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  “Went to school with whom?” Emma asked.

  Alaina glanced in the mirror again in time to see Emma yawn. “The Coleman brothers.”

  “You didn’t tell us that,” Kelcey said in a tone that implied Alaina was hiding more information.

  “I didn’t know until I saw Rye. I assumed his father owned the business. It was a shock to walk in Coleman Construction and learn that Rye, Dax and Griff own it.”

  “Rye, Dax and Griff.” Emma released a sexy growl. “Damn, I love those names. And you said they’re triplets?”

  Alaina nodded.

  “Three brothers, three of us. Perfect.”

  “Rye is single,” Alaina said, taking a right on the road that led into Lanville. “I don’t know about the other brothers.”

  “I’ll find out.”

  “Not for me,” Kelcey told Emma over her shoulder. “I’m not interested.”

  “How do you know you’re not interested until you meet one of them? A Coleman triplet might be the perfect man for you.”

  “I don’t have time for men. Besides,” Kelcey said, turning in the seat to look at Emma, “we’re both going to be busy helping Alaina.”

  “We can help Alaina and still have fun. You are way too serious, Kelc.”

  “And you’re way too easy, Emma.”

  “What, I’m easy just because I don’t shy away from a man I find attractive? I like orgasms, Kelc. Maybe you’d lighten up if you had more of them.”

  “Okay, that’s enough, children.” Alaina turned onto County Road 311. “We’re three miles from the house. Play nice.”

  Emma leaned forward and wrapped her hands around the headrests. “I can hardly wait to see it. What does the kitchen look like?”

  “A mess. The whole house is a mess, but there’s so much potential there. It’ll be amazing when the refurbishment is done.”

  Alaina’s breath caught in her throat when the house came into view. That happened every time she saw it. She still had trouble believing it belonged to her.

  She wished she could snap her fingers and all the remodeling be done now.

  No, that wasn’t true. If it was done now, she wouldn’t have any reason to see Rye.

  Alaina drove around to the back of the house and parked. She took a deep breath and faced her friends. “What do you think?”

  Emma’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I love it. I agree with you, Lainy. It’ll be amazing.”

  Alaina turned to her other friend. Kelcey didn’t look nearly as excited as Emma. “What do you think, Kelcey?”

  “I, uh… Well. It’s definitely… Hmm.”

  “C’mon, Kelc, show a little enthusiasm. This means a lot to Alaina.”

  Kelcey looked at Alaina with concern in her eyes. “I’m worried you’re getting in over your head. You’re going to have to spend so much money to fix up this… monstrosity.”

  “I know that. I have the money. You know that.”

  “Yes, and luckily I convinced you to invest half of your inheritance for the future.”

  Alaina caught herself before she rolled her eyes. Emma was right. Kelcey needed to let go and have fun much more often than she did. “This is important to me, Kelc. This is what I want to do with my life. You can understand that, right?”

  Kelcey reached over and squeezed Alaina’s hand. “Yes, I understand that. I support you one hundred percent, even if sometimes it sounds like I don’t.”

  “Okay, now that we’re all friends again,” Emma said, “show us your house, Lainy.”

  Alaina led the way through the back door and into the kitchen. “Here’s the room you’ll want to see, Emma.”

  Emma stood in the middle of the room, eyes wide and mouth open. She slowly turned in a circle, gazing at everything from ceiling to floor. “Oh wow. Look at the woodwork in those cabinets. Well, what’s left of the cabinets.” She faced Alaina. “Are you going to duplicate the way the house looked when it was built?”

  “As much as possible. I’ve done a lot of research about Victorian houses in this area. I want to keep the flavor of the house, yet have all the modern conveniences for my guests.”

  “And your cook,” Emma said with a grin.

  Alaina slipped her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. “Emma, I don’t think you—”

  “Don’t even go there if you’re going to tell me I can’t quit my job and work for you.”

