“Overwhelmed yet?” Adam asked.
“I’m actually enjoying myself,” Teddy told him. And she was. “How about you?”
“I love my family. We don’t get together often enough.”
“I know. Despite our parents’ meddling, we have so much to be thankful for.”
Adam gave her one of those looks, the one that said so much but told her so little. It was confusing, making her wonder what he was thinking. What was behind the look? And what did it mean?
“My brothers really like you.” He took a moment to glance around the table. Teddy followed his gaze. Everyone was eating and talking, smiling, making comments on how good the food was. Galen sat next to Teddy’s sister Sienna, and the two seemed to be hitting it off.
“You have a nice family,” Teddy said.
“Even my mother?”
“Especially your mother. She’s only looking out for your best interest.”
Adam’s eyes opened wide. “Who are you and where have you hidden Theresa Granville?”
She laughed. “Every parent wants their children to be happy.”
“And they want grandchildren.”
“That, too,” Teddy agreed.
“But most of them don’t size up dates for them,” Adam said, keeping his voice low enough that no one else could hear him.
Before Teddy could answer, Dr. Sullivan announced dessert. The groan of being too full to take another bite came up like the roar of a football goal.
“I’ll have some later,” Quinn said.
“Then I guess we can fill our glasses with wine. And you guys can clean up the plates,” his mom said.
En masse, the women left the room and by mutual agreement, the guys cleared away the dishes. By the time they finished and joined the group in the great room, the first game was almost over.
“Wine?” Adam asked, coming to stand by Teddy. Teddy nodded, handing him her glass. Instead of him leaving, he squatted down beside her. “Anything happen while I was gone?”
She shook her head. “Everyone was really into the game. I see your mom is a big fan.”
“She is now.” He glanced at her. “My father recruited her, and when she was the only woman in a house of men, it was conform or be left out.”
Teddy watched him smile. He really loved his family. She liked that about him. When they’d first met, she’d classified him as a loner, someone you assumed sprang full grown without the aid of parents. But in the past weeks, Teddy had come to know the man inside and she was falling further and further in love with him.
“What’s that look for?” Adam asked.
“What look?”
“The one on your face. It’s an I’ve-got-a-secret face. Like you know something no one else does.”
“I might,” she answered honestly, but couched it behind an impish grin to throw him off. Then she leaned over and kissed him quickly. “That’s my secret.”
“Not anymore,” Adam said. “My mother saw that.”
“Good,” Teddy whispered. “Let’s give her a show.” Her mouth was only a shadow away from his. “Just a short comedy, not a Broadway musical.” She kissed him again, a slow sweet touching of lips. Adam slid his tongue between the seam of her lips. Lightning strikes thundered through her blood. She moved back before a production number started and she was unable to stop.
“I’ll get that wine now.”
Chapter 7
The last bottle of wine on the table was empty. Adam took it to the kitchen and dropped it in the recycle bin. Getting a new bottle, he pulled the cork out. Ann Sullivan entered the kitchen as it popped. She took a seat on one of the high stools in front of the large center counter. The food from dinner sat in myriad plastic containers stacked at the end closest to the refrigerator.
“Did I hear you talking about setting a date earlier? Was that a wedding date?”
His mom didn’t begin with small talk. She went right to the subject on her mind.
“Mom, don’t go jumping over the horse.” Adam poured wine in the two glasses. Teddy’s glass had her lip print arched on the delicate crystal. He had the urge to drink from that glass, placing his mouth on the exact spot where hers had been.