“How’s your fish?” Dillon asked her. “Would you mind if I tried a bite?”
Her fork fell to the plate with a clang.
Ryan shook his head. Viola covered her mouth with a hand, her shoulders shaking from quiet laughter. Jon continued eating his spaghetti, oblivious to the inappropriateness of his nephew’s request.
“No. Go ahead. I’m done.” She removed her napkin from her lap, dropped it on the table then stood. “Viola, would you join me in the ladies’ room?”
Both Ryan and Dillon also stood. What was this, the nineteen-fifties?
“I’m good,” her sister said, grinning.
Portia glowered at her and Viola got the message.
Viola placed a hand on Jon’s shoulder. “Will you excuse us? We’ve got to flour our noses.”
“Powder. We’ve got to go powder our noses,” Portia corrected out of habit.
“Sure. Hurry back,” he replied.
She and her sister maneuvered around the tables and down a short hallway to the restroom.
As soon as they stumbled through the door, Viola burst out into hysterical laughter. “Seriously, it’s like watching two cats fight over a bone.”
Portia put her hands on her hips. “It’s dogs and I’m not a bone. I can’t believe how immature they both are and you’re no help. The least you can do is help me out of this mess since you’re the one who got me into it.”
“Oh, no, don’t blame me. How was I to know you’d bring Ryan or even that you’re dating? You haven’t said a word these days other than everything is fine and the house is coming along. I swear I knew more about your life when you lived two thousand miles away from me. I had planned on leaving Michigan, but I stuck around because you moved here. Now I wonder if I should have just left.”
Guilt swamped her. Since their first dinner together, she and her sister hadn’t spent any time together. She’d spent every spare moment trying to get the house in order and often passed out from exhaustion before she could call her sister. “No.” She hugged her. “I’m glad you stayed. I want us to be close again. That’s why I was excited when Alexander’s attorney called and invited me to Michigan. But even if he hadn’t, I would’ve come to you anyway. You’re not only my litter sister. You’re more like my twin. I don’t feel complete without you around. I’m sorry I haven’t said what’s going on with me and Ryan. We’re not dating.”
“Then what’s with the caveman act tonight? I thought he was going to hoist you over his shoulder at one point and carry you off.”
She stuck her hands under the warm water of the sink. “There’s something between us. I just don’t know what to call it. Chemistry or lust, maybe.”
“So nothing’s happened between the two of you?”
She could lie, but her sister could tell from her blush. Or her fidgeting. Or from whatever bond tied the two of them together. “I wouldn’t say that. We’ve kissed. But, it wasn’t a good idea and I told him that. But then . . .”
“Then?”
She shut off the water and dried her hands. “I had the strangest dream last night. I was in Greece, wearing a wedding dress, and dancing with my husband at our reception.”
Surprisingly, her sister’s face remained expressionless. “What’s strange about that?”
“Well, for one thing, my husband was Ryan.”
A small smile tugged at the sides of Viola’s lips. “Hmm. That doesn’t sound strange.”
“I don’t know how to explain it. I’d swear it was a memory of a past-life. But that’s insane, right?”
Viola shrugged. “I don’t know if I’d say you’re insane. I mean, you’re not claiming to be his Muse or anything like Mom would.” She almost phrased it as a question and paused as if waiting for Portia to deny the comment.
Portia didn’t hear the earth sing, so the chances she was a Muse were slim to none.
Her sister waved her hand. “I’m sure it’s only your subconscious helping you process your feelings about Ryan. And I think it’s telling you to go for it.”
“But we both want different things. He wants me to sell the house—”
“Who cares? This is a fling, right? You’re not thinking of a relationship with him?”
“No. Of course not,” she said quickly.
Viola gave her a knowing smile and placed her hand on Portia’s shoulder. “You don’t have to listen to me, after all, I’m just your little sister, but I think you should seize the opportunity.” She pointed a finger at her. “Just use a condom, young lady.”