Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Skye pout. There went her strategy of keeping me away from caffeine so I was an easier prey for their questioning.
“Did I miss anything last evening?” Josie asked.
“Business as usual. The donation spreadsheets aren’t done, but I think we’ve reached our usual target,” Skye said.
“Oh, and Ryker here finally scored a date with Heather,” Tess said.
Cole laughed, patting my shoulder.
“All our praising helped, right?” Skye asked.
“Yes, it did,” I admitted.
“Wait!” Josie exclaimed. “What’s that about Ryker going on a date? Who’s Heather?”
I looked at my sisters. “Want to fill her in?”
“Of course. I volunteer,” Tess said, and summed up everything in a few sentences.
“Well, well, the flirt has finally met his match,” Josie said afterward.
Cole shook his head. “I’m gonna be the only bachelor in the family before long, I just know it.” He sounded so dejected that we all burst out laughing.
After we finished breakfast, Tess told us the game plan while we drank a glass of Dom Perignon, celebrating the opening.
Then I moved the couch with the guys before helping Skye carry some light but huge boxes into the back. After setting down the last one, Skye abruptly said, “Ryker, you’re being careful with Heather, right?”
Okay... I hadn’t expected that. My sister was biting her lip with worry.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it’s just that I know you don’t take relationships seriously.”
I could hardly say anything in my defense.
“It’s all fun and good... but there’s also a little girl involved. Don’t... get her hopes up. Or if you do, don’t disappoint her.”
“I wouldn’t do that.”
I knew exactly how it felt to be disappointed by a parent, and so did Skye, hence her warning.
Skye closed her eyes. “You’re right, you wouldn’t. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I said that.”
“Skye, are you okay?”
“Yes, just exhausted. I think that tends to make me more emotional. Forgive me?”
“Sure.”
“Okay, let’s go see if there’s anything else left to do.”
When Skye and I returned to the main room, the group was chatting about the nicknames Josie gave us when we first met years ago.
“I’m quite proud of mine,” Tess said. They were all leaning on the counter, sipping from fresh coffee cups. Someone must have done a second run. I took one immediately.
“You deserve it. Hurricane through and through,” Josie said.
“What do you mean? That I don’t deserve being called the Charmer?” Cole asked, faking indignation.
Josie laughed. “Yes, you do.”
“You know, I’m the only one without an official nickname. I feel left out,” Skye said.
Josie narrowed her eyes, studying my sister. “I didn’t mean to. Skye just stuck in my brain, you know? And I couldn’t remember the boys’ names and was so shocked that Tess had convinced a bunch of you to go bungee jumping, hence the hurricane thing. I kind of thought of you as a wallflower.”
Skye’s jaw dropped. “Ouch.”
“Hey, I mean it in a good way.”
“Uh-huh.”
“You were shy and quiet. And now...”
“You’re not,” I finished for Josie. “How about ‘dragon’?”
Everyone turned to look at me.
Skye was smiling brilliantly. “I like that. I have no clue how you got to that, but I like it.”
“Anyone who’s ever seen you upset will agree with me.”
There was a general murmur of agreement around the counter.
I was still thinking about ways to help my sisters relax a little. They weren’t taking my concerns seriously, but I’d seen plenty of colleagues on Wall Street burn out after a few years. When you set up your own business, you don’t know how long the trudge will last until you “make it.” I just really couldn’t stand watching my sisters work themselves to the bone. “Skye, Tess, is the exhibition you wanted to see at the Guggenheim still on tonight?” I asked.
“Yes,” Tess said.
“Why don’t we all go?” I suggested.
Josie straightened up. “If you need someone to finish up here, I can do that.”
There was a reason why Josie was a killer lawyer. She knew my sisters might say that and didn’t want to give them a chance.
“We were planning on checking the inventory,” Tess said. “We’re the only ones who can do that.”
“But the Guggenheim expo is only until tomorrow,” Josie added. “Ryker’s right. We can all go.”
Cole grimaced. I glared at him until he got my drift. “Yeah, let’s all go. And have dinner afterward.”
Hunter looked at his wife in confusion. I knew his credo—and shared it: the second-worst activity after shopping was going to an art museum. But he nodded, lacing an arm around his wife’s shoulders.
“You do love us, brother,” Skye said.
“How is that news?”
She shook her head. “It’s not, just... it’s good to remember from time to time.”
She saw right through my tactic, but I considered it a victory anyway.
Chapter Fifteen
Heather
On Thursday, I received a surprise phone call from Tess. I was in my kitchen, whipping up a quick dinner of ravioli and Romaine salad for Avery and me.
“Hi, Heather!”
“Hey, this is a nice surprise.”
“So, listen, I’ve heard through the Winchester grapevine that you and Ryker are going to a movie tomorrow.”
“That’s right.” I smiled, realizing slowly that there were no secrets in the Winchester family.
“Do you have someone to watch Avery? Otherwise you can bring her by at the store. Skye and I will stay here until pretty late. Now that we opened, our to-do list grew exponentially. Mom will also be here, and she said she’d love to spend some time with Avery.”
They were offering to watch my daughter? That was so strange. They barely met us last week. But I had a hunch they were different from most people I met. They were warmer, and so was their mom. In fact, the whole family had been very friendly at the event.
“Thanks, but my neighbor and friend, Natasha, is watching her.”
“Oh, I see.”
Come to think of it, though, Natasha would probably love going to the store, and my girl always liked being in Manhattan. It would be more exciting for them than staying at home, waiting for me.
“You know what? I’ll ask Natasha if she’s up for a trip to Manhattan and let you know.”
“Perfect. What time would you be here?”
“The movie starts at six o’clock, so maybe... five thirty?”
“Let’s make it five.”
“Okay. Oh, shit. I’m overcooking the ravioli. Call you later?”
Tess laughed. “No need. Enjoy your evening. Just let me know what Natasha says.”
***
The next afternoon, Avery, Natasha, and I arrived at the store at five o’clock on the dot. My girl smiled from ear to ear when we walked inside.