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  He harrumphed but when he turned around to check on Cat, she was animatedly discussing something with Laura, a big smile on her face, her eyes lit with amusement behind those sexy librarian glasses.

  She turned and saw him looking and grinned, easing his discomfort a bit.

  “I’ll be right back, I’m just going to get the steak on. Don’t eat all those brownies, I want one.”

  Aside from some minor embarrassment that it was totally obvious they’d come in the door, dropped her bags and rushed in to have sex, Caitlin enjoyed meeting Eamon’s brother and his wife.

  They had a really nice dinner, drank some tasty margaritas and it felt an awful lot like she and Eamon were an actual couple. Which, come to think of it, was a nice thing even if she didn’t quite know if it was true or what. They hadn’t really discussed it or anything. She hadn’t dated anyone, not that she’d really had the time, but the two times she had been asked out she’d said no because at least in her mind, she was seeing someone.

  “Did Eamon tell you we’re having a dinner on Sunday out at our house for you? You know, to introduce you to our friends and my side of the family. A welcome of sorts. Get you used to the city and everything. Nothing fancy, we know this great Mexican place that does platters so we’re ordering in. Oh my, it’s okay, really.” Laura touched Caitlin’s arm as she must have paled a bit.

  “Um, okay. I guess. Sure.”

  “Laura, can you not make her want to run back to Seattle at first light please?” Eamon muscled his way over, putting an arm around Caitlin’s waist. “Also, how could I have told her anything? This is news to me. How many people? Are they even people I know?”

  Laura laughed and as petty as it was, Caitlin found herself amused that Eamon appeared as shell shocked by her as Caitlin felt. Still, she wasn’t sure how to feel about Laura’s comment that she needed to be used to LA. On one hand, it was nice that his sister-in-law wanted to get to know her, on the other hand, it seemed dangerously like an assumption that she’d be coming down there. Gah, as usual, she was overthinking. It was probably just a friendly way to introduce her into Eamon’s circle.

  “My mom and dad, you know them! You just did their portraits a few months back for their fortieth wedding anniversary. My sister and brother. Nicholas, that’s Michael’s business partner, he’s Irish too,” Laura said to Caitlin. “Just a few people who are around anyway and are always up for free food.”

  Michael, who was a few inches shorter than Eamon but otherwise had the same sort of broad, burly handsome his brother did, sighed and kissed his wife’s cheek before turning to Caitlin. “She fancies herself like a cruise director. You know, she’s the one in the group who wants to picnic and who plans trips to Catalina. It’s best to nod and go along because she’s very American.” He paused with a blush. “No offense, but you lot are pushy. She means well and she can put together quite the dinner party. They’re a fun group.”

  Eamon made a sexy little growly thing in his throat and tightened his arm around her protectively. She snuggled into him, relaxing.

  “I’m sure it’ll be wonderful. Thank you. I don’t know many people here in LA so I’m looking forward to it.”

  “What time is this dinner?”

  Laura told him the time and ordered them not to bring anything but themselves. Eamon grunted again and all but shoved them both out his front door, his back against it as he was sure to use the deadbolt.

  “Sorry about that. They mean well.” He smiled and she couldn’t help but smile back.

  “Nothing to be sorry about. I liked them both and they went out of their way to make me feel welcomed here in LA. It’s nice and I appreciate it.”

  “Good. Now, let’s have more sex.”

  He chased her into his room again and she laughed the whole way until she allowed him to catch her, conveniently right at the foot of his bed.

  Chapter Seven

  “What do you want to do today?” Eamon asked her on the third morning of her stay. She’d actually begun to slide into vacation mode and had slept really soundly the night before.

  They sat, perched on his deck, reading and having a light breakfast.

  She stretched, setting her book to the side. “Anything you want to. I’m at your mercy.” Looking him up and down, she smiled. From the bare feet, up the muscled thighs and tapered waist, broad shoulders, bare to the sunshine and his very fine face, partially obscured by sexy sunglasses, he was utterly, ridiculously handsome.

