An Enright Family Collection by Mariah Stewart

Author:Mariah Stewart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books

Chapter

17

A narrow sleeve of morning sunlight elbowed through the gauzy white curtain, and Zoey stretched in its warmth like an overgrown cat, momentarily disoriented when she opened her eyes and found herself in her old bed in her old room in her mother’s house. Knowing that the party would most likely last till the wee hours, she had packed an overnight bag and planned to stay. Besides, she had wanted to spend as much time this weekend with her mother and siblings, her future sister-in-law and her family. Her nose caught a whiff of something wonderful being prepared for breakfast. Sausage and pancakes, most likely, one of Nick’s favorites. She smiled. Mrs. Colson always did love to spoil Nicky.

She flopped back on the pillow, and raised her arms above her head. It had been a lovely party. She sighed, remembering it all.

Had that really been her, dancing in the moonlight with Ben Pierce? And had that really been Ben, kissing her like he meant it?

It had! It had! A little voice inside her head crowed.

She grinned, then laughed out loud.

Kissing Ben was every bit as wonderful, every bit as exciting, as she had known it would be. His lips were that warm, his tongue that knowing and clever . . .

Just thinking about it brought that coil of anticipation back to her gut and caused her breath to catch in her throat.

“Careful, Zoey,” he had said. “I’m not feeling very big brotherly right now.”

“And that is the best news I’ve gotten in a very long time,” she said aloud to the menagerie of her old stuffed animals that crowded a shelf on the opposite side of the room, “particularly since sisterly is the last word I’d use to describe how I feel about you, Bennett Pierce.”

She hopped out of bed and into the bathroom, all but dancing. Delia had invited Ben for brunch. He would be here in less than an hour.

Maybe, before the day was over, she’d get the chance to kiss him again.

* * *

“You’re in an awfully good mood this morning,” Georgia noted as Zoey bustled into the dining room where she sat alone at the long table, still laden with the elaborate centerpiece from the night before.

“Umm.” Zoey patted her sister on the back on the way to the buffet, where all manner of delectable dishes had been set to tempt the diners. “Oh, wow, eggs Benedict.”

Zoey opened the door leading into the kitchen and called, “I love you, Mrs. Colson.”

“I love you too, Zoey,” came the cheerful reply. “Enjoy your eggs.”

“I will, I will.”

“Where is everyone?” Zoey asked Georgia, who was sorting through the basket of herbal tea bags on the sideboard. “Has everyone else eaten already?”

“August just went down to the barn to get India and Corri, who, being Corri, wanted to give the ponies each an apple for their breakfasts. Mom and Nicky are outside.” She waved a hand toward the window, where, beyond, at the foot of the garden path, her mother stood with her brother.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.