by Patt Marr
“Just about.”
“I hope I didn’t snore. My husband says I do.”
Her husband was right, but why embarrass the lady? “Who would notice with the engine noise so loud?” he said.
The little guy in the window seat squirmed and said, “Ry, could we play some more?”
Early in the flight, he’d felt sorry for the bored little guy and asked what was in his backpack. If Ry had known it would lead to endless action-figure fantasies, he might not have been such a pal. But one more time, he sent a plastic hero rocketing to a new mission.
The lady beside him beamed. “You’re wonderful with children,” she said. “Do you have some of your own?”
He shook his head. “I’m not married.” That, of course, did not preclude parenthood, but it did for him.
“You’ll be a wonderful father,” she claimed. It was strange how women of all ages got misty-eyed over the sight of a big guy playing with a little kid, but if there were any more Brennans, it would be up to his brother.
The youngest flight attendant, a very pretty redhead who’d stopped by a couple of extra times, stopped now to say to his little buddy, “Honey, you need to put away your toys. Stow that bag under the seat.”
Ry gave her a grateful look. She returned it with a wink and slipped him a bit of paper. He’d bet their safe landing it was her phone number. Wow! She must need a New Year’s Eve date pretty bad to spend it with a superhero junkie.
Unfortunately, even he had his standards. A guy ought to know the name of his New Year’s Eve date without having to read it off her ID badge.
Yet it did make him smile to think of how disgusted his brother, Trey, would be if Ry brought her along on his first visit home in a decade. That made it almost worth doing.
The hum of the plane’s engines changed, signaling their descent. If all went well, he would get to his parents’ house before midnight and give the first New Year kiss to the woman least likely to want it. Would his mother tell him to get out again?
The metallic threads in Meg’s new strapless dress chafed the tender skin of her underarms every time she moved, no matter how careful she was. She would never wear the scratchy thing again. It should have stayed on the sales rack, and she should have purchased that soft, silky thing with the high neck. No wonder she hated to shop.
But she did look good. Her image in the huge gilt mirror on the Brennans’ marble foyer wall gave her a nice boost of confidence. She had taken the time with her hair, and it fell in dark curls to her bare shoulders, contrasting nicely with her silvery-white dress.
On the hanger, the dress had looked like a skirt with a stretchy band that should have gone at the waist instead of across her breasts where the clerk said it belonged. The scratchy, miserable thing did look gorgeous, skimming her body to her bare knees. She’d decided against the nuisance of panty hose, but accepted the torture of silvery sandal stilettos. Pain was worth it when shoes were this pretty.
Unfortunately, she’d gone to this trouble for nothing. Mr. Right was not here. She’d made a thorough search. Most of the guests were Beth’s parents’ age, and the few eligibles weren’t meant for her. She wished she’d stayed home, though the Brennans’ caterers had done much better than popcorn and Snickers.
She was on her second plate, tasting everything. At first it had been a problem, getting the food to her mouth without her inner arm contacting her scratchy dress, but she’d discovered a technique that worked. Holding her arm out awkwardly, she probably looked a little weird, but there was nobody here to impress, and why go home with abrasions?
It was a lovely party with the rooms aglow with candles and still-beautiful Christmas decorations. There wasn’t a drop of alcohol, not even in the punch, but the party had a silliness that most people got out of a bottle.
No doubt, it was the hats. The guests circulated, wearing the most silly, elaborate party hats imaginable. The Brennans spared no expense, and everyone wore them, even Beth’s dad, the great Dr. James T. Brennan, Jr. In the medical community, the man walked on water, but tonight he wore a satin sailor hat, cocked to the side, with the number of the new year flashing in gold lights on the brim.
Beth wore a red satin beret with a coiled wire toy on top. It slid from side to side as if it had a life of its own.
Meg’s hat, chosen for her by Beth, was worthy of a showgirl. Tall blue plumes sprouted from a silver crown, jiggling and waving with every turn of her head.
