Page 20 of Moonshine and Magnolias (Just Add Peaches #1)

Jordan pointed at her. “Hey, that dallying career gives me the freedom to be here with you. So hush. And a room sounds great. The best room, with a pillow top mattress and a goose down comforter, and breakfast in bed every morning complete with freshly-squeezed orange juice and toast spread with hand-ground hazelnut. And believe me, I’ll know the difference.

Delivered by a long-haired, bare-chested Italian soccer player. ”

The image definitely held some appeal, even if her mind replaced the soccer player with the lanky form of Dr. Upshaw. “Then you better get Mark to handle it, because that ain’t happening here.”

Jordan covered Wendy’s hands with her own. “Put me in the stables, like Ms. Maybelle always did. Just like old times. Especially if the room is still has the canopied bed and that big chair and those green drapes so thick and huge I could make a dress out of them.”

Wow, how long had it been since that room had been updated? “It does.” Wendy took out her phone.

Jordan clamped down on her wrist. “Don’t you dare make a note to change it. It’s classic. Vintage. I love it.”

When Wendy didn’t put her phone down immediately, Jordan cocked her head. “I mean it.”

“I was going to make a note to buy ingredients for blintzes for breakfast, but whatever.” Wendy shoved her phone back into her pocket.

“Not if you’re cooking,” Brandi said.

“Where’s Sebastien staying?” Jordan asked.

“In one of the upstairs rooms,” Wendy said. “I haven’t seen him since breakfast. He’s probably either napping or sketching somewhere.”

“Perfect. No way do I want his ugly mug to be the first thing I see in the morning. ”

Wendy laughed, enjoying the freeing feeling. Dr. Rob Upshaw had given her some maybe-not-unwanted excitement in the past week, but her friends brought her a sense of peace and relaxation she hadn’t experienced since Grandma had become ill.

The man in question came into view on the grand staircase, his attention on his tablet as he paced to the lobby. He paused at the bottom, and Wendy realized she had been staring at his descent the entire time.

As had Jordan and Brandi. Fiddlesticks.

He blinked under the scrutiny of Wendy and her friends. “Hi.”

“Good morning,” Wendy said. She had always been a brilliant conversationalist. Beside her, Brandi and Jordan each murmured their own greetings.

Part of her wanted to ask what he was doing, where he was going. To see if she could join him, even if only for a few minutes. Instead, she said something inane about the weather as he left the Hall.

“Well.” Jordan arched a brow and speared Wendy with a look. “That was informative. Who is he? Your special friend?”

Wendy ignored Brandi’s snort of laughter and hoisted a bag on her shoulder. “No.”

“I seeee.” Jordan dragged out the last syllable. “Still being too picky on who you take to bed? When was the last time you got laid?”

“It’s not like that.” Wendy pulled her hair caught under the suitcase strap. “He’s a nice, intelligent man and I’ve enjoyed talking to him. He’s a historical researcher tracing a client’s ancestor. And he’s helping with the tour.”

“Sure,” Brandi teased. “Because every man wants to be followed around by a bunch of bored kids just for the hell of it. But it’s not like that.”

Part of her wanted to insist that if Rob was doing this to earn favor, it would have been for her cousin’s. But the other part remembered the air vibrating between them in the orchard and the electric feeling his presence gave her. It couldn’t be one sided .

So instead she stuck out her tongue at Brandi. “I’m going to get the keys to the stables.”

The office didn’t seem so looming and forbidding anymore. Besides, Grandma would probably be in there. Wendy was sure she’d want to come out and say hi to Jordan.

Hollow grief bore a sudden hole in her heart, and the bag slipped from her fingers.

Wendy covered her eyes, blinded by the tears that seemed to come from nowhere.

Grandma was dead. She’d never come out to say hi Jordan, never give Wendy another loving embrace, never be the bright spot in any dark time of her life.

The thud of Jordan’s feet rushed against the wooden floor. “Wendy, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“That’s not it.” She waved a hand and gulped some air, trying to wipe her eyes without Jordan or Brandi seeing, but they enveloped her in a hug and there was no escape.

She held on, comforted by the years of understanding and friendship between them.

Her body quaked with gut-wrenching sobs she couldn’t expel.

“About damn time,” Brandi murmured.

Why was it hitting her like this? Grandma had been sick, had been gone for almost four weeks now. Wendy had cried at the funeral, but they were controlled tears, sliding down her cheeks only when she said they could. Not these shudders she couldn’t contain. Didn’t want to contain.

