family,” I tell Mackenzie. “At least I hope so. I don’t really have any family anymore.”
Mackenzie wraps an arm around me. “Of course we are. Harper! Get in here. Shayla’s getting all mushy, and you’ve got to get in on a group hug.”
Owen rolls his eyes.
Harper rushes in a moment later and nearly tackles us in a hug. We stumble and laugh.
“Why’re we mushy?” Harper asks.
“I said this would be my home base because you guys are family,” I say.
“We have to adopt her,” Mackenzie says. “You’re officially my sister. I always wanted a sister.”
“Me too,” Harper says.
“Me three,” I say over the lump of emotion lodged in my throat. “I’m so happy.”
