Page 48 of The House on Blueberry Lane

She wondered why he was asking and hoped it wasn’t because he intended to intrude in any way. “Tomorrow is Sierra’s goddaughter, Teryn’s birthday and there’s a big sleepover at Sierra’s place with ten of her friends. I’m spending the night to help Sierra with everything,”

“Ten little girls? That sounds like fun,” he said, grinning.

Velvet couldn’t help but grin back. “Yes, it will be. Sierra’s sister, Dani, is flying in to help as well.”

“Well, have a good day, Velvet, and enjoy your weekend.” He leaned in and brushed a kiss across her lips, and then added, “And about that problem we discussed. Like I said, don’t worry about it. You’re doing your job and that’s what matters.”

And then he took off jogging again. This time without her.

JAYE STOOD AT his kitchen window to watch Velvet leave for work. He had pushed himself to jog those four additional laps so he could be here, standing in this same spot as usual. He would have to say that he’d enjoyed jogging with her this morning and, more than once, he’d had to catch himself when his body reacted to seeing her run beside him.

There had been a gracefulness in her stride, and whenever he looked over at her, an electric charge would hit his heart. And then if she smiled, too, he’d have to fight to keep himself from tripping over himself while jogging.

Bottom line was that she looked amazing. It didn’t matter if she was in running attire, or what she was wearing to work today, as he watched her get into her car—a pair of black slacks, a brown button-up shirt and a beige, brown and black colored tweed jacket. She looked both classy and sexy.

When she drove off, he moved away from the window, pleased with how their first jog had gone. Jaye was about to pour a cup of coffee when his cell phone rang. It was his brother Franklin. Clicking on, he said, “What’s up, Franklin?”

“I was thinking.”

Jaye rolled his eyes. Whenever his youngest brother got to thinking that usually meant trouble of the female kind. However, when it came to business, Franklin was an ace, always on top of his game. He successfully managed the construction company they’d inherited from their paternal grandfather, as well as being a pinch hitter when needed with the family’s banks. You could say Franklin was a jack-of-all-trades. Sometimes, Jaye wondered how he managed it all, and so efficaciously. But Franklin’s personal life was another matter. His younger brother was more of a womanizer than Jaye had ever been.

“And what were you thinking, Franklin?”

“About putting in a bid for that housing project that Reid Lacroix is developing in Catalina Cove.”

There was no reason to ask Franklin how he’d heard about the development. His brother made it his business to keep his finger on the pulse of any major construction projects.

“I think that will be great, Franklin.” He was glad his brother wasn’t calling him with women issues. Jaye couldn’t have helped him there since he was trying to undo his own major screw-up.

He talked to Franklin a few minutes more. “I wish you luck with that Lacroix bid.”

“Thanks.”

Jaye ended the call, not sure if Catalina Cove was ready for the likes of Franklin Delano Colfax.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“ALL THE LITTLE darlings are asleep. So is Dani,” Sierra said with a quiet laugh as she joined Velvet at the kitchen table for a glass of wine.

“Dani did say her flight had been one from hell,” Velvet said, grinning.

Sierra rolled her eyes. “That’s any flight for Dani. She hates flying and her hubby, Emory, wasn’t with her to hold her hand. She claims Crane wasn’t any help. Honestly, what did she expect? My precious niece is only six.” She took a sip of the wine Velvet had poured. “Thanks, I need this.”

Velvet took a sip of hers, too. “So do I,” she said, then asked, “When will Vaughn be back?”

“Tuesday before noon. He’s been gone almost a week and I miss him so much. I plan to be at Zara’s Haven, and the minute he opens the door, I’ll jump his bones.” Sierra then burst out laughing. “Good grief, I’m sounding like Dani.”

“But that’s all good because you’re happy and in love,” Velvet said, recalling a time she’d been happy and in love. Unfortunately, her guy hadn’t fallen in love with her the way Vaughn had fallen in love with Sierra. Why was she unlucky when it came to love?

“Don’t do that, Velvet.”

Velvet looked up at Sierra. “Do what?”

“Dwell on the past.”

Velvet took another sip of wine. “It’s not hard to do when the man from my past is living next door.”

“And how’s that going?”

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