“We’re talking about the O’Briens,” Abby reminded her. “You know how news travels along the family grapevine. The vine’s been buzzing for weeks. It’s now reached a fever pitch.”
“This dinner was just last night, and it’s not even nine o’clock in the morning,” Jess said with exasperation. She scowled at her older sister. “And why are you bugging me about this, anyway? I thought you were all for it.”
“I am, as long as you proceed with caution,” Abby said. “The word I got last night suggested things might be moving at a more rapid pace. Then again, that could have been the source.”
“What source?” Jess demanded. “How did the word spread, for goodness’ sakes?”
“Pictures were included with text messages,” Abby explained, grinning.
Jess regarded her incredulously. “Who the devil spotted us, the FBI?”
Abby chuckled. “Dad, as a matter of fact. He and Mom were having dinner at Brady’s when you two arrived. They hung around to keep an eye on things, then sent out an alert to the rest of us. You know Dad. Now that he’s reformed, he takes great pride in being up-to-date on the latest family gossip. If he finds out anything first, he considers it a major fatherly triumph. And he definitely loves to share.”
“Oh, God,” Jess moaned. “That means they should be turning up here—”
“About now,” Bree said cheerfully as Mick and Megan crossed the dining room and pulled up chairs to join them.
“Anything new?” Mick asked.
Jess stood up and scowled at the entire lot of them. “Not one single thing,” she announced firmly. “Except that I am officially resigning as an O’Brien.”
Her mother laughed. “I don’t think you can do that, sweetie. Heaven knows, I tried, and look at me now.” She slipped her hand into her husband’s. “Back in the fold.”
“Everyone should be lucky enough to be an O’Brien,” Mick scolded Jess. “We care about each other.”
“We annoy each other,” Jess contradicted. “I’m going to work. I’ll tell the waitress to put your breakfasts on my tab. Have fun dissecting my life. Let me know how it turns out.”
She walked out of the dining room, went straight to her office and called Will.
“Prepare yourself. Apparently we’re hotter news than anything on Entertainment Tonight.”
“Don’t I know it,” he said with a resigned sigh. “I’ve just been joined at Sally’s by Jake and Mack. I’m pretty sure they’ve forgotten that I’m the one accredited to give advice.”
“Want to consider moving to Hawaii?”
“Nah. I like it here. In fact, it’s just started to get interesting.”
Jess laughed, relaxing at the sound of the humor in his voice. “Yes, it definitely has.”
And to think that it was Will who’d made it that way.
“Jess, I assume,” Jake said as Will disconnected the call on his cell phone.
Will merely held his gaze and said nothing. He’d been surprised when they’d called and insisted he meet them for breakfast, but once he’d arrived at Sally’s, he’d quickly discerned their agenda. His friends might be well-meaning, but he was determined not to encourage them.
“Of course it was Jess,” Mack said confidently. “She’s probably getting the same kind of interrogation over at the inn, but her family’s a whole lot more experienced at it than we are. They’re probably getting answers.”
Will laughed. “Which should be a pretty good indication that it’s time for you to give up.”
Jake shook his head. “Come on, man. You and Jess? You can’t be serious. I know you’ve had the hots for her for eons, but I thought you were just going to pine from a distance and then move on to someone more appropriate.”
“There is nothing inappropriate about Jess,” Will said indignantly.
“She hasn’t had a steady boyfriend in all the years I’ve known her,” Jake reminded him. “You’re Mister Dependability.”
Will’s expression immediately sobered. “She pointed out the same thing,” he told his friend. “Apparently it didn’t occur to her, either, that she’d been choosing the wrong men.”
“And you’re going to rush right in and succeed where others have failed?” Jake scoffed.
“I believe I am,” Will retorted. “Now, maybe we should drop this before I get annoyed. You’re part of the O’Brien family, Jake, and, Mack, you’re probably going to be one of these days if you and Susie ever start being honest with each other. You should be on Jess’s side, not tearing her down.”
Jake looked offended. “I am not tearing Jess down. I’m just being realistic. The woman has a few problems.”
Will stiffened. “If you’re referring to her ADD, it’s not a communicable disease, Jake. Let’s show a little sensitivity here.”
Jake winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be insensitive. I like Jess. I’m just worried about you. You’re a steady, stable, one-woman guy. Jess…well, she’s always tended to play the field.”
“Sort of like Mack?” Will said wryly. “If he can change, and we both know he has, then why not Jess?”
Jake shook his head, his expression worried. “I just don’t see it.”
“Well, fortunately, you’re not the one who has to,” Will assured him. “Nobody understands the situation more clearly than I do.”
Mack sighed. “He’s telling us to butt out, buddy,” he said to Jake. “We should probably listen.”
Will smiled at him. “Exactly. Thank you. Now I need to get some work done before I pick Jess up for our date this afternoon.”
“So, you have no intention of backing off?” Jake asked.
“None.”
“Okay, then, I have a landscaping job I should get to,” Jake said. “Mack, what are you up to today?”
“Susie wants to go for a drive and poke around in some of the shops. She says it’s never too early to start Christmas shopping.”
Will laughed. “Not that there has ever been any doubt about this, but taking Susie shopping is a sure sign that you are down for the count, my man. Just give it up and ask her to marry you.”
Mack frowned at the suggestion. “We’ve never even been on a date.
