“What’s this?” he asked.
“Oh, Mom wanted me to try on a couple of her old dresses.”
“Looks good,” he said.
The moment stretched between them, and it was as if no one else was there. He hadn’t meant to pay her the compliment, and yet, it was true, and she more than deserved it. Because she looked absolutely beautiful. Her blond hair was down around her shoulders, and the delicate fabric conformed to her figure beautifully.
Historically, he hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about Lydia’s figure. Lately, though, it was on his mind a lot.
And no one has ever touched her.
That thought came straight from hell. And he rebuked it and sent it right back.
“Thank you,” she said, the word coming out slightly breathless.
“Wear it for dinner,” her mom said, looking between the two of them.
He straightened as if he had been called out by a drill sergeant.
“Oh, I might get something on it.”
“I was going to throw it away, so there’s no use hoarding it and never wearing it because you might get it dirty.”
Nancy smiled at him and then turned to walk into the kitchen. Leaving him and Lydia by themselves in the living room.
“I never wear dresses,” she said. “It feels a little bit silly.”
“It doesn’t look silly.”
She was a virgin.
She wanted to change that.
She was dressed, at this moment, slightly like a virgin sacrifice.
Hank began to whine, and then the front door opened again, and they were saved by the arrival of Matthew, Jackson andbaby Wesley, who was perched on Matthew’s hip wearing a dinosaur costume. Lydia’s face lit up as she crossed in front of him, straight to the entry, where she plucked Wesley from her brother’s arms. “There’s my favorite nephew in the whole world.”
“Your only nephew in the whole world,” Matthew pointed out.
“Don’t get too technical, because then that makes your being my favorite brother null and void. And also Jackson’s being my favorite brother-in-law.”
Remy stepped forward and took Matthew’s hand, brought him in for a brief hug, clapped him on the back twice, then did the same with Jackson.
Lydia took Wesley and twirled with him into the kitchen, growling like a dinosaur. Remy looked down at Hank. “I don’t actually have a clue how Hank is around little kids.”
Matthew smiled. “I doubt that Wesley is in any danger of being put down here. Between my sister and Grandma and Grandpa, that kid may actually never learn to walk.”
They all filtered into the kitchen, Hank cautiously sniffing the newcomers. He walked over to Lydia and lifted his nose, sniffing around Wesley’s foot.
He doubted the poor old dog had ever been included in a family gathering. And he had never related to an animal more—sniffing around this warm, civilized house, that was so unlike anywhere he had ever been before.
Yeah, he related to that hard.
Tom came into the house carrying a tray stacked with ribs, and Lydia recoiled. “Mom,” she said. “You didn’t say Dad was serving ribs when you told me to keep the white dress on.”
“I’ll get you a lobster bib,” she said.
“Mom!”
