Heated Rush - Leslie Kelly [58]
Sean’s brow went up in surprise, as if thinking she’d goofed up. When he opened his mouth to correct her—what was he going to say, “Sorry, she forgot my name on the ride up here?”—she shook her head in warning.
Her father was courteous enough to smile politely and extend his hand. Steve, the middle son and prankster, circled around her and whispered, “He’s got an earring. Is it on the right side?”
Knowing immediately what he meant, Annie smirked, “Sorry, big brother, your loss. Let’s just say I have absolutely no doubts about his sexual preferences.”
“You’re so funny.” He swatted her, then greeted Sean, as did Randy. And every man in her family had something to say about the fat cat currently sprawled like a twenty pound sack of potatoes over Sean’s left shoulder.
“Why is everybody picking on my Wally?”
Jed looked at her as if she was foolish. “Because he’s meaner than the bull in the south pasture.”
Before she could argue it, her mother stepped out of the house, onto the porch, then raced down the stairs. Annie planted her feet firmly on the ground, knowing she was in for an exuberant bear hug, which she got.
They stood outside talking for a few minutes, during which she got the rundown on the latest happenings of the entire Davis clan.
With grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins spread throughout the encircling three counties, there was lots of news to catch up on. Who was engaged. Who was pregnant. Who had disappointed his parents by getting suspended for letting a whole bunch of chickens loose in the high-school gymnasium. Who had shot his toe off while doing some out-of-season hunting, and didn’t that just serve him right?
The usual.
Through it all, Sean maintained a smile, stroked the cat, responded politely when addressed. And maintained a tall, solid presence beside her that reminded Annie she was not alone. They were in this together. For better or for worse.
And what a wonderful feeling it was.
“Oh, listen to me jabbering away,” her mother finally said when she’d run out of wind. “Let’s go inside and relax. The food’s almost done, you must be famished from the long drive.”
Famished, yes. But not for food.
When she caught Sean’s eye and saw the twinkle in there, she knew he’d done that mind-reading thing again. Unable to keep herself from touching him, she reached for his hand, twined her fingers in his, and led him up the steps.
Answering the fresh litany of questions as they walked inside the house, Annie offered Sean a look that both apologized…and offered to make this up to him.
If they survived it.
SEAN LIKED ANNIE’S family. All of them. But he especially liked her mother.
He suspected the woman looked just like Annie would in thirty years. Slim and energetic, her short hair was more of an ash-blond, and she had laugh lines beside her pretty blue eyes.
Though she was talkative, and fussed over her only daughter, Mrs. Davis was also calm and straightforward about the way she ruled the family. Her husband and sons might not realize it, but the woman was entirely in charge. She got everyone to do exactly what she wanted with the lift of a brow or the gesture of a hand, which he found terribly amusing, given the size of the men she was ordering about.
Once or twice, she’d caught his eye, noted his amusement, and grinned impishly at him. As if the two of them already shared a secret.
In the two hours since they’d arrived, Annie’s family had had so much to say to her that they’d pretty well left him alone, beyond the usual niceties. And he’d enjoyed the big country brunch, the likes of which he hadn’t eaten since his Irish breakfast days.
He’d wager Wally, who’d taken up residence beneath Annie’s chair, had liked it, too. Judging by the number of times Annie slipped him a nibble of this or that, he had to be in spoiled cat heaven.
Annie’s older brothers had departed for their own homes after eating,