  “You saw the town as we drove through it. There’s nothing here that you’re used to…no shopping, no movies, no theater, no—”

  “I don’t care. I told you I can always make a party. And Dallas isn’t that far away. When we feel the urge to hit a club, it’s only an hour’s drive.”

  “I can’t pay you what you earn now, at least not at first.”

  “I’m not worried about that. I have a nice nest egg.”

  “That nest egg won’t last long if you don’t contribute to it.”

  “If I didn’t earn a dime, I could still live for a year. Will you stop worrying so much? You’ll give yourself wrinkles. You’re too young for Botox.” Emma walked over to the cabinets and ran her hand over the dirty countertop. “I want either quartz or granite countertops. And ceramic tile behind the stove.”

  Apparently Emma had already made this her kitchen and the remodeling hadn’t even started. “What else is on your wish list?” Alaina asked.

  “I’ll let you know,” Emma said with a grin.

  Alaina laughed. “While you’re thinking about how else you can spend my money, I’ll show you the rest of the house. Then I have an appointment at Coleman Construction to look at the draft of the blueprints.”

  “When do we eat?” Emma asked. “I’m starving.”

  “Alaina and I ate before we left Dallas,” Kelcey said.

  “Goody for you. I needed sleep more than food this morning.”

  “We’ll have an early lunch, after I talk to Rye. How’s that?”

  “Works for me.” Emma grinned again. “As long as you’re buying.”

  *

  “I think you need to widen that staircase to the attic, Rye,” his father said.

  “I agree. Griff will add more light fixtures too.” He pointed to the area on his father’s drawing that indicated Alaina’s suite in the turret. “Alaina will love this.”

  “I hope so. Of course, this is simply a draft. She can make any changes she wants.”

  “You drew everything exactly how she described it. She can’t help but love it.”

  “It’s going to be a big job.”

  “Yeah. It’ll keep us busy for several months.”

  Kenneth leaned back in his chair. “You still have reservations about accepting a job from Alesia’s sister?”

  Rye considered his father’s question for several seconds before answering. “No. Dax and Griff were right. I can’t let what happened with Alesia cloud my judgment. It’s a big job, like you said, and good for the company. Alaina and I will work together, but that’s all.”

  A flash of what happened between him and Alaina in Stevens House almost made Rye squirm, but he caught himself before he did anything to draw his father’s suspicion.

  He must not have succeeded, for his father’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure that’s all?”

  “Dad, I’m not going to get involved with Alesia’s sister. That would be stupid, don’t you think?”

  Kenneth shrugged. “Not necessarily. She seems to be a lot different than Alesia. You and Dax and Griff are brothers, but you’re completely different people.”

  His father had a point. Rye doubted if there could be any siblings as individual as he and his brothers.

  “She’s a lovely young lady,” Kenneth said. “You can’t deny that.”

  “No, I can’t.”

  His father continued to study him, as if he expected him to say more about Alaina. “What?”

  “Nothing.” Kenneth looked back at the blueprint drafts. “I wonder if Bella has pictures of the house she’d share with Alaina. I’
m sure Alaina wants it to look as much as possible like the original house.”

  Grateful for the change of subject back to Stevens House and off Alaina, Rye opened his mouth to comment when he heard the front door buzzer, announcing someone had entered. “I’ll be right back, Dad.”

  Rye stepped into the front room. Alaina held the door for two other women to come in behind her. He glanced at the petite brunette and tall blonde, but his gaze quickly returned to Alaina. His heart did a funny tap dance in his chest at the sight of her.

  Alaina smiled. “Hi. I brought my housemates with me to look at the house. This is Emma Keeton,” she said, pointing to the brunette, “and Kelcey Ewing. Gals, this is Rye Coleman.”

  “Hi,” Emma said with a huge smile. “Alaina said you’re one of triplets. Are your brothers as gorgeous as you?”

  A sputter of laughter escaped before Rye could stop it. No one could say Emma wasn’t direct. “We favor each other.”

  “Great. Are they single?”

  “Emma, behave!” Kelcey said sharply.

  Emma waved a hand in the blonde’s direction, but continued to look at Rye. “So, are they?”

