The Mirror (The Lost Bride Trilogy #2)

“Oh, hell yeah,” Owen agreed.

“Will the Pooles?” Sonya wondered.

“The ones who are around? Probably, yeah. Everybody got what they wanted, Sonya. They’ve got no beef with you.”

“People who knew Collin liked him,” Trey added. “Those who didn’t know him, they’ll come out of curiosity. And because both of you are making connections in the village.”

“I like the village,” Cleo said. “I’m going to like seeing it from the bay when you build me that boat.”

“He’s got the design.”

“Does he?” Over the rim of her glass, Cleo smiled. “I’d like to see it.”

“Am I bugging you about the painting?”

“But,” Cleo pointed out, “you’ve seen it in progress.”

“I walked in on it. I don’t do showings.”

“What about Yoda’s doghouse?” When Owen sent Sonya an exasperated look, she waved it away. “No, I’ll come back to that. Getting off topic. The Event. Do you think we could get Manny’s group to play?”

“You want the band?”

As Trey considered, Owen grabbed the bread. “Now we’re talking. I figured you’d do some fancy formal deal where everyone’s standing around like stiffs while somebody’s playing the harp or whatever.”

“We could get a harpist to play in the front parlor.”

Owen pointed at Cleo. “Don’t spoil it. Rock Hard? They’ll jump on it.”

“They’ll jump on it,” Trey agreed. “Just understand you’re going to have people roaming all over the manor.”

“That’s why it’s called an open house. But hoping for good weather,”Sonya put in, “we’re going to set up tables outside. We’ve got several folding tables in storage.”

“You hear that, Trey?” Owen tilted his head as if listening. “That’s the sound of you and me getting drafted into hauling up tables.”

“And chairs,” Cleo added. “And, Son, I think we should hang some party lights.”

“Who doesn’t love party lights?”

“The person who has to hang them,” Owen said. “Then take them down.”

“Maybe we’ll leave them up. Cleo?”

“I love that idea. String them in that wonderful witchy weeper, around the deck over the apartment.”

“Which is where we’d want the band to set up. It’s a good thing, Trey.” Sonya reached over for his hand. “A good, positive thing.”

“It’s a good, positive thing. And good, positive community relations.”

“Another solid bonus on that. A woman has to earn a living.”

“How’s the Ryder proposal going?”

“I got some time in on it today before I switched to my revamp of Gigi’s website.”

“The girlie place on Bay off High Street?” Owen reached for a second helping. Of everything.

“Would you call it girlie?”