Shed often wondered what it would be like to live there, to wander through all the rooms, to walk out on the parapet or gaze down from a tower. To live so high, in such magnificent solitude, with the majesty of the hills all around and the charm of the woods only steps beyond the door.
She stirred herself now, shifting around so her head was between Flynns and Malorys.
They were so damn cute together, she thought. Flynn with his deceptively easygoing nature, Malory with her need for order. Flynn with his lazy green eyes, Malory with her bright, bold blue ones. There was Mal, with her stylish coordinated outfits, and Flynn, who was lucky if he could put his hands on a pair of matching socks.
Yes, Dana decided, they were perfect for one another. She thought of Malory as her sister now, through circumstance and fate. And really, wasnt that how Flynn had become her brother all those years ago when her father and his mother had married and merged families?
When her dad had gotten sick, shed leaned hard on Flynn. She supposed theyd leaned hard on each other more than once. When the doctors had recommended that her father move to a warmer climate, when Flynns mother had shoved the responsibility of running the Valley Dispatch into Flynns hands and hed found himself the publisher of a small-town paper instead of living his dream of honing his reporting skills in New York.
When the boy shed loved had left her.
When the woman hed intended to marry had left him.
Yeah, theyd had each other—through thick and thin. And now, in their own ways, they each had Malory. It was a nice way to round things out.
“Well.” Dana laid her hands on their shoulders. “Here we go again.”
Malory turned, gave Dana a quick smile. “Nervous?”
“Not so much.”
“Its either you orZoe tonight. Do you want to be picked?”
Ignoring the little flutter in her stomach, Dana shrugged. “I just want to get going on it. I dont know why we have to go through all this ceremony. We already know what the deal is.”
“Hey, free food,” Flynn reminded her.
“There is that. Wonder ifZoes here yet. We can dive into whatever our hosts, Rowena andPitte , picked up in the land of milk and honey, then get this show on the road.”
She climbed out the minute Flynn stopped the car, then Dana stood with her hands on her hips, studying the house while the ancient man with a shock of white hair hurried up to take the keys.
“Maybe youre not nervous.” Malory came to stand beside her, linked arms.
“But I am.”
“Why? You dunked your shot.”
“Its still up to all of us.” She looked up at the white flag with its key emblem that flew atop the tower.
“Just think positive.” Dana drew in a long breath. “Ready?”
“If you are.” Malory held out a hand for Flynns.
They walked toward the huge entrance doors, which swung open at their approach.
Rowena stood in the flood of light, her hair a firestorm falling over the bodice of a sapphire velvet dress. Her lips were curved in welcome, her exotic green eyes bright with it.
Gems sparkled at her ears, her wrists, her fingers. On a long braided chain that hung nearly to her waist was a crystal as clear as water and as fat as a babys fist.
“Welcome.” Her voice was low and musical and seemed to hold hints of forests and caves where faeries might dwell. “Im so pleased to see you.” She held out her hands to Malory, then leaned forward and kissed both of her cheeks in turn. “You look wonderful, and well.”
“So do you, always.”
With a light laugh, Rowena reached for Danas hand. “And you.Mmm , what a wonderful jacket.” She skimmed her fingers along the sleeve of the butter-soft leather. But even as she spoke, she was looking beyond them and out the door. “You didnt bring Moe?”
“It didnt seem like quite the occasion for a big, clumsy dog,” Flynn told her.
“Its always the occasion for Moe.” Rowena rose on her toes to peck Flynns cheek. “You must promise to bring him next time.”