A Chesapeake Shores Christmas Read online

  He’d planned to start with Jess, who was usually all too eager to share her opinions with him. As soon as he dialed, though, he heard the sound of a ringing phone nearby. When Jess answered, he looked around.

  “Where the devil are you?” he asked.

  “In your driveway,” she responded. “Where are you?”

  “On the porch.”

  “Ah! I can smell your pipe tobacco from here.” She turned the corner of the house and grinned at him. “Do Mom and Gram know you’re out here sneaking a smoke?”

  “It’s a pipe, and those two don’t tell me what to do,” he grumbled. “What are you doing over here for the second time today? Did you and your mother make plans to get together again to talk about the wedding?”

  “Afraid not,” she said. “I am on a prewedding mission, though. I’m supposed to whip Connor into line. Is he here? I didn’t see his car.”

  “It’s probably parked around back. He’s upstairs with his son,” Mick said. “What exactly are you hoping to accomplish?”

  “Mom agreed—well, pretty much, anyway—that she’d go through with the wedding if we could fix her relationship with Connor and get the financing for the gallery in order. Abby’s working on the financing tonight. I’m working on Connor.”

  He regarded her with amusement. “I like the plan. I don’t hold out a lot of hope for your part in it, though. Connor’s not listening to anybody these days.”

  “He’ll listen to me,” Jess said confidently. “I was a lot more damaged by Mom’s leaving than he ever was, and I’ve forgiven her.” She shrugged. “Mostly, anyway. He can do the same, or at least go through the motions till we get this wedding done. I’ve turned down three other events for New Year’s Eve because you booked the inn. I do not intend to lose business because Connor’s stubborn.”

  Mick shook his head. “Good luck with that,” he said. “Let me know how it turns out. Something tells me you’ll be back down here with your tail between your legs in less than five minutes.”

  “Oh, ye of little faith,” Jess retorted. “I know too many of his secrets for him to toss me out without listening to what I have to say.”

  Mick stared at her. “You’re going to blackmail your brother?”

  “If necessary,” she said happily. “It wouldn’t be the first time. I discovered a long time ago that being a nosy little sister definitely has its perks.”

  Mick shook his head and let her go just as his cell phone rang.

  “It’s me, Dad,” Abby said. “Can you talk?”

  “Ever known me not to?” he asked.

  “I mean is Mom around?”

  “No, she’s inside helping Gram clean up after dinner.”

  “Ah, you’ve left them to their women’s work,” Abby said dryly. “Why am I not surprised?”

  “Did you call just to give me grief?”

  “No, I called because I need money for Mom’s gallery.”

  “She doesn’t want my money,” Mick reminded Abby.

  “She’s not going to know it’s yours. I’m putting together an investor group, which will buy shares. You’ll have the most, Trace and I will have some, and the others will each take a few. Even Gram is chipping in. All Mom will know is that she has backing for the gallery.”

  “Do you honestly think you can pull this off?” Mick asked skeptically. “If you come back to her in twenty-four hours with financing, she’s bound to wonder where you found it so fast.”

  “I found it so fast because I spend my life putting together deals for people looking for solid investments,” Abby said. “I am very good at my job. I don’t think she’ll question that, especially if I’m as convincing as I intend to be.”

  Mick chuckled at the devious plan. He couldn’t have dreamed up a better one himself. “Count me in. Just give me an amount and I’ll have the check ready whenever you want it.”

  “I’m thinking if I open an account and deposit all the checks first thing in the morning and hand her the checkbook, she’ll find it much more difficult to say no.”

  “You really are a chip off the old block, aren’t you?” he said, pleased. “I wish I’d come up with this scheme myself.”

  “You were too intent on a straightforward approach,” Abby said. “I’ve included a payment plan so she’ll be able to buy out the initial investors over time, which will make her very happy. This is strictly business, albeit with family.”

  “You know she’s going to kill you if she figures out that part,” Mick said.

  “I’m willing to take my chances to make this wedding happen,” Abby said, sounding determined.

  “Why don’t I meet you at the bank first thing in the morning?” Mick suggested.

  “We’re not doing this here,” Abby said. “I’m using a bank in Baltimore. It’ll look more legitimate that way. Besides, why should Lawrence get one dime of a return on this? I intend to laugh in his face myself when Mom’s gallery is a huge success.”

  “Invite me along for that,” Mick said. “Does Trace mind that you’re out to show up his father?”

  “Are you kidding me? He was the one who insisted on the Baltimore bank.”

  “I do like that man of yours,” Mick said approvingly.

  “I’ll tell him you said so,” Abby said. “Let me go, Dad. If you can, drop off that check over here first thing in the morning, okay?”

  “I can bring it over now, if you like.”

  “No, I’m about to have a rare hour of quiet time with my husband. Morning’s soon enough. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Mick hung up the phone, feeling considerably more optimistic. When he realized that Connor hadn’t yet tossed Jess out on her ear, he felt even better. Maybe these sneaky kids of his were going to accomplish what he hadn’t been able to on his own and get Megan down the aisle on time, after all. Of course, he did have an ace of his own up his sleeve, and tonight he intended to play that.

