She snuggled close, brushing her lips up his neck. She felt him shiver. "Why?"
He clamped his hands on her waist and lifted her to the other side of the seat. When she tried to lunge back, he blocked her with a massive hand to her shoulder. Sparks glinted in his eyes. "Give me a chance to cool down, will you?"
She grinned and draped her hands over his extended arm. "But I don't want you to cool down. I rather enjoy raising your blood pressure."
He scowled and peeled her hands from his. "Then I guarantee you'll be one happy woman." He nodded toward her window, his eyes peering past her. "Be good, we're here."
She whirled in the seat and scanned the street, her heart thumping in her chest. The cab jolted to a stop in front of her house. She thrust a hand to her stomach. "I'm going to be sick."
"Here?" He shoved his handkerchief in her hand. "For pity's sake, Charity, I thought it was called 'morning sickness.' It's the bloomin' afternoon."
She sucked in a deep breath and pressed the cloth to her mouth. "I'm okay." She reached for his hand and squeezed his glove. "You'll stay close?"
He squeezed back. "Like a shadow." He hopped out to help the cabbie unload the bags onto the sidewalk, then reached for his wallet. He handed him the fare and tip, then glanced up at the house. "Will everyone be home?"
She stared up at the house where she'd been born and raised, and felt a twinge in her chest. "No ... Father and Faith will be at work, and I think Sean too." A wave of homesickness overpowered her. Tears pricked her eyes.
Home. She lifted her gaze, scanning every inch of the meticulous red-brick three-decker with its pretty wraparound porch. Crisp, white shutters, freshly painted by her father, no doubt, framed an abundance of windows, various shapes and sizes. In the front, perfectly manicured yews surrounded the porch, flanked by her mother's cherished lilac bushes on either side, little more than sticks this time of year. Charity glanced at the sight of her father's towering oak, trimmed within an inch of its life. She smiled. Another victory for Mother in her longstanding battle over light for her garden.
"Ready?" Mitch whispered.
She smiled nervously. "No. Are you?"
He grinned. "Doesn't matter." He hefted her up in his arms. "We're going in."
Halfway up the steps, the door flew open and Katie came bounding out, blond hair bouncing on her shoulders. Jubilant squeals harmonized with Blarney's barking, filling the air with a noisy welcome. "Charity, Mitch! I missed you soooo much." She threw her skinny little arms around Mitch's legs, and her blue eyes danced with excitement as she peered up.
"Katie Rose, you look so old," Charity teased, eliciting another high-pitched giggle from her youngest sister. "Are you dating boys yet?"
"Yuck. I'm only eight. Besides, I'm never gonna do that stuff. Can I see your cast? Does Mitch have to carry you everywhere? Even the bathroom?"
Mitch laughed, propping Charity with his knee so he could scrub Blarney's snout. "Hey there, big guy. Katie, you're way too inquisitive, you know that?"
"What's in-kwiz-a-tiv?"
"Katie Rose, leave them alone. They haven't even stepped foot in the house." Marcy stood on the porch, grinning and swiping her eyes.
Charity's heart squeezed in her chest as she looked up. Marcy held the door wide. "Welcome home, Charity. We missed you so much. And, Mitch-it's wonderful seeing you again."
"Oh, Mother, I missed you too." Charity lunged in Mitch's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around her mother's neck.
Mitch chuckled. "Whoa, girl, we have plenty of time for hugs once I put you down. It's great to see you, too, Mrs. O'Connor."
Charity looked past her mother to see Steven extending a hand. "Welcome home, sis."
"Steven, sweets saints above, you've grown two feet, at least." She pulled him into a hug. "A handshake for your longlost sister? I don't think so." She grabbed him to her side and kissed him on the cheek.
He grinned and pulled away. "Hi ya, Mitch."
"Hi ya, Steven."
"Welcome home, Charity. We missed you." Beth stepped forward to hug her sister with a shy smile on her full lips.
Charity gaped. "Beth? Is that you? Goodness, you look like a woman!"
A deep blush shaded Beth's cheeks. She ducked her head. "I'm almost sixteen."
"She's in love," Katie taunted.
