Free The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods Page B

gave him a chiding look. “Though there’s little guarantee that there will be much left to choose from at this hour.”
    “I’m sorry I was late,” he apologized.
    “And even sorrier now that you know who awaited you, I imagine,” she teased. “Go on now and enjoy yourself.”
    Food was the last thing on his mind, but he took the time to choose a few things from the buffet, poured himself a glass of iced tea, refilled Moira’s glass, then led the way to a pair of weathered Adirondack chairs facing the bay. At twilight the view was amazing with shades of purple descending to meet the last shimmering reflections of gold on the water as the sun set behind them to the west.
    He set his plate on the arm of the chair, then took a step forward and reached for Moira, studying her face, remembering the way she felt, the way she tasted.
    “I’ve missed you like crazy,” he said right before he sealed his mouth over hers. “And this,” he murmured eventually. “I’ve missed this.”
    She held his gaze as he slowly released her. “I was so afraid you hadn’t,” she admitted in a rare display of vulnerability.
    “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
    “It was only a couple of weeks ago when grandfather suggested it. You’d been saying less and less in your emails, and while I understood it was because you were busy, a part of me worried it was more than that. I even wondered if you’d tell me not to come.”
    “Why would I do such a thing?” he asked, genuinely shocked that she could even imagine it. “I’m glad you’re here.”
    “Even now, when you’ve so much on your mind?” she asked, searching his expression for the truth.
    “Especially now,” he admitted, realizing it was true. Gram had tried to tell him that Moira belonged here, that she was a part of this pub dream of his, but he hadn’t accepted it until he’d set eyes on her tonight. She’d been by his side as he’d worked out his ideas, listening to him, encouraging him, challenging him when she thought he’d got it wrong. “You’ll be here for the opening, right? You’re staying the whole time your grandfather’s here?”
    “Unless you try to chase me away,” she said, then grinned. “And then I’ll only go far enough to annoy you, but not so far that you can forget me.”
    Though he wasn’t quite ready to let her go, he was aware that they had an audience of interested O’Brien onlookers not that far away. He nudged her toward a chair. “Sit before I’m tempted to do something that will shock my family.”
    She looked intrigued by that. “Really? Such as?”
    “I want nothing more than to drag you down onto the ground and have my way with you,” he said candidly, enjoying the quick rise of heat in her eyes.
    Still, she only laughed. “You’ve some more apologizing to do before that’s in the cards, Luke. Women don’t appreciate being ignored, no matter what the circumstances. At least, I don’t.”
    “You know it was only because of how busy I’ve been, right? It had nothing at all to do with my feelings for you. Nothing’s changed about those. I swear it.”
    “Pretty words,” she commented. “You’ve a way with them. We’ll see if you can back them up with actions.”
    He smiled. “Is that a challenge?”
    “Of course it is. Isn’t that one of the things you said you liked best about me? I didn’t fall easily into your bed in Ireland. I see no reason for that to change here.”
    Luke laughed. “I look forward to persuading you, then.”
    There was pure mischief in her eyes then. “And I look forward to being persuaded.”
    “I think it’s going well,” Dillon observed, casting yet another glance toward his granddaughter and Luke, who’d been keeping to themselves since the moment Luke had made his belated entrance at the party.
    Nell gave him a wry look. “I suspect it would be going better if there weren’t an audience over here who can’t seem to keep their gazes to