  Rye struggled not to laugh. He thought Emma was a little outrageous, which was exactly the type of woman Griff needed in his life. “Yes, they are.”

  “Goody.”

  He looked at Alaina to see her eyes sparkling with laughter. “We usually keep her on a leash, but she got free today.”

  Emma frowned at Alaina. “You’re the one who told me Rye is gorgeous.”

  A blush filled Alaina’s cheeks and she bit her bottom lip. Rye liked knowing she found him attractive.

  So did Alesia. And look where that got you.

  That sobering realization erased any thoughts of Emma, Griff or anyone else except Alaina and the fact that she was Alesia’s sister. He couldn’t trust her, and Rye could never become involved with a woman he couldn’t trust.

  Kenneth peeked around the corner. “Rye, invite the ladies in here to look at the drawings.” He switched his attention to Alaina. “I have a rough draft. I’ll make any changes you want before creating the final blueprints.”

  Rye led the way to the large table in the break room, where he and his father had laid out the house drawings. Emma made a detour toward the counter where the coffeepot sat. A sound of distress came from her throat. “There’s no coffee!”

  “I’ll make another pot,” Rye said.

  “I’ll do it,” Kenneth said. “Show Alaina and her friends the drawings.”

  “Actually,” Kelcey said, “I’d like to borrow your restroom first.”

  “Sure.” Rye led Kelcey to another doorway. “To your left, turn the corner, and it’s on the right.”

  With Kelcey gone, and his father and Emma across the room, that left him alone with Alaina. She wandered over to the table and touched the top sheet of the house drawings almost reverently. “Oh, Rye. This is wonderful.”

  “Sit down and look through all of them.”

  “Can I?”

  Her wide smile and bright eyes reminded him of a child on Christmas morning. He couldn’t help smiling at her. “Sure. They’re for your house.”

  She sat and he took the chair next to her. Her eyes grew brighter and her smile widened with each page that she turned. “Kenneth, these are perfect. I love them.”

  Full mug of coffee in hand, Kenneth came back to the table. “These are only drafts. I can easily make changes.”

  “No no, they’re perfect as is. I don’t know what I would change.”

  “Dad has this really neat 3-D program. It almost feels real as you walk through the house. He can put in furniture, carpeting, paint on the walls, whatever you want.”

  “Sounds like fun,” Emma said before she sipped her coffee.

  “Sounds like something Kelcey would like to play with,” Alaina said. “She loves technology stuff.” She shifted in her chair to face Kenneth. “When can you have the actual blueprints done?”

  “Probably tomorrow, but it might be Saturday.”

  Alaina clasped her hands beneath her chin as she looked at Rye. “Can you start working Monday, like you said?”

  “I’ll know for sure tomorrow. The city council meets tonight. I’m helping install some French doors at Bella’s house this afternoon. I’ll find out if she’s done anything about applying for the rezoning.”

  “Ohmigod, I’m so excited, I can hardly stand it.” She picked up the house drawings. “Can I keep these?” she asked Kenneth.

  “Sure. I have everything on my computer.”

  “Great.” She jumped up from her chair and turned to Emma. “Let’s go back to the house and compare these with the rooms.”

  “Not until you feed me.”

  “Okay, okay, but you have to eat fast. Where’s Kelc?”

  “I’m here,” Kelcey said, walking into the room. “What did I miss?”

  “Lainy will tell you all about it while we eat.” Emma hooked her hands around each woman’s elbow. “Let’s go.”

  Alaina waved with her free hand. “Call me when you know something, Rye.”

  “Will do.”

  Rye chuckled. “Quite a trio, aren’t they?”

  “It feels like they took all the oxygen with them,” Kenneth said, grinning.

  “Yeah.”

  “I didn’t get the chance to speak to Kelcey, but Emma is a little spitfire. I like her almost as much as Alaina.” Kenneth sipped his coffee, looking at Rye over the edge of the mug. “Yep, I really like Alaina.”

