younger?” Mrs. Tucker wanted to know, much to the amusement of everyone in the room.
“She’s forty.”
Whoops and whistles accompanied that answer, and Bennett couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled up at how nonchalant she sounded.
“It’s a good thing I’m still off the market then, isn’t it?” Mr. Tucker said with a chuckle. “I don’t think I’d have the energy for a forty-year-old!”
“Read it and weep!” Chantal said, making everyone laugh again.
“Next time you come over for dinner, you can read it to me.”
“Deal, Mr. T,” the teenager agreed with cheeky good humor.
Then it was time to cut the cake, sing the birthday song, and dance. Bennett made his way slowly over to where his parents stood talking quietly to Aidan, his brother who was a detective. He got there in time to hear his brother say,
“I’ll be sure to make my excuses, Mom. And I’ll call tomorrow with those dates for you.”
“See that you do,” their mother said, wagging her finger at him before presenting her cheek to be kissed.
“Leaving?” Bennett asked, going to stand next to his brother.
“Yeah. Cap called…dead body washed up down by the harbor.”
“Better you than me, bro,” Bennett said with a shudder. “Even if it does make you a stranger to your family.”
Aidan grinned and slapped him on the shoulder as he turned to walk away. “I’ll try to make the next poker night,” he said over his shoulder as he made his way across to the elder Tuckers.
“We’ll be leaving soon as well,” Mrs. Kincaid told Bennett. “Adam has the early shift and a double this weekend, so we’re keeping Nova. You should come over and visit. She’ll love having you there.”
“Sure thing, Mom. I’ll call you tomorrow to let you know when to expect me.”
The music was lively and a few people were dancing in the space cleared for that purpose. Bennett watched from the sidelines for a moment, especially when the elder Tuckers took to the floor and executed a fabulous tango. Everyone stopped to watch them and Bennett recalled that Ry, despite being blind, was an excellent dancer. It made him smile.
He went in search of his niece to give her some more loving before his parents took her away and bumped into Jordan as he was coming back from inside the house.
“Oh, sorry!” Jordan backed up, open palms raised in surrender.
“No problem.”
Bennett swallowed to relieve his sudden nervousness. When had talking become a challenge? He tried again. This was his olive branch. He didn’t think he needed to extend it, but someone had to be the first to give in. He’d do it, this time. Assuming there’d be a next time, of course. He cleared his throat and tried again.
“So, are you enjoying the party?”
Jordan nodded. “It’s pretty cool, especially with the live band!”
He gestured with the beer in his hand toward the quartet of musicians off in the farthest corner of the room. Bennett chuckled.
“A perk of being filthy rich,” he said without heat.
Jordan’s eyes shot up to his face. “You have a problem with wealth?”
Bennett didn’t quite know what to make of his tone. “Not at all,” he said quietly. “I’d like to be able to afford to even consider hiring one someday, though.”
Jordan laughed softly. “I hear that.” He hesitated before continuing. “Want a beer? They’ve run out, so I was going in search of another.”
As if Mrs. Tucker had heard him, she walked over to where they stood. “Would you boys mind bringing in a few more beers, please? I need to give Adam’s little one a squeeze before she goes.”
She stepped away without waiting for a reply. Bennett watched as Jordan’s eyes followed Mrs. Tucker over to where Adam stood holding his baby girl.
“Who’s the baby?” he inquired.
Bennett smiled. “She’s Adam’s daughter, Nova.”
“How old is she?” He couldn’t seem to tear his gaze away.
“Two.”
While this getting to know his family was all well and good and he appreciated the interest, Bennett wanted to get to the real question that lay between them. And he was out of patience.
“So, why’d you disappear? What came up that you had to miss our second date?”
Jordan looked around, clearly avoiding his gaze for a moment. Then he looked at him.
“Let’s go get the beers,” he said, not answering.
Bennett fumed. It was a simple question…why was Jordan making it into something difficult?
“Are you gonna answer me?”
Now he sounded faintly belligerent, as though he were spoiling for a fight, which he probably sort of was doing. But he didn’t want to