  His low laugh was laced with sensual awareness of what she’d meant. “Be that as it may, lass, how about we head over to Olvera Street? You did the touristy thing for me when I was in Seattle. Let me return the favor.”

  How could she refuse?

  They headed out and he even put the top down on the Mustang as they drove over. The day was warm but not ridiculously so, far more bright than she’d been used to for years, and perfect because he was in it.

  She didn’t fail to notice all the female attention he garnered everywhere they went. He was delicious enough just to look at in his snug T-shirt and faded jeans, but once he opened his mouth and the Irish spilled out, women nearly creamed their pants. Eamon Blake was a charmer and women responded to genuine, sweet flattery. He worked his magic on women from two to a hundred but it wasn’t the same as how he treated her, so the flirting didn’t bother her at all. He might compliment their hair or the color of their eyes but that was just like commenting on the weather to him. With Caitlin, he saw inside. Yes, he made his casual, flirty asides about her ass or her lips, but he also noticed how efficiently she flipped pancakes, he liked how she made his tea, he remembered just how she liked her steaks cooked. He treated her like she mattered in his life. That wasn’t just casual, that was something altogether serious and it got to her, ate away at the woman who’d been put on the back burner first by her parents and then by a man who claimed to love her. Eamon was different, she could simply be herself and not feel indebted or responsible to anyone or for anything.

  Four years before, he’d been her lover and her friend. They’d traveled around and he’d shown her a good time. He’d certainly never done anything as rude as hit on other women in her presence but he wasn’t hers. Now, as they walked past brightly colored stalls and swayed to live music, she felt a sense of possession she hadn’t before.

  He enabled her to let go of her control just a bit, to remember what she was like before but also be secure in the woman she was now. That trust was important and she couldn’t think of anyone else who knew her the way he did. Which seemed odd given that they’d not spent a lot of time face to face in years. At the same time, she’d begun to open up to him in their communications, usually on the phone, to share with him her dreams and hopes. He listened without judgment but offered tangible advice when she asked. He treated her confessions as important and special. He had no idea how much that appealed to her.

  Eamon took her in his arms and swayed to the loping song the band played in the plaza. Laughing, she threw her arms around his neck and danced with him, singing along with the song in Spanish.

  What a siren she was. God, he was falling and he wasn’t sure he wanted to stop. “Is there anything you can’t do, Cat? You’re a miracle, all sorts of facets to you.” He kissed her forehead and she smiled in her shy way, the way she only smiled for him and a certain sort of greed flashed through him, the way it always did. He loved that he made her that way, and he wanted more. Wanted to fill her up with joy and to draw it back out.

  Her nose crinkled as she thought. “I can’t parallel park. Seriously, I am the worst at it. I trip a lot, drop things, I curse like a sailor. I’m horrible at remembering birthdays. I’ve always wanted to speak French but I just can’t. I totally suck and I gave up years ago. Um, oh, I can eat a big bag of peanut M&Ms in under five minutes. All that’s left is the empty bag and the shame.”

  “You can’t tell it by looking at you.” He squeezed her ass and she snorted, amused. “As it happens I’m quite good at
parallel parking now that I drive on the wrong side of the road like you Americans do, so I’ll be happy to take that task. You seemed to do just fine when you sent me that bottle of Jameson and the Market Spice tea on my birthday in March.”

  “Well, you’re memorable.”

  Christ he liked that she thought so. “I’m glad you think so. It makes it far easier to have sex with you.”

  “Mmm hmm. I’m hungry again. I need a churro. And I don’t mean that as a euphemism for your penis.”

  “You can have both.” He spun her around before steering them toward a bakery stand he liked.

  He kept her tucked against his side as they continued to walk and explore. She may not be able to master French but she was a top-notch Spanish speaker. She often paused to comment to the people in the stalls, complimenting them on their wares. She bought things here and there, refused to let him pay for any of it, stubborn woman. This Caitlin was far more complicated and fascinating than the young woman he’d sexed up for a few months all those years before.

