Chapter 17

“I was starting to think you’d left town with Frayne,” Maureen said when I showed up at the inn Wednesday at lunch time. I’d learned a thing or two this past year about mooching from Colleen, who was an expert on the subject, and had timed my visit perfectly in the hope my baby sister would feed me.

As I knew she would, Maureen pointed to a chair and said, “Sit.” When I did, she placed a piping hot bowl of her mouthwatering New England chowder in front of me along with a hunk of bread I didn’t even need to ask to know she’d baked.

“You’re my favorite sister,” I told her after swallowing a big spoonful of the delicious creamy soup.

“Hey,” Colleen said from next to me, her own spoon of chowder in her hand.

“Sorry, sis, but you’ve never cooked for me.”

She tossed me a pout. “My talents lie elsewhere,” she said. “Did I not get you all glammed-up for speed dating?”

“One time. Maureen feeds me all the time.”

Through slitted eyes, she regarded me. As kids her attempt to mimic my death stare hadn’t intimidated me one whit. It still didn’t.

“Just sayin’.” I shoved a chunk of bread into my bowl.

“Any idea when Frayne will be back?” Maureen asked from the stove where she was filling a tray with bowls for her guests. “He kept the reservation on his room even though he’s not here, which was nice of him. Unnecessary, but nice.”

“He texted me last night that he’d found a mention of Josiah in a county court record. He was pursuing it today. Depending on what he finds, or doesn’t, he may be back by the weekend.”

“Things have gotten hot and heavy with you two, haven’t they?” Colleen asked.

Ever the lawyer, instead of answering her, I asked, “What do you mean?”

“She knows Frayne’s been spending nights at your house,” Maureen said.

I tossed my baby sister a glare.

“She didn’t tell me”—Colleen pointed her spoon at Mo—“so don’t give her your lawyer face. I happened to drive by your house the other day on the way to a meeting and saw Frayne pull out of your driveway.”

“So?”

“My meeting was at seven thirty. A.m.,” she added for emphasis.

“We’re not judging you, sis. In fact, Colleen and I are both thrilled you’ve met someone you’re interested in, aren’t we?” She peered across the table at Colleen with a Nanny-worthy don’t-contradict-me glower.

Colleen nodded, then cocked an eyebrow my way. “Although, I think a little more than interested.”

I’ve never been a huge divulger when it comes to my private life, case in point the fact I’d never told them about what happened with Danny. My sisters were nothing if not supportive and loving though, so again, the brave gene that was rapidly become a familiar facet of my personality broke through.

With as little detail as possible—because some things should be kept private—I confessed we’d become lovers and the surprise I felt about it.

“Why are you surprised?” Maureen asked. “You’ve both been working closely together, and anyone with eyes can see you’re attracted to one another. You’re both super-smart, successful people. Respected in your fields. Plus, he’s hot and single, as are you. No one is surprised the two of you have hooked up.”

“I’m not hot.” I shook my head. “I can manage somewhat pretty with help”—I thrust my chin at Colleen—“but I’m not hot by anyone’s definition.”

My sisters tossed one another questioning eye rolls.

“You want to tell her?” Mo asked Colleen.

“Tell me what?”

Colleen put her spoon down on the table while Maureen continued to fill guest bowls.

“I happened to see Olivia Joyner at the grocery store Sunday morning after Slade and I dropped Nanny off from church.”

“Thanks for that, by the way.”

She waved her hand in the air. “Olivia asked if you’d mentioned anything about her event. I pleaded the fifth and asked her how it went.”

“What did she say? Did she call me pathetic? Terrified? Not worth the effort to try and fix up?”

“Stop,” Maureen said, summoning a tone remarkably similar to our mother’s with a Nanny-worthy pursed lip attached to it.

“She said,” Colleen continued, “the day after the event she received five—five—calls, one from each of the men who’d attended. Every one of them wanted a private meet with you.”

“Oh, good Lord. I wasn’t even a participant. I thought they all realized that.”

