Meet Me Under The Mistletoe (O'Rourke Family 5) (12 page)

“My son, the duenna,” he muttered. A four-year-old chaperone.

“What’s a dwayna?” Jeremy asked.

“It’s just a word. You’ll find out when you learn Spanish.”

By the time they were both dressed and on their way next door, Shannon was already hauling boxes from her house and stacking them by the Jeep. “Why didn’t you wait?” Alex asked, hurrying to help her.

“I didn’t want to take longer than necessary.”

He scowled, wanting to remind her that men had muscles to do the heavy work, yet knowing she’d just say something sassy and laugh at him. But he was particularly annoyed when he discovered one of the boxes was filled with bottles of sparkling grape juice, and another with sparkling cider. They really
were
heavy.

“Don’t be mad,” Shannon said winsomely, handing him a bag of gaily wrapped packages.

“I’m not mad…yes, I am.
Was
mad,” he amended when
she smiled. Though she’d said to dress casually, she wore a soft, expensive-looking sweater and a velvet skirt that hugged her faithfully. The cat pin Jeremy had given her adorned her shoulder. Once they were in the Jeep, she hummed a Christmas tune as they headed for her mother’s house.

It all seemed so
right
. Still, panic skirted the edges of Alex’s consciousness. He didn’t want to examine what he felt for Shannon. It was much easier dismissing his feelings as simple physical need and gratitude for what she’d done for Jeremy than acknowledging that something deeper and more complex had been growing since the day they’d met.

Shannon gave easy-to-follow directions and it wasn’t long before they pulled into a tree-lined driveway. Alex didn’t know what he’d expected to see, but the big old rambling house wasn’t close. A porch wrapped around the house, and people spilled from the doors as they parked. It was the homiest place he could have imagined.

“Merry Christmas. You’re late,” cried a collection of voices, followed by hugs and exclamations of, “We missed you last night.”

“What about last night?” he whispered in Shannon’s ear when they stepped inside the front door. “Were you supposed to be here?”

She bit her lip. “The family usually has dinner and attends a candlelight service on Christmas Eve. I didn’t have to go. We would have been welcome, but I figured…well…you know. And I didn’t want to disappoint Jeremy.”

Alex knew why Shannon hadn’t said anything; she’d known he wouldn’t want to attend the service.

“Goodness, is this Jeremy?” asked an older woman, who approached them with a warm smile.

Jeremy nodded, still clinging to Alex’s hand, but he
looked intrigued by the color and laughter and happy chatter that filled the comfortable house. It was a new experience for both of them—like walking into a Norman Rockwell painting.

“My name is Pegeen,” said the woman, introducing herself. “I’m Shannon’s mother, and you must be Alex.” Her Irish brogue had been softened but not erased by her years in America.

“I like Shannon,” Jeremy declared before his father could say anything.

“So do I, darlin’. Do you want to meet my other grandchildren? The two oldest are close to your age. You’ll enjoy playin’ with them.”

Jeremy readily released his grip on Alex’s hand and followed Pegeen.

“I should have known,” Alex murmured, shaking his head. It had been days since Jeremy had wanted Mr. Tibbles with him, and though Alex had put the rabbit in the Jeep as a precaution, it seemed apparent the stuffed animal wouldn’t be needed.

“You should have known what?” Shannon asked.

“That your mother is a Pied Piper, just like you.”

She grinned and drew him into the living room, introducing family as she went. The names became a blur of brothers and sisters, in-laws and children. And Kane O’Rourke, who held a small baby on his shoulder, was no longer the brisk executive or accusing brother, but a doting father. Meeting him that way, Alex would never have guessed he owned a multi-billion dollar corporation.

“Who’s going to help bring everything in?” Shannon said, and though they complained, her five brothers donned coats and trooped out to the Jeep Cherokee.

“You always bring too much,” Kane said when they were piling gifts near the Christmas tree, then carrying her contributions to the meal into the kitchen.

“But I didn’t do it all. Alex, what is this about?” she asked, looking into several of the boxes.

“I had to contribute something and you wouldn’t tell me what to bring.”

An arm reached over Shannon’s shoulder and took a can of cashews from the box she was examining. “Great, I’m starved.”

“You’re always hungry, Connor.”

“Dinner isn’t for hours.”

With Alex distracted by her brothers Shannon took his coat and hung it with hers in the hall closet on the way to the kitchen. She wanted a word with her mother.

“Mom,” she said, entering the kitchen.

“Yes, darlin’?”

“You do remember what I told you about Alex being just a friend, don’t you? There’s nothing going on between us.” It wasn’t quite a lie, but Shannon crossed her fingers nonetheless.

