Page 10 of Love on the Brain
“Doth my eyes deceive me!” Shelby jumped up from the sofa when Jane entered. She set down a thick book and ran to greet them. “If I’d known all it would take was Ryan asking you to come out, I’d have flown him here ages ago!”
“It was Dad’s idea.” Jane glanced at Ryan, a small smile forming on her lips as she shrugged out of her coat and removed her hat. He was surprised to see her cheeks reddening.
“It’s Dad’s ideaeveryweek, and you don’t come. Gimme your coats; I’ll run them upstairs.” Shelby met Ryan’s gaze and mouthedthank you.
He nodded and followed Jane as she hugged her friends and introduced him to the new faces. “This is Caroline. She’s with this knucklehead.” She nodded at Molly’s brother JC. “They got engaged last week.”
“Congratulations,” Ryan said, shaking Caroline’s hand.
“Call me Cara,” she said, pulling him in for a hug. “It’s great to meet you.”
“Long time,” JC said, shaking his hand and clapping him on the back. “Cara, this guy here is the reason Noah’s so obsessed with baseball.”
“Really?” Her blue eyes lit up. “That boy sure can swing. I got to watch him play last fall. You played with his dad, right?”
The muscle in Ryan’s jaw ticked at the mention of baseball. He loved the game, but everything about it reminded him of Casey. “I did,” Ryan said. “From the time we could stand.”
JC ran a hand through his hair. “The little guy hasn’t been adjusting well to the Wiffle Ball rule. He wants to get better so he can play hardball again. Wiffles and beach balls are full of air. Not ideal for perfecting skills, as you know. Think he’ll be healed in time to play spring ball?”
Ryan was hesitant to discuss Noah’s prognosis, especially since they didn’t have any information about what the tumor actually was. His gaze caught Jane’s, and she nodded permission for him to speak about it.
“We won’t know how to treat it until we know what it is, but I’m hopeful he’ll have a complete recovery.”
“Good.” Damon set the pool cue he was holding into the rack on the wall. “’Cause my girl and I need to set a wedding date.”
“Am I the odd man out again?” A tall man with short brown hair and a brawny build offered his hand. “Kevin Conroy.”
“Ryan Engstrom. You were at the dedication, right?”
He nodded, taking a long pull from his bottle of craft beer.
“Kevin did the remodel,” Shelby said. “And we’re all vying for his time and talent in Sparkling Cove—that’s the new development behind the resort. The Cranes sold off some land, and we’re hoping to build in there come springtime.”
“I gotta finish Macy’s house first.” He averted his gaze, and a faraway look clouded his features.
“Sure is taking you a long time,” JC said suggestively.
Kevin shrugged. “Long list of upgrades.”
“Admit it, you’re sweet on her,” JC teased.
Kevin’s stare came into focus, and he shot JC a glare. “You can shut it. She’s a freaking superstar with an even super-er star of a husband. Have some respect, man.”
JC snorted. “Point proven.”
Ryan must have looked confused. “Macy Wells,” Jane whispered. “From the Harbor Lights.”
“Ah, right. Last time I was here they were singing in your church.” Had it really been that long?
“Still do, when they come home.” Jane turned to Shelby. “So what are we doing tonight?”
“Waiting on Kieran and Britney,” she replied. “They’re bringing Clue,Star Warsversion.”
“Kat and Easton will be sorry they missed it,” Damon said.
JC snorted again, and their heads all turned. “What? They may be big fans, but you know my brother—home and with the horses is where he prefers to be.”
Shelby swatted JC on his shoulder. “Be nice.”
