Jo smiled and linked their arms at the elbows.
‘Let’s get the rest of the introductions out of the way. It’s easier a few at a time.’
After meeting Johnnie and his wife Miranda swiped her palms over her hips and asked, ‘Can I help with anything?’
‘You can give me a hand setting the table if you tell me where you got those gorgeous shoes.’
A conversation about fashion and Jo’s cheery chatter helped distract her until Tyler reappeared with an older woman. ‘My mom,’ he supplied as he set down a platter of food on the table.
‘I guessed.’ She stepped forwards and reached out a hand. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Brannigan. Thank you for allowing me to visit your lovely home.’
Sky-blue eyes sparkled with humour as she looked up at her son. ‘Is she always this polite?’
‘No,’ he said flatly.
‘How do we get her to stop?’
‘Couple of minutes in my company usually does it.’
‘Then you’d best stay with her.’ She patted his arm. ‘With any luck some of it might rub off.’
Tyler nodded firmly. ‘Knew that was coming...’
The interaction made Miranda smile. When he smiled crookedly in reply, her heartbeat stuttered and skipped a couple of beats. Dragging her gaze away, she reached out to straighten the cutlery on the place setting closest to her. The desire to ravish him and be ravished in return was at the very least wildly inappropriate in front of his family.
‘We’re here!’ a woman’s voice called from the hall.
Another round of introductions ensued and, despite some odd looks when Tyler placed her in the chair next to him for lunch within a short space of time Miranda fell a little in love with the rest of the Brannigans. They interacted like a single unit, at times talked over each other in a way that made it difficult to follow the flow of conversation, but what she found most fascinating was how different Tyler was with them.
She’d never seen him so relaxed, heard him express an educated opinion on so many subjects or realized how funny he could be when he set his mind to it. It gave her a glimpse of how he must have been before he saw too much. For the life of her Miranda couldn’t imagine why the woman he loved had let him get away. To be loved by a man like him, to have children with him and spend her life standing by his side, being there when he needed her and knowing he would do the same in return...
A wave of longing overwhelmed her. Nothing had ever seemed more beautiful or more terrifying.
Understandably it made her more aware of the happy couples surrounding them as the meal finished and she helped with the clearing up. She looked at Jo and Danny as he tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. The intimacy of the touch and the heat in his eyes made it obvious Tyler’s younger brother was very much in love with his wife. The feeling was just as obviously returned. They made it look as if there were no one else in the room but them. It was incredibly romantic but, since it also made her feel as if she was intruding on something private, Miranda tore her gaze away.
Inevitably it was drawn to where Tyler was leaning against the archway to the kitchen. She smiled as she ran a cloth somewhat aimlessly over the table. Even when sporting a basic blue-jeans-and-sweater combo he was devastatingly handsome. She watched as he cradled a mug of coffee in his hand, his expression pensive. When he blinked dense lashes she followed his gaze and discovered he was looking where she’d been looking. Jo laughed at something Danny said and as Miranda’s gaze returned to Tyler the corner of his mouth lifted and his expression softened.
‘What happened?’ she’d asked.
‘She married someone else,’ he’d replied.
Miranda’s heart twisted, a brief frown aimed at the woman she’d liked so much. How could she do that to him? Marrying his brother was bad enough, flaunting her happiness in front of him was unforgivable—and she’d seemed so nice.
Immediately crossing the room, she stood close enough to feel the heat radiating from his large body, her back to everyone else as if she could somehow shield him from pain. ‘She’s your one who got away?’ she whispered.
Tyler dropped his chin and frowned, his deep voice equally low. ‘Don’t make me regret bringing you here.’
‘She’s your brother’s wife.’
‘She wasn’t always his wife. Leave