Rising Moon (The Rune Stone Trilogy) (22 page)

             
"
Uh, clothes shopping is pretty limited here, unless you don’t mind being in hiking gear or sweaters with bears and wolves on them.
"
Terra crossed her arms.

             
El poked her head out of the pantry.
"
Fine, we’ll go down to Duluth.
"

             
"
What about Duluth?
"
Aylin walked in. She smiled at Terra and poked around one of the grocery bags.

             
"
Shopping!
"
El called from deep in the pantry.

             
"
Sounds like fun. When?
"
She sat down on the other side of the table. Terra rolled her eyes at her.
"
For what?
"

             
"
El disapproves of my wardrobe,
"
Terra said.

             
"
But if it’s what your comfortable in…
"
Aylin shrugged.

             
"
It’s not that, I just never really thought about my clothes. I’ve never had a reason to.
"

             
"
You never need a reason to look good.
"
El emerged from the pantry to gather up another armload.

             
"
Be nice, El,
"
Aylin warned.

             
"
I am, I’m going to give her cooking lessons, beginning with dinner tonight.
"

             
"
Tonight? But I invited Blake and my mom to dinner!
"
Terra stood up.

             
"
Great! We will wow them with your new expertise,
"
El sang from the hidden depths of the pantry.

             
"
I remember promising you a girl’s night out too,
"
Aylin nodded to Terra.

             
"
Yes. You did. But we have girl’s night every night here now.
"
Terra shrugged.

             
"
Girl’s night?
"
El popped her head out of the pantry.
"
That’s it! We’ll get a room in Duluth, spend the afternoon shopping, and then we’ll spend the night wining and dining. Love it!
"
El sang.

             
"
Look out Terra, we might have created a monster in there. Once she gets her head set on a project she doesn’t waver until she reaches perfection.
"
Aylin giggled a
t Terra’s terrified expression.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

             
Aylin had to admit that the smells permeating from the kitchen were mouthwatering. There had been the aroma of a roast slow cooking on the stove, and a rich tomato scent intertwined with the meat. The smell of baking bread always made her feel right at home. She was lighting candles on the table when she heard a car door outside. Peaking her head around to glance out the window, she glimpsed Blake walking around to the passenger side of his truck.
He moved easily, and each movement sent his muscles flexing and relaxing that made her stomach tighten. There was nothing wrong with noticing that he was an attractive man.

             
She did a double take when she saw a second car pull in behind him. A man got out and waved at Blake and his mom.

             
Aylin rid herself of the lighter and turned to check herself out in the mirror. As she smoothed out her hair she smiled to herself. She was actually concerned about how she looked. She had carefully picked the dark denim jeans and a teal cardigan over a white collared shirt. It was only Terra’s brother and mother. But somewhere deep inside she was looking forward to seeing Blake again. She knew he would find a way to talk to her alone to offer his help again, but they wouldn’t have shouting matches with each other.

             
Friends. That’s what he had called her, and she liked the idea. Maybe more…

             
Aylin steeled herself before her mind wandered anymore. No, she was only going to have a friendship with him, and not a close one at that. She had no time and no need for anything more than that. She hurried to the front door and when she opened it she watched Blake walk up the front steps with the older woman. The woman seemed steady enough to walk on her own, but she had a hand wrapped around Blake’s upper arm. Aylin opened the screen door and smiled at them.
"
Hello!
"

             
Blake and the woman looked up.
"
Hey.
"
Blake nodded at her, and his smile was slow and when it reached his eyes they twinkled. The stranger walked behind them, and it set her comfort level down to the minimum.

             
When they made it to the door Aylin held out her hand.
"
You must be Mrs. Bronson?
"

             
"
Please, call me Mary.
"
The woman smiled up at Aylin and took her hand.
"
You must be Aylin. This is Owen,
"
She gestured to the stranger.

             
"
I hope you don’t mind that we invited him along.
"
Blake nodded to her.
"
He’s practically family.
"

             
"
No problem. It’s nice to finally meet you, Mary. I’ve heard so much about you from Terra.
"
She took their jackets. Mary was a slight woman, and her white hair had been tied into a tight bun at the base of her head. Her eyes were bright blue, and it seemed age hadn’t reached them yet.

             
"
All good, I hope.
"
Mary sat down on the couch.

             
"
Of course. And Owen, nice to meet you.
"
She stretched her hand to him. She had to look up to him, since he towered over her at the same height as Blake.

             
"
You too,
"
he smiled.
"
I’ve heard so much about you,
"
he said quickly before he received an elbow from Blake.

             
"
Wel
l I know that can’t all be good," s
he said quietly, with a smile.
"
Let me tell Terra you’re here.
"
Aylin excused herself. She stuck her head into the kitchen and found Terra slicing bread with a shaking hand while El sat on the counter drinking wine.
"
They’re here and they brought Owen.
"
Aylin raised an eyebrow.