“They did. According to Olivia, though, they told her you were—and I quote—the hottest female they’ve seen in years—unquote. So, who you calling not hot, sister dear? Independent observers disagree.”

I stared at her with my mouth open.

“Just sayin’,” she added with a shrug, a raised eyebrow, and a smirk.

Maureen sat down across from me and pulled one of my hands into hers. It has always amazed me how remarkably strong and warm they are.

“Look, Cath. We love you and want you to be happy—”

“I’m happy.”

“—but you’ve been living like a nun since Danny died. You don’t date, you never see anyone except us.”

“I see people all the time.”

“For work and as an officiant, yes.” Colleen rose and carried her empty bowl to the sink. “But that’s it.”

“That’s not true—”

“When was the last time you went out to dinner with a man?”

I wracked my brain to remember. “A few weeks ago. I had dinner with Lucas.”

“A guy who’s practically your brother doesn’t count,” Colleen said.

“You asked when the last time I was out to dinner with a man was and—”

“Don’t.” She stabbed a perfectly manicured index finger at me. “He doesn’t count, and you know it. Stop arguing like a lawyer. I’m betting the last time you did was with Danny when he was home on leave. Am I right?”

She had me there.

“Look, sweetie…” Maureen squeezed the hand she still held. “We know you loved Danny from the first moment you laid eyes on him. We get that. But you can’t live the rest of your life mooning over the man.”

“I’m not.”

“You have been up until now. Don’t deny it. The love of your life was taken away from you, and you’ve shut yourself off from ever finding love again. We know Danny was your everything, your soul mate.”

Silence is more telling than words in my family. Maureen cocked her head like Frayne was wont to do, and her gaze ping-ponged between my eyes, as if searching for the truth. She’s not called the perceptive sister for nothing.

“He was, wasn’t he?”

“Sis?” Colleen sat back down and took my free hand in hers. Together, we formed a little unbreakable triangle sitting there at Maureen’s table.

For the first time, I wanted to let go of the secret I’d been carrying around inside me for three years—spit it out and be done with it. I could admit the reason why I hadn’t up to now was I was fearful of what they’d think of me, married to a man who’d fallen out of love with me, who didn’t want me or a family or anything to do with staying married to me.

Not an ego-boosting tale, to be sure. If I could be vulnerable with anyone, though, it was these two.

After taking a deep breath, I told them. Everything. Everything Danny’d said to me the day he’d left, everything he’d told me about how he felt, what he’d done, and what he wanted.

The first indication I had I was crying was when Maureen handed me a tissue.

“Why didn’t you say something?” Colleen asked. “Why did you keep something as big as this”—she swiped her hand in the air—“all to yourself?”

“I was embarrassed. And more than a little ashamed at how blind I’d been all those years. I thought Danny loved me—”

“He did,” Maureen said.

“Not enough.” I shook my head, then dried my eyes. “Not enough to give up the life he’d made for himself in the army.”

“Does Lucas know?” Maureen asked. “He must, right? He was Danny’s best friend from the womb.”

“I don’t know.” I blew out a breath and tissue-swiped my eyes. “We’ve never talked about it. I’m…well, I’m afraid to ask him. I don’t want to find out he did know and condoned Danny’s behavior. I don’t know how I could face him and stay his friend if I knew he’d betrayed me. Or, if he didn’t know and I tell him, then I’ve shattered the good memory he has of his friend. I’m not willing to take that chance. I’m the one Danny hurt. No one else deserves to be.”

“Sucks, both ways.” Colleen’s ability to put into words what everyone else was thinking was a true gift.

We sat there, the three of us, lost in our own thoughts for a moment as Maureen’s servers came and went with lunch service.

“Well, if it’s any consolation, Mac Frayne is nothing like Danny. In looks, personality, or anything else,” Maureen said. “He strikes me as a really good guy, Cath, someone you could be happy with.”

“I told you, I am happy.”

“You know what I mean.” She let go of my hand.

