“All of us, in one place? Who do you want to punish?”
“It’s important, Brian. It’s important to all of us.”
***
“I don’t see why I have to twiddle my thumbs around here when I’ve got a date.” Looking at her image in the mirror behind the bar, Lexy fussed with her hair. “It’s nearly eleven o’clock already. Giff’s liable to just give up waiting and go to bed.”
“Jo said it was important,” Kate reminded her. She fought to make her knitting needles click rhythmically rather than bash together. She’d been working on the same afghan for ten years and was bound and determined to conquer it before another decade passed.
“Then where is she?” Lexy demanded, whirling around. “I don’t see anybody here but you and me. Brian’s probably snuck off to Kirby’s, Daddy’s holed up with his shortwave tracking that damned hurricane—and it isn’t even coming around here.”
“They’ll be along. Why don’t you fix us all a nice glass of wine, honey?” It was one of Kate’s little dreams, having her family all gathered together, cooling off after a hot day, sharing the events of it.
“Seems like I’m always waiting on somebody. I swear, the last thing I’ll do to keep the wolf away from the door when I go back to New York is wait tables.”
Sam ducked his head and stepped in. He glanced at Kate with amusement. That blanket never seemed to grow by much, he thought, but somehow or other it got uglier every time she dragged it out. “You know what the girl’s got on her mind?”
“No, I don’t,” Kate said placidly. “But sit down. Lexy’s getting us some wine.”
“Sooner have a beer, if it’s all the same.”
“Well, place your orders,” Lexy said testily. “I live to serve.”
“I can fetch my own.”
“Oh, sit down.” She waved a hand at him. “I’ll get it.”
Feeling chastised, he lowered himself to the couch beside Kate, drummed his fingers on his knee. He looked up when Lexy held out a brimming pilsner. “Guess you want a tip now.” When she arched a brow, he nodded soberly. “Recycle. The world is your backyard.”
Kate’s needles stilled, Lexy stared. As color crept up his throat, Sam stared into his beer.
“My God, Sam, you made a joke. Lexy, you be sure to remind me to mark this down on my Year-at-a-Glance calendar.”
“Sarcastic woman’s the reason I keep my mouth shut in the first place,” he muttered, and Kate’s laugh tinkled out.
She patted Sam’s knee affectionately while Lexy grinned down at them.
That’s what Jo saw when she came in. Her father, her cousin, and her sister sharing a moment together while Kate’s laughter rang out.
Her heart sank. It was an image she’d never expected to see, one she hadn’t known could be so precious to her. Now she, and the man who stood behind her, could destroy it.
“There she is.” Kate continued to beam, and when she spotted Nathan, her idea of what Jo had wanted the family to hear took on the hint of orange blossoms and bridal lace. Fluttering, she set her knitting aside. “We were just having some wine. Maybe we should make it champagne instead, just for fun.”
“No, wine’s fine.” Her nerves screaming, Jo hurried in. “Don’t get up, Kate, I’ll get it.”
“I hope this won’t take long, Jo. I’ve got plans.”
“I’m sorry, Lexy.” Jo clinked glasses together in her hurry to have it done.
“Sit down,” Kate hissed, rolling her eyes, wiggling her brows to try to give Lexy a hint. “Make yourself comfortable, Nathan. I’m sure Brian will be right along. Oh, here he is now. Brian, turn up the fan a little, will you? This heat’s just wilting. Must be cooler at your place by the river, Nathan.”
“Some.” He sat, knowing he had to let Jo set the pace. But he looked at Sam. They’d spent twenty minutes together that evening, outlining plans, discussing structure and form. And all the while Nathan had tasted the bitter tang of deceit.
It was time to open it up, spread it out, and accept the consequences. “I’m sorry?” he said, realizing abruptly that Kate was speaking to him.
“I was just asking if you’re finding it as easy to work here as you do in New York.”
“It’s a nice change.” His eyes met Jo’s as she brought him a glass of wine. Get it done, he asked her silently. Get it finished.