  When he kissed her as they got back to the car a few hours later, she tasted of cinnamon and sugar. Her skin was warm and pliant, her hair shining in the sun. He wished she lived in LA.

  He wished he was a different man and he was capable of committing forever to her, because once she finished up school, he had the feeling she’d need something more than phone calls, web cam sex, and the occasional visit up and down the coast.

  “Now I need another kind of churro and I totally mean it in a euphemistic sense,” she said lazily as they pulled onto the freeway to go back to his place.

  “So tell me about yourself, Caitlin. Eamon has shared some but you know how men are.” Laura handed her a plate and Caitlin began to fill it.

  Michael and Laura’s home was impressive. Nearly as impressive was the buffet Laura kept assuring them was simple but anyone with eyes could see how much work had gone into it. The spread was massive with appetizers, entrees and flan for dessert. The pool had floating flowers and candles and tiki torches were lit all around the back yard. A yard that looked out over not just the canyon below but the ocean not more than five miles away. The house was a freaking spread from a magazine without making Caitlin freak that she’d spill. Who had white carpet? And yet it was warm instead of institutional. Michael and Laura had made a home for themselves there. It was lived in and obviously loved but also, there was no doubt Laura had an able hand with decorating.

  In many ways, Laura Blake was sort of intimidating. She was accomplished and beautiful. Clearly adored by her husband and family and Eamon as well. She gave off a sense of utter competency. Like she could manage any task that came her way with one hand. But she had gone out of her way to be friendly to Caitlin, to make her feel comfortable and welcome and she couldn’t help but respond in kind.

  “Not much to tell really. I’m in law school. Going into the end of my second year. I work for the SHS Division of the State Attorney General’s Office. I do parental rights termination cases under a supervising attorney. Essentially I work with the state to remove abused and neglected children from bad situations. It’s rewarding but sometimes emotionally exhausting. Still, it’s what I really want to do and I hope I can after graduation.”

  “So, um, what are you going to do after you finish school? About Eamon I mean. It’s clear you two have a great connection.”

  “I have no idea and to be quite honest, I adore Eamon but I have many things keeping me so busy at the moment I simply don’t have time to think about it. Which is assuming he’d want me to anyway. I don’t know that he would. For the time being I’m enjoying him and whatever we have just now.” She said it nicely, but firmly and Laura didn’t seem offended, thank goodness.

  They moved to a small table and Caitlin watched Eamon and his brother play horseshoes in a pit just to the south of the pool area with a bunch of other men, many of whom were also Irish. The hot accent quotient was through the roof.

  “Pretty aren’t they? I love Irishmen to death. The accent could strip the panties off a nun.”

  Caitlin laughed, surprised by the comment but in total agreement.

  But Laura wasn’t done. After they’d settled, she continued with her interrogation. “You’re not from Seattle originally though, right?”

  “No. Originally I’m from Boston. Born and raised there. I came out to Seattle four years ago. I like the west coast. I especially like the winters.” She laughed. “I don’t have to slog through snow. Oh every once in a while it snows enough to last a day or two in Seattle but the entire city just stops when it snows. It’s so hilly and steep it’s insane to try and drive so essentially it’s like a city-wide snow day. Very festive. What about you?”

  “What made you choose Seattle? You took a big break from school from what I gather.” Like a pretty pitbull, this woman. Anh would love her.

  “I moved out with my then-boyfriend. I put off school to help him with his business. And I put it off some more until I finally broke up with him and went back.” She shrugged.

  “Let me guess, he was intimidated by you going to school, wanted you to help him do stuff anyone else could have. But it was you so it was special so you kept putting your own life and dreams aside. What a prick. Let me guess, he was fucking your best friend? Your sister?”

