Sean matched Lindy's stance, shoving his hands in his pockets. “No worries, man. I'm glad you're a little sappy about her. She's like my sister and I would hate to think I would have to challenge you to a fight because you weren't completely sold-out on your relationship with her.”
“You think you could fight me?” Lindy chuckled.
“I am a trained police officer, so yes, I think I could fight you. But no, I don't think I would win. I've seen enough videos and witnessed your exploits in person to know that you are more than scrappy.”
Lindy nodded his head in approval. “Good to know Jane has had someone like you looking out for her.”
“We farm kids stick together.”
The two took the final steps to the front of the line.
Lindy rested both of his hands on the bar and shifted his focus to Sean. “What'll you have?”
“A diet soda.”
Lindy nodded and glanced at the bartender. “Make that two.”
“Make that three.”
Both men shifted their focus from the bartender to the scruffy blond standing at the corner of the bar.
Jason “Hooty” Horton was the star defenseman for Columbus and an imposing figure at nearly six feet three inches. His face bore the beginnings of a shiner on his left cheek and his mangled mullet was still damp from his post-game shower.
Lindy grinned and slid the first of the three drinks down to his friend. “When did you get here? And, when did you stop drinking beer after a game?”
“I've been here fifteen minutes listening to my wife berate some poor waitress while I waited for you to get to the front of this molasses paced line. I gave up drinking two weeks ago, at the urging of my wife. Have you ever had a gorgeous pit bull nag you about something? You eventually give in because she doesn't have the capacity to release her hold on the bone. Nearly two years with Millie and I have become the biggest of push-overs.”
Lindy snagged a lime from the bar fruit tray and plopped it into his soda. “Dude, you were a goner the first time you met Little Miss Millie. She could probably convince you to wear pink and start watching soccer.”
Jason's face contorted into a twisted reflection of internal agony. “The pink I could handle, but soccer. I think that might be my line.”
Sean chuckled as he sipped on his soda. He didn't know Millie's husband as well as he knew Lindy, but Jason's description of Millie's tenacity was spot-on. He almost felt sorry for the guy. Of course, Jason was married to a former supermodel who also happened to have a super brain and the uncanny ability to speak truth into any situation. From his perspective, Jason Horton was one blessed man.
Jason downed half of his soda in one swallow. He sucked in a single piece of ice and loudly crunched as he spoke. “I'm starved. Please tell me we have more than little pizzas and chicken wings to hold us over until we head to Morton's?”
Lindy nodded to the dessert table. “Sean's girlfriend made all of the desserts, and from the samples Janie brought home you'll be more than satisfied, Hoot.”
Sean shook his head at the mention of Maggie. “She's not my girlfriend.”
A grin twitched on Jason's lips. “Really. That's not what I heard.”
Sean's neck burned with heat and his tie seemed to tighten around his neck. “Maggie is definitely not my girlfriend. On a good day, we may call each other friend. And on a bad dayâ¦well, I don't want to think of what she would call me.”
Lindy barked a laugh. “Come on, Lover Boy. Let's eat some dessert.”
The trio wound their way through the ballroom. Various officers stopped to greet Sean and were introduced to the two hockey legends. Both superstars took the handshakes and back-thumps with good humor.
Sean was impressed that they seemed to genuinely embrace the attention without seeking the spotlight. His brother Joey could learn a few things from these two.
The men arrived at the pillaged dessert table. The chocolate sculpture of the state of Ohio with its various intricacies was breathtaking. Maggie was truly an artist.
Sean glanced over his shoulder, looking around so he could congratulate her. And, maybe ask her for a dance to see if he had imagined how well they would fit together cheek-to-cheek.
Jason smacked Sean's shoulder as he leaned forward and snagged a delicate chocolate football from the table. “Girlfriend or not, this Maggie can sure roll out the spread.” He popped the whole dessert into his mouth, simultaneously releasing a moan. “Forget about loving my wife, I would marry this girl on the spot and gain two hundred pounds in a year. This is amazing.” His gushing words were quickly followed a loud thwack to the back of his head.
