“I’m so excited,” Lara said when Riley picked her up at Max’s on Friday.

“So am I. It’s the first pedicure I’ve had since I moved here.”

Which was sad when she said it. It was one of the few things she pampered herself with. Being on her feet as much as she was, she normally tried to get a pedicure every other week. Getting her feet rubbed after a long day was just pure heaven and something she’d always looked forward to.

“Let me know how it is, Lara,” Quinn said. “Maybe you and I can get one together next. I’ve never had one either.”

“What?” Riley asked her sister-in-law. “Never? You’ve never had a pedicure. My brother has never given you a gift to get one?”

“Don’t go getting on Max’s case,” Quinn said, smiling. “He’s sent me for a few massages, which are wonderful. I enjoy them and look forward to them. I hadn’t thought of getting a pedicure though, because my feet get rubbed during the massage.”

“Not the same thing,” Riley said. “I wish I’d known; we could have all gone. A girl’s day.”

“Maybe next time,” Quinn said. “I’ll see if I can get someone to watch Jocelyn for an hour or so and we can make an afternoon of it.”

“I’d like that a lot,” Riley said.

She loved Quinn, who was only a year older than her, but more mature in so many ways. She didn’t know much about Quinn’s background other than bits and pieces she’d heard from family. Quinn hadn’t had an easy life in the past, but she had no problem fitting in with Max.

Quinn and Max came from two different worlds, yet to see them together let her know that anything was possible. It gave her hope for the future. Hope for her and Trevor. Anyone looking at the two of them would think they came from two different worlds, too, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was how he made her feel.

She’d seen the way he hesitated when she brought up his time in the army. There was a wariness in his eyes, mixed in with some hope.

She didn’t judge him. She wouldn’t do that. She couldn’t do that. Knowing what she did now didn’t change anything about how she felt toward him. Or about how he made her feel complete for once in her life.

It was his job. That was how she rationalized it in her brain. He wasn’t a killer to her. He was a person who was making the world a better place by keeping many safe. Keeping her safe. Didn’t her father ask him to do that? If only her father knew the truth to what he was asking.

But no one did. And if she had her way, no one would.

She was fine on her own.

She was good.

She could handle it.

Last time she’d talked to someone about it, they thought she was nuts. This time, she’d keep it to herself. No worries and no accusations.

“Are you ready to go?” she asked Lara, then looked down at the sneakers her niece was wearing. “Sandals would be better.”

Quinn laughed. “I told her that, but she wouldn’t listen to me. Her flip flops are in rough shape.”

“Why are sandals better?” Lara asked.

“Because our feet are going to look pretty when we’re done and we want everyone to know.”

Lara looked down at Riley’s sandals. “Your shoes are pretty.”

“Perfect,” Riley said. “We have enough time to run and get you a pair before our appointment. Then when we go to lunch, everyone can see our pretty feet.”

Thirty minutes later, Riley pulled into the parking lot of Kennedy’s. She was hoping to get a glimpse of Trevor’s sister, but hadn’t asked for her specifically. Just made an appointment for two pedicures and left her name.

Lara was skipping alongside of her wearing the new leather thongs they’d picked up. Riley opened the door, then gave their names to the young girl at the front desk. “Here’s a few forms. Just fill out the information and return them and we’ll bring you out back. We’ve got a room set up with two stations in it since we’ve found women like to come in pairs at times.”

Riley took the clipboard and pen and went to sit down. “What’s that for?” Lara asked.

“Most spas want some medical information on you before you have anything done.”

“On my feet?” Lara asked, wrinkling her nose. “There’s nothing wrong with my feet.”

“Of course there isn’t. But adults can have medical issues,” Riley said. Then stopped. No use explaining this to an eleven-year-old. Lara could care less. “Don’t worry about it.”

They didn’t have long to wait before they were ushered back and into the chairs. “Would you like the massager on?” the girl asked.

“Sure,” Riley said. “Just show me how to shut it off if Lara doesn’t like it.”

When Lara started to giggle as the mechanical chair pressed into her back and shoulders, Riley put the remote down. She felt like giggling herself right now.

Until two seconds later, when two women walked in.

One was definitely Trevor’s sister. If not by the resemblance, then by the look she was sending Riley. Time to start fielding questions.

“Hi, I’m Kennedy, and this is Sally. We’ll be working on you two lovely ladies today. Girl’s day out?”

“It is,” Riley said. “And since you’re going to be making me pretty for your brother, we might as well get this all out of the way.”

Kennedy laughed. “I like you already.”

“That’s good. I’m glad. I’m Riley Hamilton. And just so you know, my brother recommended you. I wasn’t trying to get a sneak peek at you, or figuring out a way to get any information on Trevor.” Though she was glad it worked out the way it had.

“Max sends Quinn here often,” Sally said. “And you must be Lara. My sister works for your father.”

Lara looked at her. “Who?”

“Amber,” Sally said.

“I love Amber. She’s so funny. She just got married to Zach. And Zach is funny, too. Zach’s brother Seth is moving in with them too, and he’s going to go to the same school as my brother Davy. But Seth is older than Davy by two years.”

Riley was used to Lara’s little rambles, and it seemed Sally might have heard some of it from Amber before. “I know all about that. Have you met Seth yet? I have,” Sally said, the two of them settling into their own little conversation while the water started to fill the mini tubs at the end of their chairs.

“So,” Kennedy said to her. “How’s my brother doing? I haven’t seen much of him lately. He’s been busy every time I’ve tried to get ahold of him.”

“He’s a busy guy,” Riley said. She hadn’t spent as much time as she’d hoped with Trevor in the past week, either. Though he did spend two nights at her house this week, so she couldn’t complain. Actually, it was working out well. She really didn’t want to be with someone nonstop.

At least she never used to. So why was she counting the days until she saw Trevor again?

“He seems pretty happy right now,” Kennedy said.

“He always seems happy to me,” Riley said back, enjoying this conversation. “He’s a laid-back type of guy.”

“It’s hard not to be in a town like this. It’s a laid back place.”

“I don’t know about that. Lots of tourists right now, but it’s kind of fast paced in this area.” Riley had a hard-enough time getting through traffic and people to get here.

“Tourists are always good for business. Thankfully, we’ve got something for everyone year round.”

“You’ve got a good location here,” Riley said. She liked that it was off the main drag but not out of the way, and had a nice view of the lake.

“I was lucky enough to get this house and convert it. I’ve got a little studio apartment over the garage.”

“Best way to utilize the space,” Riley said.

“You own your own business, so you get it.”

“I do. I’m already looking at expanding it.” Riley figured she might as well start talking about it now. If she’d learned one thing, news of that would be running around town soon enough. Get the ball rolling, at least.

“Expansion is good for everyone. Keeps the town growing and thriving. Brings more people in, hopefully those that want to stay.”

There was a warning there, Riley knew. She’d been expecting it. It was fun bantering with idle little chitchat, but now they were getting serious.

“Putting down roots is a hard thing to do. But when you find the right place, you realize it’s easier than you thought it’d be.”

“And is this the right place?” Kennedy asked.

“It is now,” Riley said, smiling.

Kennedy nodded her head.

Understanding was clear.