Alex pointed at Paul. “What he said.”

Hope smiled at their effusive praise. “Well, thanks. You guys are too kind. This was a really fun time tonight. Thanks for including me.”

“You and Ethan are part of the family now,” Jenny said. “Whether you like it or not.”

Hope laughed. “We like it very much.”

Paul was thrilled to hear her say that. At times he wondered if they asked too much of her, especially on days like today when their mother was verbally abusive. Speaking of Marion… Headlights lit up the front of the house. The festive mood the four of them had been in immediately shifted to something far more serious.

“I’ll get your mom to bed,” Hope said.

“I’ll help,” Paul said. “You’ve already put in a full day.”

“I don’t mind.”

He couldn’t deny the attraction he felt for her when she looked at him with those kind eyes and that warm smile. It had been nearly a week since she kissed him, and he’d thought about it at least a thousand times since then. They were leaving on Tuesday to take Marion to the mainland, and he couldn’t wait to have some time alone with Hope to get to know her better.

Despite the guilt Paul felt over being interested in an employee, he had to think his dad would approve of his affection for Hope, especially because of the way she took care of Marion.

“Since you guys have got bedtime covered, we’re going over to our house to do a few things,” Alex said.

“We’ll take bedtime tomorrow,” Jenny said.

“See you in the morning,” Paul said.

Between the two of them, Paul and Hope got Marion changed and ready for bed. Hope cajoled her to take her medicine, and by the time they got her tucked in, Paul was completely worn out. The relaxing night with friends might never have happened.

“I don’t know about you, but I could use another drink,” he said when they returned to the kitchen.

“I wouldn’t say no to that.”

“Beer, wine or more tequila?”

“I’ve consumed my yearly limit of tequila tonight. I’ll have a beer.”

He opened two of them. “Let’s go outside,” he said, gesturing for her to go out ahead of him to the back deck, where the stargazing was at its best.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Hope and Paul sat on the stairs to enjoy their beers.

“I’m sorry she’s so awful to you,” Paul said. “Alex and I feel terrible about that.”

“Don’t. It goes with the territory. It doesn’t bother me.”

“How does it not bother you? We love her, and it makes us nuts.”