“He seems a fine young man.”

“Yes, but what did you mean by asking Jeremy to meet your ‘other’ grandchildren? Like he’s one of them?”

“A slip of the tongue, love.”

Her mother never had slips of the tongue.

“Do
not
get carried away,” Shannon warned. “Alex doesn’t want to get married again. He has been very clear on the subject, so nothing is going to happen between us.”

“Now, darlin’, you can’t blame me for bein’ a bit hopeful. You’ve never brought a young man to dinner, much less
Christmas dinner. I haven’t seen you so happy in a long while.”

“He’s a widower, Mom. It hasn’t even been a year,” Shannon said desperately. All she needed was to have her mother try some misplaced matchmaking. “
Please
don’t say anything.”

Pegeen touched her face. “I’ll only say that I love you, dear. Now go on, and don’t worry. It’s Christmas.”

Shannon hurried back to the living room and Alex made room for her on the couch. He was debating a point in football, and she rolled her eyes at how quickly the men had found a topic of common interest. There were times she felt like the odd person out in her own family. The women would congregate in the kitchen, talking about cooking and babies and other domestic interests, her brothers would talk sports or some other manly pursuit, and she didn’t fit with either.

“How is that new kitten of yours doing?” asked Connor after several minutes. “Except for being skin and bones, he seemed to be healthy when I checked him.”

“He’s doing fine.” She looked at Alex. “Connor has to endure the entire family bringing their animals to him for treatment.”

“Like having a doctor in the family?”

“Something like that.”

Alex nodded and wondered why he’d worried about coming to dinner at the O’Rourkes’. They were normal people, down-to-earth and thoroughly likable; no one would know they had access to inconceivable wealth. And Jeremy was having a ball, laughing and running around with two little girls who were as alike as two peas in a pod. His son was too young to think about the implications of having dinner with a woman’s family, anyway.

Other O’Rourkes arrived, aunts and uncles and cousins whose names Alex didn’t have a prayer of remembering. Children were hugged and given treats. Food was everywhere, snacks to hold everyone until the main event. Which, judging by the rich scents rolling from the kitchen, would be a feast of grand proportions.

Shannon divided most of her time between him and Jeremy, and Alex found himself missing her whenever she disappeared to chase after his son. It wasn’t as if he’d barely seen her that day, or any other day in the past few weeks, and he didn’t want to think about the implications.

“Try this,” Shannon said, appearing after a particularly long absence.

He bit into the pecan and butter pastry. “It’s great, but I’m not going to be able to eat dinner if you keep feeding me.”

“Just be grateful she’s not trying to cook dinner,” joked Connor. “Or you’d need your stomach pumped.”

Everyone laughed, and someone else added, “Or we’d be out on the street, waiting for the fire department to arrive.”

“Hey, I only set fire to stoves, not houses,” Shannon said lightly, but Alex saw her lips tighten. She left a couple of minutes later and he frowned, surprised her family didn’t know she was bothered by their teasing.

He gave Connor a cold look. “If you had half the brains of your sister, you wouldn’t say stupid things,” he said, not caring if he sounded rude, or what they would think about him defending Shannon when it had obviously been a family joke.

He followed Shannon, grabbing both their coats when he saw her stepping out onto the front porch.

“Hey,” he said, closing the door to shut out the prying ears of her family. “You’re going to freeze out here.”

“I’m tougher than I look.”

Alex wrapped her in a coat. “Tough, right. You’re shivering and turning blue. Why didn’t you tell Connor and the others to stuff it?”

“Why should I? Everyone had a good laugh.”

He caught her chin and made her look at him, frustrated by the way she guarded her deepest feelings. “
You
didn’t enjoy it. You act like you don’t care, but I know that isn’t true, so don’t pretend with me. Please, Shannon.”

The remote expression in her eyes slowly vanished. “I’m used to the kidding. It’s just that with you and Jeremy here…” She shrugged and rubbed her arms. “I mean, I explained we were just friends, so they don’t have any reason to think it would embarrass me in front of you. But with families there’s always this… I don’t know…
thought
when someone new comes. An anticipation, wondering whether that person could be the ‘one,’ no matter what has been said.”

Alex waited, trying to understand.

“New relationships are fragile and you have a son to think about. So having Connor joke around like that without thinking…it just…”

“Hurt?” Alex finished for her.

“Yes. He didn’t know if we might really be involved, and if you’d get second thoughts about a woman who can’t cook.”

“Only an idiot would think that was important when it comes to you,” Alex said adamantly.

