She placed her hand in his, and they walked through the French doors and around the side of the house toward the roses. “I take it things didn’t go well with your father?” He wove his fingers with hers as they made their way to the stone path.
“How can you tell?”
He glanced down at her. “What happened?”
“He spent the night with Karen. She was still there this morning, barely dressed, and he was making after-sex pancakes. He wants Brynn home today.”
He led her to a shaded bench. She sat next to him and blew out a breath. “Brynn doesn’t want to go back. She doesn’t like Karen, and after seeing her wearing my father’s T-shirt, I don’t like her either.”
“It’s where Brynn belongs, love. At home with your father.”
“What if she runs away again?”
Trevor slid his arm across the back of the bench and pressed her head to his shoulder. She felt rather nice there. And her hair smelled fresh and citrusy. He rested his cheek on top of it. “Well, I wish I had some words of wisdom for you. But you’ve talked to your father, you’ve played mother to your sister, even though that’s not your job. And you’ve attempted numerous times to save Monica from being an idiot.”
Allie lifted her head and glowered at him. “Thanks for the wrap-up. I know what I’ve done, but none of that has worked. What am I supposed to do now?”
“How about nothing?” He stroked his thumb along her bare shoulder.
She placed her hand on his thigh and twisted her body toward him. “I’m not following. What does that mean? I can’t just sit around and twiddle my thumbs.” When he opened his mouth to speak, she pointed a finger at him. “And I don’t want to hear about twiddling your dork.”
He scoffed. She knew him too well.
“Second of all, I can’t just do nothing. I’m not a do-nothing type of girl. I’m a fix-it type of girl.”
Trevor nodded and gathered a handful of her hair. He ran his fingers down the length of it, released it, and started the process all over again. “All right then. Fix it.”
“Yes, that’s what I’m talking about.” She patted his leg. “How?”
“First—and this is the important part, darling, so pay attention—you must have a proper magic wand. Then, you wave it over your disgruntled family…”
She slapped his thigh. “You’ve got nothing? No ideas, no magic bullet, nada?”
“You see what a roaring success I’ve had with my own family.”
She pressed her lips together. “Point taken.”
“Maybe things will work themselves out.”
“Uh-huh. When was the last time that happened?”
“There’s always a first time for everything, love.”
With her mouth pulled to one side, she peered up at him. “By the way, thanks for my car.” She leaned toward him and kissed his cheek.
“You’re welcome. And it’s still ugly.”
“This doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you,” she said. “Not completely.”
“Understood.”
***
Allie strolled back to the house. She needed to tell Brynn it was time to go home. She left Trevor on the bench and a smile crept over her lips when she thought about him sitting next to her, stroking her. He was always touching her, rubbing his hand across her shoulder, twisting a strand of hair around his finger—very tactile, and she liked that.
As she stepped into the hallway outside of Trevor’s office, she ran into Mags. “Is he in a better mood or still shirty?”
“If shirty means cranky, then I think he’s better. He’s out in the garden.”
Mags’s brows lifted. “Really? Doesn’t he have important work to do?”
“I don’t know, but we spent the past thirty minutes outside.”
“Well done. Now, let’s reconvene in the foyer in twenty minutes. We have so much to buy.”
She sashayed toward the main part of the house. Allie shook her head and watched those hips glide from side to side as Trevor’s mother walked away. Maybe Mags could teach her how to do that. It was an art form.
Allie found Brynn in the kitchen, rolling pie crust with Mrs. Hubert. Hands on her hips, the older woman watched Brynn’s movements with a critical eye.
“You need to build some muscles, girl. Put some elbow grease into it.”
Brynn stuck her tongue out of the corner of her mouth and pressed down, rolling the dough, making it thinner.
“Brynn, can I talk to you for a second?” Allie asked.
Mrs. Hubert glanced up and nodded. “Go on now. We’ll make an omelet tomorrow.”
Brynn grinned and wiped her hands on a white dish towel. “’Kay, thanks.”
Allie followed Brynn out of the kitchen and into the foyer. “What’s up, Al?”
“Dad wants you home tonight.” Allie winced as Brynn stomped her foot.
“What? That’s not fair. I want to stay here.”
Well, Brynnie was certainly breaking out of her shell. She would have run to her room and sulked a week ago. Today, she behaved like a toddler. Allie reached out to pat her shoulder, but Brynn slapped her hand away.
“So Monica gets to stay here, but I have to go? Why? Why does she do the bad stuff and I get punished? I’m making straight As, you know. Maybe I didn’t mention that?”
“You did mention it, and you’re not being punished, Brynn. You have to live at home and go to school. Just like everyone else.”
“At least I go to school. What does Monica do all day? She’ll get to lounge around by the pool and take tea with you and Trevor. I want to take tea.”
“There’ll be no tea taking, okay? I have a feeling Mon’s not going to be here for long.”
Brynn shook her head. “This is so unfair.”
“I know, honey. If I could keep you here with me, I would.”
She frowned at Allie. “Really?”
Allie pulled her into a hug. “Really.” When she kissed the top of her sister’s head, Brynn didn’t pull away this time. “Still want to go find a dress for the wedding?”
“Uh, yeah,” she mumbled against Allie’s shoulder.
“Mags wants to leave in twenty minutes.”
Brynn pulled out of Allie’s arms. “I need to go wash the flour off my hands.” She spun on her heel and ran up the steps.
Chapter 17
“What about this one?” Brynn ran her hand over a silver metallic cocktail dress with a plunging neckline.
“I think it’s amazing. If you were thirty.” Allie took the dress and hung it back on the rack.
“Darlings, how about this?” Mags held up a red satin dress by the hanger. It was ruched on one side and would barely cover Brynn’s underage butt.
“Absolutely not. That’s totally inappropriate. Brynn’s only fifteen, Mags.”
“No, sweetest, it’s for me.”
It was totally inappropriate for someone Mags’s age as well. Allie took the dress and handed it to the hovering saleswoman. “We are shopping for Brynn today, not you. You have bought approximately sixty-two dresses in the last few days.” Trying to keep these two on track was next to impossible.
“You’re a spoilsport, Allison.” Mags jutted her lower lip.
“Yeah, I’m a real buzzkill. Now, let’s try to remember why we’re here, ladies. Brynn needs a dress.” She turned and looked at her sister. “An age-appropriate dress, one that hopefully will not break my bank account or get you arrested for indecent exposure.”
“Allison, my pet, don’t be ridiculous. You’re not paying.” Mags whisked up a glass of sparkling cider from the tray. “Nigel is.”
Brynn grinned as she sipped from the champagne flute. “This is so cool. I want to shop here all the time.”
Brynn was headed for a rough landing once she collided with reality. This wasn’t the real world. This was like Disneyland for really rich British people or high rollers. Eventually, she and Brynn would return to their normal lives. Their normal, Trevor-less lives. Allie’s landing was going to be bumpy too.
Mags grabbed dresses left and right while Allie made herself comfortable in what was becoming a very familiar chair. Then Mags thrust an armful of garments at the saleslady. “Fashion show time. Try them all on, Brynn, my pet, and then come out so Allie and I can see.”