her, his expression puzzled. “Are you mad about somethin’, sis?”

Dana sighed. “No. I’m not mad.”

“Then why’d you run out like that?”

“We’re not Hallorans, Sammy. We can’t let ourselves forget that.”

“But…”

She hugged him tight. “I don’t think I mentioned it earlier, but you look very handsome.”

His eyes lit up. “You really think so?”

“I really think so. Good night, Sammy. I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t stay up too late.”

Unfortunately she wasn’t able to take her own advice. She changed into an oversized T-shirt, climbed into bed, than stared at the ceiling for what seemed like hours. When sleep continued to elude her, she got up and, dragging a blanket with her, curled up in a chair by the window.

She was still sitting there, staring out at the inky darkness when she heard the faint tap on her door, then saw it inch open. Jason didn’t wait for a response before sliding inside. Dana’s breath lodged in her throat.

It was an instant before his eyes adjusted to the darkness, before he spotted her in the chair. When he did, he crossed the room in three angry strides, then hauled her up against him and slanted a bruising kiss across her mouth. Dana was so stunned by the onslaught of sensations, by the rough demand, that it was an instant before she fought to free herself.

Breathing hard, she stepped away from him and demanded, “What the hell was that all about?”

“Just a reminder,” he said in a low, warning tone.

“Of what?”

“A reminder that you’re not some stray border in this house. You’re here because I love you and want to marry you. That gives you every right to be here.”

Her heart hammering, she held up a hand. “Jason, please. You have to slow down. Where did all this talk of marriage come from?”

He looked every bit as startled as she felt. “Okay, it didn’t come out quite the way it should have, but I meant every word. I want to marry you. I won’t have you acting like some second-class citizen around here.”

Since the thought of marriage was too troubling to deal with, she murmured, “I’m sorry if I was rude.”

He plunged his fingers through his hair. “Dammit, Dana, this is not about being rude. It’s about understanding that you belong. No matter what anyone thinks, what anyone says, you belong.”

She sighed and rested a hand against his cheek. “I wish that were true, Jason. I really wish it were true.” And for the first time since she’d met him, she admitted to herself that she’d done the unforgivable: she had fallen head over heels in love.

Chapter Thirteen

Dana had taken a real liking to Brandon Halloran. She would have been grateful to him for no other reason than the way he treated Sammy, but there was more to it. He was a lot like Jason. Impetuous on the surface, but rock solid underneath. There was something comforting in thinking that Jason would be just like him in another forty or so years.

She thought of his lively humor, his loving meddling, his sage advice, and she wished she had a grandfather like that. Since she didn’t, she wished she could adopt the man sitting across from her, who was regarding her so pensively.

She’d been surprised when he’d invited her to lunch. No, invited was the wrong word. He’d insisted on it, latching on to her coat and her elbow with a determination that had left her with little choice. She couldn’t say she was sorry to be with him, though, even if he had brought her back to Washington’s Tavern where her relationship with the Hallorans had begun so inauspiciously.

“Okay,” Brandon said finally, pinning her with one of his no-nonsense gazes. “Let’s talk turkey, young lady. What was that little speech all about last night?”

Dana’s spoon fell from her fingers, splattering clam chowder in every direction. Cleaning up the mess gave her time to think. Even with the extra time, the best she could manage was, “What speech?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. Your exit lines. All that garbage about leaving us Hallorans alone.”

“It was obvious to me that there were things you wanted to talk about, personal things. There was no room for strangers.” The same argument hadn’t worked on Jason, but perhaps Brandon would be more gullible.

He gave a rough hoot. “Young lady, who are you trying to kid? You’re hardly a stranger. Looks to me as if my grandson is intent on marrying you. And if I know Jason, he’ll have his way.”

“That’s wishful thinking on your part,” she countered.

He regarded her intently. “You trying to tell me you’re not interested?”

Dana tried. She gathered up all the appropriate denials and tried to force them past her lips, but the lies wouldn’t come. “I wish I weren’t,” she said finally.

“Why?”

Dana ignored the question in favor of asking, “Did he put you up to this?”

“Up to what?” he inquired innocently. “So far all I’ve asked is a simple question. Are you in love with the man or not? I’ll admit I’m biased, but he seems like a fine catch to me. No real faults, unless you count that stubbornness he gets from me. Actually, I see that as a beneficial quality.”

“He is a fine catch, as you put it. My reasons are between Jason and me.”

“Not entirely,” he said. “In this family we all care what happens to one another. Haven’t you noticed how much meddling has gone on trying to figure out this mess between Lacey and Kevin? We still don’t have a clue. It’s a damned shame, too. There was a time they were so much in love, they lit up a room just by coming into it. I was blind to it then, but I’m not blind to what’s going on between you and Jason. You have the same effect on each other.”

Dana settled for agreeing with his observation about Kevin and Lacey Halloran. Even if Jason hadn’t told her how worried he was about his parents,

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