“It’s a beautiful day for a cookout, isn’t it?”
The words were merely polite trivialities, but her eyes said so much more. She was glad to see him. And it shook him to realize how much that meant to him. “Yes, it’s very nice.”
He pulled his gaze from her and glanced around the lawn, noting that the only children in evidence were three blond little girls, not much more than toddlers, playing with some plastic toys on the grass near the picnic table where the women had just been sitting. “Did your brother decide not to join you today?” he asked Sharon, wondering if Brad had chosen to stay away rather than chance another meeting with him.
“Brad’s inside playing video games with Wade’s son, Clay, and Trevor’s son, Sam.”
“A day like this and they’re playing inside?”
Having overheard Mac’s question, Wade grimaced. “I told them they could stay in there until lunch is ready, but then they’re joining us out here in the fresh air. The problem is that Lucas just sent Clay a new game and of course they couldn’t wait to try it out.”
“Remember I told you about Lucas, Wade’s brother-in-law who owns a software-design company in California,” Sharon said. “Brad thinks it’s just about the coolest thing in the world that Clay’s uncle has a company that creates video games and that Clay gets to try them out before they even hit the market.”
“Let me introduce you to our other guests, Mac,” Wade offered, playing the gracious host. “You know Trent and Trevor, of course, but you haven’t met their brother-in-law, Blake Fox. He and Tara live in Atlanta with their daughter, Alison—the littlest one over there. Blake, this is Mac Cordero, the contractor we told you about.”
Shaking Blake’s hand, Mac noted that the other man was golden-haired, blue-eyed and built in a way that some might have described as elegantly slender. He had the look of a 1940s film star—probably deliberately enhanced by his choice of loose, perfectly tailored clothing. But there was a sharp gleam of streetwise intelligence in his bright blue eyes that was entirely modern.
The guy fit in well with the fair-skinned, light-haired McBrides, Mac thought, aware again of the dramatic contrast between them and himself.
“Good to meet you, Mac,” Blake said, and though his manner was quite casual, Mac had the sensation he’d just been studied, memorized and categorized. Blake had the look of a hustler, or a particularly slick con man. Mac had encountered several of them over the years. He knew Tara was a lawyer—maybe she’d married one, as well, he thought as he returned the greeting.
Blake turned to the auburn-haired woman who’d approached as the introductions were made. “Mac, this is my wife, Tara.”
Extending her hand, Tara smiled warmly, dispelling his initial impression of coolness. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Cordero. My brothers have told me you’re remodeling the Garrett house. I’ve always thought it was a fascinating old place. I’m glad someone else recognized its potential.”
“Okay, I’ve waited long enough.” The woman Mac had identified as Jamie McBride pushed good-naturedly forward, multiple earrings dangling, numerous bracelets jingling. Her flame-red hair was chopped in a stylishly haphazard fashion and her willowy figure was boldly displayed in a brightly colored, spaghetti-strap top and brief denim shorts. Her lips, fingernails and toenails were all painted a bright fuchsia. “I want to meet this fascinating man who has the whole town talking.”
Trevor sighed. “Mac, allow me to introduce my wife, Jamie. If your first impression is that she’s basically a fruitcake—well, you’d be right.”
Jamie laughed and punched her husband’s arm. “I just want to meet him, Trev. It isn’t often we get a dashing stranger in this town.”
It was obvious to Mac that this stage-actress-turned-high-school-drama teacher loved attracting attention with her unconventional behavior. Happy to oblige, he took her outstretched hand and bent to press his lips to it. “It’s a great honor to make your acquaintance, Mrs. McBride.”
She giggled. “I know a rogue when I see one—and I adore them. You can stay.”
“Very considerate of you. Especially since this is my house.” After making the dry comment to her cousin’s wife, Emily Davenport stepped forward to be included in the introductions. “I’m Emily, Mr. Cordero. I’m so glad you could join us today.”
“I appreciate your hospitality. And I answer to Mac.”
Jamie nodded firmly. “That’s good. This is a cookout, not a business meeting.”
“Mommy. Claire’s eating grass again,” the eldest of the three little girls playing by the picnic table announced, causing all the adults to spin around.
Mac watched as Jamie immediately abandoned her outrageous behavior and responded maternally to her stepdaughter, Abbie, who had loudly tattled on her little cousin. Emily diverted little Claire’s attention from snacking on the grass, and the men went back to their cooking.
For a moment, Mac couldn’t look away from the children. His son would have been about their age now, he thought. He could easily picture dark-haired, dark-eyed Emilio toddling on the grass with these pretty little girls. The image made him almost flinch with an old, long-suppressed pain.
Sharon placed a hand on his arm. “Mac? Is everything okay?”
He forced a faint smile. “Everything’s fine. I was just watching the kids.”
“Cute, aren’t they? I wish Caleb and Bobbie were here, so you could meet them, too. They’re such a wonderful couple.”
“Yeah, I’d like to meet them.” Caleb McBride might prove to be the only man still living who could provide the answers Mac was looking for. He sure as hell didn’t seem to be making much headway on his own.
During the next few hours, Mac couldn’t quite understand why his mood grew steadily darker and heavier. The company was entertaining, the food delicious, the weather perfect. With the exception of Brad Henderson, who had almost turned purple when he saw Mac, everyone had been very friendly. But it seemed the more pleasantly the afternoon progressed, the grimmer Mac felt.
The McBride relatives chattered spi