  Rye knew what his father was doing and he wouldn’t let it happen. “I told you, I’m not getting involved with Alaina.”

  “Now did I say a word about you getting involved with her? I just said I like her.”

  “Yeah, and the next thing you’ll be doing is having Mom invite her to Sunday dinner.”

  Kenneth grinned. “There’s an idea.”

  “Dad—”

  All traces of humor disappeared from Kenneth’s face. “I want you to be happy, son.”

  “I know that, Dad. But Alaina May isn’t the woman for me.”

  Chapter Eight

  April 17, 1937

  Our mother is much better, and Laura is sure it’s because his personal physician helped her. He seems to be drawing her in tighter and tighter, like a spider wrapping a trapped insect in its web.

  I’m so worried my sister is going to get caught in that web and never get out.

  *

  Dax greeted Rye with a huge smile. “Mornin’, bro. Ready to start a new job?”

  Rye stood in the middle of the living room of Stevens House, blueprints spread out on a piece of plywood held up by two sawhorses. “I’m ready, but knowing exactly where to start is a bitch.”

  “Someone’s already working somewhere. I hear a lot of noise.”

  “Dusty, Jerry and Reuben are tearing off the roof.”

  “I noticed you’ve already arranged for three Dumpsters.”

  “We’ll fill them up fast. Just about everything in this house will have to be replaced.”

  Dax peered over Rye’s shoulder at the drawings. “Do you want me to work in a room with you, or stick me somewhere else?”

  “Let’s wait for Griff. We need to know how much electrical work he’ll have to do.”

  “Is Fred coming?”

  “Yeah, he’ll be here about eight-thirty. He had to take his daughter to school this morning.”

  “He’ll probably have to do as much plumbing work as Griff will electrical.”

  “Yeah.” Sighing, Rye glanced around the room. “I don’t know why Alaina was so adamant that she buy this house. She could’ve built a brand new house for less than what it’s going to cost her to fix up this one.”

  Dax followed Rye’s gaze around the room. “Yeah, but this house has a history.”

  Rye snorted. “That’s for sure.”

  “I’m not talking about our family’s history with this house. It has…character. A new house would be st
erile with no emotion to it. This house has a heart.”

  It was no wonder his brother was such a hit with the ladies. He had a poet’s soul. “You spout off drivel like that to your dates?”

  Dax flashed Rye a wide grin. “Works every time.”

  Rory and Paul came in the front door, tool belts around their waists and lunch boxes in their hands. Rye pointed the way to the dining room so his workers could put away their lunches. He’d arrived almost an hour ago with enough cleaning supplies to make a spot for his men to take their breaks without having to sit in filth. He’d also brought two card tables with folding chairs, a small microwave, a coffee pot and colorful plastic mugs, and a huge ice chest full of bottled water and other cold drinks. Coleman Construction didn’t furnish the workers’ lunches, but Rye always made sure there was plenty on hand to drink.

  The rest of Coleman’s crew arrived shortly after Rory and Paul. As soon as Griff and Fred arrived, Rye could call everyone together to discuss who would do what and where.

  Rye returned to studying the blueprints and making notes on his legal pad. A movement in the doorway leading to the hall caught his attention. He looked to his right to see Alaina walking toward him. She wore jeans so faded, they should’ve gone into a rag bag a long time ago. Her loose navy T-shirt hung to mid-thigh, a red kerchief covered her hair. Her eyelashes had been thickened with mascara, but he couldn’t see evidence of any other makeup. She carried a large plastic container and a matching smaller one.

  “Hi,” she said, smiling. “I’ll put my stuff in the kitchen and get started.”

  “Get started with what?”

  “Whatever you want me to do. I’m here to work.”

  When he’d called Alaina Friday to tell her the city council had approved the rezoning and his company would start work Monday as planned, Rye never imagined she would show up today. He had assumed she’d do some minor painting when it was time for that, but there wouldn’t be any need for painting for several weeks. “What?”

  “I told you I’m going to work right alongside your men.”