Midnight Caller - By Diane Burke Page 0,34

Wheel into the leg of the table and the adults scrambled to save their cups from spilling.

“Amy, honey, watch what you’re doing,” Carol gently scolded her daughter.

“I’m dwiving, Mama.”

“I see that, sweetheart, but it’s time for dinner.” Carol lifted the child to her lap, kissed her blond curls, then settled her into the booster seat beside her. “Driving is for outside play.”

“You have an adorable daughter, Carol,” Tony said.

Carol returned his smile. “Thank you. She is, isn’t she?”

“I want to sit next to Tony.” Jack climbed up on the empty chair to Tony’s left.

“Hope you brought a healthy appetite,” Tess said.

“To your house? I’ve been starving myself all day in anticipation of the best cooking in town.”

Tess blushed and everyone chuckled.

Roast beef, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, biscuits and two slices of birthday cake later, Tony leaned back and groaned with satisfaction. The past hour had been filled with the sound of children’s voices, laughter and good conversation. He’d watched the interactions around the table with interest. All this touchy-feely family stuff was not good for his self-preservation. He’d lived quite well through the years without the idea of a family of his own ever crossing his mind. He wanted to keep it that way. Didn’t he?

Erin and Carol excused themselves to prepare the children for bed. Patrick stood up, thanked Tess for a fabulous meal, leaned close to Tony’s ear and whispered, “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll make your getaway, too. Carol’s going out tonight and the other two are planning to watch a chick flick.”

“I hear you, old man.” Tess turned from the sink and stared him down. “Jerry Maguire is not a chick flick. It’s about a sports agent. Since when is a football movie considered a chick flick?”

Patrick stood his ground. “Football movie my Irish…”

“Watch your language in this house.” Tess planted her fists on her hips and feigned anger but amusement glittered in her eyes and teased the corners of her mouth.

Patrick looked back at Tony. “They say it’s about football so poor, dumb fools like me agree to sit down and watch it. I made that mistake years ago when the movie first came out.” He waved his hand in the air.

Tess slapped Patrick’s arm with a dish towel. “Go away with you now. Coming here and sampling my fine cookin’ and then putting down the entertainment I picked.”

Patrick clasped Tess’s hand and planted a kiss on the back of it. “The cooking was fine, indeed. That it was.” He headed for the back door and just before he left, he looked over his shoulder at Tony and yelled, “Run, son. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Tess threw the dish towel, but it hit a closed door.

Tony laughed, grabbed a clean towel from the drawer and helped Tess finish the dishes while Erin and Carol put the children to bed. He was putting the last dish away when Erin returned. Wisps of hair escaped her fasteners and curled against her skin. The natural rosy glow of her cheeks created a beauty that didn’t require makeup. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of her. She moved toward him with lightness and confidence. He found it increasingly difficult to take his eyes off her.

“Jack’s already asleep.” She smiled at him and his pulse thundered against his wrists.

Tony placed a cup of coffee on the table in front of her.

“I drink too much coffee, but thanks.” She took a sip. “I’m going to turn into a coffee urn.”

“It would be the prettiest coffee urn I’ve ever seen.” He grinned when a fresh rush of color tinged her cheeks. Boy, he loved teasing her.

“Amy’s down for the count, too.” Carol’s voice sounded from the doorway. She had changed clothes and now wore a simple but flattering black silk dress. Her blond hair hung loosely on her shoulders. She was a strikingly pretty woman, Tony thought, but she couldn’t hold a candle to Erin’s natural beauty.

“I wish you’d tell me who you’re meeting,” Erin said. “It’s not like you to keep secrets from me.”

“I know. I just want to be sure this is going where I think it is before I bring him home to family and friends.”

“Must be serious,” Erin said.

Carol’s voice grew wistful. “This could be the love of my life…for the rest of my life.” Carol frowned. “Are you sure you don’t mind Amy spending the night?”

“How can you even ask? You know how much I love that little girl.”

“I know.