Page 23 of Family Affair

All of a sudden, Cade was overcome with an urgent need to go down and find out who she was. He didn’t, of course, but the urge caught him by surprise.

Reluctantly, he left the sanctuary of the cool room and made his way downstairs, heading for the temporary bar to get some water. He eyed whiskey bottles, imagining what it would be like to grab one of those instead. The temptation hovered around and quickly dissolved. He despised drunks and he absolutely refused to become one. Again.

Water in hand, Cade stepped outside, squinting at the large crowd of socially important people. The thought of hobnobbing suddenly nauseated him.

“There you are.” His mother approached silently.

“Yes, Mother?” He inclined his head.

“The fireworks man is here and he needs direction. Will you go talk to him?”

“Sure. You want the same setup as usual?”

“Yes. Thank you, dear.” She nodded and, without sparing him another glance, walked briskly away, giving him a view of her ramrod straight back.

Maureen Sheffield could put much younger women to shame, looking every inch the born and bred Southern Belle she was in tailored blue slacks and aruffled creamblouse with ivory buttons. He wished he inherited her poise, but alas, you didn’t always get what you asked for.

Cade started toward the side of the house where the garages were located. Perfect. He would direct the fireworks guy where he needed to go and make his escape.

A swath of white drew his eye.

She was standing alone, surrounded by blooming rose bushes, holding a wine glass by the slim stem. Her slender neck bent, she was examining the flowers with deep concentration, but at ease, comfortable in her solitude.

Without thinking, he sharply changed his direction and walked up to her across the grass, halting when only a row of rose bushes remained between them. Still, she hadn’t noticed his approach.

Up close, the woman was on the short side and slender, but not skinny. The fitted dress emphasized her healthy, womanly built that he found wildly appealing. The fine hairs that escaped her pale blond bun lay against her neck, curling gently in the heat.

He swallowed. “May I help you?”

She looked up, startled, and their eyes met.

His breath stopped and his skin tightened all over, singed by that first glance of her large hazel eyes. It hurt, the terrible awareness and the premonition of something real and large andunchangeable- and then she smiled, glancing at the flowers and back at him.

“Hello,” she said.“I didn’t even hear you come.These roses got all my attention.”

“You like roses?”

“I love roses. Aren’t these beautiful?”

You’re beautiful. The words almost slipped his month.

“They have been cared for by a professional gardener,” he said instead.

“I’m sure you’re right.” She wrinkled her nose with a touch of self-deprecation and looked around her. “This house is as pretty as the garden. The entire property is lovely. I really enjoyed my visit here.”

“You sound like you’re about to leave.”

She gave a clear, tinkling laugh. “Soon.”

“You won’t stay for the fireworks?” He had to make her stay. He needed more time with her.

“Oh? I didn’t know therewerefireworks.” She looked interested.

“There absolutely are.” And if they weren’t, he would’ve personally fired up a large barrel of potassium nitrate with a creative name like Dragon Fart just to please her. “I promise not to disappoint.”

A mild commotion issued from the direction of the garage, and a harried looking man appeared, looking around.

Right, he was going to provide direction to the fireworks guy. “I better go, make sure it goes off without a hitch.” If only he could peel the soles of his shoes off the ground and make his legs walk away from her.