Such a simple gesture, and so tender. Sliding her fingers through his made her chest swell with happiness.
As they started off, he gave her hand a squeeze. “I had the urge to do this on the way out. Tossed it aside.”
“Feels nice.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh, geez. You’ve got me hooked, okay? Thatyes, ma’amroutine is overkill.”
“No such thing. When we get back, Lani will take you aside like she did earlier. She’s your big sister. She has influence. I need to, um, solidify my position, if you know what I mean.”
“I get it, silly man. You’re ridiculous.”
“Seems I’d rather tease you than think about what’s coming up.”
She should have figured that out. “Tease me all you want, then.”
“I’d rather kiss you.”
“We don’t have time for that. We need to make Sam presentable.”
He looked down at the collie, who’d decided to stick with the humans for the trip back. “He’s a mess. Too bad we don’t have a dog brush.”
“We’ll stop by the barn and use a curry comb on him.”
“The barn?” Kieran’s eyebrows rose. “There’s an idea. In the dead of night, we can?—”
“I’d never get past Lani.”
“Then I guess you have to let her in on it.”
“She doesn’t approve of us getting together.”
“Neither do I. It’s pure foolishness to risk our hearts like that. Then again, they’re ours to risk.”
She let that sink in as they continued down the path. “I’ll take a wild guess that’s the philosophy that got you over here.”
“I suppose it is. I was risking Granny’s heart, too, and I asked her forgiveness in advance. I’ll ask yours, as well, if we find a way to be together this week. It’ll be complicated, since I need to make time to be with my brother. Assuming he wants that.”
“Oh, he will.”
“But he’s married, and a newlywed at that. Some of his hours are spoken for.”
“So are some of mine. We have the birthday party for Lani and Dallas on Saturday night. And if I know Desiree, she’ll want to invite everyone over tomorrow night to meet you.”
“Everybody? Like twenty people?”
“More than twenty. There’s all the kids, plus my brother Trent and his wife Brittany, and now Brittany’s mom is included in gatherings. The dads who’ve moved here might be invited, and the Wenches would be, for sure.”
“Thewenches? She invites working girls to the house?”
“It’s not what you think.”
“Hope not.”
“Desiree started a group years ago called Wenches Who Read. It’s a book club.”
“A book club. Thank the Lord.”
