Page 125 of Juniper Hill (The Edens 2)

Behind him, a door opened and Talia came striding out with a smile. Her long dark ponytail draped over one shoulder and she’d pulled on a jacket over her baby-blue scrub top.

“I’m looking for a doctor who works here,” Foster said. “Talia Eden.”

Why would Foster Madden be looking for Talia?

Talia’s smile fell. Her footsteps halted. Faster than I’d ever seen her move, she darted behind the reception counter.

“Uh . . .” What the fuck?

Foster glanced over his shoulder, following my gaze, but she’d crouched so low that it was like she’d vanished.

“You might try the ER,” Memphis blurted. “Maybe they can track her down for you. Just head out the doors and down the sidewalk to the other side of the building. You can’t miss it.”

“Appreciate it.” Foster nodded, then as quickly as he’d come in, he was gone.

Memphis and I shared a look, waiting until he was out of sight.

“Coast’s clear,” I called.

Talia inched up, her eyes barely over the counter’s ledge. “Is he gone?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “Want to tell me why you’re hiding from Foster Madden?”

“Nope.” She got to her feet, tiptoeing around the desk. Her eyes stayed glued to the glass windows, checking to make sure he was gone. “I should go.”

“What about dinner?” Memphis asked.

“Rain check.” And before we could say another word, she ran—not jogged, but sprinted—out the doors. She hit the sidewalk and did one quick check for Foster, then bolted to her car in the parking lot.

“Okay,” I drawled. “What the hell was that about?”

“Does she know him?”

“No idea.” Apparently enough to recognize his voice and from the back. “I’ll call her later.”

Not that I expected her to tell me anything. Talia was a lot like me. If she didn’t want to talk about something, she wouldn’t. Lyla and Eloise wore their emotions on their pretty faces for the world to see. Talia kept hers locked behind our family’s signature blue eyes.

“I’m sure it’s nothing.” I kissed Memphis’s temple, then helped her into the car. I did not want my wife stressed about my sister. “I got an email from Lester today.”

“Really?” Memphis sat up straighter. “What did he say?”

“He’s coming to Quincy in January. The magazine wants him to do a best of the best article or something.”

“And he picked you. Of course he’d pick you.” She did a fist pump. “This is amazing.”

Lester’s article from last year had brought more people than I’d expected to Quincy. The hotel was poised to have its biggest year in history and the restaurant had doubled my initial income projections.

That kind of money meant more staff. And more staff meant that Memphis and I had more freedom and flexibility.

She wasn’t working as a housekeeper these days, but once or twice a week, she’d cover the front desk because she genuinely enjoyed the work and helping Eloise at the hotel. She loved being a part of the family business.

“I’ve been thinking about that wedding in May,” Memphis said. “Maybe I should tell the bride no.”

“Absolutely not.”

She sighed. “We’re going to have so much going on. Drake’s only one. We’ll have a newborn. Our schedule is so busy already. I don’t know if it’s smart to add a wedding planning job into the mix.”

“Do you want to do it?”