Free The O'Brien Way by Carol Lynne Page B

shrugged. “We’ll see. I’ve done all I can do. The ball’s in his court now.”

Chapter Six
     
     
     
    Sunday evening, Moby made it home from work about an hour before Sean was due to arrive. After a quick shower and change of clothes, he ventured into the kitchen to check on his mom. “Smells good.”
    Virginia
barely glanced up from the table. “I wish I had a set of china. Do you think your friend will mind eating off the everyday dishes?”
    Moby studied the table. Despite the well-used plates, his mom had done an incredible job. Actually, he tried to remember a time when she’d ever dressed a table for dinner. “I think it’s beautiful, Mom.”
    Finally looking up from the table,
Virginia
smiled. “Thank you. I’ve been watching too many of those decorating shows on cable, I guess.”
    Moby shook his head and put an arm around his mom’s thin shoulders, giving her a slight hug. He wondered what his childhood would’ve been like if he’d had the woman at his side for a mother and not the brow-beaten wife of Bill Haines. “From the looks of this table, I’d say your time watching TV hasn’t been wasted.”
    Jilly started to bark, signalling Sean’s arrival. He squeezed his mom’s shoulder once more before releasing her. “I’ll keep Sean in the living room until you’re ready if that’s okay. If you need any help just holler.”
    “Go and entertain your guest. Dinner should be ready within the next half hour.”
    Moby entered the living room and snapped his fingers at the barking dog. “Sit, Jilly .”
    With a whine of annoyance, Jilly plopped her hind end down on the carpeted floor. Moby grinned. “Good girl.”
    The doorbell rang just as Moby twisted the knob. With one pull, his night became even brighter. Sean grinned and Moby beckoned him inside. After shutting the door against the cold, Moby glanced over his shoulder and planted a brief but deep kiss on the man he couldn’t get out of his mind.
    “ Mmm ,” Sean moaned when the kiss broke. “That’s a nice greeting.”
    Moby smiled and grabbed the front of Sean’s coat, pulling him closer once more. “If we were alone, I would’ve opened the door naked,” he whispered against Sean’s lips before delving in for another kiss.
    Sean’s thigh seemed to automatically insinuate itself between Moby’s legs, giving Moby’s erection something to rub against. As the kiss continued, Moby unfastened Sean’s coat to reach the man’s chest buried beneath a thick layer of down. Damn, he wanted nothing more than to strip the man and lead him to the bedroom. He was so fucking turned on, he found himself riding Sean’s muscled thigh with enthusiasm.
    A noise from the kitchen eventually broke the spell of the moment and Moby untangled his tongue from Sean’s and pulled back. He shook his head and grinned. “We’d better be careful or my mom’ll dump me out into the street again.”
    Sean stilled in the process of shedding his coat. “I thought your dad was the one who did that.”
    Moby bit his bottom lip and held his hand out for Sean’s coat. “You’re right. I used to believe it was both my parents, but the more I get to know Mom, the more I realise she had very little say in anything that went on in this house.”
    With an understanding expression on his handsome face, Sean reached out and cupped Moby’s cheek. “It sounds like things are starting to change between you and your mom. That’s good. You should take advantage of the time you have left with her.”
    Moby leant in to the touch. He hoped Sean felt the same way about his own family. The previous day’s phone conversation with Devlin O’Brien had given Moby hope. Although he refused to commit himself fully to the idea of travelling to
Wyoming
, Devlin did tell Moby he was looking into flights.
    Moby hung Sean’s coat in the closet before gesturing to the sofa. He’d forgotten all about Jilly , who still sat patiently waiting to be acknowledged by their guest. Moby