Shannon tried to smile. “Don’t get the wrong idea,” she said. “My family is great, but all families have their moments.”

“So, how long are you going to be mad at Connor?”

“Who said I was mad? My brothers can’t help having the sensitivity of bricks. They’ve been handicapped from birth with the problem.”

Alex laughed and hugged her close.

“You are the most amazing woman,” he whispered in her hair. “I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, then you’d know what a miracle you are. If things were different…”

He stopped speaking, and pain lanced through Shannon. It meant so much to have Alex wanting to comfort her. She’d longed to find someone who would accept who she was. Yet now that she’d found the perfect man, he just wanted to be friends. But even that wouldn’t last; they couldn’t continue the dance between friendship and desire for much longer. It would tear them apart.

A light breeze ruffled the pine swag on the porch railings, and she thought ironically of the Christmas mistletoe her mother always hung above the front door.

She looked up.

Sure enough, it was there, tied in a bright red bow.

Alex looked, too, and shadows haunted his eyes. “Oh, Shannon, I wish—”

“No, don’t talk about it. Let’s pretend for one more day. It’s Christmas.”

“Yes, it is.” Alex bent his head and his kiss, filled with passion and regret, brought tears to her tears, even as it sent streamers of fire through her blood.

When they were both gasping for breath, Alex released her. After a long minute regaining his composure, he looked over her head and lifted an eyebrow.

“It seems we have an audience. A very unhappy audience.”

Shannon spun and saw three of her brothers. They were
glaring through the window at Alex as if he was a randy teenager groping their underage sister.

“Okay,” she admitted grudgingly, “they have the sensitivity of bricks, but they’re
protective
bricks.”

Alex promptly burst out laughing.

S
hannon marched into the house, grabbed her eldest brother’s arm, and dragged him into Pegeen’s unoccupied sewing room. She slammed the door with a satisfying thud.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing my foot. How could you watch us through the window like that? It was none of your business.”

“It most certainly
is
our business,” he retorted. “You told Mom he didn’t want to get married.”

“I said he didn’t want to get married
again
. He’s a widower, with every right to make his own decisions. Besides, this isn’t the eighteenth century. I can do what I want to do.”

“I’m aware of that, but I don’t want you getting hurt,” Kane said quietly.
“Again
.”

Shannon swallowed, shaken. She would have sworn the family knew little, if anything, about the times she’d had her heart broken.

“Alex is trying to survive,” she whispered. “He’s had too much happen, lost too much to risk it all again. Yes, I wish he’d change his mind, but he isn’t responsible if I get hurt. I went into this knowing there wasn’t a future.”

“Ah, Shannon.” Regret tinged Kane’s voice. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve been able to fool myself a few times, but yes, I’m sure. So please let it alone. I want to spend Christmas with Alex and Jeremy, and for once not think about tomorrow.”

She could tell he was reluctant, but he finally nodded. “All right. I’ll tell Neil and Patrick to back off.”

“Oh, no
.”

Shannon suddenly remembered she’d left Alex alone and sped out the door, Kane following close behind. She had visions of Alex and her other brothers rolling around on the living room floor, punching one another while the Christmas tree went flying in ten directions. Her brothers had primitive-level responses when it came to protecting the family. They became cavemen. Barely standing upright.

“How about playing some football later?” Neil said as she rushed into the room. He was standing with his arms crossed, practically nose-to-nose with Alex, who had assumed an equally aggressive stance.

“Yeah, football,” agreed Patrick, a glint in his eyes that suggested he wouldn’t mind tackling his sister’s guest. In a purely friendly, I’m-gonna-kill-you way, of course.

“No football,” Shannon said hastily.

“That’s right.” Kane stepped between the two men. “No contact sports. Shannon wouldn’t like it.”

“Is that right, Shannon?” Alex asked with a wink. He looked ready to laugh again, and she loved him even more for understanding that her brothers were a bunch of lovable
lunatics. Considering what he’d told her about his parents’ endless fighting, she would have expected him to grab Jeremy and march out at the first sign of dissent.

She turned to her four sisters-in-law. They were watching their husbands with a mixture of love and exasperation.

“Can’t you control them?” she demanded.

Patrick’s wife, Maddie, shifted the baby in her arms. “Nope. I’m afraid we’re stuck with the bozos,” she said cheerfully. “Let’s have some hot cider.”

The other women agreed and dragged their spouses into the dining room.

Alex tugged a length of Shannon’s hair, seeing that she was still outraged. “Isn’t this the point where you’re supposed to tell me that they mean well, then assure me they’re harmless?”

“They do and they are, and that’s no excuse.”

