Page 52 of Dancing on Air

His mother shook her head. “I couldn’t.”

“Why not?”

She closed her eyes and sighed. “I have a few lose ends to tie up here first.”

He nodded, then placed a kiss on her cheek.

“Have a good weekend,” she said as he got up and grabbed his bag.

“You, too.” He left to go find Cora.

The train ride north was just over eight hours long if you counted the waiting time. They would get to Portland just after five in the morning. They were meeting Missy around eight and renting a car to get the rest of the way to Silver Cove.

They’d opted for a private sleeping roomette so they could have some privacy and sleep along the way.

After settling in their cabin, they ate dinner in the dining car and enjoyed watching the city turn into country until it grew dark. Then they returned to their own private cabin.

He’d taken the train from New York to Boston a few times but had never gotten a private sleeping room. He was a little surprised at how nice it was to have the space and not worry about falling asleep in the chair.

Besides, there was something about being able to make love on a train and fall asleep with Cora in his arms to the sound of the tracks beneath them.

When the train slowed, they were fully dressed and ready to start their first day off.

They’d opted to find a place in Portland for breakfast while they waited for Missy’s train to get in from Boston.

After they picked up their rental car, a sporty soft top in silver, he drove them a few blocks to a café Cora had found on her phone. Then they sat and ate while they waited for his sister to meet them.

He couldn’t figure out why he was more nervous for Missy to meet Cora than either of his parents. Maybe it was because his parents had met Cora long before they’d started seeing one another?

Maybe it was because Missy’s opinion mattered more to him than either of his parents?

Either way, when Missy texted him that her train was arriving, they climbed in the car and headed back to the station.

“You’re nervous,” Cora said, smiling at him.

“I’m not,” he said and then laughed. “Okay, I am. I want you two to get along.”

“That’s how I feel about you and JT and Kayla,” she said after a moment.

“Shit.” He felt his body tense. “I hadn’t thought about that. I mean, meeting your family.”

He felt like an idiot. Of course, her family lived in Silver Cove. Of course, they’d meet. Why the hell had he been so focused on his sister and not her family?

“It’s okay.” Cora laughed. “You’ve been busy. My family is going to come out and have dinner at the resort with us one night. One dinner. That’s all.” She touched his arm. “You can get through that easy. Besides, they’re really easy to get along. They’re going to love you. Both of you,” she said when he parked and watched his sister rush towards them.

Missy was so much like their mother in every sense. Her long dark hair hung just below her shoulders. She was shorter than his six-foot-two frame and stood just at Cora’s height of five-seven. She had their father’s rich mocha eyes and the best laughter and humor of anyone else in the family.

He jumped out and caught her as she flew into his arms.

“You’re ugly,” she said with a laugh.

“You’re uglier,” he joked back. “How was your trip?” he said once he set her back on the ground after spinning her around a few times.

“Boring. I didn’t have someone to keep me company.” She motioned behind his shoulder.

Max waved Cora over. “Cora, Missy. Missy, Cora.”

Missy rushed over and hugged Cora. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”