Millie stood just to the rear of Jason with both hands resting on her hips, her face reflecting the intimidation often associated with her husband. “Listen here, mister. You are tied to me until death do us part and unless you want that âin good times and bad' to be more bad than good you better say that you had a temporary seizure.”
Jason slid his arms around her waist and yanked her to his side. Kissing her temple he whispered in her ear and her face relaxed, accepting his hug with one of her own.
She leaned into his arms and smiled. “Don't ever say forget about my wife again, OK? You really hurt my feelings.”
He kissed her lightly on the lips, releasing her from his embrace. “Yes, dear.”
“Wow,” Sean started. “I never thought I would see the day when someone could actually hurt Millie Tandis's feelings. There were days when I thought you didn't have any.”
“Please, you can't even get up the nerve to ask the girl you are all gushy about on a non-date date. So don't get up in my grill with feelings talk. You've always been a little overly emotional and kind of a girl, Taylor.”
“No need to get all Millie, just because your husband is enraptured with my girl's culinary skills.”
“I'm really starting to dislike that Maggie-girl. It's a good thing Janesie sees something in her. That always helps me keep an open mind.”
Sean snorted. “Yep, Millie, you are always open-minded.”
“Hey⦔
Jane stepped in the middle of the two old friends. “Stop. You two could never just play nice in the sandbox, could you? You've been friends too long to have a knock down drag out in the middle of a party.”
“Yes, ma'am.” Millie nodded. “Sorry, Sean. I'm a little on edge. This party is a pretty big deal, and we've pulled it together in less time than any of the rest of the events Jane and I have planned together. I guess the lack of sleep is finally catching up with me.”
Jason slid his left arm around her waist and patted her tummy with his right hand. “And, she might just be grumpy about something I did to her as well.”
“OH, MY GOODNESS!” Jane screamed and wrenched Millie out of Jason's arms and into hers. “Is it true? This is so awesome. Oh, my goodness. When? What? Where? How?”
Millie stepped back with a true blush on her cheeks. “Uh, I don't think we need to go into the how, but the when is in about six months. We only found out two weeks ago, and we were waiting until we had the doctor's visit today to say anything.”
Doctor's visit? Sean was confused. “What's going on?”
Lindy chuckled. “I believe Millie and Jason are going to be a mommy and a daddy.” He stretched out his hand to Jason with a smile. “Congratulations, man. That's great.”
Jason nodded as he shook Lindy's hand.
Awareness rolled over Sean, the heat of embarrassment warming his neck. “Millie, congratulations.” He gently pulled her into a hug and whispered in her ear. “I am really happy for you. Sorry I was such a jerk.”
Millie stepped back and swiped at an errant tear on her cheek. “Thanks, and you can't really help being a jerk. You are a Taylor brother. You guys pretty much excel at being jerks.”
Sean rolled his eyes. “Glad to see being a mother-in-waiting hasn't softened your tongue.”
Millie shrugged her shoulders. “Can't change. And even if I could, why would I want to? I am fabulous.” She flipped her hair, spinning toward the dessert table. “Now let's eat some sweets. I can't wait until we go to dinner. This kid is hungry. And so is his momma.”
The group of friends spread out, each lifting a plate from the stack, adding a variety of treats to the smooth surfaces. They found an empty table near the back and settled down to try the variety of delicacies. Whispers of mmm's and oh my's were the only sounds at the group's table for a solid five minutes.
Lindy finally broke the group's quiet murmurings. “Sean, I agree with my outspoken friend, your girl can cook her apron off. These chocolate footballs are ridiculous and the oatmeal cookiesâ¦I think I am out of words.” He looked at Jane. “Did your dad try these?”
Jane nodded. “Maggie hid a small box with his name on it in the backroom. I have a sneaking suspicion it's filled with oatmeal cookies. Mom will not be happy.”
“Why won't I be happy?”
Elizabeth “Bitsy” Grey, Jane's mother, had stopped just to the left of her daughter. The petite, platinum blonde was Jane's complete opposite both physically and emotionally, but the love the two of them shared was tangible as Jane rose and leaned into her mother's embrace.