“But it’s understandable.” He knew why the O’Rourke brothers were hostile. They were a close-knit Irish family, with unshakable family values, and they saw him as a threat to their sister’s happiness. It was a fascinating glimpse into a world he’d never seen before.

Shannon sighed finally and focused on him. “At least you’re not running for the hills.”

“I’m looking forward to dinner too much to run. Besides, I don’t think I could drag Jeremy away from your nieces.”

“He does seem to be having fun.”

“Just like his daddy. Let’s go have some of that cider.”

Alex tucked Shannon’s arm into his, and headed for the dining room. He
was
having fun. Food and laughter were a seductive combination—not as seductive as Shannon, but few things could compete with Shannon.

She had said they would eat around two in the afternoon. Alex wondered why it was planned for so late, then learned why when the family gathered around the Christmas tree, crowding into every possible corner as they opened packages.

Somehow, he wasn’t surprised to find Jeremy and himself the recipient of several thoughtful gifts. There were a number that Shannon looked at, then put back under the tree, whispering instructions to her eldest brother who was playing Santa by reading labels and passing out packages. She seemed to be anticipating something, and when she heard a car turning into the driveway, she jumped to her feet.

“I hope this is another Christmas present,” she said, touching Alex’s shoulder before hurrying out to the foyer. When she returned, another woman stood behind her.

Alex froze.

“Everyone, this is Alex’s sister, Gail,” Shannon announced, drawing Gail forward. “She’s here from Japan. Gail, this is everyone. Don’t worry about anyone’s name, just say ‘hey you.’”

Gail
.

Remembering their agonizing phone call of just a few days before, Alex felt his stomach clench. Gail looked tired and unsure of herself, but she smiled gamely at the huge, welcoming family. “I hope I’m not intruding.”

“Nonsense,” Pegeen said. “Come in, child, you look worn to a frazzle.”

Alex belatedly rose and gave his sister an awkward kiss. “Jeremy,” he said. “Do you remember your Aunt Gail?”

Jeremy didn’t, but he’d been hugged so much that day, he was more than willing to get another. Soon he and Gail were sitting together, with Shannon pulling out the packages she’d set aside and giving them to the newcomer.

“Thank you…that’s so thoughtful.” Gail sounded overwhelmed, and Alex clenched his teeth. Shannon had obviously known his sister was coming, but why hadn’t she told him?

After a while Gail seemed to relax, even joining with the O’Rourkes as they sang Christmas carols. Shannon shot him curious glances as she eased his sister into her family circle, the way she had done with him and Jeremy.

What could he say?

You should have told me that my sister, whom I barely know, is coming to Christmas dinner?

Yeah, that would really add to the spirit of the day.

Shannon knew something was wrong. Alex had hardly said two words during dinner, then shortly after his sister left for her hotel, turning down his offer to stay at the condo, he’d suggested they go home.

“Jeremy is already asleep,” she murmured as he drove steadily through the darkness. Fog had crept over the Puget Sound area, but Christmas lights still glimmered in the murk.

“Yes.”

“I think he had a good time.”

“You know he did.”

She expelled a breath. It was hard having a conversation with someone who was so tight-lipped. Had he taken a belated offense to her brothers’ behavior? Or was it something else? She tried to think of anything else that might have disturbed him, but the worst offense of the day had been Patrick and Neil threatening his well-being in a game of tackle football.

At the condo Alex carried Jeremy upstairs and Shannon sank onto a chair in the living room, waiting for him to
come down again. The holiday meal that had tasted so delicious only two hours before, now sat like lead in her stomach.

What had gone wrong?

When Alex returned, he didn’t say a word, and she followed him into the kitchen. “I can’t take the suspense any longer. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“All right, I don’t want to discuss it.”

“Alex! Look at me.
What is wrong?
”

He threw his keys onto the counter, then turned to her, a fierce glare in his eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me Gail was coming to Seattle? How did you even know she was coming?”

The question made Shannon’s eyes widen. “She called you, one day while I was watching Jeremy. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to get here, and because her plans weren’t settled, she decided it was better to make her trip a surprise.”

“You should have told me.”

“It was what Gail wanted. For Pete’s sake, Alex, she’s your sister. I thought you’d be thrilled to see her.”

“You don’t know the score with my family,” he retorted. “And you have no right to interfere. You should have discussed it with me before issuing invitations and keeping secrets.
You’re not my wife
.”

“I know I’m not your wife,” she said tightly. “And you’ve certainly made it clear that I’m never going to be. So why don’t you take a flying leap and see where it takes you?”

