Page 29 of Coming Home to Wishington Bay
‘I’m guessing you don’t want all that furniture moved so you can paint then?’
‘That’s what you’re here for?’ My brows shot up in surprise. ‘I don’t even have the paint yet!’
Ned threw Gabe a look.
‘I just get the feeling once your sister puts her mind to something, it gets done.’
Not necessarily, but that was exactly why I was trying to keep my mind off just how good Gabe looked … like all the time.
‘I guess there is that,’ Ned agreed. ‘How long have you known her again?’
‘She gives the impression of efficiency pretty quickly.’
‘Oh no! Don’t say that! It makes me sound like a 55-year-old matronly spinster!’
Carrie laughed, rubbing my back as I put my head down on my arms in horror at the thought that was the impression the world had of me. That Gabe had of me.
‘Aww, hon. You’re not matronly! Not in the slightest.’
‘She is a spinster though … Ow! What? She is!’ Ned rubbed his arm and Carrie gave him an eye roll.
‘That’s another thing. How come we get stuck with that description? How come blokes get “bachelor” and “bachelor pads”, which sound all cool, and we get lumbered with “spinster”, which says nothing but old lady, and virginal – and not even in a good way! All moth balls and lavender scent.’
‘I thought you liked lavender? Didn’t we get her that whole set of lavender stuff for Christmas?’ Ned asked, looking at Carrie.
‘Yes,wedid—’ which meant that Carrie had done all the Christmas shopping; although I knew she was just teasing as, like me, she actually loved doing all that stuff ‘—but it’s a completely different thing.’
By this point both Ned and Gabe looked thoroughly confused.
‘Oh, never mind. And thank you for coming over. I do appreciate it.’
Ned stood and stretched. ‘That’s all right, sis. I’m doing it so that I have something to use when I might need a doctor in a hurry.’
‘Why would you need a doctor in a hurry?’ I asked, suddenly concerned.
‘No reason,’ he said. Finishing his stretch, he caught sight of my face and came to crouch next to me. ‘Seriously, no reason. We’re all fine, I promise. But if this baby decided to show up early, it’s good to know I’ve got something to hold over Gabe here in order for him to get his arse round to ours double quick.’
‘You know I’d be round anyway.’
Ned gave him a wink.
‘Although, there seems to be something in the air. Apparently, Holly is thinking of adding me to the description for the estate agent.’
He wouldn’t …
‘To the description?’ Carrie asked, looking between the two of us.
‘About the fact there’s a sitting tenant,’ I explained, trying to give Gabe a warning with my eyes that the other two wouldn’t see.
His own sparkled with mischief. ‘Yeah, something about there being a …’
Please don’t say hot. Please don’t say hot.
‘A doctor in residence.’
Oh, thank God.
He gave me a quick eyebrow raise and a grin, which told me he definitely hadn’t forgotten my previous slip of the tongue, and I felt the blush creep up my chest and felt thankful I’d chosen a high round-neck T-shirt this morning.
