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“Are you sure it’s okay for me to be here?” Abby asked, her forehead furrowed with worry.
“I texted Emma, and she said the more the merrier.”
Abby bit her lower lip. “I haven’t been the nicest person to Emma or the Erickson family.”
Connor recalled the protest Abby was part of a few weeks ago while they were filming Beach House Flippers. Emma’s family struck a deal with the town council for a land swap that would have allowed them to expand Erickson Fun Pier in exchange for property next to their arcade. Once built and covered with rides, including the new roller coaster, the added portion of the pier would have blocked the beach view from the stores on the opposite side of the boardwalk. Abby’s new business was one that would have been affected, and she, along with many others, had fought against the expansion.
“Because of the protest, we found a better solution that didn’t involve taking up beach space or blocking views,” Connor said.
“I know, but I should have voiced my concerns earlier. It wasn’t like I didn’t know about the plans. I just didn’t realize the full impact until construction started.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. We all make mistakes.”
“I’m the last person Emma and anyone in that house wants to see.”
“It’s all good. I promise.” Without meaning to, he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
She flinched but quickly recovered, pressing into him and placing a warm hand on his waist.
What the hell had he been thinking? Abby hadn’t given him any reason to think she was still into him. At least he hadn’t kissed her lips, which he wanted to do more than he wanted air.
“Come, let’s go.” He stepped back and gestured for her to walk in front of him. “Emma said they’ll be in the backyard.”
He led her to the side of the house toward a white picket fence that separated Emma’s property from Evan Carmichael’s. Evan and Jason were best friends and had put Connor and Jason up when they first returned to Pelican Bay for the pier renovation.
The sound of summer beach tunes drifted through the air as they opened the gate. As they got closer, they caught sight of a little girl shrieking while running across the yard.
“That’s Maddy’s girl, Dylan. She’s four and has all the adults wrapped around her little finger,” Connor explained.
“Including you?”
Dylan shrieked even louder when she spotted Connor. “Uncle Connor, you came!”
The toddler ran full speed at Connor. He started to kneel, but between holding the pie and feeling a bit off his game with Abby next to him, he wasn’t quick enough to prepare for the onslaught, and found himself flat on his ass.
Abby was speechless as Connor stumbled and fell when the girl launched herself at him before settling on his lap with her arms thrown around his neck.
“Hi, princess. How’s my favorite girl?” Connor asked, not at all bothered at having been tackled to the ground by a child.
“I’ll take that finger wrapping as a yes,” Abby said with a laugh, and fought to push aside feelings she’d long ago buried.
Or so she thought.
Do not go there.
Dylan placed a wet kiss on Connor’s cheek and turned to Abby. “Hi, I’m Dylan. Are you Uncle Connor’s girlfriend? Are you staying for dinner? We’re having burgers and hot dogs and pickles. I love pickles, do you?”
Abby’s eyes widened at the speed at which the girl fired questions at her.
Then, before Abby could even answer, the bundle of energy took off.
“Wow, what happened?” Abby said. “I feel like I got hit by a wave and just came up to the surface.”
Connor rose to his feet, dusting off his shorts. “Yeah, that’s Dylan. She asks more questions than a murder investigator.”
“Or so many questions you’ll think you’ve committed a crime,” Jason said, rounding the corner. “Hey, bro, Abby. Glad you could come.”
“Thanks for having me,” Abby said.
