up and move outâand then they do!â
Danâs mom had said something along those lines when heâd told them of his plans to move to Ohio. Even though heâd moved out of his family home a few years back, this was much farther away. âMy mom was sorry to see me move out here but understood that it was important to me to make the leap.â
âParents will do just about anything for their kids,â Joe Mulcahy said, walking over with Mrs. Murphy close to his side.
âGood morning, Joe, Mrs. Murphy.â
The widow smiled. âPlease, call me Mary.â
He handed her a mug. âMary. Beautiful day, isnât it?â
Mary Murphy looked up at Joe and smiled, a soft sweet smile that had Dan suspecting they were a couple, even though no one seemed to refer to them as such. âIt surely is. How was your first night in your new home?â
âI still need to unpack, but I really love the house. Thereâs just something about it⦠itâs hard to describe⦠itâs like it has a character all its own.â
âI believe that houses absorb the personalities of those who have lived in it. The older the house, the more interesting it is.â
Dan looked at his aunt and nodded. âThatâs it exactly, Aunt Trudi.â
She smiled and poured another cup. âWell, hello, Megan dear.â
âHi, Miss Trudi.â
Megan was every bit as entrancing as sheâd been the day before. Her auburn hair was loose today and fell in a silky curtain past her shoulders.
âHi, Dan.â Megâs smile lit her face. She scrunched her nose so that he had no choice but to notice her freckles.
He cleared his throat and returned the greeting. âHow are you today?â
âIâm great. The sun is shining, the wind is soft, and thereâs a hint of fall in the air.â Their fingers brushed and the zing of electricity had his gaze locking on hers. He knew sheâd felt the sparking sensation too.
She licked her lips, stared at his mouth, and said, âThanks, Dan.â
***
Megâs skin tingled from the tips of her fingers to the soles of her feet and all because of that brief brush of skin to skin. Her stomach had an odd fluttering and she felt light-headed. Who knew that his hands would cause her body to go haywire?
âDid you sleep well?â Now why did she ask him something like that?
His gorgeous gray eyes focused on hers. âNot reallyâstrange house and so quiet.â
She wondered if he realized that he was staring at her mouth. Storm-gray eyes filled with emotions she recognized because they were sprinting through her own systemâinterest, desire, and need.
âGive it a couple of days and youâll feel right at home.â
It was hard not to be captivated by the cleft in his chin and the strong line of his jaw, but she focused on his face and not his mouth, his smile and not his lips. It wasnât easy. She finally asked as casually as she could, âWhat are you going to be doing the rest of today?â
He handed out one of the last few mugs of coffee and brushed his hands on the thighs of his jeans.
âI was hoping heâd be staying for lunch after church,â Aunt Trudi said.
âOh, well Iâ¦â Dan looked down at his aunt and then back at Meg, and Meg could see the wheels turning inside his head and knew heâd be accepting his auntâs invitation, no matter what else he had planned today.
âThat would be great. Let me help clean up and Iâll drive you home.â
A warmth spread from the vicinity of Megâs heart all the way down to her toes. âIâm sure Iâll be seeing you around town, Dan.â
âMeg, waitââ
She felt the heat from Danâs hand as it enveloped hers. Staring down, she noticed his was twice the size of hers and shades darker, as if he spent a lot of time outside. Because of the way she made her living, working
ADAM L PENENBERG
TASHA ALEXANDER
Hugh Cave
Daniela Fischerova, Neil Bermel
Susan Juby
Caren J. Werlinger
Jason Halstead
Sharon Cullars
Lauren Blakely
Melinda Barron