Trey, on host duty at the front door, wore a cowboy hat with a long, spiky feather that made him look like he might be a nice guy. It was too bad he wasn’t.
“What are you doing over here in the corner?”
Beth had found her. Meg wasn’t surprised. Keeping tabs on each other—that’s what best friends did. Or they used to before Beth went to medical school.
“Just enjoying the feel of my feathers,” she said, swaying to the music, letting the plumes dance.
“If I know you,” Beth said, “you’re putting pairs together, just like you do at work.”
Beth was right. “Call it an occupational hazard,” Meg joked.
Beth stepped beside her and scanned the crowd from Meg’s point of view. “Okay, who goes with who?”
“Sorry, I’m off duty,” Meg said, swirling sauce onto a shrimp.
“You’re never ‘off duty.’”
“Well, I ought to be. I drive people crazy.”
“You do not!” Beth said loyally. “You have a gift. Why not use it? So, tell me, who’s a match?”
Anything to make Beth happy. Meg handed her plate to a passing waiter and nodded to a short middle-aged man with glasses. “See the guy pretending he’s admiring the painting over the mantel?”
“That’s the new cardiologist at Brennan Medical. Let me guess.” Beth looked over the crowd, a big grin on her face, enjoying the game. “Got it! He gets the cute little nurse in Uncle Charlie’s office.”
“Dr. Cardiology isn’t into ‘cute.’ He likes the statuesque blonde who’s pretending not to notice him.”
“No way!” Beth laughed. “The blonde’s a foot taller!”
“But Dr. Cardiology likes the way she looks, and I’m pretty sure that she’s looking for a doctor to like.”
“A match made in heaven,” Beth said, giggling like the girl she used to be. Meg loved the happy sound. She nudged Beth’s shoulder, and Beth nudged her back, just like old times.
“You just watch,” Meg insisted. “They’ll get together before the night’s over.”
“Well, then, who gets the cute little nurse?”
“Sadly, I don’t have the pool to work with that I have on Dream Date. I’m afraid she’s unmatchable tonight.”
“Like me.” Beth shrugged with defeat.
“Actually, I have someone for you,” Meg said, happy that she had.
“Who?” Beth scanned the crowd.
“You’re missing him. Check out the Marine.”
“Captain Cutie-Pie?” Beth’s lip curled.
“But he’s perfect for you, Beth. Tall, a genuine hunk, a great sense of humor and he speaks in complete sentences. What more could you want?”
“How about a guy less impressed with himself? You know we don’t go for guys who think they’re all that.”
Meg frowned. “I didn’t catch that.”
“Why would a guy wear a uniform to a party like this if he didn’t want to show off that chestful of ribbons?”
“Wrong diagnosis, Dr. Brennan. If you’ll talk to the guy, you’ll discover that he didn’t want to wear the uniform. His mom, your dad’s nurse, asked him to wear it because she’s so proud of him.”
“Aww, that’s sweet.” Beth’s face softened.
“You know we go for guys who are good to their moms.”
“That’s true. But how come I get him and you don’t?”
“Because his eyes have followed you for the past hour.”
“Really?” Beth perked up, her brown eyes sparkling.
“
But I ought to warn you. While he’s been watching you, the cute little nurse has been watching him. I think she’s about to make her move.”
“Then I’d better stake my claim!” Beth squared her shoulders and moved into action.
Meg laughed, glad that at least one of them would have someone younger than their parents to kiss at midnight.
“Wait!” Beth said, pivoting. “Who’s here for you?”
That was just like Beth. Generous, always thinking of others instead of herself.
“Nobody, but that’s okay,” Meg said, faking a smile. “I’m devoting myself to your uncle Charlie tonight.”
Beth’s eyes narrowed. “Okay, what’s wrong, Meg?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” she protested, laughing, hoping she would make it through Beth’s radar.
But Beth took her firmly by the arm and marched her through the French doors to the torch-lit deck where they were alone. “When are you going to learn you can’t keep things from me?”
“It’s cold out here,” Meg complained, wrapping her hands around her body to ward off the chill.
