by Megan Green
He spends the next few minutes asking the girls about their days, and in the middle of Gracie telling him about the story her teacher had read to the class today, a woman walks up behind me.
“Shane, honey, I’m about to—” She stops short when she sees me standing in the doorway. “Oh, hello there.”
Her words catch me off guard. Did she just call him honey? She looks to be a bit older than Shane—her blonde hair is streaked with gray, and there are quite a few lines around the corners of her eyes and lips—but if anything, it only adds to her stunning beauty.
An unfamiliar sensation flames in my stomach, and I try to tamp it down before I’m forced to put a name to it.
Am I… jealous?
Fortunately, before I can give it much thought, Gracie and Ellie leap from Shane’s lap and sprint past me to the woman.
“Nana!” they both shout, crashing into her legs with such force I’m afraid they’re going to knock her to the floor. She braces herself just in time though, laughing as they reach her.
“Hi, girls,” she says as she moves to kneel down to their level.
Nana.
Now that they’ve said it, I realize I have seen this woman before. At the funeral. It had only been for a moment, and only from afar, but she has a very distinctive look. A classic beauty that’s hard to forget.
“Hey, Mom,” Shane greets her, standing and coming around his desk to where we all stand. If I’d had any doubt still remaining, his words just put them all at ease.
His mother. Had I really almost gotten my panties in a twist over his mother calling him honey?
“Hi, sweetie. I was just about to run out and grab your father and me some lunch. I wanted to see if you wanted me to grab something for you, too. But I’m guessing you already have plans,” she says, smiling at the girls before turning her attention to me. Her expression is quizzical as she gives me an assessing look, but not unwelcoming.
“Mom, this is Kate. Kate, Mom,” Shane says, pointing between the two of us.
“Oh, you’re Kate! I’ve heard so much about you,” she says, dropping her hold on the girls and pushing up off her knees. She holds out a hand for me to take.
I give it a tentative shake. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Dempsey.”
“Natalie, please. Mrs. Dempsey is my mother-in-law,” she says with a wink.
“Natalie,” I correct, giving her a warm smile. She’s incredibly easy to like. I’m starting to think that must be a Dempsey family trait.
“You have to come meet my husband,” she says, taking me by the arm and leading me from the office. I look to Shane for assistance, but he just shrugs as if to say it’s easier to just go with it.
Natalie guides me two doors down the hall to where a man who looks exactly like Shane with silver-streaked hair and crows feet sits. There’s absolutely no question of who this is.
“Sweetheart, I want you to meet Kate. She’s the one who’s been watching Shane’s girls since he came back to work.”
The man greets me with a kind smile, standing and extending a hand to me. “Wonderful to meet you, Kate. Gracie and Ellie are completely smitten with you.”
I chuckled. “Trust me, the feeling is mutual.”
“You’re Felicity’s sister, from what I understand?” he asks, and I gulp down a nervous breath.
“Yes, sir,” I respond warily. I’m not sure what all Felicity told them about me, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want them to like me.
But he simply nods, the lines around his eyes deepening with his smile. “I can see it. You look a lot alike.”
A relieved breath escapes my lips. “Yes, sir. And might I add, you and Shane… the resemblance is uncanny.”
He lets out a loud chuckle. “Heard that a time or two. He’s always been my little mini-me. Though I guess he’s not so mini anymore.”
No. He’s definitely not mini, I think, my mind going to Shane’s broad shoulders and muscled arms. He could lift both of his girls, one in each arm, without even breaking a sweat. I couldn’t lug my suitcase up onto my hotel mattress without nearly having a heart attack.
“So how do you like being back here in Virginia Beach?” he asks, gesturing toward a chair for me to take a seat.
I look back over my shoulder, uncertain at how long I should leave the girls in there with Shane. Surely he has work to get done.
But when their giggles come floating down the hallway, I figure they’re doing just fine in my absence. And I don’t really want to risk offending this man by turning down his invitation. So I sit, my butt perched on the edge of the chair so I can get to my feet at the first sound of Shane looking for me.
I spend the next several minutes answering Shane’s parents’ questions. His father—Liam, as he insists I call him—asks me a little about my life back in Chicago, and his mother seems fascinated by my career. I’m not even aware of how much time has passed before Shane appears at the door, his girls in tow.
“Oh, come on, you guys. Kate didn’t come here to get the third degree,” he says with a groan when he finds me with his parents. Ellie runs over and climbs into her grandfather’s lap, and Gracie perches herself between me and her grandma, an elbow on each of our shoulders.
“We’re just getting to know her a little, son,” Natalie says, reaching over and patting me on the arm. “She’s wonderful.”
My heart skips a beat at her assessment of me, and I beam back at her. “It’s been great chatting with you both. I should probably get the girls home, though.”
I push myself up out of the chair, and Natalie surprises me by standing beside me. She pulls me in for a hug.
“Don’t be a stranger. I’m here most afternoons to have lunch with Liam. We’d love to see you and the girls around more often.”
I smile. “We’ll see what we can do.” I don’t want to tell her that I’m still not sure how much longer I’m going to be here. Izzy told me to take as much time as I need, but I know that doesn’t mean I can take forever. Sooner or later, I’m going to have to go back to Chicago.
