Page 107 of Return of the Bad Girl (Rock Canyon, Idaho 4)

Caroline nodded, and he started walking again. When they stood outside Honey’s room, he knocked softly, taking his own deep breath. It was the first time he’d ever introduced a woman to his sister, and he wanted it to go well. Despite his brave front, he was probably worse off than Caroline.

Sharla answered the door and, seeing them, gave them a wide, toothy smile. “You must be Caroline,” Sharla said, holding her hand out. “I’m Sharla.”

“Yes, it’s so nice to meet you,” Caroline said, shaking her hand.

“Well, come in, you two,” Sharla said, stepping back to let them in. “I told Honey that Gabe was bringing a friend, and she’s been asking for you.”

Gabe gave Sharla a one-armed hug as he passed, and she whispered, “She’s very pretty.”

Yes, she is.

Caroline was gripping his hand fo

r dear life as Sharla led them into the room.

Honey was sitting at her table, sketching on a thick drawing pad with chalk. As they approached the table, Sharla went around and touched Honey’s shoulder.

“Sweetheart, your brother’s here with his friend,” Sharla said.

Honey looked up, her whole face becoming animated. “Gabe!”

She came around the table at full speed and launched herself into his arms. Gabe let go of Caroline’s hand to catch his sister and hugged her hard.

“Hey, baby girl,” Gabe said, turning her around to face Caroline. “This is my friend Caroline. This is my sister, Honey.”

Caroline held her hand out to Honey and said, “I’m so happy to meet you. Gabe’s told me a lot about you. The painting you made him is beautiful.”

Gabe held his breath, waiting for his sister to react. Sometimes new people made her nervous. But when she pulled away from him now, he let her go. Honey took Caroline’s hand and said, “I want to show you my drawings.”

As the two women he loved walked over to the table, he watched as Honey pulled Caroline down next to her.

“Do you like to sketch?” Honey asked Caroline.

“I’m not very artistic, I’m afraid,” she said, looking at the picture on the page. “Not like you. This is amazing, Honey.”

Honey beamed before turning the page. “I want to sketch you.”

Caroline looked toward Gabe, who shrugged. His sister had once detained the pizza delivery guy so she could sketch him.

“Okay, sure,” Caroline said.

“Sit very still,” Honey said, reaching out to tilt Caroline’s head. “Don’t move.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Caroline said, and Gabe believed her.

CAROLINE SAT ON the bed next to Honey, stroking Honey’s hair while they watched Homeward Bound. It was so reminiscent of something she would have done with her own sisters as kids, she didn’t even feel weird about it. Honey’s childlike enthusiasm was addictive, especially when she’d convinced Gabe to go get them fries and vanilla milkshakes, which he’d done after a minute or two of mock grumbling.

As the credits rolled, Caroline glanced over at Gabe, who had pulled up a chair near the daybed to watch. Honey had told him he couldn’t sit on the bed with them, and he’d taken it with humor.

“What do you mean, I can’t sit up there? I always sit up there!”

“Caroline and I are sitting up here. No boys allowed, even brothers.”

Caroline had laughed and agreed. “Yeah, girls only.”

Now, Gabe stood up and looked down at them, his eyes a little shiny as he cleared his throat. “Honey, Caroline and I have to leave.”

“No!” Honey said, wrapping her arms around Caroline’s waist.