Jeanie let out a little groan-growl of frustration. ‘Why isn’t it serious? Why can’t you stay?’
‘I have a life in California. A job and an apartment and friends. I can’t just…’
‘Do you even like it there?’
‘I like it fine.’
‘But don’t you miss us? You could see me and Mom and Dad so much more if you lived on this coast, and now if you and Kira have a thing going, it makes even more sense! And you have told me on multiple occasions that your job can be done remotely, so…’
Bennett swallowed hard. Why did this all sound so reasonable coming out of his sister’s mouth? Probably because she knew nothing about Nicole or just how bad his people-pleasing tendencies went and how he was trying to finally break them.
‘It’s not like that. That’s not what she wants.’
She raised a dark eyebrow. ‘And what do you want?’
He sighed. ‘Well, right now I want this conversation to be over, and I’d love to know what you’re doing here.’
His sister stared at him for another moment like she might continue the interrogation, but it was freezing out this morning and her breath hung in a cloud between them. Time was limited.
She gave up with a sigh. ‘Fine. I just wanted to finalize Christmas plans with you.’
The door opened behind him.
‘Oh … sorry… I didn’t know you were out here.’ Kira was dressed for the day, her fur-lined hood framing her beautifully flushed face. He wanted to kiss it, but he didn’t need to give Jeanie any more ammo to use in her argument for him staying here forever.
‘Don’t apologize! It’s your house.’ Jeanie smiled and Bennett sensed danger. ‘Actually, it’s good that you’re here. I was just trying to finalize Christmas plans with Bennett.’
‘Oh, well…’ Kira began, uncertainly.
Jeanie plowed forward. ‘Logan and I will be spending it with his grandparents, and I assumed Ben would be coming.’
He nodded. ‘Yep, sounds good. Thanks for confirming.’ He tried to escort his lovely sister from the premises but she didn’t budge.
‘And now that you and Ben are such good … friends,’ Jeanie’s smile grew. ‘You should come, too.’
‘I couldn’t possibly impose like that.’ Kira held up her hands like she could fend off his sister with her body, but Ben just shook his head. There was no stopping Jeanie now.
‘It’s not an imposition at all! It’s very informal. Plenty of other friends will be dropping in all day.’
Jeanie took Kira’s hands in hers. ‘Please come. It will be fun. And you can’t stay up here all by yourself.’
Emotions flickered across Kira’s face, but Bennett knew Jeanie had delivered the fatal blow. Kira didn’t want to be alone. It was at least half the reason she’d let him stay. There were times he worried it was the only reason.
‘Um…’ Her gaze flicked to his, uncertain, like she didn’t know if he would want her there, when in reality, the only reason he didn’t want her there was because he wanted her there too much. ‘I guess, I could stop by…’
‘Wonderful!’ Jeanie beamed. ‘I will let Nana know to expect you.’ She turned to go and Bennett nearly let out a sigh of relief. Nearly.
‘Oh, and Kira,’ she zeroed in on Kira again, her dark eyes dancing in the morning light, ‘I’m so glad you’ve been keeping my brother company while he’s in town.’
‘I … uh … we’re just…’ Kira gestured between them, her hand flapping uselessly before she dropped it in defeat. ‘Bennett has been … helping…’ Her words trailed off as Jeanie’s smile grew.
‘I bet he has.’
‘Jeanie,’ he groaned.
‘I’m going, I’m going!’ She scurried down the stairs with a wave before Bennett could throw her into the nearest snowbank. This was why he didn’t make a habit of filling Jeanie in on his dating life.
For one, she was horribly embarrassing. For two, he could tell she was already getting too attached to the woman he was already too attached to. Perfect. There was absolutely no way this wouldn’t make his life more complicated.
Merry freaking Christmas.
He should have stayed home.
And then things got just a little bit worse.
‘Hey, um Jeanie,’ Kira called and his sister stopped in her tracks. ‘Iris invited me to a wreath-making class tomorrow night. Any chance you’d like to come?’
Jeanie’s face lit up like a Christmas tree.
‘Absolutely!’
Kira smiled in return, and though Bennett was happy she was making friends here, he really was, did that have to include his sister?
Jeanie waved as she climbed into Logan’s truck. It concerned him that she drove that monstrosity.
‘See you tomorrow, Kira! Bye, Bennett!’
All he could do was stand there and wave goodbye, even as the tide of Dream Harbor threatened to pull him under.
