I looked from Lori to Hailey, and then the words burst out of me while I busied myself preparing a mix of honey and ginger. And because I didn’t do anything halfheartedly, I went into great detail about the sexy time on the yacht, which caused Lori’s cheeks to turn red. Hailey was eating it all up.

“Holy shit, way to go, sis. Oh, you so deserve a man who knows what he’s doing,” Hailey said.

“I do, don’t I?” I said smugly. “We’re having dinner next week.”

“Why not the weekend?” Hailey asked.

“He’s busy with his nieces.”

After we returned outside, I moved on to the second part of the plan: cornering Jace.

I just hoped he hadn’t picked up on the daydreaming vibes my sister had. After the fiasco with Ethan, Jace was even more protective.

Those protective instincts had reared their heads for the first time when he was thirteen and he’d grilled a guy who’d come to pick up Lori for a date like it was his job. When I had asked him about it, he’d simply said, “When a guy at my school goes to pick up girls on dates, the girl’s dad always gives them shit. Dad isn’t here, so I’ll do it.”

I’d been so stunned that I’d even forgotten to scold him for saying shit. My thirteen-year-old brother was growing up far too fast, and I hadn’t known how to stop it. And now he was a grown man I was proud of. But if he was in trouble, I wanted to know. I wasn’t just trying to be nosy. I could help.

I’d arranged lounge chairs throughout the yard. Lori’s husband, Graham, was sitting with their son, Milo, on Jace’s left. Graham owned the soccer club where Jace played, and while the boys tried not to talk shop during family dinners, they sometimes got into heated discussions about the games.

I took the chair to Jace’s right.

“Brother dearest, it has come to my attention that you’re keeping secrets with Hailey.”

Jace looked at Hailey in alarm, but our sister shook her head. Jace grinned at me.

“If Hailey managed to keep quiet, you seriously think I’ll spill the beans?”

“What if I promise to cook your favorite next week? As a proof of affection. And you could show some gratitude in advance.”

I batted my eyelashes, going for the deer-caught-in-the-headlights look that Lori pulled off so well and that worked like a charm on Jace. Unfortunately, I sucked at it. All I managed was to make Jace laugh.

“Nice try, Val. Nice try.”

***

A cappuccino, a pancake, and yogurt with muesli. I grinned as I took inventory of my delivered breakfast on Monday, then shot Carter a message.

Val: Any particular reason you’ve been extra generous today?

Carter: Setting the mood for tomorrow.