Page 72 of Home in the Country
“We’re hopin’ to be officially sisters someday.” Gwen blushes the slightest bit, but it’s accompanied by so much self-assurance I can’t help but be in awe.
“Oh wow. Small world, huh?”
“The smallest,” Isla agrees. “Oh! Speaking of small world, I found the cutest winery online, and they shipped me a box. It’sdelicious. Hank and I have been sampling them before bed.”
She throws us an exaggerated wink before handing Gwen and Flora each a bottle.
“Sweetgum Winery,” Gwen says, turning it in her hand to read the label.
“Where’s Retherford Farms?” Flora asks.
“Somewhere south of us, I think.” Isla shrugs. “I found them online—super cute website by the way—and called to place an order.” Lowering her voice, she says, “I talked to a guy named Jason, and wow, did he have a sexy voice.”
Everyone laughs as Isla fans her face.
“And don’t worry, each of you will get a bottle to take home.”
“You really are something else,” Rhea says as she pulls Isla in for a side hug.
Isla smiles wide, and her joy is so obvious it practically saturates the room. She’s fierce and gorgeous, but her heart is just as stunning. Actually, looking around at the women gathered, it’s clear that sentiment can be said for all of them.
A knock at the door has Gwen and Flora engaging in another round of goodbyes as Vincent and Cullen step inside. Both men are handsome in their own right, but where Vincent is ruggedly good-looking like his sons, Cullen is handsome in a distinguished uptown kind of way.
The one very obvious quality the men share is that they are positively smitten with their ladies. Between the looks they exchange and the sweet greetings, I’m practically swooning.
My lips pull up into a wistful smile, and I must zone out because the next words startle me out of my daydream.
“Okay, now spill,” Rhea says as soon as the mothers are out the door. My eyes widen.
“Hmm?” Shoving another mini quiche into my mouth, I do my best to buy myself more time.
“You have an ex-husband in the wind, and Miss Thelma said she bumped into Otto at the post office and he wasn’t smilin’, and she was concerned—somethin’ about you almost fallin’ off a ladder?” Marlee says and it takes me a minute to fully appreciate that whole sentence.
I missed this place so much.
“I really need to stop over and see Miss Thelma.”
“Don’t change the subject,” Isla says without looking up from refilling her glass. I push mine toward her and accept my fate.
“Ugh, he’s withholding sex.”
“I’m sorry.” Marlee is barely holding herself together as she says, “I thought you just said that Otto is withholding sex.”
“I didn’t stutter,” I grumble and Isla snorts.
“Imma need more on that,” Cheyenne says.
“We’re goingslow…”
“And no orgasms?” Marlee clarifies.
“Didn’t y’all fuck like rabbits when you came back?”
“Do youhavea filter?” Rhea asks Isla with a knowing grin.
“You wouldn’t love me if I did.”
“True,” Rhea reluctantly agrees even though she’s smiling.
