Page 17 of The Love Ambush (The Sullivans #1)

Gentry

T he drive to the inn takes us farther from town to a new-construction brick building that looks more like a modern high school than an inn. It sits on the edge of a lake with mountain views on all sides. Large, but not enormous, it makes more sense that a Daphne’s big family could fill it.

By the time Brodie parks next to a side entrance, I still haven’t decided how I feel about what Levi said to me. If he’s interested at all, it has to be because I’m the most available woman here. Right?

Right?

I have no idea. Not even a tiny zygote of an idea.

Brodie hops out, hanging up the call he was on all the way here, and walks toward the building without a word to any of us.

“I guess he expects us to follow him?” I ask.

“I guess we’ll find out.” Levi hops out and strides after Brodie, his movements stiff and annoyed. There’s a tenseness between the two of them I’ve never seen before. There’s definitely something odd going on with them.

Sophie, Emily, and I go inside together. We step into what looks like a ballroom, with shiny hardwood floors and chandeliers sparkling in the rays of bright sunlight streaming through the front windows.

Brodie grabs my hand and pulls me forward.

I find myself facing a tall woman with auburn hair hanging in loose waves around her fine-boned face.

She’s wearing a colorful batik print maxi dress with a pilled navy cardigan.

Her face is free of makeup, and she’s gorgeous.

Her eyes are bright and her smile is warm, and I fully expect Brodie to introduce me to a harried member of the staff.

“Daphne, this is my sister, Gentry. And that’s Sophie, and that’s Emily. They’re here to help you with whatever you need.”

Daphne leans forward and hugs me hard before I can fully process that this is the woman my brother’s marrying.

She is not at all what I expected from my materialistic, charismatic, and brand-conscious brother.

Daphne hugs me for a long time and, when I look at my brother over her shoulder, he’s wearing an expression I’ve never seen before. It’s full of so much warmth and love that it’s clear he is head over heels in love.

“It’s so great to finally meet you,” Daphne says, pulling out of the hug. “And don’t listen to Brodie. I’m not going to make you work.”

“Yes, you are,” Brodie says gently, his concern for Daphne clear. “You can’t do everything yourself. If you’d just let the wedding planner take care of it—”

Daphne kisses my brother and hugs him. “I’ve missed you, too, baby. But I’m not spending anymore money on this wedding. It’s already obscene.” She looks at me and shakes her head. “I told him I don’t need a big wedding, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“You deserve a big wedding,” Brodie says, shifting until he’s facing us with one arm still around Daphne’s waist. “Now, tell my sisters what to do to help. I’m taking Levi for a quick round of golf before it gets dark.”

“Good,” Daphne says. “Have fun.”

He kisses Daphne and heads for the exit.

“It was nice to meet you,” Levi says to Daphne before following Brodie.

“You too,” Daphne calls after him.

Then she turns to my sisters. “I’m so glad you could both make it to my wedding,” she says. “It’s probably not what you want to be doing this week, right?”

“It’s fine,” Sophie says. “I’ve never been to Colorado before.”

“I hope you love it,” Daphne says. “Would you mind if I hug you?”

Sophie shoots a look in my direction, like she’s hoping for an escape, then shrugs. “Um, I guess so.”

“You can say no,” Daphne says. “I’m a hugger, but I never hug anyone under eighteen without explicit permission.” She glances over at me with a mischievous smile. “The adults can deal.”

I can’t help but smile back at her. She is undeniably enchanting.

“Um, I’m fine with a hug,” Sophie says. “You are going to be my sister.”

“Oh,” Daphne gasps happily. “I love that I’m getting three new sisters.”

She hugs Sophie, but quickly releases her before moving on to Emily and repeating the whole process. Emily opts not to be hugged, and I’m proud that she speaks up for herself.

Daphne stands before the three of us. “Now, Brodie wants you all to help me make the favor bags for the guests, but I refuse to make you work on your first day here. What do you think of spending some time at the spa instead?”

I’ve never been to a spa. I’ve never understood the appeal of lying around having people poke at me when I could be getting things checked off my to-do list. “We’re here to help with whatever you need,” I say. “We really don’t mind.”

I don’t miss Sophie’s eye roll, but I do ignore it.

“No,” Daphne says firmly and forcefully, even though she’s still smiling.

“You’re here to spend time with your brother and to get to know me and my family.

If you want to take some favor kits back to the farm to work on tonight while you watch TV or something, that would be great, but we should take advantage of this beautiful resort and the discount I get at the spa. ”

She looks to Sophie and Emily for support. “Have any interest in a spa day, ladies?”

