Falling for the Best Man (Sisters of Wishing Bridge Farm, #1)(8)

“He doubles as a pillow and a way to distract children if I get stuck next to one that’s crying,” Bec said as she continued to give Christopher an appraising glance. “Do you travel much?”

“Yes, he does,” Emmy interrupted, long familiar with Bec’s stalling techniques, not to mention the challenging gleam in her younger sister’s eyes. She then turned to Christopher. “Would you mind giving us a few minutes so we can have a sisterly chat?”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to move out? I feel bad. Especially since it’s late afternoon in England. You must be exhausted.”

“Thank you. I’m pleased someone understands the rigors of international travel,” Bec said in a pointed voice. “But please, you’re welcome to stay in the cottage. I’ll just sleep in my old room. Unless, of course, Emmy’s done something else out of character and turned it into a home gym.”

“Hahaha, you’re hilarious.” Emmy rolled her eyes. Sure, her sisters thought she was set in her ways, but she wasn’t that bad. Besides, there were plenty of bedrooms in the house. It wasn’t her fault Bec preferred to sleep in the old cottage since she was sixteen years old. She waited for Christopher to walk out the back door and down the hill before she dragged her attention back to where her sister was still standing. “So, are you going to tell me what’s really going on?”

“Nothing,” Bec protested, still not making eye contact. “I just decided to come home for a while. Plus, Pepper thought—”

“Pepper thought what? That I might be okay with you two trying to sell this place?” Emmy’s throat tightened and her fingers clenched. In between organizing the wedding and trying not to be affected by Christopher Henderson’s ample charms, she was off her game by a mile.

“Emm, it’s not like that.” Bec blew her bangs out of her face and rubbed her stomach. “We both know how much you love this place. And how much Ivy loved it, too. But we’re worried about you. You’re twenty-five and have never left home.”

“That’s not true. In case you’ve forgotten, I went to New York.”

Okay, bad example.

“You went to New York once. For two days.” Bec waved her hand as if the trip was too insignificant to even matter. “And then you came back even more determined not to leave again. What we’re doing is for your own good. Plus, this place is in worse condition than last time I was here. The sooner we sell it, the faster someone with resources can come along and restore it to its former glory. Coop told me his parents have never been happier since they sold the farm. Ditto with the Beckets. They’re now cruising the Mediterranean.”

“Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean we should.” Emmy couldn’t hide her annoyance. Besides, while it was true Ben Cooper’s folks had sold most of their land, they’d kept the original farmstead Coop now used to run his microbrewery. “It’s not just about the money. It’s about keeping the place local. At the last town meeting there were only fifteen people there. Did Coop tell you that?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact he did. He also told me it was a yawnfest,” Bec said in a serene voice.

“That’s not the point,” Emmy growled, since it was impossible to deny town meetings could be a bit long-winded. “It’s tradition. As is having a Watson at Wishing Bridge Farm. Why do you think Ivy worked so hard to keep it in the family?”

“Because she didn’t know better. She never left Connecticut, let alone the U.S. All Pepper and I want to do is give you a chance to spread your wings.”

“But I’m not like you and Pepper. I never was. I like it here.” And the one time I tried to spread my wings, it ended in a disaster. A disaster that I’m now forced to live with for the next four days.

Emmy gritted her teeth. Her two jet-setting sisters couldn’t understand she wasn’t designed the same way they were. They thrived on adventure and the unknown, but Emmy much preferred a quieter life.

The kind she’d grown up with.

The kind Ivy had led.

The kind that didn’t result in car accidents.

“Hey, that’s harsh. I might like traveling, but that’s about the only thing Pepper and I have in common,” Bec protested. “And contrary to what you think, I really didn’t come here to fight with you. Besides, there are much more exciting things to talk about. How long have you and the delicious Christopher been dating?”

“We’re not,” Emmy assured her, well-accustomed to her sister’s sudden changes in topic. Ivy used to say Bec had the attention span of a gnat and was happy to flit from one thing to the other, making friends and laughter wherever she went. Emmy guessed it was true, though from her perspective, all she saw was the trail of destruction Bec unknowingly left in her wake.

“Really?” Bec seemed to be studying her intently, and it took all of Emmy’s willpower not to blink.

“No. Of course not. Absolutely,” Emmy said, reminding herself that regardless of how nice he looked in his denim shirt, he was not for her. Not by a long shot. “He’s just one of the wedding guests.”

“Who’s staying here? I might not be business minded, but I’m pretty sure housing guests isn’t what a wedding planner’s meant to do.”

“It’s not like that,” Emmy said in a tight voice.