“It’s sixty degrees. We’ll survive. What’s going on?”
Confess or freeze—those were her options? “Maybe I’m just a little depressed,” she admitted reluctantly.
When they were kids, Beth would have joked with her until they were both laughing, but tonight, Dr. Beth gave Meg an assessing look. “How can I help? I can listen, or I can prescribe something. What do you need?”
She tucked her arm through Meg’s, maybe for warmth, but definitely because they were closer than sisters. The love behind the offer put a lump in Meg’s throat. She’d really missed Beth, but they would both miss the party if she spilled her guts now.
“Let me tell you later. We have all night to talk.”
“That’s true, but sum it up now,” Beth demanded.
“Sum it up?” If her pushy friend wanted a short answer, Meg could provide it, though Beth wouldn’t like it. “Fine. A year ago tonight, I made a deal with God.”
Beth rolled her eyes.
“I know you don’t believe in that, Beth, but I do. I promised God that I would stop obsessing about finding Mr. Right and trust Him to do the finding. I thought God would drop the guy right on my doorstep, but I must have prayed wrong or something. The year’s over, and there’s no Mr. Right.”
Beth held her watch up to the light and said, “Thirty minutes to midnight. It could happen yet.”
Lovely. Meg wished she’d kept her mouth shut. “Beth, I do believe God has the right guy for me.”
“Good for you, hon,” Beth said with an annoying edge of pity. “I know your faith is important to you.”
Behind them came a familiar voice. “Hey, you two are missing the party.”
They turned to see Beth’s brother Ry strolling toward them with a killer smile and such easygoing confidence that Meg caught her breath. Dressed in a black leather jacket, black pants and a sweater the color of his dark blond hair, Ry was better looking than ever, and that was saying a lot.
Surprising tingles zipped through Meg’s body, tingles that weren’t exactly the welcome-home variety for a guy she loved like a brother. Ry Brennan was a fun-loving womanizer who’d broken hearts for as long as Meg could remember. Flirting came as naturally to him as breathing. Pure rebel, he was a terrible choice to get all tingly about.
Unfortunately, sheer reflex made her gasp.
Beth looked at her sharply, then at Ry and back again. A slow grin spread across her face. “Well, there you go,” she said so softly that only Meg could hear. “Talk about an answer to prayer. My brother and my best friend. Now that’s got to be a match made in heaven.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Meg whispered. When she fell in love, it would be with a guy she could count on, not a risk-taker who lived for the moment and left when he liked.
Beth laughed softly and whispered back, “It’s almost enough to make me a believer. And you thought Mr. Right wasn’t going to show up this year.”
Chapter Two
It felt exactly as Meg had imagined love at first sight would feel. Thrilling beyond words, it was lightning-bolt dramatic and heart-pounding real and heady. She could hardly believe it was happening to her. For an instant her soul sang.
It was a very short song.
All these years, she had been so sure that she would look into the eyes of Mr. Right, feel the welcoming sting of Cupid’s arrow and know her search was over. Never had it crossed her mind that the object of her attraction could be Mr. Totally Wrong.
Ry Brennan was lovable, good-looking, smart and fun to be with, but she wouldn’t wish Ry on her worst enemy. Beth and she had pitied the girls who’d fallen for him. Once they’d even formed a support group for the ones he’d left behind—girls who didn’t understand his idea of a long-term relationship was getting to know the girl’s last name.
She watched him take Beth in his arms for a sweet, brotherly hug and knew her turn would come next. He was just Ry, she told herself, no one to get all tingly about.
He turned to her, swept her up in his arms and murmured, “Hey, Li’l Sis,” close to her ear.
Li’l Sis. It had been so long since she’d heard him say that. Like ice cream under hot fudge, she melted and hugged his neck, just like a little sister would do.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, his mouth so close she could feel his breath. Goose bumps rose on her arms.
He lifted her up and spun her around. It was only a bear hug, just a brotherly bear hug like the one he’d given Beth, though Beth surely didn’t have to deal with tingles like this.
