The Summer Garden. Sherryl Woods

“What am I missing?” he asked them.

       “The party,” Shanna said firmly, scowling first at Kevin, then at Connor, apparently to ensure their silence. “But you already know that, so you’d better hurry.”

       Connor grinned at the direct order, but Kevin merely shrugged as if he had zero control over his wife.

       “Sorry, man,” he muttered as he passed Luke.

       As Luke got closer to the house, he heard noise coming from the backyard, so rather than going inside, he walked around the side of the house.

       “There you are!” Mick boomed in a way that was far more welcoming than usual. “It’s about time.”

       Luke frowned. “Why is everyone making such a fuss because I’m a little late?” he asked just as the crowd seemed to magically part, leaving him with a clear view of his grandmother, Dillon and, at Dillon’s side, Moira. Luke’s heart seemed to come to a complete stop in his chest as she met his gaze, her expression a familiar mix of defiance and fear. He knew that look all too well. She was scared to death about his reaction, but trying hard to pretend otherwise.

       Luke crossed the lawn, unable to take his eyes off her. “You,” he said softly. “You’re here!”

       “So I am,” she said, her gaze searching his face. “Are you pleased?”

       “Stunned, as a matter of fact.” Her eyes clouded at his words, so he quickly added, “In a good way, Moira. In a very good way.”

       In fact, it was just about the best surprise he could ever recall…and that flat-out terrified him.

       Her lips slowly curved into a smile at his words. “Well, I suppose that’s a warmer welcome than I gave you on the night we met in Dublin.”

       Luke laughed. “There was no welcome,” he reminded her. “You’d have been pleased if I’d turned right around and left for the hotel. In fact, you did your best to see that not only I, but all of us, did just that.”

       “My manners and my disposition have improved since then,” she told him. “Though I have a few things to say to you about yours.”

       Luke winced. “I know I’ve been neglecting you.”

       “And me,” Dillon said, interceding. “It’s good to see you again, Luke.”

       Luke shook the older man’s hand. “I’m glad you’re here, sir. Gram’s been looking forward to the visit ever since we got back.” He turned to his grandmother. “And you,” he chided. “I assume you knew about the surprise.”

       “Of course I did. Dillon and I worked it all out and kept it to ourselves. I must admit I could hardly wait to see your reaction.” She smiled at him. “It told me quite a lot.”

       “Gram,” he warned, only to have her wave him off.

       “Moira, why don’t you go with Luke to fill a plate? I’m sure he’s starving.” She gave him a chiding look. “Though there’s little guarantee that there will be much left to choose from at this hour.”

       “I’m sorry I was late,” he apologized.

       “And even sorrier now that you know who awaited you, I imagine,” she teased. “Go on now and enjoy yourself.”

       Food was the last thing on his mind, but he took the time to choose a few things from the buffet, poured himself a glass of iced tea, refilled Moira’s glass, then led the way to a pair of weathered Adirondack chairs facing the bay. At twilight the view was amazing with shades of purple descending to meet the last shimmering reflections of gold on the water as the sun set behind them to the west.

       He set his plate on the arm of the chair, then took a step forward and reached for Moira, studying her face, remembering the way she felt, the way she tasted.

       “I’ve missed you like crazy,” he said right before he sealed his mouth over hers. “And this,” he murmured eventually. “I’ve missed this.”

       She held his gaze as he slowly released her. “I was so afraid you hadn’t,” she admitted in a rare display of vulnerability.

       “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

       “It was only a couple of weeks ago when grandfather suggested it. You’d been saying less and less in your emails, and while I understood it was because you were busy, a part of me worried it was more than that. I even wondered if you’d tell me not to come.”

       “Why would I do such a thing?” he asked, genuinely shocked that she could even imagine it. “I’m glad you’re here.”

       “Even now, when you’ve so much on your mind?” she asked, searching his expression for the truth.

       “Especially now,” he admitted, realizing it was true. Gram had tried to tell him that Moira belonged here, that she was a part of this pub dream of his, but he hadn’t accepted it until he’d set eyes on her tonight. She’d been by his side as he’d worked out his ideas, listening to him, encouraging him, challenging him when she thought he’d got it wrong. “You’ll be here for the opening, right? You’re staying the whole time your grandfather’s here?”

       “Unless you try to chase me away,” she said, then grinned. “And then I’ll only go far enough to annoy you, but not so far that you can forget me.”

       Though he wasn’t quite ready to let her go, he was aware that they had an audience of interested O’Brien onlookers not that far away. He nudged her toward a chair. “Sit before I’m tempted to do something that will shock my family.”

       She looked intrigued by that. “Really? Such as?”

       “I want nothing more than to drag you down onto the ground and have my way with you,” he said candidly, enjoying the quick rise of heat in her eyes.

       Still, she only laughed. “You’ve some more apologizing to do before that’s in the cards, Luke. Women don’t appreciate being ignored, no matter what the circumstances. At least, I don’t.”

       “You know it was only because of how busy I’ve been, right? It had nothing at all to do with my feelings for you. Nothing’s changed about those. I swear it.”

       “Pretty words,” she commented. “You’ve a way with them. We’ll see if you can back them up with actions.”

       He smiled. “Is that a challenge?”

       “Of course it is. Isn’t that one of the things you said you liked best about me? I didn’t fall easily into your bed in Ireland. I see no reason for that to change here.”

       Luke laughed. “I look forward to persuading you, then.”

       There was pure mischief in her eyes then. “And I look forward to being persuaded.”

       “I think it’s going well,” Dillon observed, casting yet another glance toward his granddaughter and Luke, who’d been keeping to themselves since the moment Luke had made his belated entrance at the party.

       Nell gave him a wry look. “I suspect it would be going better if there weren’t an audience over here who can’t seem to keep their gazes to themselves.”

       Dillon chuckled. “Point taken. And the truth is, now that the rest of your family has left, I wouldn’t mind having you to myself away from prying eyes as well. Since the seats by the water are occupied, would you like to go inside and snuggle with me on your sofa?”

       “And risk scandalizing the young people when they come inside?”

       “I don’t think there’s any danger of that,” Dillon said. “Those two could easily be out here till sunup. They’ve a lot of catching up to do.”

       “Aren’t you tired from your trip?” Nell asked, studying him with concern.

       “I was, but that nap earlier