Free Just Between Friends (O'Rourke Family 4) by Julianna Morris

something else appropriate.”
    Dylan froze.
    Oh, dear. Kate winced. He had that glazed, deer-caught-in-the-headlights expression on his face. She’d remembered their one-week anniversary, but hadn’t dared bring it up; the happy little milestones that meant so much to most new brides were off-limits to her.
    She smiled at her new family and snuggled close to her husband. It was like snuggling up to a brick wall, so she poked a surreptitious finger in his side. “We’re celebrating tonight. Dylan has a surprise planned, but he won’t tell me about it, will you, darling?”
    “No,” he said flatly.
    She poked him again, hoping he’d smile or do something to prevent his family from wondering if something was wrong. “I have a surprise planned, too,” she said. “But I don’t think he’s guessed what it is.”
    Dylan gritted his teeth. Obviously there were pitfalls to marrying Kate that he hadn’t considered. Like anniversaries. It had never occurred to him that newlywedscelebrated one-week anniversaries. Of course, according to his family he was notoriously unsentimental.
    “You haven’t guessed, have you, Dylan?” Kate prodded.
    He looked down into her anxious eyes. She was counting on him; they’d never get away with their plan unless everyone believed it.
    He tapped her nose with the tip of his finger. “Does your surprise have anything to do with that bag from a lingerie store you brought home yesterday?” He’d intended the question to be light and teasing, instead it came out low and intimate.
    For an instant she looked startled, then a faint blush spread across her cheeks. “I didn’t think you…saw it.”
    “I saw. And I can’t wait for my surprise.”
    The flags in her cheeks grew brighter and she ducked her head against his shirt, just like a shy little girl. She was warm and soft and smelled so nice he wanted to bury his face in her gold hair.
    “You’re about to discover one of the joys of being married,” Patrick said, dragging Dylan’s attention back to reality. “I love Maddie’s trips to the lingerie store.”
    “Lately it’s just been for maternity wear,” Maddie added, patting her swollen tummy. “I have a twisted husband. He still thinks I’m sexy.”
    “You are,” he insisted, seeming astonished she’d think otherwise.
    Sexy?
    Dylan thought Patrick was nuts. There was nothing wrong with the way a pregnant woman looked, but they were hardly swimsuit models. It even seemed sacrilegious to think a pregnant lady was sexy. Then a visionof how Kate would look if she were pregnant went through his head and he changed his mind. She’d be beautiful.
    No.
    With an effort he forced the vision away.
    “Such serious thoughts,” Kate teased. He was probably the only one in the room who could see the worry lurking deep in her green eyes. “Promise you won’t tell anyone about your surprise for me. I refuse to be the last one to know.”
    She’d cleverly given him an out, just in case the family tried to pry the secret of his nonexistent anniversary surprise from him, and he smiled appreciatively.
    “I promise. They won’t get a word from me.”
    “That’s good.” Kate put an arm around his neck and drew him down to a kiss. Their lips clung for an endless moment before she drew away. “I…umm, I should…help. With dinner,” she murmured.
    Dylan wanted to drag her back, and he cursed his lack of control. He should have ended the kiss, not Kate.
    Apparently they were the last to arrive, and everyone drifted to the kitchen, discussing the past week and arguing amicably about the Seattle Mariner’s chances of going to the World Series. That is, Dylan, his brothers and Beth argued the point, Kate and his sisters weren’t interested in baseball, though Kate had cheerfully attended live games with him in the past.
    Every few minutes she flitted to his side, saying something teasing or affectionate and snuggling up to him in the most distracting way. Hell, how was he supposed