"That's enough, Katie Rose," Marcy warned, shooing everyone inside the door. "Mitch, put her in the parlor, on the sofa, if you will." She turned to Beth. "Beth, will you and Steven get the luggage please? And Katie, run upstairs and tell Faith they're here."
Charity's stomach tightened, along with Mitch's hold. She glanced up to see the smile stiffen on his face. She turned to her mother. "Faith's home? I thought she'd be working."
Marcy ushered them into the parlor with a wave of her hands. "Oh, she hounded your poor father for the afternoon off so she could be here when you arrived. She's upstairs putting the finishing touches on your room. She wanted it to be perfect."
Mitch laid Charity on the sofa. Their gazes locked. "It's going to be fine," he whispered.
She swallowed hard and nodded, squeezing his hand.
Katie tugged on his sleeve. "Come on, Mitch, carry me like I have a broken leg."
He laughed and took off his gloves, shoving them in a pocket before slinging his coat over the back of the loveseat. He picked her up and tickled her. "Oh, I like this. You're much lighter than your sister."
Charity gave him a smirk. "Thanks a bunch, Dennehy."
He grinned and sat down, tucking Katie into his arms.
Marcy plopped down beside Charity and cuddled her. "Oh, I can hardly believe you're finally here. Your father hasn't slept a wink this week, he's so excited. Do you realize it's been over two years since you've seen each other?"
Footsteps thundered down the staircase. Charity looked up, and the air locked in her lungs.
"Charity, you're here!" Faith flew across the room and bearhugged her sister. "It's so good to have you home."
"It's good to be home," she whispered, shocked at the wetness that sprang to her eyes. She squeezed her sister back. "It's been a long time."
Faith laughed and pushed at a tear of her own. "Too long. Lots to catch up on." She stood and turned, as if suddenly aware that Mitch was in the room. Her smile softened to shy. "Hello, Mitch."
Katie was wiggling on his lap like an earthworm in soggy peat, but he barely noticed. He stared, his eyes drinking her in like a man in a drought. She'd always had a glow, but never more than now. She blinked, her smile tentative and tears glimmering in those beautiful green eyes.
He forced the words past wooden lips. "Hello, Faith. You're looking well."
She blushed and lowered her gaze, then nodded her head toward Charity. "Did she give you as much trouble as she used to give me?"
His grin broke the tension in his face. He fixed Charity with a telling look, steadied by the vulnerability in her eyes. "Worse. But I'm bigger than her. Of course, the broken leg and arm helped."
"He's a bona fide bully, Faith, as you probably already know."
Faith grinned and crossed her arms. "Oh, yes."
Marcy laughed and embraced Charity again. "I'll bet you two are thirsty. Faith, would you mind bringing the cider in from the kitchen? And Beth, can you help her with the cookies, please?" Marcy started tugging on Charity's gloves. "Here, let's get that heavy coat off. So, how was the trip? It's a long seven days, isn't-Oh!"
Marcy's feeble cry caught Mitch's attention. He stopped bouncing Katie on his knee long enough to look up. She held Charity's left hand in her trembling fingers, her cheeks burnished with a pink glow. "Charity ... is this a wedding band?"
Mitch froze, arms wound around Katie as she straddled his knee. Marcy's eyes flicked over to him, expanding in shock at the ring he'd forgotten to take off. "Are you two married?"
He flipped Katie off his knee onto the sofa, where she landed with a giggle. "No, of course not, Mrs. O'Connor, it was just a precau-"
"Mit
ch, it's no use. They're going to find out sooner or later." Charity's eyes pleaded from across the room. She flashed him a nervous smile, then turned toward Marcy. "Oh, Mother, we were going to surprise you tonight at dinner, but I guess we forgot to take our rings off."
Mitch jumped to his feet as blood rushed up his neck. "Charity, no!"
Faith entered the parlor carrying the cider, with Beth right behind her. She stopped, her brows bunched in a frown. "What's wrong?"
Marcy put a hand to her mouth and squealed, sealing Charity in a tearful hug. "Oh, my goodness, Faith, they're married! Charity and Mitch are married."
Mitch clenched his teeth and shot Charity a heated glare. "Charity?"
"Married?" Faith's voice was weak. The tray rattled as she set it on the table.
