"No. Go. Now." Hope pulled her to the door, opened it, shoved her out. "Bye!"

Laughing, Clare boosted herself onto one of the bar stools. "I really don't need soup. I wanted to give her something to take her mind off her nerves."

"Are you sure? I had some a little earlier. It's delicious. Roasted red pepper and tomato."

"Oh G.o.d. Well, if you insist. Just half a cup. Just a taste."

"I do insist. Sit," Hope added when Clare started to rise. "I'll bring it out."

Enjoying the sparkle of Avery's kitchen, Hope ladled soup into a cup, turned off the burner. When she brought it out, Clare sat at the bar, turned toward the room.

"Thanks. I was just thinking, back to high school. Avery and I, cheerleader cocaptains. We were friendly, but not especially close. We got close after I came back home, after Clint died. She really helped me set up the bookstore, make the transition back. And without her, I'd never have met you. And here we are."

She sampled the soup, rolled her eyes. "It's wonderful."

"Without Avery I wouldn't have met you, and I wouldn't be the keeper of the inn."

"Or in love with Ryder." Clare smiled when Hope remained silent. "It shows, at least to someone with heightened hormones."

"I thought we'd enjoy each other, then ease away amicably. Love wasn't part of the plan."

"But love looks so good on you."

"It feels good in me."

"You haven't told him."

"That's definitely not in the plans. We're fine, Clare," Hope insisted, "just as we are. I matter to him. I don't expect more."

"You should."

"It's good to be with someone when you know you matter. Not a.s.sume," she qualified, "but know. To be with someone, who even when you don't think you want or need it, will stand up for you. Someone who sends you flowers and buys you magic wands. I'm not going to look around the corner for what's next."

"Indulge me. If you did look, what would you hope to see?"

"The chance to make a life together. I guess I want what Eliza wanted. Love, a home, a family that comes from me and the man I love. And, of course, I want my job, good muscle tone, and a fabulous collection of shoes."

"You already have the last three, so I'm putting my hormonal mojo toward getting you the first three. Here, rub the magic babies."

With a laugh, Hope obeyed, gently rubbed Clare's belly. "They're kicking."

"They're either kicking or wrestling on top of my bladder. I'm just a little afraid of how active they're going to be when they're out and have more room."

"More soup?"

"Don't tempt me. I took the rest of the day off to help out here, and no help's needed. My mom has the boys-and she and Dad are bringing them tonight; as Harry rightfully pointed out, they're friends and family, too. Then they're having a sleepover with my parents. I'm at loose ends."

"You're also in Eve and Roarke. Go do what Avery's doing. Have a bubble bath."

"Do you know the last time I managed to sneak in a bubble bath, alone, just me? Without needing to keep an ear out for declarations of war?"

"No."

"Neither do I."

"Grab one now, and keep your phone handy. You can text an SOS if you can't get yourself and the magic babies out of the tub."

"Somehow mean and considerate at the same time. Come on, I'll help you walk through and lock up."

HOPE DIDN'T HAVE time for the indulgence of a bubble bath, but she did indulge. Ryder told her to pick the room, so she'd taken Elizabeth and Darcy for the night. Out of sentiment, she supposed, and because she thought Lizzy would enjoy the company.

"It's Avery's big night." Cozy in an inn bathrobe after her shower, Hope meticulously applied her makeup. "It's going to be great. The biggest thing in town since they opened the inn, at least in my opinion. It just looks fantastic, and tonight it's just friends and family. A kind of christening and trial run at the same time."

She glanced over as the eyeshadow palette she'd chosen lifted into the air. "Girl toys. Fun to play with. I'm going for smoky tonight, a hint of shine to go with a killer red dress and amazing shoes."

She decided there were few women alive, or otherwise, who didn't enjoy playing with makeup. To her way of thinking, those who didn't missed one of the major perks of being female.

"Clare made me think how lucky I am today, to have this place, and my friends, to have Ryder and all the Montgomerys. To have you."

She gave herself a critical study in the magnifying mirror, then stepped back for an overview. "Not bad, huh?"

She moved into the bedroom to dress, taking her time with it, enjoying the steps and stages of preparing for a big night out.

She sat to strap on the mile-high silver heels, and rose for another overview just as Ryder came in, grimy from work with a beer in his hand.

His forward motion stopped, mostly because she'd knocked the legs out from under him. The dress, in s.e.xy siren red, clung to her curves, dipped low at the top, rose high at the hem. The long line of her legs ended in a sparkle of silver straps and needle-width spikes. She'd draped more sparkle around her neck, from her ears so she seemed to glitter and pulse in the light of the Tiffany shade.

"Nice," he said.

She winged up her eyebrows, did a slow turn, gave him a sultry look over her shoulder. "Just nice?"

"Okay, you're a f.u.c.king heartbreaker."

"I'll take that as a compliment." She smoothed the dress at her hips. "Hard day at the office?"

"Ha. Got hung up some."

"But progress?"

He had to remind himself she wanted details, then had to search for them as she sprayed on the scent that drove him just a little crazy. "Rough-ins pa.s.sed this morning, and we're starting on insulation. On the exterior stone work."

"That is progress."

"Why are you dressed already?"