“How I felt about Robert. How it could’ve happened so quickly. The whole thing stunned me.” She touched his shoulder. “Some loves take months or years to blossom. But some blow in like a storm over the sea, so fast and furious and wonderful it about bowls you over.”

Love? He wasn’t ready to admit it out loud, but it wasn’t as if the word hadn’t flitted through his mind once or maybe twice or a dozen times in the past couple of days. “But, Maggie, even your beloved Robert waited at least three weeks to propose. I haven’t even known Sydney a full two weeks.”

Her grin turned impish. “Took him three weeks to propose. Didn’t take him nearly that long to see what was right in front of him and do something about it.” She leaned into his side and reached her arm around his back. “I’m not saying go propose to her tonight. I’m just saying, when you’re ready for this, it’s yours. If it feels like too much right now, I can hold on to it for you.”

He should keep arguing with her. Try to convince her to give it to Indi. She was the one who was getting married. She was legally a Muir—she or Lilian should get the family heirloom.

But he couldn’t make himself say it. Because . . .

Because Maggie had done him the greatest favor in the world when she’d sent Wilder to Chicago to bring Sydney here. Only a fool would turn down another one.

Maggie squeezed him, then took the box from his hands and tucked it in her dresser drawer. He stood and crossed the room in two long strides.

Then stopped in surprise.

Micah. Barreling down the hallway. But he must’ve heard Neil’s steps because he paused and looked back. “Uh, sorry. Hi. I . . . I didn’t just barge in. I got Syd’s text and thought maybe I could catch her before she left. Um, Lily—is it?—she let me in on her way out.”

“Lilian.” Who must’ve not realized yet that Sydney wasn’t here.

“Right. Seemed like she was in a hurry, so she told me where Syd’s room was, but I guess I missed her.”

“Oh.” Maggie came up behind him. “I assumed that’s where she was headed—into town to see you. Where’d she go?”

“She . . . had to run an errand. I’m sure she’ll be back by lunchtime.” If Neil had any hope of getting out of further questioning about Sydney’s whereabouts, he’d need to escape to the barn pronto. But he didn’t love the thought of leaving Micah here.

Hmm, guess he could give the guy the same farm tour he had Sydney. Babysitting hadn’t really been on his agenda for the day. But more and more, there was simply no denying the truth burrowing its way into his heart: There was very little he wouldn’t do for Sydney Rose.