             
"
Oh God!
"
Terra looked ready to cry.
"
Why are they doing this to me?
"

             
"
What’s the problem?
"
El asked.

             
"
Owen is Blake’s best friend, and has been around since I was five. If the dinner is horrible I will never hear the end of it from either of them.
"

             
"
Can I do that for you?
"
Aylin held out her hand for the knife.

             
Terra looked relieved and handed her the knife.
"
Thank you,
"
she said quietly.

             
"
The dinner is going to be wonderful. If how it smells says anything, you have me starving. And you look great,
"
she nodded in encouragement. El had lent Terra a cream sweater dress and paired it with brown leggings and boots.

             
"
I feel odd.
"
Terra tugged at the hem of the dress.
"
I’ll just go say hi.
"
She disappeared into the living room.

             
"
How are the cooking lessons?
"
Aylin asked.

             
"
Great, she catches on fast.
"
El jumped off the counter to check on the roast.

             
"
Surprising since you only make demands.
"

             
"
If you were in here earlier you would have seen me teaching her properly. Always a critic.
"
She crossed her arms and looked Aylin over.
"
You’re even wearing lipstick. For anyone in particular?
"

             
Aylin didn’t look up from the bread.
"
No one needs a reason to look good,
"
she imitated El.

             
"
And you just happen to take that advice the night Blake is coming for dinner. Interesting.
"
El grabbed another bottle of wine to set on the table.

             
Dinner was delicious, surprising everyone but El. The roast was so tender that it fell apart with the touch of a fork, and the roasted potatoes had the same herb flavoring as the roast. The buttery string beans still held a slight crunch and were glazed with olive oil and lemon. The citrus was a sharp contrast to the richness of the meat, making it an exploration to their pallets. Even Terra couldn’t stop giggling from her success.
"
You must have a way of teaching. I tried with Terra, but it never stuck,
"
Mary said after finishing the chocolate mousse.

             
"
Mom, you handed me a cookbook and said to just follow the directions!
"
Terra laughed.
"
El did everything with me.
"

             
"
I might be eating here every night if the dinner’s are like this. I’d also have to run about ten miles a day, too.
"
Blake refilled his wine glass.
"
I never thought something so delicious would come out of that kitchen.
"
He pointed at the door.

             
"
Oh stop it. You’re no chef either.
"
Terra hit him on the arm.

             
"
I second that,
"
Owen said, who just finished his second helping.
"
Terra has turned into an amazing chef.
"
He raised his wine glass to her.

             
"
Aylin, Terra tells me you run a floral shop on Willoughby Island?
"
Mary piped up.

             
"
Yes, it was my mother’s, and when she passed I took over the store.
"

             
"
Well, depending on how long you’re planning on staying, I do know that Lisa is looking for a florist for her shop. Her last florist married this past August and moved to Wisconsin.
"

             
"
Oh, thank you,
"
Aylin nodded. She missed working with flowers, and she often thought of her shop. It was in good hands; Jordan ran the business very well without her, but she still missed it.
"
I might look into that.
"

             
"
So you are planning on staying awhile, then?
"
Mary was only looking at Aylin, and her steady gaze had Aylin shifting in her seat.

             
She looked over at El and lifted a shoulder slightly,
"
Maybe. It’s hard to say.
"

             
"
What is keeping you here?
"
Her eyes had turned icy, raising Aylin’s defenses.

             
"
Mom,
"
Terra stopped her.
"
They can stay as long as they like. As long as it takes,
"
she said and shut her mouth tight knowing she said too much and her eyes shot at Aylin.

             
Aylin’s eyes widened momentarily, and she busied herself with stacking the plates.
"
Are you finished Blake?
"
She reached across the table.

             
"
Ah, yeah.
"
He handed her his plate, and his fingers brushed hers sending a warm tingle down her arm.
"
Let me give you a hand.
"
He stood and collected everyone else’s plates.

             
"
What do you mean, dear? As long as what takes?
"
Mary directed her eyes to Terra.

             
"
It’s nothing Mom,
"
Aylin heard Terra reply before the kitchen door swung shut behind her. She placed the plates in the sink and put her hands on the edge, giving herself a moment to lean against the counter. Her heart was racing, from Terra’s slip, but more from Blake’s touch.

             
"
Don’t worry about it,
"
Blake said quietly behind her.
"
Mom will soon forget what she said. Terra will distract her with something else.
"
Aylin’s hands had tightened on the counter, turning her knuckles white. She heard him set the plates down on the counter, and then he touched her arm, pulling her around. His hand was so warm and her skin tingled wherever he touched her.
"
Hey, it’s okay.
"
He was looking into her eyes.

             
"
Yes, I know,
"
her voice was raspy. She cleared her throat and stepped out of his reach.
"
It just took me by surprise is all.
"
She gave him a smile and headed back into the dining room.