“Welcome back,” she said, barely able to say anything at all, busy as she was with the butterfly troop in her stomach, flitting as if this were their one chance to dance.
“It’s good to be back.”
He sounded so happy that she hugged him tighter, thrilled deep inside that he was home.
Releasing her, appreciation dawned on his face. “Look who’s become a babe! Li’l Sis, you’re all grown up.”
Well, of course. All three of them had grown up. For such a stupid statement, how could she take it as a compliment and let her heart race as if it were?
“Stay away another ten years,” Beth said dryly, “and you’ll notice that she’s middle-aged.”
Ignoring his sister, Ry kissed Meg’s forehead and said, “You never call. You never write. It’s been too long.”
Shoving out of his arms, she wagged a scolding finger at him. “You sneak out of here in the middle of the night, go to college on the other side of the country, come home just once when I happened to be away and have the nerve to say that I never get in touch?”
He flashed that killer smile. “You missed me, right?”
She’d missed that smile. “Well…I am glad to see you.” Her heart was pounding so hard, Ry and Beth, both medically trained, might notice.
She glanced at Beth and wished she hadn’t. Beth flicked her eyes from Ry to Meg like a fan watching a tennis match. Catching Meg’s eyes, Beth had the nerve to fold her hands prayerfully and look heavenward.
Okay, a joke was a joke, but if Beth kept this up, there would be no Happy New Year for her.
“Beth, did you know that Ry was coming home?” Meg asked, prodding Beth to snap out of it.
“No, and why didn’t I?” Beth demanded of her brother. “I could have met your plane.”
“I didn’t even know,” he said, his voice deeper now than Meg remembered. His buttery baritone was totally appealing. “I only decided this afternoon.”
“And you just hopped on a plane?” Meg asked. Wasn’t that just like him? Ry always did exactly what he wanted, when he wanted.
“I had forty-eight hours off. I thought I’d see if there was a party hat for me.”
“I think there’s another one like mine,” Beth said.
“We can be twins,” he said, grinning.
“Since your hair is finally as short as mine, I guess we could,
” Beth said, touching his bare neck and her own. “This is quite a change from your long-haired pool boy days. You were always prettier than me.”
“I was never prettier than you,” Ry said, hugging his sister again. Meg loved seeing them together like that.
“Have you seen Mom and Dad?” Beth asked.
Ry shifted uncomfortably.
“You haven’t.” Beth answered her own question. “Ry, you haven’t come all this way not to see them.”
“No, I’m going to see them, but when I turned my rental car over to the valet parking guy, I caught a glimpse of Trey at the door…”
“And you decided to slip in from back here,” Beth finished, knowingly. “Good idea. Trey’s still the same. He lives to prove he’s the only worthy Brennan off-spring.”
Ry’s mouth lifted in a wicked half smile. “So that would make Trey the only one of us who hasn’t grown up?”
Meg smiled. Good for Ry, taking Trey’s arrogance in stride.
Beth raised her hands toward each of them, initiating their old three-way high five.
Allies, that’s what they were. Buddies. Partners. Nothing to get all tingly about.
“Nice feathers, Meggy,” Ry said, eyeing her headgear.
“Meg,” she said, correcting him automatically. “I’m not ‘Meggy’ anymore.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” he said, his eyes dancing with laughter as he looked her over approvingly. “I think you’ll always be Meggy to me.”
She swallowed hard, her heart racing though it shouldn’t have. Ry could save that charm for someone who knew how little it meant.
“Those feathers are a perfect match to your blue eyes, Meggy.”
“Meg,” she corrected again, though she might as well save her breath. Ry hadn’t changed. He always had to win, though he had this amazing talent for making a person not really care that he had.
He had remembered that her eyes were blue. The deck lights were bright enough for him to tell the color of her tall plumes, but not the color of her eyes. That had to have come from his memory. She shivered, unbelievably pleased at such a small thing.
Beth must have noticed the shiver, for she said, “Meg’s freezing. Let’s go inside. We’ll get you a party hat, Ry.”