A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman

to Mitch’s side. He hooked her waist and kissed the top of her head. She grinned at Collin. “So, what’s the verdict? You think your partner will notice?”
    Collin shook his head and sank back in his chair. The soft glow from the brass chandelier overhead accentuated the slow grin that traveled his lips. He slashed an X in the middle box of a game of Tic-Tac-Toe he was playing with Katie. “I think the poor guy will never know what hit him, Lizzie. You’re beautiful.”
    Lizzie bit her lip and whirled around to diffuse the nervousness she felt, causing the handkerchief-style hem of her blue silk dress to flare just a touch. Charity had insisted that she wear the matching T-strap heels that Millie had talked her into buying. They lent at least two inches to her already long-legged height, making her feel a bit more “womanly” than she was used to. When she’d said as much to Charity, her sister had winked and told her if she wanted to convince Brady she was a woman, she would have to “think sultry.” Lizzie drew in a deep breath, careful not to press her sweaty palms to the stylish dropped-waist, which had easily glided over her slim hips. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced nervously at her mother, a bit self-conscious about the hint of cleavage afforded by the pretty scoop neck of her dress. “What do you think, Mother?”
    Marcy O’Connor put a hand to her mouth, barely obscuring the smile on her lips. “I’d say you’re definitely grown up, and if Brady doesn’t realize that soon, he’s going to be too late.”
    “It would serve him right,” Charity said, burrowing deeper into Mitch’s hold. “But we’re going to try and spare him that pain, aren’t we, Lizzie?”
    “I just hope I can remember everything you taught me.”
    Mitch pulled back to eye his wife. “And just exactly what are you teaching her?”
    “How to win his heart.” Charity said with a secret smile.
    He hiked a brow. “Like you won mine?”
    “It worked, didn’t it?” She broke free and hurried to take the pot of steaming potatoes out of her mother’s hands.
    Mitch stared her down. “Yeah, but I didn’t like it. Scheming is no way to win a man’s heart.”
    “Oh really?” Charity grinned and rubbed her swollen belly.
    “Well, suppose you tell that to your unborn child who wouldn’t be here without it.”
    A hint of a smile played on his mouth. “Even so, you shouldn’t be involved. This is between Lizzie and Brady.”
    Lizzie looked up from the icebox with a pitcher of milk in her hands. “But that’s just it, Mitch. Brady refuses to see me as anything but his little sister. And I love him. What am I supposed to do? Forget him? Even though I know deep down we were meant for each other?”
    Charity turned at the sink and gave Mitch a pointed look. “Sound familiar?”
    “I say forget him, Lizzie. Boys are saps.” Katie began tapping on the piece of paper, intent on beating Collin at a new game of Connect-the-Dots.
    “Hey, who you calling ‘saps’?” Collin shot her a narrow look. “I don’t see any females playing word games with you. Besides, you’re only ten. What do you know?”
    “Eleven in a few weeks. And enough to know I’ll never let some sap boy steal my heart like Lizzie has, even if it is Brady.”
    “You’ll eat those words someday, Katie Rose,” Collin said, tweaking the long, blond pigtail trailing her shoulder.
    Katie scrunched a freckled nose. “Everybody knows you can’t eat words.”
    “Oh yes you can,” Charity said. “Ask Mitch.”
    Faith chuckled. “Oooo, good one!” She grinned at her brother-in-law. “Tasted a little bitter, did they now, Mr. Dennehy?”
    Mitch grinned as he seared Charity with a heated look. “Not as bitter as those my wife will be tasting after we get home.”
    “Oh, I just love a good fight!” Charity notched her chin, blue eyes twinkling. “Especially the part where we make up.”
    Mitch shook his head and laughed. “God help me, I