Part 15 (2/2)

Beside her, Sean snorted a laugh, but Jed just kept walking. ”Here they are,” he called. ”Annie had to stop and say h.e.l.lo to her furry and feathered friends before greeting her own family.”

Huh. No mention of Sean's mouth on her hip. That wasn't too surprising. Jed might be a bossy big brother, but he was not a loudmouth.

Then again, he was probably keeping his mouth shut for his own benefit. He knew Annie well enough to expect serious payback if he made a fuss.

No way would he want her to spill the beans about the Christmas Eve rendezvous, which had taken place right beside their mother's beloved antique nativity set. Baby Jesus and all the angels and shepherds must have gotten quite an eyeful. As had Annie, who'd crept downstairs for a late-night sneak peek at the presents after everyone had supposedly supposedly gone to bed. Instead, she'd gotten the kind of peek no woman gone to bed. Instead, she'd gotten the kind of peek no woman ever ever wanted to get of her own brother's backside. wanted to get of her own brother's backside.

Eww.

”Here's our girl!” Her father came down from the porch, followed by her brothers, and they all encircled her for big, boisterous hugs meant to remind her that she was the little woman and they big, strong men.

She was pa.s.sed around the group for more macho embracing. If one of them squeezed too hard and picked her up until her toes dragged the ground again, she was going to puke right over his shoulder.

G.o.d, was she glad Sean was no he-man.

”Well, are you going to introduce us?” her father asked, his chin up as he gave Sean a once-over.

Sean had been a darling asking Jed to call him Murph, but there was no way Annie could say it all weekend without laughing. Sounded too much like Smurf. And a cuddly, fuzzy blue creature he most definitely was not.

Nor could she bear to call him by that other-awful-name, Blake, that brought with it such vivid reminders of humiliation, anger and embarra.s.sment. So, swallowing hard and praying her mother had suffered a serious memory loss since their last conversation about Annie's ”new guy,” she said, ”This is Sean Murphy.”

Sean's brow went up in surprise, as if thinking she'd goofed up. When he opened his mouth to correct her-what was he going to say, ”Sorry, she forgot my name on the ride up here?”-she shook her head in warning.

Her father was courteous enough to smile politely and extend his hand. Steve, the middle son and prankster, circled around her and whispered, ”He's got an earring. Is it on the right side?”

Knowing immediately what he meant, Annie smirked, ”Sorry, big brother, your loss. Let's just say I have absolutely no doubts about his s.e.xual preferences.”

”You're so so funny.” He swatted her, then greeted Sean, as did Randy. And every man in her family had something to say about the fat cat currently sprawled like a twenty pound sack of potatoes over Sean's left shoulder. funny.” He swatted her, then greeted Sean, as did Randy. And every man in her family had something to say about the fat cat currently sprawled like a twenty pound sack of potatoes over Sean's left shoulder.

”Why is everybody picking on my Wally?”

Jed looked at her as if she was foolish. ”Because he's meaner than the bull in the south pasture.”

Before she could argue it, her mother stepped out of the house, onto the porch, then raced down the stairs. Annie planted her feet firmly on the ground, knowing she was in for an exuberant bear hug, which she got.

They stood outside talking for a few minutes, during which she got the rundown on the latest happenings of the entire Davis clan.

With grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins spread throughout the encircling three counties, there was lots of news to catch up on. Who was engaged. Who was pregnant. Who had disappointed his parents by getting suspended for letting a whole bunch of chickens loose in the high-school gymnasium. Who had shot his toe off while doing some out-of-season hunting, and didn't that just serve him right?

The usual.

Through it all, Sean maintained a smile, stroked the cat, responded politely when addressed. And maintained a tall, solid presence beside her that reminded Annie she was not not alone. They were in this together. For better or for worse. alone. They were in this together. For better or for worse.

And what a wonderful feeling it was.

”Oh, listen to me jabbering away,” her mother finally said when she'd run out of wind. ”Let's go inside and relax. The food's almost done, you must be famished from the long drive.”

Famished, yes. But not for food.

When she caught Sean's eye and saw the twinkle in there, she knew he'd done that mind-reading thing again. Unable to keep herself from touching him, she reached for his hand, twined her fingers in his, and led him up the steps.

Answering the fresh litany of questions as they walked inside the house, Annie offered Sean a look that both apologized...and offered to make this up to him.

If they survived it.

SEAN LIKED A ANNIE'S family. All of them. But he especially liked her mother. family. All of them. But he especially liked her mother.

He suspected the woman looked just like Annie would in thirty years. Slim and energetic, her short hair was more of an ash-blond, and she had laugh lines beside her pretty blue eyes.

Though she was talkative, and fussed over her only daughter, Mrs. Davis was also calm and straightforward about the way she ruled the family. Her husband and sons might not realize it, but the woman was entirely in charge. She got everyone to do exactly what she wanted with the lift of a brow or the gesture of a hand, which he found terribly amusing, given the size of the men she was ordering about.

Once or twice, she'd caught his eye, noted his amus.e.m.e.nt, and grinned impishly at him. As if the two of them already shared a secret.

In the two hours since they'd arrived, Annie's family had had so much to say to her that they'd pretty well left him alone, beyond the usual niceties. And he'd enjoyed the big country brunch, the likes of which he hadn't eaten since his Irish breakfast days.

He'd wager Wally, who'd taken up residence beneath Annie's chair, had liked it, too. Judging by the number of times Annie slipped him a nibble of this or that, he had to be in spoiled cat heaven.

Annie's older brothers had departed for their own homes after eating, so that pressure was off. The younger brother was an energetic puppy. The barrel-chested, gray-haired father remained cordial, if not enthusiastic. He'd had a newspaper in front of his face since the moment he'd finished his meal, so there was no pressure there. And Annie's mother had been friendly since the moment they'd arrived.

So he'd have to say things had been going quite well. For the most part.

They were a very nice family...but not entirely entirely welcoming, he had to admit. Because all of them had, at one point or another, said welcoming, he had to admit. Because all of them had, at one point or another, said something something to make it clear that Annie belonged here, with them, not in some big city with anybody else. to make it clear that Annie belonged here, with them, not in some big city with anybody else.

He got the message. He was wearing an Anybody Anybody sign around his neck. sign around his neck.

Still, with two brothers gone, the father distracted and the mother chattering about tonight's party, Sean had begun to let his guard down.

Obviously too soon.

”So, Sean, where exactly did you and Annie meet?”

The pointed look in Mrs. Davis's eye said she was ready to get down to business. The grill-the-new-boy-friend business.

Sean's mind went blank as his hostess addressed him. Trying desperately to remember what they'd agreed upon-dating service? blind date?-he opened his mouth. But his answer was cut short when Annie said, ”We met at a party.”

He nodded. ”Right. A party.” Being creative, he embellished a little bit. ”A Halloween party.”

Mr. Davis peered over the top of his paper, his brow pulled into a small frown. ”I thought Annie said you'd only been seeing each other a couple of months.”

Foot meet mouth. d.a.m.n.

”Well, dating, dating, yes, but we've known each other longer.” yes, but we've known each other longer.”

<script>