I grabbed it back. With a gentle squeeze I said, “I do. I love that you want me to have a happily ever after filled with a family and a man I can adore. But I don’t think there’s anything long-term in Frayne and me. He’s here to do a job. Being involved is a side benefit. Once he’s done, he’ll leave and go back to his life. Probably write a few more books.”

“You’re so sure of that?” my youngest sister asked.

“Of course I am. Why would he stay once he’s done with his research?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because you live here and he wants to be where you are?”

“What? No.” I stood and carried my bowl to the sink as Colleen had. “The man has a life in New York. He’s not gonna give it up to stay here with me. No man would do that.”

“Slade did,” Colleen said.

“Okay, well, yes. That’s true. But Slade is one in a billion.”

“I think Mac may be the same. You didn’t see the way he looked at you when we were all here the last time. The man has feelings for you, sis.”

“I told her the same thing, and she didn’t believe me either.” Maureen filled the sink with hot water. “You’re talking to a wall, Coll. Stubborn’s her Confirmation name. She won’t accept the truth.”

“We’re gonna have to let her figure it out by herself, then.”

I rolled my eyes and shrugged into my coat. Time to get back to work.

I kissed each of their cheeks. “I love the two of you beyond measure, but it can be exhausting being around you sometimes.”

“Back atcha, babe,” Colleen said, with a quick glance at her watch. “I’ve gotta get back, too. I have a new bride coming in with her mother in a half hour. The mother’s texted me twice today, because as she’s told me numerous times, her time is precious and she’s not wasting it waiting for people.” Her sigh was Nanny-worthy. “Something tells me I’m gonna need a non-alcoholic adult beverage tonight.”

Maureen and I both laughed.

The rest of the week proved uneventful.

Frayne texted me Friday morning to tell me he thought he’d be able to finish up his inquiry by the end of the day and he’d probably head back to Heaven in the morning, barring any major snow delays or snags with his research. I told him Maureen had kept his room neat and ready for him whenever he arrived in town and not to hurry, but to drive safely since we’d had another storm and the roads could be icy.

He’d sent back a laughing emoji with a —Yes, ma’am. Will do.—

After speaking with my sisters, I’d spent a great deal of my free time ruminating on their assertion the man felt something for me.

I knew without a doubt what I was feeling for Mac Frayne was love.

Silly, sappy, giggly love. The toe-tapping, smile-inducing, heart-racing kind of love that, if you were lucky enough, you’d experience once in your life.

With Frayne, the giddy sensations inside me whenever I thought of him, heard his voice, felt his touch, were experiences for me as new and shiny as a freshly minted penny.

Did he feel the same?

After a while, my mind settled as I nestled under my comforter and drifted off to sleep.

The sudden blast of warmth steeping through my system filled me from shoulders to feet, and I burrowed into it.

A hand wrapped around my waist, tugged me closer to the furnace, and roused me through the thick fog of sleep. A tickle of heat at my neck had me shifting to allow better access.

That hand drifted down and slid under the hem of my T-shirt. Long, strong fingers glided over my skin in a slow, seductive dance, across my belly and up toward my breasts. My body responded before my mind could, curling my toes and flexing my knees to my chest, pushing me farther into the oven and against something hard.

Something solid and long.

Something…throbbing.

Fingers settled under my breast, cupped it, then rolled my nipple between them.

Awareness catapulted through me.

Frayne.

“You feel so…good,” he whispered against my ear, then trailed tiny angel kisses along my neck.

I snuggled closer to him.

“I missed you,” he whispered. “I missed holding you…like this. Kissing you. I missed…you.”

“You, too. Mmm.” My eyes wouldn’t open, fatigue warring with arousal.

He kissed my temple. “Go back to sleep. I just wanted you to know I’m back.”

“Safe and sound,” I mumbled.

“Safe and sound.” His deep chuckle sent a warm wave of tranquility through me.

I threaded my fingers through the ones at my waist. “Welcome home.”