Mitch took a step toward the sofa, grinding his jaw. "Charity, tell them the truth."
Charity, locked in a tight hug, peeked over her mother's shoulder. "Well, the truth is that Mitch and I got engaged on the ship ..."
He let out a slow breath, chancing a glimpse in Faith's direction. Her face was white.
Charity bit her lip and gave him a shaky smile. "But we were so much in love, we decided we couldn't wait. There was a priest aboard ship who married us."
"What?" Mitch's mouth dropped open.
Marcy jumped up to throw her arms around him with another loud squeal. "Oh, Mitch, I couldn't ask for better sonsin-law than you and Collin. I'm so happy!"
The muscles in his body were numb as he stood, Marcy hugging his waist. He carefully unlatched her arms to look in her face. "Mrs. O'Connor, you've got it all wrong. We are not-"
"Mother, Mitch is just worried that you and Father will be angry for cheating you out of a wedding, but I told him that Father would probably thank him for sparing the cost." She suddenly twisted on the sofa, clutching her stomach. "Oh!"
Marcy spun around. "Charity, what's wrong?"
She doubled over with a groan. "I think I may have another spell of seasickness coming. Mitch, can you carry me to the bathroom, please? Now?"
He clamped his lips and swooped her up in his arms, burning her with a look. He strode in the direction of the downstairs bathroom, aware of everyone's eyes on his back.
"Wait, Mitch, I think I'd better go upstairs instead and lie down a bit. Mother, everyone, can you come up in a few moments after I'm settled, so we can talk?"
"Absolutely." Marcy hurried toward the door.
Mitch grunted and tore up the steps two at a time. Charity seized in his arms with another painful groan and he halted, glancing over his shoulder at Faith, who followed on the steps below. "Which way?"
She scooted around and continued down the hall, leading them to her and Charity's bedroom. She pushed the door wide. "The bed on the left."
Mitch fought the urge to drop Charity like a sack of potatoes, but Faith stood at the door. He set her down carefully, then straightened, his fists clenched at his sides.
"I'll leave you two alone," Faith said. "We'll be back up in a few minutes. I know Mother is dying to talk to you." The door clicked closed behind her.
Mitch glared, thunder rumbling in his chest. "Just what the blazes was that all about?"
She pressed a hand to her stomach and scrunched her nose. "Oh, Mitch, let's not fight, please? My stomach is so queasy."
He began to pace, his eyes boring into hers at every turn. "A lot more than your stomach is going to be queasy if you don't start telling the truth. Now I'm going downstairs right now and give it to them straight since the truth obviously gives you indigestion."
She sat up with panic in her eyes. "Mitch, no! I don't want to be separated, please? We've spent the last week together and there are two beds in here. Can't we just stay together?"
He blinked, amazed at the way her mind tracked. "Lie to them? Deceive them into thinking we're married? Why are you doing this?"
"Because I don't want to be alone with Faith. I'm not ready. And I need you close. Please?" Her hand moved from her stomach to her throat, clutching as if she couldn't breathe.
He shook his head and started for the door. "No, I won't do it. I told you before that we are not starting our marriage off with a lie."
"Mitch, wait!"
He stopped at the door, his back rigid. "What?"
"I know I don't appear to be thinking rationally ..." She looked away with a gnawing of guilt. "But I am terrified that if a baby comes ..."
He turned and waited.
"I'm afraid it could be early and reflect poorly on us."
He slacked a hip and groaned. "For pity's sake, babies come early all the time."
Her face went pale and she began to heave. He hurried to her side and sat, pushing his handkerchief in her hands.
She clutched it to her mouth. "No, Mitch, I don't want anyone to know. I'm so ashamed."
He sighed and pulled her in his arms. "Your family has a right to know. They love you."
"Later, yes. But not right now. I'm so scared and shaken, I couldn't bear it." She looked up, her eyes entreating his. "Please, Mitch, will you do this for me? Just this one time? One tiny, white lie? For my peace of mind?"
A muscle jerked in his jaw. "What about my peace of mind, Charity? I don't want to lie."
