Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 93400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Hudson’s sister.
“Who’s that?” Kyle whispered, leaning in closer to me.
“I think it’s Hudson’s sister, Everly. She’s been living in Greenland the last few years.”
“Greenland? Why?” Kyle asked. We watched Hudson and his mother and father join Everly at the entrance of the restaurant to greet her with hugs.
“She’s some sort of scientist, though I can’t remember what exactly. Hudson said she’s been doing some research on global warming up there.”
“Well, she just warmed up this entire place.”
Turning, I looked at my brother with a blank expression. “That’s all you’ve got? A cheesy line like that?”
“I’m rusty, give me a break. I haven’t seen a woman that beautiful in Boggy Creek in forever. No wait—I’ve never seen a woman that beautiful in Boggy Creek.”
“Hey!” I said, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder.
“Excluding present company. Please tell me she’s going to Brew’s tonight.”
I shrugged. “I didn’t even know she was going to be here.”
We both stood and watched all of them walk back over to the table.
“I can’t believe it—I had no idea you were back stateside!” I heard Hudson say when they were close enough.
Everly smiled at me. She had the same dimples as Hudson and their mother. Her gaze drifted to my left and her eyes widened a bit, but her smile never faltered. I knew my brother was good-looking. Growing up, I’d had to listen to all the girls in high school tell me how handsome he was or beg me to get him to call them. There had even been a few girls who were only my friends so they could get close to Kyle.
He was very handsome. And the fact that he had the strangest eye color didn’t hurt. They were green, but a dark emerald green that almost looked black at times. Bishop used to tease him all the time, claiming he must be wearing contacts.
Kyle never had a problem with women, at least not that I knew of, and it appeared Everly wasn’t immune to his good looks either.
Hudson started the introductions. “Everly, this is Greer Larson; Greer, my sister, Everly.”
Everly pulled me into a hug, just as her mother had, and squeezed me tight. “I’m so happy to meet you! It’s not every day Hudson talks about a girl the way he does about you.”
My face heated as I smiled back at her, suddenly at a loss for words. I was prepared to meet his folks, but meeting Hudson’s sister had thrown me for a loop. What if she hated me?
Oh God, she was going to hate me and then tell Hudson he could do better.
Is that sweat dripping down my back?
I finally found my voice. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Everly. Hudson told me you’re living in Greenland?”
She laughed. “I did—now I’m home for a little while.”
“What? That’s amazing!” Hudson exclaimed, dragging her in for another hug before releasing her.
It was kind of cute the way Everly kept sneaking glances at Kyle. Both of them were waiting ever so patiently to be introduced.
“Everly, this is my brother, Kyle Larson.”
Kyle extended his hand to Everly and shook hers gently. “Welcome back to Boggy Creek, Ms. Higgins.”
I didn’t think it was possible for her smile to grow any bigger, but it did, and she blushed the most darling shade of pink. “Please, call me Everly. I haven’t been to Boggy Creek in so long.”
“How long are you staying?” Kyle asked.
“Just the weekend. I’m going back to Boston with my parents on Monday, and then I need to head to DC.”
Kyle’s shoulders sagged slightly, but he quickly rebounded. “DC?”
She nodded. “I work for NOAA. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.”
“How interesting is that!” I said. “What do you do there?”
“I’m a climatologist, and I investigate the underwater melting of glaciers and the effect of glacial meltwater on our oceans’ circulation.”
Kyle and I both stared at her.
“That sounds…cold,” Kyle finally said.
Everly laughed and nodded. “It is.”
“Since you’re only here for the weekend, you’ll have to save me a dance tonight at Brew’s Place,” Kyle said.
Everly’s face flamed as she answered, “I will.”
“Are you hungry? Do you want some food?” Hudson asked her.
“I ate, but thank you.”
“Why don’t we head on over to The Coffee Pot and grab some coffee and catch up before we go to Brew’s?” I suggested.
“That sounds like a lovely idea,” Melinda said as she took my arm and then Everly’s. “I can’t wait to hear all about Greenland, Everly!”
Hudson
There was no doubt about it: my sister and mother loved Greer. The minute they sat down at The Coffee Pot, the three of them were lost in conversation. Laughter, gasps, whispers…they did it all.
“I think your mother and sister like Greer,” Kyle said as if reading my mind, a bit of amusement in his voice.
“I would have to agree with you,” I replied.