Atlas once again bounded past her to get to Shaye.
“Hello Big Lug,” Shaye greeted the dog. Atlas danced around her. She smiled at Beth. “I’m Shaye, Rylan’s sister.”
“I’m Beth Avery, Ry’s PA.”
Before the women could speak further, a white van pulled into the driveway. C ATES V OLLEYBALL C LINIC was highlighted in black on the panel door. The rear doors were cracked, and metal poles were visible. A red flag hung from the ends.
A very tall, lean man in jeans and a gray T-shirt climbed out. His shirt had a picture of a volleyball and the script Go for the Kill. He walked around the hood and opened the passenger side door. A pretty, petite, very pregnant woman in a light green sundress stepped out. The man curved his arm about her shoulders and held her close as they crossed to the porch. He matched his longer stride to her shorter steps.
“My brother Dune and his wife Sophie,” Shaye said as the couple approached. “This is Beth Avery, Rylan’s assistant.”
Sophie gave Beth a soft smile. “Rylan is a busy guy.”
“My brother’s organized, but his life can be overwhelming.” Dune appealed to Beth, “A confidential request, please. I’d consider it a personal favor if you could find an hour or two for him to relax each night. Close off his life to the public.” It was obvious Dune cared about his brother. Recently retired from playing professional beach volleyball, Dune understood the importance of privacy and downtime. Of exhaling and rejuvenating.
“I’ll do my best,” Beth said.
“Hey, look who’s arrived.” Halo appeared in the doorway. He crossed to Dune and thumped him on the back. He smiled at Shaye and said, “Hi, Mom,” to Sophie.
Sophie blushed.
Shaye caught sight of Landon as he came to stand behind Halo. “Look who’s already here.” She raised one eyebrow over their T-shirts. “ Family, really?”
“Ry-man is like a brother to us,” said Landon.
“A brother who’s not home.” Shaye eyed the men suspiciously. “So why are you here?”
“We didn’t know he was away when we dropped by,” Halo said. “We hadn’t planned to stay long, but Beth begged us to help with the picnic.”
Shaye glanced at Beth. “She did, did she?”
“Begged them on bended knee,” Beth said straight-faced.
That made Halo smile. “She got us to volunteer.”
“To do what?” asked Dune.
“Yard work,” said Beth.
“Landon’s mowing and I’m trimming,” said Halo.
Dune looked uneasy. “You trust them with a mower and trimmer?”
“It’s a push mower and rope operated pole saw,” Beth informed him.
“Still, there are blades,” said Shaye.
“We’re being careful.” Landon glanced at the van. “Can we help you unload the volleyball equipment?”
Dune nodded. “There are poles, a net, two volleyballs and a pole hole digger. There’s a tape measure in the glove compartment to mark off the court. I picked up bags of mulch to mark the side and back lines.”
“I’m on it.” Landon went down the steps two at a time and jogged toward the van.
Dune gazed fondly down on his wife. “Go sit inside, Sophie. Put your feet up.”
She nodded, and he went after Landon.
“I’ve got the croquet set.” Halo took it from Shaye. He shouldered the box; headed back through the house.
The women remained on the front porch. “When is your baby due?” Beth asked Sophie.
Sophie placed her hand on her tummy, smiled. “Mid-July. You’d think I was delivering today the way Dune hovers.”
The man was protective of his woman. Beth liked that fact. “Boy or girl?”
“Dune said he didn’t have a gender preference, but when the doctor announced we were having a boy, my husband jumped as high as he once did when spiking a volleyball for match point.”
“Congratulations.” Beth held the front door open for Sophie and Shaye. “You’re welcome to sit on the couch, although it’s a bit lopsided,” she said to Sophie. “Or you might prefer a kitchen
“Hello Big Lug,” Shaye greeted the dog. Atlas danced around her. She smiled at Beth. “I’m Shaye, Rylan’s sister.”
“I’m Beth Avery, Ry’s PA.”
Before the women could speak further, a white van pulled into the driveway. C ATES V OLLEYBALL C LINIC was highlighted in black on the panel door. The rear doors were cracked, and metal poles were visible. A red flag hung from the ends.
A very tall, lean man in jeans and a gray T-shirt climbed out. His shirt had a picture of a volleyball and the script Go for the Kill. He walked around the hood and opened the passenger side door. A pretty, petite, very pregnant woman in a light green sundress stepped out. The man curved his arm about her shoulders and held her close as they crossed to the porch. He matched his longer stride to her shorter steps.
“My brother Dune and his wife Sophie,” Shaye said as the couple approached. “This is Beth Avery, Rylan’s assistant.”
Sophie gave Beth a soft smile. “Rylan is a busy guy.”
“My brother’s organized, but his life can be overwhelming.” Dune appealed to Beth, “A confidential request, please. I’d consider it a personal favor if you could find an hour or two for him to relax each night. Close off his life to the public.” It was obvious Dune cared about his brother. Recently retired from playing professional beach volleyball, Dune understood the importance of privacy and downtime. Of exhaling and rejuvenating.
“I’ll do my best,” Beth said.
“Hey, look who’s arrived.” Halo appeared in the doorway. He crossed to Dune and thumped him on the back. He smiled at Shaye and said, “Hi, Mom,” to Sophie.
Sophie blushed.
Shaye caught sight of Landon as he came to stand behind Halo. “Look who’s already here.” She raised one eyebrow over their T-shirts. “ Family, really?”
“Ry-man is like a brother to us,” said Landon.
“A brother who’s not home.” Shaye eyed the men suspiciously. “So why are you here?”
“We didn’t know he was away when we dropped by,” Halo said. “We hadn’t planned to stay long, but Beth begged us to help with the picnic.”
Shaye glanced at Beth. “She did, did she?”
“Begged them on bended knee,” Beth said straight-faced.
That made Halo smile. “She got us to volunteer.”
“To do what?” asked Dune.
“Yard work,” said Beth.
“Landon’s mowing and I’m trimming,” said Halo.
Dune looked uneasy. “You trust them with a mower and trimmer?”
“It’s a push mower and rope operated pole saw,” Beth informed him.
“Still, there are blades,” said Shaye.
“We’re being careful.” Landon glanced at the van. “Can we help you unload the volleyball equipment?”
Dune nodded. “There are poles, a net, two volleyballs and a pole hole digger. There’s a tape measure in the glove compartment to mark off the court. I picked up bags of mulch to mark the side and back lines.”
“I’m on it.” Landon went down the steps two at a time and jogged toward the van.
Dune gazed fondly down on his wife. “Go sit inside, Sophie. Put your feet up.”
She nodded, and he went after Landon.
“I’ve got the croquet set.” Halo took it from Shaye. He shouldered the box; headed back through the house.
The women remained on the front porch. “When is your baby due?” Beth asked Sophie.
Sophie placed her hand on her tummy, smiled. “Mid-July. You’d think I was delivering today the way Dune hovers.”
The man was protective of his woman. Beth liked that fact. “Boy or girl?”
“Dune said he didn’t have a gender preference, but when the doctor announced we were having a boy, my husband jumped as high as he once did when spiking a volleyball for match point.”
“Congratulations.” Beth held the front door open for Sophie and Shaye. “You’re welcome to sit on the couch, although it’s a bit lopsided,” she said to Sophie. “Or you might prefer a kitchen
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