CHAPTER 21
Q
uinn’s stomach had been fluttering from the moment of Ryan’s invitation. She’d managed
to pack up cookies to bring to dinner, but she couldn’t decide what to wear. She settled
on denim Capri pants and a purple shell. Not too dressy like she was on a date, not
so casual she’d offend his mom. She already had her dress laid out for going to Twilight
later.
She was overthinking. Again.
The sky was gray and a storm threatened. She hoped it would hold off until she got
home. Showing up a sopping mess for dinner would be horrible. At least a good soaking
might relieve the humidity. What did it matter? She was headed to steamy New Orleans.
Her stomach fluttered more. Thinking about vacation was not as relaxing as it should
be.
It didn’t take long to drive to the O’Leary house. She drove slowly down the block,
scanning for a parking spot and the right house number. She saw Ryan sitting on the
front steps. She used her rusty parallel parking skills a half block down.
A dribble of sweat trickled down the center of her back. The humidity or nerves? She
rubbed at it as she grabbed the container of cookies. Ryan walked down the block to
meet her.
He took the container. “How are you?”
Nervous.
“Fine.”
“Good. I want to warn you . . .”
She stopped. “What?
“Most of the family is here. Moira caught wind of you coming and she spread the word.”
He touched her arm. “It won’t be that bad.”
“If you say so.” Her stomach took a dive.
They continued walking until they arrived in front of a yellow brick bungalow. She
didn’t know what she expected. Something bigger, maybe? Where the heck did they fit
six kids in a house this size?
“Ready?”
She nodded and started up the concrete steps. Ryan set his hand at the small of her
back. She pulled strength from it as she walked past the battered oak door and into
the fray of a big family.
The front door connected directly into the living room. Done in neutral colors, the
room would’ve been warm and friendly, except for the men sitting on the couch screaming
at the TV. Quinn jolted at the screams.
Ryan leaned in. “You should see how loud it gets during football season. That’s really
our sport.”
Quinn knew Colin, and she assumed the other man was Liam. She’d seen Michael bartending
at O’Leary’s, and he wasn’t here. Liam was the only brother she hadn’t met. He looked
nothing like the others. Liam had dark red hair and freckles, where his brothers were
all black-Irish—dark hair and brilliant blue eyes.
Liam’s eyes never left the screen, but Colin’s met hers and he smiled. She returned
the friendly gesture and followed Ryan through the formal dining room. The linen-covered
table nearly filled the room, and she was grateful for her choice in clothes. Shorts
would’ve made her feel terribly underdressed.
Ryan waited inside the kitchen. “Mom, Quinn’s here.”
Quinn stood next to him and wondered what Mrs. O’Leary saw when she turned. Rather
than take comfort in Ryan’s presence, Quinn stepped forward with an extended arm.
“Hello, Mrs. O’Leary. Thank you for the dinner invitation.”
“Eileen, please.” She stepped closer and placed a small, bony hand in Quinn’s. “It’s
about time Ryan brought you. I’ve been hearing your name bandied about for weeks.”
Quinn stole a glance over her shoulder at Ryan, who was leaning comfortably against
the refrigerator.
The woman who had been standing with her hands in the sink now turned and joined them.
She extended her hand. “I’m Moira.”
“Hi.” Moira had the same coloring as Eileen, and matched Liam. Quinn wondered if Ryan
looked as much like his father as Moira did their mother.
Noise erupted from the living room and Quinn jumped again.
Moira laughed. “You’ll get used to it. It’s always noisy around here.”
“I don’t think I’d ever get used to this many people. I only have one sister.” She
turned and took the cookies from Ryan. “I brought these for you. Ryan didn’t call
me until late yesterday or I would’ve made something a little more special.”
Moira snatched the container and popped the lid. She sniffed and licked her lips.
“I like this one, Ryan. She brings chocolate.”
This one? Ryan must be in the habit of bringing all of his “friends” home for dinner
. Quinn stopped herself from looking at him, but she knew he was still standing there,
waiting to rescue her.
“You shouldn’t have fussed. They all take turns bringing dessert for family dinner.”
Moira set the container on the already crowded table and selected one. “But we weren’t
all supposed to be here today, so there is no dessert.”
The back door swooshed open and a tall blonde walked through.
Eileen moved into the woman’s brief hug and then said, “Quinn, this is Brianna, my
daughter-in-law.”
“Well, I will be soon enough. I’m engaged to Michael. He’s on at the firehouse today.
Nice to meet you.” She shook Quinn’s hand.
The kitchen suddenly felt overcrowded. Quinn fought the urge to hide, or worse, leave.
“I’m going to say hi to the guys.” Brianna looked sympathetically at Quinn but seemed
happy for the escape.
“What can I do to help, Mrs. O’Leary?”
“First, call me Eileen. Then go relax. Guests don’t need to help.”
“My help might not be required, but I’d like to. May I set the table?”
Eileen gave her a slight nod. “Ryan, help with the dishes.”
Ryan emptied a cabinet of the dishes and placed the stack on Quinn’s waiting arms.
She left without him and began setting dishes on the expansive dining room table.
Conversation in the living room abruptly stopped. She knew she’d been the topic. Ryan
followed her, putting silverware down.
Feet pounded on the stairs and Quinn looked up. A cute young woman flew down the steps.
She had dark hair like Ryan’s, cut short like a pixie.
