"Yeah," I snort. "It's a real job. I can do all sorts of stunts."
"Wow, that's amazing. Can you show me something?"
"Uh, sure," I say, and then I look around Bartlett’s room, noticing the rail across the loft. I walk up the flight of stairs and climb up to the railing.
"Stop," Bartlett cries. "Don't get up there. You'd be twenty feet in the air!"
"I'm fine," I laugh.
Fig shakes her head. "What are you doing, Abby? You're going to kill yourself."
"Sorry," I grimace. "I told you I was a gymnast."
Fig has shock written on her face. "My God. You're going to break your neck."
I shrug. And, instead of climbing on top of the railing, I walk back down the stairs. "Fine," I say. "I won't show you my tricks."
Fig doesn't think I am being serious and just laughs. "Okay. You're super crazy. Also, you're perfect for Bart because he is so straight and narrow, he needs a crazy girl like you."
I scrunch up my nose, thinking she has no idea. She thinks her brother is all wound up tight, but a little bit ago, when he was in the shower with me, he was nice and easy.
I lick my lips, thinking if Bartlett was going to see me in a dress, he'd probably prefer me in something tight. "I'd say silk," I tell her, pointing to the tiniest dress out of the options.
Fig nods. "It's going to look stunning on you. And I have tights and heels, and a little fur coat. Come on," she says, scooching me down the hall. "It's time for you to get dressed."
Thirty minutes later, Fig has me decked out in the most glamorous look I've ever had on. She's even curled my hair a bit, and my eyelashes, and added some mascara for good measure. "I don't think your brother's going to recognize me," I tell her.
She smiles. "He's going to love it," she says. "Besides, Bartlett needs a reason to have a little sparkle in his life."
"Why do you say that?" I ask.
"I don't know. He's always been the good guy, done the right thing. Maybe it's just time for him to have some fun."
"I'm more than fun," I say.
"I know," Fig says, "but you can be good and fun, and I think maybe he needs both."
"So, you approve? Because Rye doesn't."
"Oh, Rye doesn't know anything," she says. "He's a big bossy boy who knows nothing about the real world."
I fight back a smile. The baby of the family might be the smartest one of all. "Thank you for helping me," I tell her. "I’m an only child, so I don't know what it's like to get ready with sisters and have siblings drop by, but I appreciate it."
She grins. "Well, my sister is super bossy, and most of my brothers are too. So I appreciate having a nice girl around for a change," she says haughtily, giving me a wink and blowing me a kiss.
When Bartlett sees me, he lets out a low whistle that tells me everything I need to know. He takes my hand and gives me a kiss and makes sure I feel like I'm the most beautiful girl in the world. Hijinx is happy and asleep in the cabin, and Bartlett drives me into town.
Home Grown is a popup restaurant tucked next to the toy store. And, apparently, the space rotates into different establishments throughout the year. Everyone knows Bartlett when we enter, and they look me over, but they all give me warm smiles.
"I feel like they're staring," I say.
Bartlett whispers in my ear, his breath hot, warm, burning me up. "Of course, they're staring," he says. "You are the most beautiful woman in this place."
At the table with candlelight between us, he orders wine that is expensive and delicious, and we get steaks and mashed potatoes and green beans, and we eat until our hearts are content and our bellies are full and our eyes are glazed over with lust and desire and memories of the last 48 hours.
"I don't know what's happening," I murmur. "I think there's a spell on this town and it's been spun on me too."
"Is that a good thing?" he asks.
"It's a great thing," I say.
After dinner, he leads me down Snug Street and stops right in front of the Home History Museum.
"I got the keys," he said.
"What for?" I ask.
"Well, I thought I might tell you a little bit more about Home."
I smile as he opens the door and lets us inside.
"I told you. My ancestors started this town in 1910. They settled here, Homer and Annabel Rough, after they got married in 1909 in Seattle. They moved up here, found this mountain, and settled this land."
I smile, listening to him as we wander the museum. It's dark and romantic and quiet, and the night feels like ours in a way a night never has before. There are pictures on the walls that tell a story, that tell his story, and I feel like I'm going back in time. I hear about Welby Rough, who married Margaret.