  * * *

  Megan was exhausted. The day’s emotional ups and downs had taken a toll. All she wanted to do was soak in a relaxing bubble bath, crawl between the sheets of her very comfortable bed and fall asleep in Mick’s arms.

  At the top of the stairs when she heard Jess and Connor arguing in hushed tones, she tuned it out and went into the room she’d always shared with Mick. When she’d first started coming back to town for visits, Mick had insisted she stay in here while he moved into a guest room down the hall. Lately, though, they’d been sharing the bed they’d bought together right after their honeymoon all those years ago. They’d made a lot of memories—and five children—in this bed.

  She grabbed a clean negligee out of a drawer, then went into the bathroom and filled the tub with bubbles and warm water. She lit a couple of candles, then settled in for a good soak. In a matter of seconds her eyes drifted shut.

  She was awakened by Mick’s touch. He was kneeling beside the tub, a familiar glint in his eyes and a smile on his lips.

  “It’s a wonder you didn’t drown yourself,” he said, his fingers skimming down her arm and sending delicious waves of pleasure through her.

  “I knew I was safe. I knew you’d be along soon,” she said. “Help me up?”

  As she rose, the few remaining bubbles slid provocatively down her naked body. Mick couldn’t seem to tear his gaze away, but to her surprise, he was backing up instead of taking her in his arms as he had so many other nights.

  “Mick?”

  “Now that you’re out of the tub, I have to go,” he said, his voice thick with unmistakable desire.

  “Go where?”

  “To the guest room.”

  “What?”

  “I told you I wasn’t sleeping with you or doing anything intimate with you until after the wedding,” he said, even though it seemed to t
ake him a great deal of effort to choke the words out.

  Megan recalled the seemingly idle threat, but stared at him in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I am,” he said, nodding hard. “Very serious.”

  She took a step toward him, still not wearing a thing. Water beaded on her skin. “You’re honestly going to walk out on me now?” she asked.

  “I am,” he said stoically. “Sometimes we have to sacrifice for the greater good.”

  “You sound more like a politician than the man I love. What greater good are you talking about?”

  “Our future,” he said.

  Megan sighed. So, she thought, he was going through with his ridiculous scheme to withhold sex until after they married. Didn’t he remember that she’d lived without his arms around her for years? She could do it for a few more weeks, or even months, if need be.

  She deliberately shrugged as if his decision didn’t matter to her. “Suit yourself,” she said, reaching for a towel and wrapping it tightly around her body.

  In the mirror, she saw his gaze narrow. She hid a grin at the precise moment when he realized she wasn’t going to take the bait.

  “Good night, Mick,” she said cheerfully. “Feel free to take your own pillow, if you like. The ones in the guest room are harder than you prefer. If you’re banishing yourself, you might as well be comfortable, since it could be a long time before you’re welcome back in here.”

  He froze in the doorway. “What the devil is that supposed to mean?”

  “That if you want to make this some kind of challenge, I can hold out just as long as you can. Seems a little crazy to me, but I’m up for it if you are.”

  She walked past him into the bedroom and locked the door behind her, which left him to exit into the hallway or to stand there pounding on the door and risk being overheard by Connor, Jess and even his mother. She knew he wouldn’t risk that kind of humiliation.

  “Good night, Mick,” she said, then used a remote to flip off the lights, including those in the bathroom.

  She heard his muttered curse, then the hallway door opened and closed with a bang. Sitting on the side of the bed, she laughed. Check and checkmate! Even when he was behaving like an idiot, she had more fun with Mick O’Brien than she’d ever had with any other man, which was one reason she knew without a doubt that this was where she belonged. The only thing in doubt was the timetable.

  * * *

  Megan was in the kitchen with her second cup of tea in the morning when Connor appeared, his son in his arms.

  “Shouldn’t you have left for work by now?” she asked.

  “I should have, but the baby was fussy. I think he might be catching a cold. Was he outside yesterday?”

  “Your father and I took him into town,” Megan admitted, reaching out to put her hand on the baby’s forehead. “He is a little warm. Did you take his temperature?”

  “Of course I did,” Connor replied irritably. “It’s a little high, but nothing to worry about at this point. What were you and Dad thinking taking him out?”

  Megan regarded him with exasperation. “We were thinking he’d enjoy the outing. He was dressed warmly enough. I saw to that.”

  “But this time of year, everyone and their brother is wandering around with cold and flu symptoms.”

  “Are you honestly suggesting that you and Heather never took him anywhere?”

  Connor sighed as he tried to put the baby into his high chair. “Of course not. I just had a busy day at work today. Having to cancel all those meetings annoyed me, so I’m taking it out on you.”

  “You don’t have to stay here,” Megan reminded him. “I’m here to look after the baby. Between your grandmother and me, we have more than enough experience dealing with a little cold, if that’s what he has.”

  “What if it’s more serious?” Connor asked. “You don’t know his doctor.”

  “Couldn’t you give us the name?” she asked reasonably. “And if he wants us to bring him in, we could probably even manage that.”