  Caitlin laughed. “His secretary. Anyway, that was nearly three years ago and I’m not with him. I’m living my own life and realizing my own dreams.” That sounded more blunt than she’d planned but it was something she was so committed to, it just came out that way.

  “I get you. You’re right to do it. You can’t live for anyone else. You can’t live through anyone else. You can’t live someone else’s dreams. I respect your choices, Caitlin.” Laura took a drink and leaned back in her chair.

  “I’m from San Francisco originally, but my dad moved here when me and my sister were in high school. Been here ever since except for the few months I got waylaid in Dublin when I met Michael. I was lovestruck after one meeting. We were married and he emigrated here to finish his education within six months of meeting. That was eight years ago. He gave up a lot for me, but I hope I’ve been worth it.” Laura sent her a bright look and Caitlin wanted to laugh at how obvious she was being.

  “Nice house you’ve got here. You’ve done an amazing job decorating it. Very elegant without being fussy and overdone. Simple but you’ve added just the right touch here and there to make it a home.”

  Laura blushed and reached out to squeeze Caitlin’s hand. “That was a wonderful compliment. Thank you. And thank you for letting me badger you and be nosy. Michael designed the house. It was one of his first projects after he and Nicholas had their first year in the black. I love the ocean so it’s a joy to be able to see it every day and put my feet in it a few times a week.”

  “Eamon mentioned you write a monthly column in Women on the Move magazine?”

  She smiled and Caitlin found it impossible not to like a woman with a smile so beautiful.

  “Yes, I do. I’m the west coast correspondent on all things culture in the Southland mainly but I do travel around to other parts of California and up into Oregon, Washington and BC. It’s a fabulous job and it enables me to help Eamon out. And by that, I mean, it enables me to keep an eye on him and keep him out of trouble. He’s been in far less of it since you came back into the picture, though.”

  Caitlin felt the heat of her blush work up her neck and across her cheeks.

  “What on earth are you saying to the poor girl that you’ve made her blush so?” Laura’s mother laughed as she approached.

  The whole extended family was as charming and effortlessly nice as Laura. As when Caitlin was with Anh’s family, a little slice of envy cut through her at what she’d never had.

  Eamon kept an eye on Caitlin throughout the evening. He would drop in from time to time, assure himself she was all right and make sure she didn’t need him before he’d go back to darts or horseshoes with his friends. He liked that she didn�
�t need to be taken care of or managed around other people. In fact, she’d fit in really well with their group, something he liked but also didn’t know if he should like all at once. But he’d promised himself not to question it overmuch while she was visiting. There was no point, he liked being with her, she liked being with him, they were friends and the sex was marvelous so why complain?

  Still, he was sick of sharing her and tired of being surrounded by people so at ten or so, he scooped her up. “Ready to go? How about a walk on the beach by moonlight?” he murmured into her ear.

  “Nice. I’d like that.”

  “Thank you all for the lovely company and the dinner. Laura, as always you throw a very good party.” He kissed Laura’s cheek and then hugged her mother and sister before he took his leave, Caitlin in tow.

  He loaded them both in the car and headed the short way to the beach.

  Her hand fit just right in his as they walked over the sand, still warm from the day’s sun. “I hope that wasn’t too much for you. They can be sort of overwhelming.” Really, the moonlight on her skin was overwhelming. His fingers itched for his camera.

  “I liked them all. Laura’s family is really charming. Your brother is very nice, he’s a lot like you, by the way. Your expat friends are all rogues. I had a great time. By the way, we’re all going to karaoke on Tuesday night.”

  He froze as panic shocked him into silence for a moment. “What? No. She got to you. She promised me never again.”

  He was going to kill his sister-in-law, that’s all there was to it. Eamon held the door of the karaoke bar open so the ladies could enter and he glared at Michael, who at least looked as miserable as he did.

  “Oh look, a table right up front!” Laura nearly jumped up and down as she yanked Caitlin toward an empty table, yes, right up front. Great.

  “I need a beer.” Eamon looked around and got the attention of a server who came to take drink orders.