His actions had been halted by the sight of Caroline bursting out of the front door, Shadow bounding at her back. She wore a calf-length navy skirt, the same Mary Janes from before, a navy sweater with a Peter Pan collar, and a pink long-line cardigan over the ensemble. In her hands was another Tupperware box.

Yay!

Shadow had jumped into the back of the Defender, saying a happy hello to Roane before giving my neck a swipe with his tongue. I’d giggled and scratched his ears, giving him the attention he desired as Caro got in beside him. She’d helped Shadow settle into the back seat and beamed brightly at Roane. Her smile had dimmed when she turned to me, but I hoped it was out of shyness and not dislike. “Hello. Let’s go.”

“Helena all right about this, Caro?” Roane had asked as he turned the SUV around. I’d caught a glimpse of a face peering out from the front window of the cottage as we left.

“Well—”

“Be honest, treasure,” Roane had coaxed softly.

Hearing him so tender with his cousin made my heart squishy.

He called her “treasure.”

“S-She wasn’t entirely on board with the idea,” Caroline had admitted quietly.

I’d twisted around in my seat to meet her gaze. “You told her I didn’t give you a choice, right?”

Her answering smile had been more confident, even a little mischievous. “I did. Very clever of you.”

Grinning back, I’d replied airily, “I do try my best.”

The cousins had shared a smile, and when we arrived at the bookstore, I’d tried to ignore the meaningful look of gratitude that bordered on adoration from Roane. He’d squeezed my hand before hopping out to get the groceries.

He really had to stop looking at me like that.

Over an hour later we were seated at the small dining table in the apartment above the store, talking and laughing as the cousins shared stories about village life and growing up there. Shadow was sprawled in front of the wood burner despite the fact there was no fire blazing in it. His light snoring was a gentle backing track to our conversation.

Sometimes the cousins would share these secret, wary looks and seem to hesitate before talking, but I gathered it had something to do with the way Caro had been raised. Roane was probably checking with her before speaking to reassure her that he wouldn’t mention how it was for her with Helena.

At least that was my guess.

As for me, I spent time waxing lyrical about living life as an independent woman. “I come and go as I please. I get to travel. Right now, I’m working on making my editing business a full-time gig.”

“You’re doing it then?” Roane asked, sounding pleased.