Starr Christenson, our seasonal help, arrived at eleven. By eleven-thirty, we had a break in the action, and Cassandra offered to run out to buy lunch. I told her about my lunch plans with Kyle, and as she walked out the door, a couple walked in, one of whom was my cousin, Jeannine.
I crossed the shop to greet Jeannine with a hug. “What brings you to Hillendale today?”
She clutched her friend’s hand. “We thought we’d get out of Milwaukee and do a little day tripping, so I had to stop in and say hello. This is Travis Freeman. Travis, this is my cousin, Brynn.”
He gave me a dazzling smile, shook my hand, and then draped a proprietary arm across Jeannine’s shoulders. They were a study in opposites, my cousin with her long blonde hair and blue eyes, and Travis with his rich brown skin and soul-deep brown eyes. His curly dark hair was neatly trimmed.
“Pleasure to meet you,” I said. “How long have you two known each other?”
“We work together,” Jeannine replied. “I guess you could say we’ve known each other a little over a year.”
“We’ve been dating almost six of those months,” Travis added. “And you’re the first of her family I’ve met.”
I breathed a sigh. Jeannine deserved happiness in her life. “I’m honored.” Jeannine was close to her brother, who lived nearby. “You haven’t met Jason?”
Jeannine blushed. “I was considering stopping by his house this afternoon.”
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to meet you,” I told Travis.
“Can you get away for lunch?” Jeannine asked. “Give us a chance to catch up?”
The bell over the door announced Kyle’s arrival. He shot a guarded glance at Jeannine before he leaned in to kiss my cheek. “Jeannine. Nice to see you.”
She did brief introductions and the two men shook hands.
“She was just asking me to lunch,” I said.
Kyle’s head snapped back. “I thought we had a date.”
“Oh, I don’t want to impose. I just thought since we were here...” Jeannine’s words faded away.
Kyle’s smile looked forced. “Of course. Since you’re here, why don’t you join us?”
Points to him for asking, but I sensed it would be a topic for discussion later.
Chapter 5
Ever the gentleman, Kyle was engaging and pleasant as we learned more about my cousin’s boyfriend. We discussed the four of us going to a concert in Milwaukee. I was happy to have regained what family I could, and pleased Kyle and Travis seemed to get on so well together.
Jeannine and Travis left from the restaurant, and Kyle’s mood shifted to sulky and silent while we walked to Windfall.
I tried to tease him out of his mood. “You could give a girl a complex. I’d thought you were unhappy about inviting Jeannine and Travis along, but you seemed to enjoy their company. Now that we’re alone again, you seem disappointed.”
Kyle remained silent.
I was determined to get him talking. “I know I’m not as fashionable as my cousin. I mean, my hair is outgrown and it’s this dull shade of brown.” I took a long strand between my fingers. “And I have this great big nose smack dab in the middle of my face that screams Jimmy Durante.”
Kyle chuckled. “Your nose isn’t as big as you think it is.” Outside the shop door, he stepped in front of me and took my hands. “I’m going through some stuff. We should talk. That’s why I asked you to lunch. Tomorrow, I guess.”
I smiled and nodded. Nora usually came to visit on Sundays, but he and I should have time before she arrived.
“What are we supposed to take for game night?” Kyle asked. “I can get it ready while you’re working.”
“Cheese curds and sausage bites. You sure you can handle it?”
He raised his eyebrows, a glimpse of the personality I knew so well. “I don’t know. Sounds like a challenge, but I’ll see what I can do. See you at six?”
I leaned in to kiss him goodbye, but he didn’t seem to notice and turned away.
Four months of this.
Our relationship couldn’t go on this way. We were going to have to talk this out before he left for Door County on Monday. I heaved a sigh and went inside the shop. Starr rang up customers while Cassandra straightened her clothing line. Ash trotted across the counter to welcome me and I scooped her up to pet her, needing an extra dose of comfort.
Cassandra sidled up to me and lowered her voice. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Kyle getting more comfortable with his new job yet?”
Cassandra was dating Lucas, one of Kyle’s friends. I wasn’t the only person worried about Kyle’s struggle to adapt to civilian life. “He was hoping for a quiet lunch together, but he seemed to enjoy the company. Theirs.”
“Without his police uniform, he seems to be in a free-fall. At least he has you as a parachute.”
“One he refuses to open.” I frowned. “I think he’d rather lean on the guys than on me.”
“Performance problems?” Cassandra whispered.
I didn’t share certain aspects of my life, namely that Kyle and I hadn’t slept together in four months. I rolled my eyes, hoping that would be the end of the discussion. “Hanging with the gang always seems to lift his spirits. I’m sure he’ll be more like his old self with everyone tonight.”
A sudden influx of people distracted me. The tourists must have finished their lunches, too. We
