“Mind your business.” She throws my words back at me, tapping her nose like it’s the world's biggest secret.

I’m pretty certain she’s bluffing, but you never know with Georgia. “You been cleansing those crystals under the full moon again?” I chuckle.

She throws me daggers behind my dad’s back. “I’ll have you know my crystals do get cleansed under the full moon, and they have great healing properties among other things.”

“Is that so?” I lean with a hand on my hip.

“Itisso.”

“What crystal would you suggest for someone like me?”

She places the wedding invitation back on the fridge, lining up the magnets on the corners perfectly. My mouth twitches, fighting a smile. She didn’t get the namePrecious Princessfor nothing. She turns back to me, holding her chin between her thumb and forefinger, her eyes skating down my body.

I try not to squirm under her scrutiny.

“Maybe a black obsidian or a tourmaline maybe.”

“What about a shungite?” Autumn waggles her eyebrows over the counter.

I shake my head and walk over to the coffee machine to assist Dad, but he seems to have it all under control. “Not you, too.”

“I’ve been hanging around Georgia too long.” She shrugs.

“Why a black crystal?” I ask GB. “Are you gonna tell me it’s the color of my soul?”

She straightens and walks around to slide onto the bar stool next to Autumn. “Ha-ha. Little do you know shungite absorbs any vibes that can be a little, uh …off.”

I swipe a hand down my face. “Off?”

“Well, negative energy. That kind of thing. It protects you, too.”

“What in the hell do I need protection from? Aside from a little five foot nothing trying to fill my head with garbage.”

“I knew I should have brought my smudge stick,” GB mutters.

I cock a brow. “Not that weird smelling shit you wave around everywhere?”

“I heard paulo santo can be very cleansing,” Dad offers as he loads the coffee into the machine after frothing the milk.

“Don’t you start, Dad. Five seconds here and she’s already filling your head with her woo-woo.”

“You sound like my brothers,” Georgia moans.

I treat her to a wide-assed grin over the counter. “Now, how could that be a bad thing, GB?”

She gives me a withering look that I choose to ignore.

Now we’re gonna be in Florida together? Give me a break.

She’s not taking a date. Not that she can’t get one. She’s the most eligible bachelorette in town. I’d know if she was seeing someone. Stoney Creek is a small place where everyone knows everyone’s business.

I’d be privy to that kind of information, surely?

Then again, I did just lie about me taking a date to save face. The real question is, why?

3

Georgia