Lawrence, the only times sheâd had to dress formally were for the annual Christmas parties that her Uncle Harry always threw. âBut honestly, Fiona, Iâll feel like Iâm gatecrashing.â She knew Astrid Gannon had sent outthe engraved invitations weeks ago, because Fiona had been bemoaning the upcoming party ever since.
âFrankly, I feel like I am gatecrashing,â Fiona countered. âMark my words. It will be stuffy and boring. But I beg you. Just come for a few minutes. Long enough to give me someone besides Gabriel I can honestly say how nice it is to see.â
âOne of these days Iâm going to learn how to say no to you, and mean it.â Bobbie stood up also. Her head felt light from just those few sips of her cocktail. She needed to eat.
Fiona smiled victoriously and tucked her arm through Bobbieâs as they strolled through the house toward the kitchen. âYouâll be the belle of the ball.â
âNow I know your cocktail has gone to your head,â Bobbie accused wryly. âSince you know as well as I do how un likely that will be. If you want a belle, youâd need Frankie or Georgie.â Both of her older sisters could sweep into any setting and have the masses charmed with barely a flick of their fingers. It was a talent theyâd come by naturally from their mother. Even Tommi possessed itâwhen she could be dragged out from the kitchen, where she usually ended up even when she wasnât the chef.
âGive yourself a little more credit.â Fiona pulled open the back door for Bobbie. âYou might surprise yourself.â
âI doubt it.â Bobbie hugged Fiona. âBut Iâll be there, for you.â
âBe where?â
Bobbie straightened like a shot, spinning around so fast that she nearly tipped over.
Gabeâs hand shot out, catching her shoulder. âSteady there.â
She didnât know which was worse. The dizzying effect of Fionaâs lethal cocktail, the sudden thrill of Gabeâs touch, or the fact that both were probably as plain as the nose onher face to Fiona, Gabe and his daughter and son, who were standing on the porch beside him.
âAt the party tomorrow,â Fiona answered, which was good because Bobbie didnât seem able to make her mouth work in concert with her brain. âBobbieâs coming, too. Isnât that lovely?â
âSure.â Gabeâs gaze rested on her face and she couldnât tell what he was thinking to save her life.
What she was thinking about was what heâd asked her to do. And that she knew she should refuse. Again. Which wasnât something that she could very well tell him right then and there. Not with his grandmother and kids witnessing her non-conversation with him. âI, um, I need to get home,â she finally managed to say to the air in general. She glanced at Fiona. âSee you tomorrow.â She moved past Gabe without looking at him directly, and managed to smile at his kids as she quickly ran down the porch steps.
âIâll come with you.â His deep voice followed her, putting an abrupt end to her hasty departure. âStill need to finish that tile job.â
She looked back, not meeting his eyes or Fionaâs, and nodded jerkily. âOkay.â
âLissi, Todd, you go inside with Grandma and finish your homework.â
Bobbie realized belatedly that both of his children were sporting extremely fat, heavy-looking backpacks.
âWeâll go out for dinner when Iâve finished at Ms. Fairchildâs,â he added.
They both nodded without argument and went inside the main house with Fiona.
âReady?â Gabe prompted when Bobbie didnât start moving again toward the carriage house.
She stopped staring after the children and started walking instead. Even without letting her gaze sidle toward him, shewas excruciatingly aware of him. âYour kids seemed rather
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