“That sounds great,” I say, because I’m not about to burst this woman’s happy bubble.

“Great,” Daphne claps happily. “I’ll just get my sister-in-law to join us.”

“Of course,” I say. I walk over to the nearest table and take off my heavy coat and wool hat. The room is chilly, but it’s nowhere near cold enough for all the layers. Emily and Sophie have already taken off their coats, but they come over and pile them on top of mine.

“I don’t want to have a spa day,” Emily says. “I’m tired, and this trip has been super boring so far.”

I can’t disagree. “We’ll see the reindeer as soon as we get back to the farm. Okay?”

Emily huffs in annoyance. “Whatever.”

When Daphne returns, she’s got a woman with her who’s shorter and curvier than Daphne and just as lovely. She’s in jeans and a fisherman’s sweater, with her blond hair in a tidy braid and her face made up beautifully. They also have two teenage girls with them.

“No,” Sophie says. “I’m too old for playdates.”

The teenagers, who look to be very close in age to Emily and Sophie, do not seem any happier about this than Sophie. Though they manage to smile as they get closer.

“Be nice,” I hiss at my sisters.

“Emily, Sophie,” Daphne says as soon as she’s in range.

“This is my sister-in-law, Liza, and her daughters, Ivy and Eden. Unfortunately, I’ve just learned that the spa is only for people over eighteen, but Ivy and Eden would love to hang out with you.

They’re planning to go to the shops in town today, and we thought you might like to go with them. ”

“We’re just looking around,” Ivy, a brunette with huge green eyes, says. She looks to be closer in age to Emily than to Sophie. “We have no idea if any of the shops are even cool.”

“I saw a candy store on the way here,” Sophie says in a genuinely friendly tone. Hopefully, she’s decided she’s not too old for playdates after all. “We could eat chocolate if everything else is a bust.”

“That sounds great,” Eden says. She looks to be about Sophie’s age and is almost identical to her sister, though her style is ripped jeans and a metal band sweatshirt to her sister’s more conservative leggings and over-sized hoodie look.

“Want to go now? I don’t know how early everything shuts down around here. ”

I look at Emily, who’s staring at the floor. She’s not usually shy, but I can’t remember the last time I was with her when she met someone her own age for the first time. “You good with this, Em?” I ask.

There’s no fear in her eyes when she looks up at me. “I guess so. Are you coming with us?”

I look to Daphne because as much as I’d like to get out of the spa day, I suspect Emily’s the only one who wants me tagging along on this outing.

“No grown-ups allowed,” Ivy says gently. “But Eden’s a really good driver and we’re pretty boring kids. We won’t drag you into anything crazy, promise.”

Emily gives her a hesitant smile. “I like your hoodie.”

Ivy beams. “Thanks. I just got it for my birthday. I turned fourteen last week. How old are you?”

“Fourteen,” Emily says. “My birthday’s in February.”

“So you’re in tenth grade?”

“ninth,” Emily says.

“Me too,” Ivy says. “I just thought you were in tenth ‘cause you look older. Your makeup is so perfect.”

Emily beams, and she and Ivy fall into deep conversation as Sophie and Eden talk about their plan of attack for the shops in town.

“Eden’s a great driver,” Liza says. “And the rental is All Wheel Drive with snow tires.”

“This is a great idea,” I say. “Thanks for including my sisters.”

“Of course,” Liza says. “Ivy and Eden are close, but they’ll definitely have more fun with new friends.” She smiles. “And that leaves us several peaceful hours at the spa.”

“Yay,” Daphne says, doing a little hip wiggle.

I remind my sisters to wear their coats and watch them leave. They’re chatting continuously with the girls who will soon be their cousins and seem happier than they have so far on this trip.

My mom’s an only child and my dad is estranged from his family, so I never experienced cousin friendships. I’m glad my sisters will have that opportunity.

“Text me,” I call after my sisters, but they ignore me as the doors close behind them.

“You have a rental?” I ask Liza as we walk through the building, Daphne leading the way. “Are you not from around here?”

“We live in Bend, Oregon,” Liza says. “I’m from Seattle originally, but I met Daphne’s brother in college and moved to Bend with him after we got married. That’s where all of Daphne’s family is now. Daphne’s the only one who moved away permanently.”

“Not permanently, necessarily,” Daphne says. “Denver’s where my work is, and it’s a great city. Maybe some of the family will decide to move this way.”

“Or you might move back to Bend someday?” I hope it comes off as a casual question and none of my concern about my brother potentially moving even farther away leaks through.