Sean shoved away from the table and stood to greet her as well. Bitsy had been one of his mother's closest confidantes. She'd quickly stepped in to fill the gap his mom left behind in Sean and his brothers' lives.
She stretched up on tiptoe, yanking him down to her in an embrace that had the strength of his best handcuffs. “How've you been, Sean-dear? I've been in South Carolina with Emory so long I feel as if it's been simply forever since I last saw you or you came over for dinner.”
He patted her sequined-covered back. “Missed you too, Bits. But, I've been busy.”
She stepped back, but kept her hands on his arms. “So I hear. What with that awful incident at the police station and the mysterious stranger in town. But it's nice to hear that you've finally started to play nice with our sweet little baker.”
Sean's cheeks burned. Why was everyone obsessed with him and Maggie? “We've been planning the party and I stop by for a coffee in the mornings.”
“And I hear that you are there nearly every night in the café when it closes. Sharing a little after-hours dessert?”
“Mother!” Jane exclaimed.
Bitsy looked over her shoulder. “What? Jane-dear, I am just repeating what I heard from Sissy Jenkins at class this morning. It's not really gossiping.”
Sean longed to rip his tie off and suck in some much-needed oxygen. He slipped his hand behind his collar and kneaded the base of his neck.
Henry Grey slid up behind his wife. “Well, dear, by the sound of Jane's voice and the stain on Sean's cheeks, I am guessing you missed another opportunity to keep your mouth shut?” He extended his hand to Sean. “Hey son, this is a great party you and my peanut pulled together.”
“Thanks Hank, but Jane, Millie, and Maggie did most of the heavy lifting. I just agreed and wrote the checks.”
Hank smiled, shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Well, then, you did everything a man is supposed to do.” Turning to his wife, he laced his fingers through hers. “My dear, I believe you owe me a dance and this sounds like a slow one. Not that I can really tell. This stuff is a little too rock ân' roll for my taste. But for the opportunity to dance with my best girl, I can sway to just about anything.”
Bitsy fluttered her eyelashes and leaned into Henry's side. “How can I refuse?”
The couple of forty-plus years began to walk toward the dance floor, but two steps in Bitsy looked over her shoulder and shouted. “Congratulations Millie and Jason. That's just wonderful news about the baby. And, Jane-dear, I saw that box with Henry's name. You can just take that home with you. He doesn't need any additional temptations.”
Millie slumped into her chair. “How could she possibly have known I'm pregnant? She's been in South Carolina. We only found out two weeks ago and didn't have it confirmed until today.”
Jane leaned her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her cupped hand. “I told you her tentacles reach far and wide. She has an in with God. By the age of twelve I had an inkling, but I grow more convinced each day of every year. I don't question how she knows. I just always know she knows.”
“My mom's the same way. It's a mother thing. You'll have it too, I imagine. Nothing to freak out about when we've got this stellar spread of sweets to devour,” Jason said as he tossed a cherry tart into his mouth.
Millie perked up. “Do you really think I will have the Bitsy Grey All Knowing Gossipy Superpower when I have the chicken nugget?”
Jane giggled. “Probably. My sister acquired it when she had Chelsea. And it freaks me out.” She bit into an apple-filled turnover and sighed. “But I agree with Jason. Who cares right now? I want to wallow in all of the sugary goodness on my plate and not worry about the five pounds I gained the moment I looked at the table.” She turned toward her husband. “I hope you were serious about liking those cookies, because I think we just inherited a box.”
Lindy draped his arm on the back of Jane's chair. “They're all right. This Maggie chick can bake. She's pretty.” He raised a quick hand. “According to my wife. And she lives in your dinky little town. So what's wrong with her, Sean?”
Sean's throat contracted. So close to moving on to a new topic. “Nothing's wrong with her. We just haven't had a date yet. I thought she would be here tonight.”
“She would have been, Boy Wonder, if you had actually invited her,” Millie said.
“What do you mean? I did invite her.” He distinctly remembered thinking about inviting her. He must have invited her. Right?
Jane laid her napkin on the table. “Well, she didn't understand if you did invite her.”