Her face brightened and she smirked at Ryan. “Hey, Ry. I knew if I waited long enough,
someone else would set the table. Who’s your
friend?
”
The muscle in his jaw twitched. “Don’t be rude. Maggie, Quinn.”
Maggie’s face immediately softened, but she crossed her arms. “I guess I owe you some
thanks.”
Quinn set down the last plate. “Me? For what?”
“Ryan said you told him to talk to me. He actually listened. I didn’t think anyone
could get him to do that.”
“Shut up,” he said tensely, but without anger.
“You’re welcome.” Quinn had no idea why Ryan was so uptight. She was the one under
a microscope.
Another hour. I can make it an hour.
Ryan hadn’t said much, and he’d barely made eye contact with her. If he didn’t want
her here, he shouldn’t have invited her. He could’ve told his mother she was unavailable.
But Eileen didn’t strike her as a woman easily lied to.
Maggie’s eyes remained on Quinn as she neared. Quinn froze, feeling stalked.
Moira came in with a bowl of broccoli.
Hoping her chocolate cookies made her a friend, Quinn said, “Is there something else
I can help with?”
“Sure.”
Quinn followed and helped carry salad, carrots, and roasted potatoes. Eileen came
in with a platter of pot roast that smelled divine.
At the smell of food, the men came from the living room. Quinn stood idly on the outside
of the horde.
Ryan touched her back. “Just grab a chair. There are no assigned seats.”
She stifled a little laugh. She had, in fact, been waiting to see what chair would
be left empty.
They all took their seats and Colin said grace. Food was passed and dishes clanked.
Conversation was loud. They all seemed to accept her presence and included her.
I want this.
The thought slammed into Quinn so hard, she almost lost her breath. This family was
incredible. In her short time there, she saw the different personalities and could
tell they’d clash often. But underneath it all was an uncommon love.
That’s what she wanted more than anything.
The sad part was, she couldn’t offer this to a baby. How selfish of her to think she
was capable of being a single mother. Sure, she could do the daily stuff of diapers
and bottles, and she would love her child unconditionally, but she couldn’t give a
child a family.
Didn’t every child deserve that?
Especially hers?
This was the life she wanted. She looked across the table at Ryan. Her heart thudded
when his gaze met hers. What had she been thinking months ago when she’d pushed him
away?
Ryan smiled at her, his reassuring, easy smile, and she knew her plans had been totally
and completely derailed.
She held her own.
Ryan watched Quinn constantly for any sign of distress. For a woman who insisted she
didn’t like crowds, that she didn’t do well with them, she held her own with his family.
She fielded questions and commented on any number of conversations taking place around
the table.
She fit in like she belonged.
And he wanted her to.
He was grateful for the ongoing conversations because his lungs wouldn’t work. Air
trickled in and he hoped no one would notice.
Quinn had even managed to win over Maggie. They exchanged e-mail addresses so Maggie
could send photos from Europe for Quinn to share with her students.
Brianna hadn’t even fared this well at her first O’Leary family dinner.
But Quinn was a friend, not a prospective wife. They might not be so amiable if she
were.
“When do you leave for New Orleans?” Colin asked Quinn.
“In a couple of days.”
“Where are you staying?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m driving and taking my time. I’ll decide when I get into town.”
Moira jumped in. “You’re driving alone? What if you get there and there aren’t any
rooms?”
“I’ll figure it out.” She smiled at Ryan. “Someone told me a vacation shouldn’t be
on a schedule, so I’m winging it.”
Maggie looked triumphant. She nudged Ryan with her elbow. “Did you harass her as much
as you did me?”
He couldn’t think of a response to save himself, so instead he stood and started clearing
dishes. He hadn’t known about those plans or he would’ve harassed her. When he said
no schedule, he hadn’t meant no plan at all.
Quinn pushed back from the table. “Eileen, thank you for one of the most delicious
home-cooked meals I’ve ever had.” She stood and followed Ryan into the kitchen.
He filled the sink.
She handed him her plate. “Are you okay? You didn’t say much during dinner.”
Swallowing hard, he forced out words, “I’m fine. You did well. I don’t know why you
were so nervous.”
Liam and Colin deposited dishes in the sink silently and disappeared.
“I gave up being nervous when I realized I had nothing to lose. If they hated me,
I’d survive. I don’t have to see them every day, you do.”
But he wanted her here with him all the time.
Maggie bounded in carrying a stack of plates. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
Quinn nodded. “I am. I still have to finish packing and I have plans tonight.”
“You can stay for dessert. I hear there’s really good cookies here.” She filled the
coffee maker with grounds and water.
“You go ahead and enjoy the cookies. I’m going to say my goodbyes.”
Maggie grabbed the container from the table and took it out of the room.
Quinn stayed for a minute. “Thanks for inviting me. I had a good time. Will I see
you later?”
She fidgeted again. Why was she nervous now? Dinner was over.
“I don’t know. I have to check in at O’Leary’s.” He hated lying to her, but he couldn’t
tell her the real reason. He couldn’t stomach watching her flirt with other men anymore.
“It’ll be tough without my usual wingman, but I guess Indy can fill in.”
It killed him to hear those words again.
Wingman.
If he could go back in time, he’d smack himself for even having the thought. “Ready
for the last chance to find your romance before vacation?”
“Ready as I’m gonna get.” She smiled, but it looked wistful, like she thought she
was missing out on something. He wanted to pull her back into his arms but knew he
couldn’t risk it in front of his family.