Sanctuary

casually. “Down around by Osprey Dunes. I got a lot of scrap wood put by, and it’s going to be a clear night.” When Lexy pushed through the door, Giff was a satisfied man. “I thought you might want to tell your guests here, let the cottagers and campers know.”
    “Know what?” Lex demanded.
    “About the bonfire.”
    “Tonight?” Her eyes lit as she set dishes on the counter. “Where?”
    “Down around Osprey.” Giff carefully replaced his tools in his dented metal box. “You’ll come on down, won’t you, Brian?”
    “I don’t know, Giff. I’ve got some paperwork to catch up on.”
    “Oh, come on, Bri.” Lexy nudged him as she reached for the new orders. “Don’t be such a stick. We’ll all come.” Hoping to irritate Giff, she flashed an inviting smile at Nathan. “You’ll come down, won’t you? There’s nothing like a bonfire on the beach.”
    “Wouldn’t miss it.” He slid a cautious glance at Giff, hoping the man had put his hammer away.
    “Terrific.” She beamed at him as she walked by, the full-candlepower smile she saved for special occasions. “I’ll start spreading the word.”
    Giff scratched his chin as he unfolded himself and rose. “No need to look so uneasy, Nate. Flirting comes naturally to Lexy.”
    “Uh-huh.” Nathan eyed the toolbox, thought of all the potential weapons inside.
    “Doesn’t bother me any.” At home, Giff took a biscuit out of a bowl and bit in. “Man decides to take on a beautiful woman, he’s got to expect a little flirting on her side, a lot of looking from other men. So you go right on and look.” Giff hefted his toolbox and winked. “Now, you do more than look, we’d have to go around some. See you tonight.”
    He went off whistling.
    “You know, Bri ...” Nathan picked up his plate to carry it to the sink. “That guy has biceps like rock. I don’t believe I’m even going to look.”
    “Good thinking. Now you can pay for that breakfast by loading the dishwasher.”
     
     
    “I don’t feel like socializing, Kate. I’m going to do some darkroom work tonight.”
    “You’re not doing any kind of work.” Kate marched over to Jo’s dresser, picked up the simple wooden-handled hairbrush, and shook it at her. “You’re going to put on some lipstick, fix your hair, and go down to that bonfire. You’re going to dance in the sand, drink some wine, and by God, you’re going to have a good time.”
    Before Jo could protest again, Kate held up a hand, traffic-cop style. “Save your breath, girl. I’ve already had this round with Brian, and won. You might as well just throw in the towel now.”
    When she tossed the hairbrush, Jo caught it before it beaned her. “I don’t see why it matters—”
    “It matters,” Kate said between her teeth and wrenched open the door on the rosewood armoire. “It matters that people in this house learn how to have a little fun now and then. When I’m through with you, I’m going to go browbeat your father.”
    Jo snorted, flopped back on the bed. “Not a chance.”
    “He’ll go,” Kate said grimly as she studied what there was of Jo’s wardrobe. “If I have to knock him unconscious and drag him down to the beach. Don’t you have a blouse in here that looks remotely like you care what you have on your back?” Disgusted, she shoved aside hangers. “Something the least bit stylish or attractive?”
    Without waiting for an answer, she went to the door, calling out, “Alexa! You pick out a blouse for your sister and bring it down here.”
    “I don’t want one of her shirts.” Alarmed now, Jo hopped up. “If I have to go, I’ll go in my own clothes. And I’m not going, so it doesn’t matter.”
    “You’re going. Put some curl in your hair. I’m tired of seeing it just hang there.”
    “I don’t have anything to put curl in it with if I wanted curl in it, which I don’t.”
    “Hah!” was Kate’s only response. “Alexa, you bring that blouse and your hot rollers down here to your sister’s room.”
    “You stay out of here, Lex,” Jo shouted. “Kate, I’m not sixteen years old.”
    “No, you’re not.” Kate gave a decisive nod, the little gold drops in her ears bobbing at the movement. “You’re a grown woman, and a lovely one. It’s long past time you took some pride in it. Now, you’re going, and you’re going to put some effort into your appearance, and I won’t take any sass about it. Damn kids, fighting me every which way,” she muttered and swung