She leaned in to rest her head against his chest with a heavy sigh, then slowly lifted her face to his, her eyes pleading. "Just this once, Mitch. Please?" She reached to feather his neck with kisses. Barbs of heat waged battle against iron-cold will. She continued, her words disarming him as much as her lips. "Maybe we could get married this week, secretly. You know, before Faith and Collin's wedding?" Her hand fluttered to his leg. A flood of heat melted his resolve. She looked up, her lips parted and her eyes issuing an invitation. "Man and wife? In the same bed?"
He stared, his iron will liquefying into a puddle of metal. He focused only on the lips he craved to taste. Dear Lord, he had to have her. Soon.
He jerked away, eyes glazed with desire. "Tomorrow. We get married tomorrow."
A smile eased the worry from her face. "Perfect," she whispered.
He frowned. "Is City Hall open on Saturdays?"
"I think so."
His legs felt shaky as he stood. A spasm twitched in his cheek. Desire or nerves? He wasn't sure. He poked a menacing finger in her direction. "So help me, Charity, after we're married, no more lies. Do you hear me?"
She nodded. "Whatever you say."
He exhaled loudly and headed for the door.
"Mitch?"
"What?"
"I love you."
"Yeah, I know." He jerked the door open.
"Do you love me?"
He turned to give her a sulking gaze, wondering which was stronger-the desire to make love to her or the desire to put her over his knee. He groaned inwardly. No contest.
"Yes, unfortunately."
She giggled and clasped her arms around her knees. "Good. Will you send Mother up? I can't wait to tell her everything that's happened."
He grunted and left the room, an uneasy feeling settling in his gut.
Yeah, neither could he.
Faith sighed. He stood before the fireplace staring into the flames, head bent and hand propped on the mantle. His shoulders sagged far too much for a man newly married. It had been over a year since she'd seen him, but she could still read him like the front page of the Times. And the news wasn't good.
"Congratulations."
He spun around, his blue eyes registering surprise. "What?"
She moved into the parlor, fiddling with her nails. She gave him a tentative smile. "Congratulations ... on your marriage. It certainly shocked us."
He exhaled and dragged his fingers through his hair. "Yeah. Me too."
She felt like a schoolgirl as she lowered herself to the loveseat, more from the need to calm her nerves than to converse. Seeing him again was unsettling. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed him.
"How are you?" She stared at him with a pointed gaze, noting the absence of a
smile on his handsome face. He cuffed the back of his neck with his hand, then dropped on the sofa with a grunt. The once-familiar action brought a smile to her lips.
He sat on the edge, arms cocked over his knees. "Okay, I guess."
"Just okay?"
He sighed and leaned back, a smile working its way to his lips. "Good. I'm good."
"You look good, that is when all those worry and frown lines disappear."
"You look good too, Faith. Collin must be treating you well."
Heat broiled her cheeks and she nodded. "He is." She looked up, a tease in her tone. "Except when he heard you were coming. Suddenly he started acting like a grizzly yanked out of bed." Her lips tilted up. "Reminds me of you."
He grinned, and his eyes softened. "Yeah. I can be a bear. At least I gave you practice."
"So. Charity got her man, after all. Must have been God's plan all along."
"Yeah, I guess. Even though I fought it tooth and nail."
She focused on her clasped fingers. "Do you love her?" Every breath and muscle stilled in her body as she awaited his reply. When he didn't answer, she glanced up.
He looked away and sighed, then returned his gaze to hers. "Yeah, I do."
Faith released the air from her throat, but it did little to clear the tension from her body. She chewed the edge of her lip and assessed him through narrowed eyes. "Then, what's wrong?"
He huffed out a loud breath and jumped to his feet. He turned to study the flames in the hearth. "Blast it, Faith, why are you able to do that? Delve in and see my soul?" He turned to look at her. There was a glimmer of pain in his eyes. "Do you have any idea how much I've missed you?"
She swallowed hard. "I've missed you too, Mitch. Just because I'm marrying Collin doesn't mean I don't love you." She glanced away. "You're a dear friend. Always will be."
"I love you too. Guess I always will. It was difficult getting over ... us, but I think I have. At least, I hope I have."
She rose to her feet. "Look at me, sitting down on the job. Mother asked me to get you that glass of cider and maybe a sandwich if you wanted one. Are you hungry?"