“May I remind you that I am only eleven and a half months younger than you?”

She had on wet clothes that clung to her body. She certainly didn’t look like a kid! He looked away. “I always think of you as Vera’s pest of a little sister.”

“We’ll hire someone to help Mom and me.”

“Some hippie who’ll grow Mary Jane in the far fields?”

“I’ve got all summer to find someone.”

“You’ll search while you study and work? You’re not going to have a minute to yourself. And as soon as this town hears that Pauly is going away and the perky little Kelly Exton is unchaperoned, every man for fifty miles will come running.”

Kelly could feel blood creeping up her face. “I don’t think so!”

“Dances, hayrides, barbecues by the dozen. They’ll take you to make-out places. They’ll send you flowers and burnt ends. The smart ones will show up with birds with broken wings.”

“I could stand that,” Kelly said. “First one who brings me a sloth and I’m his.”

Adam didn’t laugh. “Robbie will sleep on your doorstep.”

“He already does.”

“What?”

“You haven’t been back long enough to hear all the gossip. Vera should have told you. Unless you two were too busy to talk.”

Adam gave her a look to cut it out.

“Mom and Forey cooked for him, listened to him and generally adored him. He was quite happy.”

Adam was frowning. “So maybe he thinks he’s in love with you because he doesn’t want to give up your home life. Your mom and Forey are great cooks.”

“Take that back. Now!”

“What did I say that was wrong?” He looked perplexed, then smiled. “Oh. Right. Sorry. I’m sure Robbie fell for you because you’re the prettiest girl in the county.” His eyes were twinkling.

“Pretty doesn’t last.”

“You’re also talented and a hard worker. Of course he’s crazy about you.” He shook his head. “Does Vera know what you’re really like?”

“She has no idea. She thinks I’m a helpless child.”

“Hmm. If she thought you were settled, she would leave with me. She just has to believe.”

“So Robbie and I should pretend that we’re a couple and madly in love?”

“No! My little brother is off-limits!” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Robbie is to go to college first. Then he’ll meet someone. We just need to figure out what to do with you.”

“Put an ad in the paper? ‘Husband with a horse wanted’? ‘Send photo of horse.’”

He snorted. “It’s stopped raining. Let’s go.” He stood up.

“Maybe Robbie would show up with Xander.”

Adam was going out the door and shaking his head. Behind him, Kelly was smiling.