The thought causes a ripple of sorrow to flow through me.
How am I going to go back to a life without Gracie and Ellie? Without their smiles and laughter. Without the gleeful exuberance with which they tackle every day?
Without Shane?
Guilt settles low in my gut. Because as much as I’ve tried to deny it. As much as I willed it not to happen…I have feelings for Shane Dempsey.
My sister’s husband.
You are the worst sort of person, Kate Mitchell. Felicity was right to cut you out of her life.
The sound of Natalie’s voice pulls me from my thoughts before they can go too much further down the dark path they were on.
“What are you up to tonight, Kate?”
I blink, trying to clear my head and make sense of her words. “Huh?”
Smooth, Kate. Real smooth.
“It’s Friday night. Surely someone as young and beautiful as you has plans?” she queries, giving me an unusual look.
I shake my head. “Not really. I saw some posters around town that Riverfest is this weekend. It’s been years since I’ve been home for that. I might head over and check that out. Or I might just stay in and order room service,” I add with a shrug.
“Shane loves Riverfest!” she exclaims, her eyes shooting over to her son. “Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
Before he even has a chance to answer, she claps her hands together.
“Girls, what do you say to a sleepover at Nana and Papa’s tonight?”
Ellie and Gracie shriek with excitement, Ellie jumping off Liam’s lap to jump up and down with her sister.
“Mom, I don’t think—” Shane starts, but she holds up a hand to cut him off.
“You hush. Let your dear old mom and dad have their grandbabies for a night. You go take that girl to Riverfest.”
“Mrs. Dempsey,” I say, causing her to shoot me a sideways look. “Sorry—Natalie. I’m sure Shane had ot
her plans…”
She waves me off. “Shane’s plans only ever involve the girls. Now that we’re taking them off his hands, he has nothing else to do tonight.” She turns her attention to Shane, her chin lifted in defiance, her shoulders squared, as if daring him to disagree with her.
He blows out a breath when he realizes the war is lost. “Nope, no plans tonight. I’d love to accompany you to Riverfest, Kate. If that’s okay with you, that is.”
I look between Shane and his mother a few times before my gaze drifts over to Liam. He’s been watching this whole interaction with an amused smirk. Judging by the look on his face, this isn’t the first time Natalie has managed to talk one of her children into doing something they didn’t know they wanted to do.
When my eyes move back to Natalie, she gives me an expectant look, as if maybe she’d been able to read my earlier thoughts regarding Shane. She seems to be saying “Come on. I couldn’t have set this up any better for you. Don’t blow it!”
Exhaling slowly, I turn to face Shane. “I’d like that.”
He grins at me. “You’ll be at the house when I get home?” he asks as if I haven’t been there every single day for the past week.
“You know I will.” I give him a wry smile.
“Good. We can iron out details then.”
“I’ll do you one better,” Natalie says, reaching her hands out toward each of the girls.
“Gracie, Ellie, come with Nana. We’ll swing by your house and grab your overnight bags and then we’ll have a girls’ day!”
Gracie and Ellie hustle to her sides, wrapping their little fingers around their Nana’s. Natalie turns to face me, throwing me a wink. “You go get changed and rested up before the festival.”
She exits then, tossing a “Bye, love you both” over her shoulder to her husband and son as she makes her way down the hallway to the front door.
I look at Shane. His head shakes as he listens to his mother and children leave the premises, but when he finally lifts his gaze to mine, he doesn’t seem disappointed. Instead, he smiles at me and says, “Meet you in front of Tony’s at seven?”
I nod. “See you then.”
Chapter Eleven
Shane
I glance at my watch for the tenth time in as many seconds, once again not really seeing the time. My fingers twitch and my toes curl inside my shoes, my nerves setting my entire body on edge.
Why the fuck had I agreed to this?
After work, I’d gotten home to a quiet house for the first time since Gracie was born. It was strange, walking in and not hearing the sound of little voices. I hadn’t quite known what to do with myself, so I’d headed straight for the bathroom. I showered, shaved, took a ridiculous amount of time styling my hair, and changed my clothes four times before I finally settled on what I’m currently wearing. I told myself I was doing it to pass the time, because what the hell else was I supposed to do until it was time to leave?
But now, as I stand here and wait for Kate to arrive, this whole thing feels… date-like.
Which is ridiculous. Kate isn’t interested in me in any way other than as the father to her nieces. As the husband to her late sister.
So why had I spent nearly two hours getting ready like a damn sixteen-year-old girl?
This is stupid, I tell myself as I glance at my watch yet again. You’re acting like a fool. There’s nothing wrong with spending a few hours with another adult at a festival. There’s nothing wrong with having a friend.
But if I was being honest with myself… did I really only see myself being friends with Kate Mitchell?
She’d been a lifesaver these past few weeks, stepping in to help me in ways I hadn’t even realized I needed help. The hours we spend together with Gracie and Ellie had quickly turned into the highlight of my days, and I found myself counting down the minutes until I’d see her again.
