“Then we’ll set a date and I’ll show you,” Nell said, then clasped Heather’s hand. “It’s all going to work out, you know. My grandson may be foolish, but he has a good heart and it’s filled with love for you.”
“I know he has a good heart,” Heather agreed, ignoring the claim that Connor loved her. “But I’m not sure he knows it. I’m convinced he believes he hasn’t any heart at all, that no one does.”
“Then you’ll prove to him how wrong he is, won’t you?” Gram said.
Heather was pleased by Nell’s faith in her abilities, but she didn’t share it. “I’ve tried.”
“Then try harder. That boy the two of you share deserves no less.”
“Yes,” Heather said softly, stealing a quick glance down the length of the table toward Connor. “Yes, he does.”
But it seemed increasingly unlikely that she could find any way at all to ensure that little Mick got the family he should have.
* * *
Connor wasn’t sure how he choked down his holiday meal. He knew that once again he’d managed to upset Heather, but he wasn’t entirely sure whether it was the kiss that had infuriated her, her own reaction to it or the fact that they’d had an audience. He’d just been trying to prove a point, and, in fact, he’d succeeded, but the momentary glow of triumph had faded when he’d walked into the dining room and seen her settling at the table between his mother and grandmother. He recognized a deliberate snub when he saw one.
As soon as the meal ended, there was chaos as some family members left, some retreated outside for a game of tag football and several got started on clean-up duty. Connor assumed Heather was hiding out in the kitchen, but when he checked, he found only his sisters Jess and Abby and his cousin Susie.
“Have you guys seen Heather?” he asked.
“She took little Mick and went home,” Abby said, then gave him an innocent look. “Didn’t she tell you she was leaving?”
“No, or I wouldn’t be in here asking, would I?” he retorted irritably. “Wasn’t she feeling well?”
“I imagine she’d just had enough of your mixed signals, big brother,” Jess told him. “I heard about that smoldering kiss you laid on her in front of God and everybody.”
“We all did,” Abby said. “You embarrassed her.”
He sat down at the kitchen table. “I was trying to make a point.”
Abby tossed him a dishtowel. “Well, if you’re going to hang out in here and expect advice from us, you can at least dry the pots and pans.”
“I didn’t ask for advice,” he grumbled, but he stood up and reached for one of the pans, then gave Abby an appealing look. “Do you have any?”
“There’s always the obvious,” Susie chimed in. “An engagement ring would be an excellent start.” Her expression turned wistful. “I wonder if I’ll ever get engaged.”
“Of course you will,” Abby said, then grinned. “It might happen sooner if you and Mack would stop playing games and just admit you’re crazy about each other.”
Connor listened to the teasing exchange, then reminded them, “Hey, we were supposed to be talking about me and Heather.”
“The same advice applies,” Abby said. “Stop playing games and get on with it. Otherwise, I intend to introduce Heather to the first sexy available man I run across.”
Connie walked into the kitchen just then. “Did I hear you offering to find sexy available men for people? Put me on the waiting list.”
“Me, too,” Jess said.
Connor scowled at the whole lot of them, then focused on Abby who, as the oldest, usually did exactly what she said she was going to do. “I do not want to hear about you setting Heather up on any dates,” he warned.
Abby gave him another of her innocent looks. “Why not? If you’re not interested…”
“I never said I wasn’t interested. I love the woman, dammit!”
When applause broke out, he shook his head. “You all are absolutely no help. It’s like you belong to some sort of sisterhood.”
“Hey, big brother,” Jess said, “you wanted advice and you got it. Don’t blame the messenger if it’s not what you wanted to hear.”
Connor saw little point in sticking around for more of the same. The woman he actually needed to be talking to was not in this room.
But, when it came right down to it, he had no idea what to say to her, either.
* * *
Thomas could only take so much of the commotion at the house. As much as he loved the frequent Sunday dinners and family holidays, it didn’t take long before he found himself gravitating toward the water. Since the tide was high, leaving only a narrow strip of sand along the shore, he settled for walking out onto the dock and sitting on a bench.
On days like today, he regretted not keeping one of the houses Mick had built in Chesapeake Shores for himself. He’d had that option as one of the developers, but he and Mick had been at odds, and he hadn’t been able to envision a time when he’d want to be within spitting distance of his impossible older brother. His wife at the time had wanted to be in a bigger city as well, so settling in Annapolis had made more sense. At least he’d remained on the bay, although he now found himself in a tiny condo because most of his income went to support two ex-wives.
At the sound of footsteps on the weathered gray boards, he looked up and saw Jake’s sister, Connie, hesitating halfway out onto the dock. He patted the seat next to him.
“You needed to escape, too? Come on. There’s room on the bench.”
“Are you sure? You looked as if you were lost in thought.”
He shrugged. “I suppose I was.” Not
