Unexpectedly Expecting!

She hated that she was actually afraid to talk to the man. As if by engaging him in conversation she would inadvertently reveal what was in her mind. She glanced around the spacious living room and saw Shane, Katie’s son, sitting in a chair by the window and playing a handheld video game.

She rose and crossed to him. As she approached, the blond-haired, blue-eyed boy looked up at her. His small glasses rested halfway down his nose. He pushed them back with an automatic gesture, then held out the game to her.

“Are we saving the universe?” she asked as she took the game and plopped down on the floor next to him.

“Yup. But I’ve got a really high score.”

She raised her eyebrows. “And you don’t think I can beat you?”

Shane grinned. “No way. You’re a grown-up and a girl.”

“Be careful about the girl insults,” Stephen warned. “Nora doesn’t take kindly to those.”

“Ignore him,” Nora whispered, and pressed a couple of buttons on the keypad. “Is this where I remind you I can get to a higher level than you on the space warrior game?”

“Just a couple of times,” Shane told her.

“I see. And how many times have we played?”

Shane leaned forward and rested his bony elbow on her shoulder. She didn’t mind the slight discomfort, or the weight of him as he leaned on her. “Maybe three times.”

“And I beat you on how many of those games?”

“All three.”

“Do you still want to talk about girls not having the skills?”

He giggled. “But that doesn’t count.”

“Oh, it doesn’t, does it?” She tossed the game onto the cushion, then turned quickly and began tickling him. “I say it counts a lot, young man. I say it counts more than anything.”

Shane fell back into the chair, laughing and shrieking, pushing her fingers away from his ribs, then protesting when she stopped. Finally, he slid off the chair and settled onto her lap. Nora might be ambivalent about her brother’s relationship with Katie Fitzgerald, but she was a hundred percent sure about Katie’s wonderful son. Nora adored Shane.

The remaining adults were discussing the rebuilding efforts after the tornado. Nora wrapped her arms around Shane and let her gaze drift around the room. She remembered a time when the furniture in the house had been shabby and Hattie had stretched every penny to the breaking point. In the past few years, that had changed. A combination of Jack’s expert management of the ranch and an influx of cash from newly found oil on the property had given the Darby family a taste of prosperity.

Much of the old house had been renovated, including the wood floors in this room and the entire kitchen. Worn furniture had been replaced. Nora was pleased that there was finally money in the bank to see the ranch through future tough times. Jack and Hattie had also put money in trust for all seven of the Darby children. Nora was already eligible to start taking out her share, but she didn’t know what she would spend it on. She’d decided to keep her nest egg in the bank where it could grow steadily.

Her brother gave Katie a knowing look, then stood and left the room. Nora watched him go. Something was up, she thought, wondering what secrets Katie and Jack might share.

Plenty, she realized a couple of minutes later when Jack returned carrying a chilled bottle of champagne along with a smaller bottle of sparkling apple cider. Hattie produced a tray of half a dozen champagne glasses.

“We have an announcement,” Jack said, holding out his hand to Katie, then drawing her to her feet. He put his arm around her and gazed lovingly into her big blue eyes.

Shane turned to grin at Nora. He practically vibrated with happiness. “They’re gettin’ married,” he said in a not-so-subtle whisper.

All the adults, except for Nora, laughed. It’s not that she was unhappy…exactly…she just wasn’t sure what she felt.

“That’s right,” Jack confirmed. “Katie has done me the honor of agreeing to be my wife. Shane will be my son.”

The boy pushed off Nora and flew to Jack’s side. Nora watched as her brother scooped Shane up in his arms and held him close. Hattie wrestled with the champagne bottle until Stephen rescued her and expertly popped the cork.

“The best part of this is I get a new house,” Hattie said, holding out the tray so Stephen could fill everyone’s glass. Katie served the sparkling cider to her son.

“They’re going to live in this house,” her mother continued, “while I have a charming new place built for myself.”

“Sounds like a great idea,” Nora said, still not sure what she should make of the situation.

She stared at her brother and his fiancée who were gazing lovingly into each other’s eyes. Married? To a Fitzgerald? Jack couldn’t possibly. Nora sighed. Of course he could. She’d seen how the two of them looked at each other. Katie and Jack made each other very happy. They would be crazy to walk away from the opportunity.

Nora scrambled to her feet and took the champagne Hattie offered, then raised her glass as Stephen proposed a toast to the lucky couple. The sparkling liquid bubbled on her tongue, but she couldn’t actually taste the sweetness.

“Are you all right with this?” Stephen asked as he moved next to her. “You look like you’re in shock.”

Normally she would have told him to mind his own business, or offered some other kind of witty comeback, but her mind was still absorbing the news.

“I’m fine,” she said slowly. “I’m surprised, although I guess I shouldn’t be. Katie’s been staying on the ranch for several weeks now and it’s been obvious that they care about each other.”

“So you don’t mind your brother getting married?”

She stared at the man in front of her. For once she was able to ignore the heat flaring through her body and the fact that she knew exactly how he would touch and kiss her if they ever made love.

“I’m not a shrew,” she told him. “I want Jack to be happy. He deserves this. Katie is very nice. I know she’s good for him, and Shane is a treasure.”

“But she’s a Fitzgerald.”

“We can’t all be perfect.”

Stephen smiled then. A slow, male smile that made her aware that if he stepped just a little closer he could touch her bare arms and maybe even kiss her. Her breath caught as she imagined what it would be like to feel his skin on hers for real, and not just in her dreams.

Her mouth went dry at the thought. Her legs quivered slightly and there was a definite warmth flowing out from her belly.

“Nora?”

She turned at the sound of her name and saw Katie standing next to her. Petite, blond Katie wearing a pretty blue dress and looking like a perfect china doll. Nora sighed. She was tall. She would always be tall. Sometimes she even enjoyed being tall. If only there weren’t so many short people around.

“I’m happy for you,” Nora said quickly. “I mean that. I’m not a mean person, just crabby on occasion.”

Katie gave her a grateful smile. “I know there have been some problems between our two families.”

“Yeah. A hundred-plus years of feuding.”

“I don’t want it to be like that anymore.” Katie’s expression turned earnest. “I want us to be friends.”

Nora swallowed and was a little surprised to find she wanted that, too. As if her family wasn’t big enough already. “That sounds good,” she murmured, then had to clear her throat.

“About the house. Jack and I were going to rebuild his place. I mean, I know I don’t belong here. I’m selling the place I bought because Jack needs to live on the ranch.” She cleared her throat. “The thing is Hattie decided she wanted a new place for herself. She insisted Jack, Shane and I live here.” Katie’s hold on her glass tightened. “I sort of got trapped into the situation.”

Nora touched the smaller woman’s shoulder. “Stop saying that. You’re marrying the oldest Darby son. That makes this house your home. It’s always been that way, Katie. You know that. As for Hattie, if my mom didn’t really want a charming new house of her own, you couldn’t pry her out of here with a crowbar. You know that, too.”