In the few short weeks she’s been in my life, she’s somehow managed to awaken a part of me that has lain dormant for years. A part of me I hadn’t realized was missing.
I’ve told myself a thousand times that it’s too soon. My wife has been gone less than a month, and here I am already thinking about another woman.
It’s too soon.
It’s too soon.
It. Is. Too. Soon.
But no matter how many times and in how many ways I repeat the words over and over in my head, I can’t seem to get them to stick. Because as soon as I see Kate’s smile, her beautiful face as she laughs with my girls, all I can think is how much I don’t want her to leave. How much I wish she could stay here, with us.
Forever.
Then as I lay my head down on my pillow at night, the faint scent of Felicity’s perfume wafting up from the sheets, I’m reminded again of how wrong my feelings are.
It’s bad enough that I’m already starting to fall for another woman.
But for that other woman to be my late wife’s sister…
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Maybe she won’t show, I tell myself. Kate’s a smart woman. Surely she knows how this would look to an outsider. She probably only agreed to this to get my mother off her back, and here I am, the idiot who thought this might be a real date.
Whoa, there. Who the fuck said anything about this being a date?
You just did, asshole. You are so fucked.
Annnnd I’ve officially gone insane.
I look at my watch, this time actually paying attention to what it reads.
7:05.
See, she’s not coming.
I bite back my disappointment, telling myself it’s for the best. We don’t have any plans for her to see the girls this weekend, so somehow between now and Monday, I need to figure out how the fuck to get my feelings under control, because there’s no way in hell I can face her now that I’ve admitted to myself what’s in my heart.
I’ve just started my trek back to my truck when a hand closes around my arm.
“Sorry I’m late,” a very familiar voice comes from behind me.
I swallow hard before taking a deep breath.
You can do this, Shane. It’s just like any other day. You’re just confused. You lost your wife, and you’re a mess. Of course your emotions are all fucked up. You don’t really have feelings for your sister-in-law. This is just one big misunderstanding.
I turn, resolved to put the last ten minutes out of my mind.
But when my eyes fall on hers, I know everything I just told myself was a big fat lie.
The breath rushes from my lungs as I take in her charcoal rimmed eyes, the dark pools sparkling in the setting sun. Her normally stick-straight hair has been curled into loose waves that look so soft, it takes everything in me not to reach out and touch them. Her full lips are painted a soft shade of pink, making them even more mouthwatering than usual.
She looks gorgeous as hell.
And I am so fucking fucked.
“Hi,” I rasp, my voice unsteady as I try to gain control of my thoughts.
“Hi,” she says shyly, her eyes falling down to her feet. “I look ridiculous, don’t I?” Her cheeks flush a deep shade of crimson as she speaks.
I bark out a laugh. Because if she knew what I was just thinking…
“No,” I respond. “You look beautiful, Kate.”
She smiles sweetly but still doesn’t meet my gaze. “It’s just been so long since I’ve dressed up, you know? I was starting to feel frumpy. And I remember how everyone used to go all out for this thing. So I figured tonight was as good as any to dust off my old makeup skills.”
She hadn’t done this for me. She hadn’t dolled herself up to look special for me on our date. She’d simply felt like dressing up. For herself.
Get ahold of yourself, Dempsey. This is just two friends out for a night of fun.
I smile, telling her once again that she looks great, before I gesture for her to lead the way down to the festival.
Once we’re in the middle of things, it’s easy to get out of my head
and enjoy the evening. Between the food, music, classic cars, and the thousands of people, there isn’t time to think about anything other than taking my next step.
Our first stop is a food truck, where Kate orders a funnel cake and I discover the most brilliant invention ever created: chicken and waffles on a stick. Riverfest is the one time of the year I let myself indulge in all the fried greasy goodness I can eat, and judging from the start of my night, this year’s theme is go big or go home.
We make our way to the beer garden where we each grab a tall glass from one of our local breweries before heading over to where dozens of picnic tables wait. I stand behind Kate as she settles herself before moving around to sit across from her.
We dig in, and her eyes light up as she chews the fried dough.
“Oh my God,” she groans once she swallows. “I forgot how good these are.”
I laugh as she tears off another bite.
“Nothing better than festival food, that’s for sure. Good thing it only happens once a year, otherwise I’d probably weigh eight hundred pounds.”
She gives me a bemused look, the corners of her lips tilted up in amusement. “Right. Because I’m sure a fit guy like you would ever let that happen.”
My brows lift. Does that mean she’s checked me out?
If it were anyone else, under any other circumstances… I’d ask. I’d give her shit, laying on the old cocky charm I’d used to lure many girls to my bed before I’d met Felicity.
But it isn’t anyone else. It’s the one woman I can never have.
I stuff my mouth full of waffle before I can say something I’ll later regret.
We finish our food in silence, Kate’s eyes dancing in delight as she people watches. After we’re finished, I gather our trash and toss it into a bin a few feet away.
A pair of tweenaged girls walk by, their arms linked as they laugh, one of them giving the other a hard time about some boy that she likes. Their booming chuckles trail behind them long after they’re out of eyesight, and when I turn back to Kate to comment on their enthusiasm, she has a faraway look in her eyes.