Creed's Honor. Linda Lael Miller

he asked, and when he walked over to examine the office door, Tricia followed right along. The rest of the world seemed to fall away, forgotten. “You locked up, right?”

      “I forget sometimes,” Tricia said, enjoying his apparent concern for her personal security more than she probably should have. “And the lock is old, like the rest of this place, and it doesn’t always catch. A gust of wind could have blown it open.”

      “Or somebody could have broken in,” Conner said, taking the dark view evidently. “Did you call Jim Young and report what happened?”

      “No,” Tricia said. “I drove over here and checked things out myself, after I got Valentino dried off and settled at the apartment. Nothing was missing, or anything like that.”

      Just then, Steven’s attractive wife joined them, baby tugging happily at a lock of her bright hair.

      “I’m Melissa Creed,” she said, smiling at Tricia, putting out her free hand.

      Tricia took the other woman’s hand and smiled back. “Tricia McCall,” she said.

      Melissa slanted a mischievous glance at Conner, who was just standing there, contributing nothing at all. “Of course I might have expected you to introduce me,” she told him.

      He shoved a hand through his hair, sighed. He looked mildly uncomfortable now, as though he might bolt. “Clearly,” he said, “that wasn’t necessary.”

      Melissa laughed at that, and her eyes shone as she turned her attention back to Tricia. “The food is almost ready,” she said. “Women and children get to be first in line.”

      By tacit agreement, they started toward the picnic area, where the huge grill was emitting delicious aromas, savory-sweet.

      Tricia called to Sasha, who came reluctantly. She’d already made friends with some of the other kids, though they’d only been there a few minutes.

      Melissa stayed at Tricia’s side while they waited their turns.

      “What’s the occasion?” Tricia asked, taking in the crowds of people. She recognized most of them, but there were some strangers, too. “For the party, I mean?”

      Melissa smiled. “My husband likes to bring people together,” she said. “The more, the merrier, as far as Steven’s concerned.”

      “Oh,” Tricia said, at a loss again.

      Just then, Melissa spotted some new arrival and waved, smiling. “Excuse me,” she said. “I might have to referee.”

      With that, she hurried away.

      Tricia turned her head, and there was Brody Creed in the distance, looking so much like his brother that it made her breath catch.