“It’s a plan,” she said at once, then pressed a quick, unsatisfying kiss to his cheek.
She was about to dart away when Luke snagged her hand. “Not so fast,” he said.
“What?”
He lowered his head and settled his mouth over hers, then lingered there until he heard her breath hitch and felt his own pulse scramble. When he stepped away, he smiled. “There now,” he said with satisfaction. “That’s a proper goodbye.”
“It is, indeed,” she agreed, her eyes sparkling. “Now I can hardly wait for hello.”
Neither could Luke.
12
Moira picked up pizza on her way to Luke’s pub. It was the quickest, easiest meal she could think of, one he’d surely have enough time to eat. Truthfully, she was eager for a chance to put her memory card into his computer and see the results of her work at Henry’s party. She was almost as excited about that as she was about the prospect of spending time with Luke. And since he was increasingly distracted by his to-do list, she assumed she’d have plenty of time tonight for her own work.
As she’d anticipated, she found him in the office grumbling to himself about something. She set the pizza on the lone table in the main room, then headed off to get Luke.
Rather than talking to himself, though, he was on the phone complaining to a supplier.
“The linens were to be here yesterday,” he said. “I don’t care what the shipping report shows, they’re not here. And no, I don’t want to be on hold while you investigate. Don’t put me on hold.” A shocked expression crossed his face just before he glanced up and noticed her presence.
“She put me on hold,” he said, looking dumbstruck.
Moira bit back a chuckle. “I’m not surprised. I doubt I’d want to deal with you right now, either.” She gestured toward the phone. “When she comes back, no matter what she says, thank her politely and hang up. Monday’s soon enough to resolve this. Nothing’s going to be shipped today, anyway. And the opening isn’t tonight or even tomorrow. Your precious timetable’s just fine.”
“But it was already supposed to be en route,” he grumbled. “I wanted to check it off my list.”
“And you will get to do that on Monday. If they say it’s on a truck, it probably is. I’m sure there’s a tracking number somewhere that will tell them exactly where your tablecloths and napkins are hiding out.”
He frowned at her reasonable tone. She knew the role reversal must be astounding to him. He was supposed to be the calm, unflappable one, she the shrew.
“Yes, hello,” he said into the phone. “The package is at the substation in Baltimore? You’re absolutely sure? And it will be here Monday morning? Okay, then. Thank you. Sorry for biting your head off before.”
He put down the phone and heaved a sigh of relief. “Another crisis averted.”
She smiled. “It wouldn’t have been a true crisis unless it were the night before the opening,” she suggested. “Now, come into the other room. I’ve brought pizza.”
“But I was going to take you out,” he protested.
“Do you honestly want to be away from your lists for an evening? Not that I don’t think it would be good for you to have a break, but you seem to be increasingly obsessed with them.”
He laughed, his expression sheepish. “I am, aren’t I?” He studied her. “You honestly don’t mind spending the evening here?”
She gestured toward the window, still covered with brown paper. “I’d be happier with a view, but otherwise, as long as I can be here with you, I’m exactly where I want to be.” She grinned and admitted, “Besides, I’m itching to get on that computer of yours to look at the pictures I took this afternoon.”
“So this wasn’t an entirely noble sacrifice?” he teased.
“Not entirely,” she admitted.
“Did you get pepperoni?”
“Of course.”
“And sausage?”
“Yes, my dear meat-lover, your side is covered with all those artery-clogging things you love.”
“And yours?”
“Green peppers, onions and mushrooms.”
He made a face. “Too healthy.”
“It just means I’ll outlive you,” she teased. “Something you might want to consider.”
He opened the box, drew in a deep breath and sighed happily. “Nope. I’m good.”
He snagged a couple of beers from the refrigerator in the kitchen, then sat down across from her. Once he’d grabbed his first slice of pizza, Moira dared to bring up something that had been on her mind all day.
“Grandfather mentioned something to me this morning while we were out on Kevin’s boat,” she began.
Luke nodded. “How was that, by the way? Did you have fun?”
“It was great. I loved seeing all the little towns along the water, though, if you ask me, some of the homes are way too big.”
“The McMansions,” Luke said. “I hate them, too, and you should hear Uncle Mick and Uncle Thomas get going on them. It’s a rare moment of unity between them, especially with those owners who let their contractors clear-cut all the trees before building. They paid huge fines for doing it if they got caught, and I think Thomas made it his business to catch as many of them as possible.”
“As well he should,” Moira said. “What a terrible destruction of natural beauty.” She hesitated, then said, “My grandfather mentioned to me that he’s planning to stay on here for a while. Did you know about that?”
Luke nodded. “Gram told me right after you all arrived.”
Moira frowned. “So the decision was made that quickly?”
“Sure. I know Gram wanted it resolved as soon as possible and intended to ask Dillon the minute you got settled. She said he agreed immediately.”
“I see,” Moira said. “Then she’d talked