Shannon spun, too angry to see straight. It didn’t seem possible that Alex could be so awful. Even if he didn’t
know she was in love with him, he had to know she had strong feelings for both him and Jeremy.

“Where are you going?” he demanded.

“Home.”

“I’ll walk you over.”

“Don’t bother.” She grabbed her purse and fished her keys from the outside pocket.

If it hadn’t been for Jeremy, she would have slammed the door, but she remembered in time that he was asleep. He deserved a night of sugarplum dreams before he learned that his daddy was a confounded
jackass
.

Despite her refusal, Alex came outside and watched her walk the thirty feet to her own door safely. But it wasn’t any comfort; it was just aggravating.

She had never
once
asked him to change his mind.

She’d tried to be a friend the way he wanted, and what had that gotten her?

Accusations and anger.

He was impossible.

But as she sank into a chair after letting herself into her condo, she remembered the tormented look in Alex’s eyes. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Without even knowing what he was doing, he must have been looking for a way to break things off, a way to feel he was right about banishing her from his and Jeremy’s life.

“Oh, Alex,” she moaned.

She
could
be a good wife and mother, and still be herself. She finally understood there was more to making a home than being able to cook and clean. But their problems were about Alex’s personal demons, not domestic responsibilities.

Alex had never had a family that was a haven, caring and supportive—even when they tried to interfere. Despite
that, he had taken a chance by loving Kim, and he’d lost her. Shannon had wondered how many times a shattered heart could heal, and she was afraid Alex was beyond that limit. He was hurting, and there wasn’t anything she could do about it.

“Meoowr?” Magellan cried and jumped onto her lap, looking at her anxiously.

“I’m afraid it’s over, baby,” she whispered.

He lapped a tear that had fallen onto her hand, then rested his chin on the spot.

Shannon looked around her home and realized there
was
something she could do to help Alex, but not with useless crying or reminding him of what they might have had together.

A strength she hadn’t known she possessed filled her. She would call a Realtor first thing in the morning and list the condo for sale.

“Are you sure you can’t stay longer?” Alex asked his sister as they waited for her plane to board.

“I wish I could, but I didn’t plan this trip enough ahead of time.” A light blush spread across Gail’s cheeks. She had admitted to impulsively deciding to visit Seattle after his telephone call, only to be riddled with second thoughts of how he’d feel about seeing her.

“I’m glad you came,” Alex said. He meant it, though he still winced when he thought of how he’d overreacted to Shannon’s “surprise” two days before. Even at the time he’d known his response was hugely out of proportion. She hadn’t interfered; her loving spirit simply couldn’t imagine a sister being anything but a welcome visitor—especially not on Christmas day.

The O’Rourkes celebrated Christmas with all the excitement of small children, but they hadn’t forgotten its meaning. Alex, who’d smugly told Shannon that he wanted his son to understand the spirit of giving, had lost its meaning completely.

The boarding call came and Alex hugged Gail close, only to find heat pricking his eyes. “You’ll call,” he said gruffly. “When you get in?”

“Of course.”

“And if there’s anything you need…
anything
, you let me know. We’ll be on the next plane.”

It didn’t help his own composure when she gave him a watery smile. “Yes.”

“Bye, Auntie Gail.” Jeremy gave her a noisy kiss. “You promise to come see me again?”

“I promise.”

Alex knew Gail would keep her promise. They had only begun talking, sorting out the tangle of their childhood, but it was a beginning that was long overdue. He and Jeremy would visit her in Japan, and Gail would come to Seattle. And in the meantime, they would force themselves past the awkwardness of talking on the phone, and find a way to be brother and sister, rather than strangers.

Thanks to Shannon.

The thought was uppermost on his mind during the drive home. Shannon had reshaped his life, and all he’d done was wound her, like all the other men who hadn’t valued the remarkable woman inside that sophisticated package.

He wasn’t ready to end things between them, no matter how often he’d thought it would be for the best. But what could he do to fix what had happened? Fixing relationships wasn’t his forte; he was better at screwing them up.

When Alex turned into their shared driveway, he braked to an abrupt halt.

A For Sale sign stood on Shannon’s lawn.

He cursed.

“You said a bad word, Daddy,” Jeremy said placidly. “Can we go see Shannon? I miss her a whole bunch.”

They were going to see Shannon, all right. He was going to find out why she was leaving without even telling him. Jeez, one little fight and she was bailing out.

“Stay here, Jeremy. I’ll see if she’s home.” Alex left the heat running in the Jeep, then stormed up to Shannon’s door. He pounded on it furiously. “Shannon, what in hell is going on?”