hair was pulled back in her customary low ponytail. Her uniform was crisp and clean.
“When he arrives tonight with Meghan Henry,” Owen said with relish.
Keira’s eyes widened. “You’re bringing her to Charles and Demi’s engagement party?”
A wicked grin broke over her face. “Naw. No problem. Wow, Mr. Commitment-shy is bringing a date to meet the family. What about Sunday dinner?”
“Maybe.” He hadn’t thought that far ahead yet. But the thought bounced around his head. “I’m not sure.”
Keira chuckled. “I think you should. She’s one gutsy woman.”
Pride infused Ryan. “Yes, she is. She went through a lot this past week and held up admirably. Now Christina’s in jail, and little Georgina’s safe.”
“I’m glad you found Christina. I was tired of answering the tip lines. There sure are some wackos out there,” she said.
A tight fist of apprehension lodged in Ryan’s gut. “What do you mean, wackos?”
“You know, the ones who call to say aliens abducted her or that she’s with Elvis in Graceland.”
Regular wackos. There was still one very mean and dangerous threat out there. Ryan would feel a lot better once they caught Roman Wykoski. Having him roaming around on the loose made Ryan edgy. He wouldn’t rest until Wykoski was captured. He’d probably already fled the country; crawling back to whatever hidey-hole he’d come from.
At least Ryan could be confident the man wouldn’t come anywhere near Fitzgerald Bay.
Or Meghan.
Meghan hoped the jean skirt, ruffled blouse and strappy sandals weren’t too fancy or too casual for an engagement party. She was hoping for just right. She’d changed clothes at least three times, nervous over spending time with Ryan’s family in such a social setting.
Footsteps sounded on the porch. She smoothed her hair and checked her lipstick in the mirror hanging on the wall beside the front door. Her flushed cheeks had nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with the man who would be her date tonight.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
Her heart did a little skip of joy at the sight of Ryan. He wore cargo pants, a T-shirt that stretched over his muscled chest and hugged his biceps attractively, and loafers. His grin made her tummy do a cartwheel.
“Hi,” she said and stepped onto the porch to close the door behind her.
“Hi, yourself. You look great.”
Pleased by his compliment, she smiled. “You, too.”
Since the marina, where the party was being held, wasn’t that far they walked. “How’s the ankle?” she asked, noticing he wasn’t limping.
“Good as new.”
“Amazing, considering the abuse you took this week,” she said, fighting back a shudder at the memories threatening to ruin this beautiful evening.
“What can I say? I’m a fast healer.” He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm.
She relished the connectedness of the gesture.
The sound of the waves crashing on shore swirled around them as they headed toward the marina. An unnerving sensation slithered into her awareness. The feeling of being watched-followed-gripped her. She glanced behind them. There was no one there.
“You okay?” Ryan asked.
Dismissing the feeling, she laughed. “Yes. Just a bit spooked still.”
“Understandable.” He pulled her closer. “Did you catch the score for the Red Sox game today?”
Forcing herself to relax and focus, she shook her head. “I didn’t. I slept most of the day,” she confessed. “Who were they playing? And more importantly, did they win?”
“I don’t know.” He laughed. “I was hoping you’d know. I slept half the day and worked the other half.”
“We’re a pair, aren’t we?” she said.
“Yes. We are,” he agreed with a smile.
The conversation turned to books and movies as they made their way to the restaurant, discovering they shared similar tastes in both. But the whole while, she couldn’t shake the sensation that someone was watching them.
Ten minutes later they climbed the wooden steps to the front door of Connolly’s Catch restaurant. Lively music came from inside. Meghan drew in a nervous breath.
“It’ll be great,” Ryan assured her as they stepped inside. She glanced one more time behind her. Shifting shadows beyond the glare of the restaurant lights made her uneasy. Then the door closed, blocking out the night and the threats it hid.
The delicious aromas of spices and sauces tantalized her senses. As did the tacky nautical decor of the restaurant. Somehow the decorations worked, though, making the place entertaining rather than gaudy. Nets draped in the corners were dotted with blue-and-green antique glass sails. Crossed harpoons draped the walls below paintings of whalers in longboats and seaside landscapes. The jawbone of a whale, jerry-rigged with well- seasoned corded ropes, hung suspended above the dining area. The tabletops and wooden benches were reminiscent of the worn plank decks of sailing ships from days gone by.
Ryan led Meghan through the main dining hall, waving to various patrons on the way to a private room in the back. Decorated much like the center room, a glass roof gave not only a more open feel to the space but also a spectacular view of the twinkling night sky overhead. In the multiple windows in the room, moonlight captured the white caps of waves as the ocean lapped at the shore of the bay.
The room quieted as they entered. Meghan fought the urge to hide behind Ryan’s broad back. His wide shoulders were strong, and she needed every bit of strength they could provide. But no sense cowering. Instead, she lifted her chin and smiled. She’d been invited to this family gathering, rightfully so this time.
A middle-age, brown-haired woman with an infectious grin, blue eyes and a smattering of freckles weaved her way through the group. She stopped in front of Meghan and Ryan. “Well, it’s about time Ryan brought a date.”
Meghan’s cheeks flamed. She’d met Vanessa Connolly months ago, back before she’d known the Connollys and Fitzgeralds were related. She liked the older woman.
“Aunt Vanessa, this is Meghan,” Ryan said.
“I know who she is. The whole family’s abuzz about it.”
Beside her Ryan groaned. She looked at him. His cheeks had turned red, too. She grinned. He arched an eyebrow.
Meghan turned back to Vanessa. “Thank you for having me.”
“We are so glad you came.” Vanessa drew her away from Ryan. “Come have something to eat and mingle.”
Meghan threw a glance over her shoulder at Ryan. He winked. She winked back and was delighted by the surprise widening his eyes.
“You know my brother Aiden, but have you met our other brother, Mickey? He’s the fire chief.” Vanessa stopped in front of a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair, blue eyes and a trim beard.
Over the next hour, Meghan met four generations of Connollys and Fitzgeralds. Firefighters and cops dominated the professions of the adults. Kids of all sizes and ages ran around the room, laughing and giggling. A little overwhelmed, Meghan let her gaze wander toward Ryan. He sat at a wooden table, arm wrestling with a younger man with the same black hair and blue eyes as the rest of the Fitzgerald clan. Meghan thought she remembered his name as Jamie Fitzgerald, one of Mickey’s sons.
Ryan lifted his eyes. Their gazes locked. A silent bond arced between them that excluded anyone else. She felt special, cared for. He grinned. Her breath caught. He held her gaze and pinned his opponent’s arm to the table. Meghan laughed, amused by his he-man display, and clapped. He was so handsome and strong…and her date tonight. A sigh of pleasure welled up inside her. She hoped to have many more dates with him.
