“I’m not a shrew,” she told him. “I want Jack to be happy. He deserves this. Katie is very nice. I know she’s good for him, and Shane is a treasure.”
“But she’s a Fitzgerald.”
“We can’t all be perfect.”
Stephen smiled then. A slow, male smile that made her aware that if he stepped just a little closer he could touch her bare arms and maybe even kiss her. Her breath caught as she imagined what it would be like to feel his skin on hers for real, and not just in her dreams.
Her mouth went dry at the thought. Her legs quivered slightly and there was a definite warmth flowing out from her belly.
“Nora?”
She turned at the sound of her name and saw Katie standing next to her. Petite, blond Katie wearing a pretty blue dress and looking like a perfect china doll. Nora sighed. She was tall. She would always be tall. Sometimes she even enjoyed being tall. If only there weren’t so many short people around.
“I’m happy for you,” Nora said quickly. “I mean that. I’m not a mean person, just crabby on occasion.”
Katie gave her a grateful smile. “I know there have been some problems between our two families.”
“Yeah. A hundred-plus years of feuding.”
“I don’t want it to be like that anymore.” Katie’s expression turned earnest. “I want us to be friends.”
Nora swallowed and was a little surprised to find she wanted that, too. As if her family wasn’t big enough already. “That sounds good,” she murmured, then had to clear her throat.
“About the house. Jack and I were going to rebuild his place. I mean, I know I don’t belong here. I’m selling the place I bought because Jack needs to live on the ranch.” She cleared her throat. “The thing is Hattie decided she wanted a new place for herself. She insisted Jack, Shane and I live here.” Katie’s hold on her glass tightened. “I sort of got trapped into the situation.”
Nora touched the smaller woman’s shoulder. “Stop saying that. You’re marrying the oldest Darby son. That makes this house your home. It’s always been that way, Katie. You know that. As for Hattie, if my mom didn’t really want a charming new house of her own, you couldn’t pry her out of here with a crowbar. You know that, too.”
“You sure you don’t mind?”
“As much as I would like the title, I’m not the queen of the world. I want you and Jack to be happy. I mean that.”
“Good.” Katie smiled again. “The wedding is going to be fairly soon. We don’t want a long engagement. Also, we don’t want a big fuss, so it’s only going to be friends and family attending. My father didn’t take the news very well, so I’m not sure if he’ll be coming, but the rest of my family will be there.”
Katie didn’t have to spell it out for her. Nora knew exactly what her future sister-in-law meant. David Fitzgerald, Katie’s oldest brother, would be at the wedding.
“I’m a big girl,” Nora said with a lightness she didn’t feel. “I can handle David.”
Before Katie could respond, Jack called her over to his side. Nora watched the couple step close to each other, as if they’d always been together. She sighed. “I think they’ll be very happy.”
“I think you’re right.”
Stephen’s voice surprised her. She’d forgotten he was standing next to her. Now he took a step closer, which meant that she could almost feel his heat.
“You did a nice thing,” he said softly. “Katie was afraid that you’d be upset about the engagement and the fact that Hattie wants them to have the house.”
Nora grimaced but didn’t say anything. In her capacity as a physical therapist, Katie spent a lot of time consulting with Stephen. Of course they would talk.
“Katie makes my brother happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“And you’re really fine with this?”
“I already told you. I think it’s wonderful. Jack will be a great husband to Katie and an even better father to Shane.”
Stephen did the unthinkable. He actually put his arm around her. Nora was so stunned she nearly dropped her drink.
“Now that we’ve cleared that up,” he said conversationally, as if he touched her like this all the time. “Answer me another question. Who’s David?”
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