“And,” Seamus blew out a deep breath, “doesn’t give us any more answers than we had before.”
“Let me keep looking. This sucker is full of things.” Painstakingly, Aunt Eileen proceeded to remove one item at a time.
Somewhere in that trunk the answer to history had to be buried. If not there, then in one of the other items stored in that little room. The physical proof they’d been looking for, a tangible bridge to the woman they’d all thought was a dead end in their history.
Nicole looked from the tiny curl of hair to the heavy quilt. This wasn’t just data on a screen anymore; it was a life that had been packed away with love and intent. She shifted her thumb against Ryan’s, feeling the steady beat of his pulse, noticing the awe in his gaze. It seemed that today held changes for everyone in this room—especially the man who she was absolutely falling for.
Chapter Fourteen
Some days Ryan wondered why he didn’t just stay in bed. So far today if anything could go wrong, it either already had or probably would. The weekend had been a whirlwind of intrigue and surprises. Seamus had been slightly overwhelmed by Sunday supper, but fit in as though he’d always been a part of the noisy clan. The turn of events with Nicole had him sitting on top of the world and at the same time terrified of falling off his newfound perch.
Every time he wanted to talk with Nicole alone, explore where this thing—whatever it was—would be going, one or the other of them would be pulled away. Aunt Eileen needing help to return the trunk to the attic and lug a second one downstairs, or Morgan and Valerie wanting to discuss some changes for Monday’s work and shooting schedule. For Nicole, first her brother called for his weekly update, followed by a thirty minute conversation with her mother over the pros and cons of Florida and Oklahoma. He found himself wanting to shout to both of them—what about Texas!
Now, the camera crew was driving him nuts with retakes and staging changes and lighting issues while Jet and one of the older crew were squabbling like a couple of spoiled siblings. It would serve them both right if he called his Aunt Eileen to come straighten the two out. At least Jet seemed to be keeping hisdistance from Nicole. Ryan just didn’t know if that meant he’d gotten the message: hands off Nicole, or if this was the calm before the storm.
“What’s wrong?” Nicole appeared at his side. Why did that woman have to look so dang sexy in a work clothes and a tool belt? No make up, her hair pulled back in a sloppy ponytail, and she looked irresistible.
“Nothing. Everything.” He sighed. “Mostly nothing.”
She glanced around, making sure there wasn’t a boom mic hanging over them. “Want to share?”
Heaving a deep sigh, he smiled at her. “I’m just stressing a bit because Mom is supposed to arrive today and one of the crew is letting things slip through the cracks.”
“George.” It didn’t come out like a question.
He debated answering or not, but decided if he could trust anyone right now, it would be Nicole. “Yeah. How did you know?”
Hefting a shoulder, she sighed. “I’ve noticed him taking a few short cuts. When I pointed them out to him, I was told tostay in my lane.”
Fury bubbled to the surface. Ryan had to bite down hard on his back teeth to keep from shouting a myriad of words that would have had his mother and his aunts washing his mouth out with soap. “You should have told me.”
“I told Morgan.”
That stopped him cold. “You did?”
She nodded. “I thought of telling you but, well, I didn’t want to look like a whiner.”
“But it’s okay to whine to Morgan?”
Color flushed her cheeks. “Well, I, uh, I mean, he’s my boss.”
Ryan raised a single brow, something here was off.
“Oh, what the hell.” She blew out a deep sigh. “I’m not falling for Morgan.”
He couldn’t help it, delight made his chest puff out and his lips tug hard into a broad smile.
As if worried she’d revealed too much, she nibbled at one corner of her mouth.
The nervous gesture made him want to put a smile on that beautiful face. Taking a short step to close the gap between them, he reached for her hand at the same moment a throat cleared behind him. George muttered a quiet,excuse me, walked around them and disappeared through the door to the new stables. He was going to have to have a talk with the guy. Strip him of some of that attitude.
Before Ryan could follow his crew member, Quinn came rushing inside. “Dad just texted me. He and Mom are about ten minutes out.”
“Okay.” He glanced around, whatever work still needed to be done was going to have to wait. His mother would expect a lot of fussing and attention. “Do Pax, Neil, Owen and Morgan know?”
Quinn glanced up from his phone. “Just sent a text.”
“Why the heck did Dad text you and not all of us?” Morgan came through the door, Paxton on his heels.