Another set of arms wrapped themselves around the three women, and Wendy saw a glint of red hair. She peeled an arm off Jordan and put it around Sebastien, burying her face in the scratchy fabric of his decidedly non-designer t-shirt as his arm lay heavy and comforting over her shoulders.

They stood like that in silence until Wendy was able to take a breath without her ribs shaking. She stepped away but Sebastien tightened his grip.

“Don’t go. My college dreams are finally coming true. A ginger buffet with the Georgia softball team.”

“You’re such a jerk.” Wendy gave a little snort and whapped him on the stomach. Her cousin gave her an extra hard squeeze, then let her go. “Sorry, guys. I didn’t realize how much having you both here would mean to me.”

“We got you, mon caneton .” Sebastien ran his hand over Wendy’s back as if to underscore the words.

“Always have,” Jordan added. “Even when you don’t want it.”

Wetness still covered her cheeks and she poked her friend in the shoulder to hide her discomfort, then took a deep, calming breath and stepped back. “I’m going to wash up. And Brandi is going to ready your room.”

“I am?” Brandi asked.

“Do I need to show you the schedule?”

“No. Please no.” She backed away and held up her hands. “Anything but that!” She bolted down the hall to the office.

Wendy left Jordan and Sebastien to their reunion and went into the restroom off the lobby to blot away the remains of her cryfest. Something had cracked within her.

It was different, though. Not as embarrassing as it should have been.

The grief that had been burrowing in her chest had made itself known, but she had bent, not shattered.

Like being at Fountenoy Hall was a gift, not a banishment from her life.

By the time she got back to the lobby, Jordan and Sebastien had moved outside to her rental car. Wendy gave a loud gasp when Sebastien lifted a small carryon and slammed a hand against her heart. “Manual labor? Say it isn’t so!”

He curled the luggage like it was a dumbbell. “How do you think I got these babies? Working out at a gym?”

“Yes.” Both women answered without hesitation.

“And you’d be right.” He lowered the bag and stretched his arms overhead. “Maybe I should call my men to do this.”

Jordan held up a hand. “We got this, Prince Charming. Just step aside.”

Wendy helped herself to some of the luggage while Sebastien and Jordan divvied up the rest. She led the trio to the renovated stables and pushed through the white doors into the common room. A TV was mounted on the wall across from the large windows that let in the afternoon light.

Jordan stood in the center and took a deep breath. “There’s that hay smell I remember.”

“There hasn’t been hay in here for years,” Brandi said, coming into the area from the side. “That must be phantom hay.” She handed Jordan a set of keys. “You’re in your old digs.”

Jordan dropped her luggage and sprinted down the hallway.

By the time the other three caught up to her, she was splayed on the bed, her shoes on the floor, eyes closed.

“This is just how I remember it. Soft and fluffy and cozy and I’m going to take a nap now.

” She cracked open one eye. “Wake me in enough time so I can dress for dinner.”

“Aren’t you dressed now?” Sebastien asked.

She waved her arm. “Away with you, peasant boy.”

“Hang on.” Sebastien turned to Wendy and her cousin. “I had Massimo and Lo?c find a couple of bars somewhere in this county. So there’s no excuse not to go. All of us.”

Wendy had tried, but her schedule hadn’t sorted itself out.

Going out would take a big chunk of time out of the work she did at night for Stewards, even with the possibility of Tina reassigning her project and Greg helping her with the opening.

Plus she still hadn’t tracked down the source of extra income.

And if she was out, she wouldn’t see Rob in the library.

In her current state of mind, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“Well?” Sebastien asked.

“As long as Eulalee can cover for us, I’m there,” Brandi said. Jordan gave a thumbs up without opening her eyes.

“Stop picturing your calendar, Wendy,” Sebastien said. His voice was soft. “Take some time. The world won’t come crashing down if you don’t go to bed at exactly ten o’clock.”

“Eleven.” She caught his look and shook her head. “I just have too much to do and not enough time to do it. ”

He crossed his arms and frowned down at her. “Don’t you know it’s treason to argue with a member of the royal family?”

“The royal family of a teeny tiny principality halfway across the world that relies solely on friendly neighbor benefactors instead of a standing army? I’ll take my chances.”

“You better come, Wendy,” Jordan implored. “You know what he’s like when he gets all high blooded. Don’t leave us alone with him.”