we just go out to dinner?”
Dinner. He could do that. “Mexican? I know you like Azteca.”
Her nose curled. “Japanese.”
He grinned. “Benihana’s?” She loved the chefs entertaining the guests with their cooking prowess. But Kelsey and Lucy? He hoped they like Japanese food. “Benihana’s is fine.” The muscles in his stomach contracted. “I have another idea, too. It’ll make it more like a party.”
A scowl settled on her face as she tilted her head. “I told you I don’t want a party.”
“Not a real party, but a celebration.”
Her eyes probed his.
“I know a lady who has a daughter your age. She’s been sick, too, and I thought maybe we could invite them. Her mother thought it would be nice.”
Her scowl deepened. “Can’t it just be us?”
The conversation with Kelsey marched through his mind. “I sort of invited them already. I thought you’d be happy.” That wasn’t exactly the truth. “I hoped you’d be happy.”
“Dad.” She bolted up from the sofa. “Do whatever.” She marched through the archway.
So much for beginning the birthday celebration on a high note. Now what? Should he call Kelsey and cancel? Kelsey’s face filled his mind, her sapphire-blue eyes, her blond hair combed back with its stubborn part. He pictured her running her long fingers through the strands as if the action would ban the part from appearing. It never did.
He loved her smile—though rarer than her serious look—her full lips curved at the ends and smile lines like parentheses, as if the smile were an afterthought. If he called and canceled, that could end everything.
Chapter Three
“Touchdown!”
Kelsey jumped at Bill Rueben’s outburst. Noise reached its pitch as the touchdown tied the score. Kelsey didn’t care if anyone won, but she wouldn’t admit that to a soul. Two things had motivated her to come to Lexie and Ethan’s Super Bowl party. First, Lexie had invited her to see her honeymoon photos. Seven days on a Caribbean cruise sounded wonderful, especially living in Michigan with only graying snow piled along the curbs outside the window. But most of all, she knew that Ross had been invited.
“Grab food when you want it.” Lexie stood in the archway to the living room. “Chips and dip, salsa and sub sandwiches.” She stepped back and then peeked around the corner. “And cookies. Homemade.”
Kelsey wriggled free from her seat on the sofa and rose. She ambled to the doorway and stood a moment, taking a furtive peek at Ross in a chair near the window. He’d said hello and asked about Lucy. She’d asked about Peyton, but with so many people watching them, she hadn’t prolonged the conversation. In the light through the window, his dark hair shone with glints of mahogany. He wore it thick, with a slight widow’s peak that most women would envy. He had a great smile, but he wasn’t Adonis. His sensitivity captured her more. And she liked his appealing ways.
Today he’d worn jeans and a teal-colored sweater. His shoulders looked as wide as an ocean—maybe a Great Lake. She snickered to herself. Whenever Ross came to mind, a giddy feeling rustled through her. When she was near him, her pulse raced.
She studied him for a moment, and before turning away, he glanced up and saw her gazing at him. She flinched when he grinned. She managed a pleasant expression before she strutted into the dining room, forcing her attention on the food spread across the table. But a noise in the kitchen drew her toward Lexie, who stood behind the island, preparing coffee. Kelsey sank a chip into the dip, popped it in her mouth and headed her way. “Where are your honeymoon photos?”
“On the computer in the den.” She motioned toward the sliding door off the dining room. “There’s an icon on the desktop. Click on it, and it will take you right to the photos. I put captions under the pictures so in a couple years I’ll remember where I was.” Though she behaved lighthearted, her expression said she had something on her mind.
Kelsey strode deeper into the kitchen, drawn by curiosity as much as the scent of the brewing coffee. “Cooper’s with Ethan’s mom?”
She nodded. “You want to grab some food?” She motioned to the breakfast nook and headed that way, a cookie in her hand.
Food didn’t arouse Kelsey’s interest at that moment, nor did the coffee. She followed Lexie and slipped onto the bench across from her. They sat, eyeing each other as if words had taken a vacation. Kelsey’s mind skipped around possibilities of what Lexie wanted. It couldn’t be marital problems, but what about Cooper’s health? “You have something on your mind.”
She looked down. “You know, I was really weird with you a few weeks ago. About Ross and you. I don’t know what got into me.”
“Forget it. On your wedding day, you’re allowed to do and say whatever you like. All is forgiven.”
“But it’s not like me to butt into someone’s life. I told Ethan what I’d done, and he wasn’t happy. He told me Ross is a great guy, and he deserved a little pleasure in life, just as you do.”
A knot formed in Kelsey’s throat. She cleared it. “Hey, it’s no big deal.”
Lexie grasped her hand. “Everyone needs friends, and for some reason, my mind jumped to romance. I suppose I could blame that on my wedding day.” She gave a feeble chuckle.
“Wedding days can arouse all kinds of emotions. Think of the brides who run away and the grooms who don’t show up.” She squeezed Lexie’s hand. “Really. Forget it.”
Lexie lowered her head, then lifted it again with a grin. “Have you two seen each other?”
Kelsey gave a toss of her head. “He’s in the living room.” She liked the sneaky way she avoided the question.
“You know what I mean. A date? A … coffee or lunch? Maybe a movie and dinner?” Lexie searched her face and arched an eyebrow. “Nothing?”
This question she couldn’t sidestep. “We went to dinner. At Peabody’s. We talked about the kids and he took me home.”
“And that’s it?” She drew back, a look of disbelief on her face. “I haven’t brought him up to you on the phone because I wanted to apologize in person, and you didn’t say anything to me.” She shook her head again. “I thought there would be more. You both seemed so taken with each other that day.”
Air bottled in Kelsey’s lungs. She released it. “He mentioned getting the girls together for Peyton’s birthday. It’s coming up.”
“So this is where you’re hiding.”
Kelsey jumped as Ross’s voice sailed past. He stood at the island, a sub sandwich resting on a paper plate in his hand. She searched his face, wondering if he’d heard their conversation.
“Girl talk.” Lexie gave her a pat and rose. “Help yourself to some coffee. I just made it.”
His gaze slipped to Kelsey. “Did I interrupt something?”
Ignoring his question, Kelsey scooted from the bench. “I came in to ask Lexie about looking at the honeymoon photos.” She strutted to the island and leaned forward, trying to see through the dining-room archway. “The game’s not over, is it?”
He grinned. “It’s just about halftime.” He set his plate on the island counter and wandered over to the coffeepot.
“Cups?”
Lexie pulled a few mugs from an overhead cabinet. “Milk?
Sugar?”
“Black?” He turned to Kelsey. “Coffee?”
She nodded and ambled his way. “Thanks.”
“Can