Riley angled back to study him. “How’d a nice Virginia boy—that’s a coastal Virginia accent you got there.”

“Good ear. Little place called Willow Cove, on the Chesapeake.”

“Yeah, so how’d a nice Virginia boy learn to swear in Russian?”

“Russian grandfather. You speak Russian?”

“I’m multilingual in obscenities. And yeah, the place earns a yobanny v rot.”

“What does it mean?” Sasha asked.

“Cleanest translation? Holy shit.” Riley pushed out of the jeep to greet the dog. “Hey, Apollo. We’re back.”

“Look at that.” With a young boy’s delight in his voice, Sawyer swung out and, without preamble or introductions, scrubbed his hands all over the dog. “You’re one big, handsome bastard. This your house? You’re a lucky dog.”

Apollo sat, offered a paw.

Watching them, Sasha forgot her situation until she turned her head, smiled at Bran. And found their faces intimately close.

“Oh, sorry. I need to get off—out.”

“I suppose you do. Though it’s cozy here.” He opened the door, then slid an arm under her legs. “Let me give you a hand,” he said, and swiveled her around. Just held there.

“Ah. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

He let her go, took his time getting out behind her.

“Everybody grab something,” Riley ordered. “Let’s haul it in. Bran, maybe you can give the newest member of our club the tour while I make those sandwiches. If I don’t eat soon, I’m going to take a bite out of somebody.”

When they carted luggage in, and Sawyer’s head turned side to side and up, Bran gave Sasha’s ponytail a tug. “We’ll haul this up, Sawyer and I. Why don’t you see about those pints?”

“Okay.”

So she wouldn’t unpack first—she’d have a sandwich, help Riley and Bran explain things to Sawyer. And hopefully have Sawyer explain things to them.

And she wanted a couple minutes to really look at the place, so crossed the entrance with its warm golden tiles into the airy living area. The wide windows could be shuttered against the beat of the sun, but she loved the light pouring in.

Twin sofas in bold peacock blue formed a conversation area centered by a large leather ottoman of chocolate brown. Cream-colored built-ins flanked a fireplace of glossy tiles in that same blue and held a colorful collection of glassware and pottery.

A vivid pattern of exotic birds that seemed poised to take flight covered deeply cushioned chairs. A tall chest boasted doors carved in a similar pattern and looked old and exquisite.

But the pull of the room lay outside the glass, in the sweep of flowers and trees that led to the cliff edge and out to the rich blue sea.

“Hey.”

She turned to Riley. “It’s just beautiful.”

“Yeah. Bask later. Food now.”

“You’re in charge of sandwiches.”

“It’s a big kitchen. Plus I just got a text letting me know we can hit any of the wine up here. If we go through it, there’s a wine cellar—but anything we take from there, we replace. I’m going for wine instead of the brew. How about you?”