  Connor looked torn. “You’re right. I know you are. I just hate to leave him. He looks so miserable.”

  “And he could be perfectly fine in an hour, and you’ll have wasted the whole day,” Megan argued. “Go to work. I promise I’ll call you if he seems even a tiny bit worse.”

  “I’ll feel like such an awful dad if I go,” Connor said.

  “Sweetheart, you will not be the first parent to go to work when there’s a sick child at home. You’re leaving him with family, not abandoning him.”

  “Are you sure it’s okay?”

  “Absolutely,” she said.

  He was halfway to the door when he turned back. “Thanks, Mom. I owe you.”

  “You don’t owe me anything,” she assured him.

  He came back anyway and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “At the least, I owe you an apology for being so blasted stubborn,” he insisted.

  He left before she could respond to his startling words. Was it possible that Jess had gotten through to him, after all? Megan wouldn’t have given two cents for the chances that he would listen to anyone, but it certainly seemed as if something had changed overnight.

  Still, it was just one step on the long road to real reconciliation.

  * * *

  Mick had been growling at anyone who crossed his path all morning. He hadn’t expected Megan to turn the tables on him the night before. The infuriating woman had stood right there as naked as the day she was born, clearly trying to seduce him, then walked away as if it were all a huge joke when he’d turned her down. He hadn’t slept a wink all night because of it.

  “Don’t you look cheery,” Abby noted when he arrived at her place to deliver the promised check. “Need some coffee to put you in a better mood?”

  “I’ve had coffee,” he said. “It didn’t help. I doubt a stiff drink would help.”

  Abby chuckled. “What’s Mom done now?”

  “You don’t want to know,” he said, aware that to tell the story would probably reflect worse on him than it would on Megan. “Where are the twins?”

  “Trace just took them to school. I’m leaving for Baltimore in a few minutes.” She studied him intently. “Unless you need to talk.”

  “Nothing to say. I hope this plan of yours works. I need to drive over and check on my Habitat for Humanity sites this morning. You can reach me on my cell if you need me.”

  “Okay,” she said, regarding him with a puzzled expression. “Did you and Mom have a fight?”

  “No. Now drop it. We both have places to go.”

  Still feeling out of sorts, he went back to his car. He started to head toward one of his project sites, but instead took a turn and drove toward Annapolis instead. He was as surprised as his brother was when he turned up at Thomas’s office.

  “Mick!” Thomas said, standing up with a smile on his face. “I didn’t expect to see you today. Is there a problem of some kind? Is Ma okay?”

  “Ma’s fine,” Mick said, looking around at the cramped office. Every surface was covered with stacks of what looked like reports of some kind. He’d expected something fancier for the head of an organization dedicated to protecting the Chesapeake Bay. Clearly they weren’t spending their funding on accessories or even furniture, if the scarred desk and chairs in here were any indication. He had to admit he was impressed with his brother’s determination to put every cent into the project’s goals.

  “You have any coffee?” he asked eventually.

  “Sure,” Thomas said. “Move that pile of papers.” He pointed to a stack beside his desk. “I think there’s a chair under there. I’ll be right back with the coffee.”

  Mick nodded, located the chair and sat, wondering what the hell had brought him here this morning. It had been an instinctive deci
sion. There’d been a time long ago when he’d respected his younger brother’s opinion. And, truth be told, there wasn’t anyone he knew who understood more about women and how their minds worked. Somehow Thomas was still friends with the two women he’d married and divorced.

  When Thomas came back with two cups of coffee, he handed one to Mick. “So, what brings you by? You’ve never set foot in here before.”

  “Too stubborn,” Mick said candidly. He shrugged. “Doesn’t mean I haven’t been curious, especially since Kevin came to work with you.”

  “And that’s what brought you here today? Curiosity?”

  Mick regarded his brother warily. “Can I trust you not to make too much of this?”

  “Since I have no idea what you’re talking about, it’s hard to say, but anything you want to talk about I can keep to myself, if that’s what you’re really asking.”

  Mick nodded. “Okay, then, here it is. I need some advice.”

  “About?”

  Mick hesitated, knowing that once he said what was on his mind, he was in danger of having his brother laugh his fool head off. Still, he was here. “Women,” he said eventually.

  Thomas, blast him, laughed, just as Mick had feared he might. Then he sobered and regarded Mick with genuine sympathy. “Megan’s tied you in knots, has she?”

  Mick gave him a rueful look. “Something like that. I want to get this show on the road and marry her, but she keeps coming up with excuses.”

  “Are they legitimate excuses?”

  “She’d say so.”

  “But you disagree?”

  “I’m just worried that even if these things get resolved, she’ll find more reasons why the timing isn’t right.”

  “Mick, surely you’re not worried that the woman doesn’t love you,” he said, looking incredulous. “That much is plain to anyone. Megan was crazy in love with you when the two of you married years ago. She was just as deeply in love when she walked out. As far as I can see, that hasn’t changed. You just have to be patient. I know that’s not your best virtue, but I think you have to find some way to give her whatever time she needs.”