am not out to snag Ryan,” Maggie insisted. “I’m just a little curious about him.”
Colleen arrived just in time to overhear her remark. “We’re all spending part of our holiday at a homeless shelter just so you can satisfy your curiosity?” she asked skeptically. “I don’t think so. We’re here because you have the hots for this guy. And since I just came from the kitchen where I got a good look at him, I have to say, way to go, Maggie!”
“You’ve been in the kitchen?” Katie demanded, looking as if she’d been cheated out of her favorite dessert. “Then I’m going.”
Maggie scowled at both of them. “Don’t make me regret asking you to come today.”
“I just want to see what he looks like,” Katie argued. “Where’s the harm in that? I’m sure Colleen didn’t go in there and create a scene.”
Just then the kitchen door swung open and Ryan emerged, bearing a huge platter of sliced turkey and followed by a large man carrying trays filled with sweet potatoes and dressing. Ryan’s hair was tousled, his blue shirt perfectly matched his eyes, and he was wearing snug jeans that hugged his narrow hips. Maggie’s mouth went dry, putting to rest any notion that she was here merely to satisfy her curiosity.
“Oh, my,” Katie murmured, then gazed at Maggie with approval. “Your taste has definitely improved while you’ve been away. Not a one of the men you’ve dragged home in the past held a candle to this one.”
Before Maggie could respond, Ryan caught sight of her. A slow smile spread across his face, but then his gaze shifted to the commotion at the shelter door, where a long line of people waited impatiently to be admitted. His expression grew troubled, and he turned to murmur a few words to the man next to him, who surveyed the long line, then nodded and hurried back to the kitchen.
Ryan walked in Maggie’s direction. Hoping to stave off an embarrassing interrogation, she escaped her sisters and went to meet him.
“I see you’re here to do your good deed,” he said.
Maggie ignored the faint edge in his voice. “I promised I would be,” she said cheerfully.
His gaze clashed with hers. “Not everyone keeps their word.”
“I do,” she said emphatically, returning his gaze with an unflinching look. “I saw you looking at the crowd a minute ago. Is there a problem?”
“The line is longer than I anticipated. I was just asking Rory if he thought we had enough food. He’s convinced we do, but he’s gone back to the pub to bring over another turkey just in case.”
“Is there anything I can do? There are some stores open today. I could make a run to pick up extra food.”
“No need. I’m sure Rory has it under control. What about your family, Maggie? Did you convince them to come today?”
“My sisters are over there,” she said, noting that Colleen and Katie were staring at them with unabashed curiosity.
Ryan grinned. “Ah, yes, I recognize one of them. She was in the kitchen earlier. I thought she seemed a bit more interested in me than in the whereabouts of the napkins she claimed to be looking for.”
“Sorry about that. Nosiness is a family trait, I’m afraid.”
“And your brothers? Are they around?”
“Along with my father,” she told him. “They’re scattered here and there. Father Francis has seen to it that none of us are idle.”
A genuine, full-wattage smile spread across his face then. “Watch out for Father Francis,” he warned. “He’ll have you all signed up for regular duty here before the day’s out, if you’re not careful. When it comes to caring for his strays, he’s totally shameless.”
“I can think of worse places to spend my time,” Maggie said.
Her answer seemed to disconcert him for some reason. He promptly mumbled an excuse and headed back to the kitchen, leaving her to stare after him.
For the rest of the afternoon, she caught only glimpses of him as he worked. He seemed to know most of the people there. He joked with the men, flirted with the women and teased the children, but there was always a hint of reserve just below the surface. Whenever he happened to catch Maggie watching him, he quickly looked away as if he feared that she might see beneath the superficial charm.
Even her brothers, usually oblivious to such things, noticed the byplay between them.
“Sis, he’s all wrong for you,” her younger brother warned. “Too many secrets. And don’t even think about making him one of your projects. I don’t think he’ll appreciate it. Something tells me your Ryan is troubled by dark moods.”
“When has that ever stopped me?” she replied.
“Unfortunately, never,” Matt said. “But this time you could be in way over your head.”
“Have you even talked to him?” she asked testily.
“You wanted us to steer clear of him,” John reminded her.
“As if my wishes ever mattered to you before,” she scoffed. “Well, if you had talked to Ryan, you would see that he’s one of the good guys. In fact, you ought to know that just from the fact that he’s here today.”
She glanced across the room to where Ryan was serving slices of pumpkin pie to a very pregnant woman and her two dark-haired children. The look on his face was impossible to interpret, but she tried nonetheless. Dismay and sorrow seemed to mingle with friendly concern. She had the sense that he was talking to this woman but seeing something else entirely, something from his own past, perhaps.
Drawn by the scene, she found an excuse to head for the kitchen, slipping in long enough to grab several pies. When she emerged, she was close enough to hear Ryan murmuring encouraging words to the woman. He seemed to be holding out the promise of a job to help her family get back on its feet. A few minutes later he slipped the husband some money and told him to make sure his wife saw a doctor.
“Come to the pub tomorrow,” he told the man. “We’ll work out your hours then.”
The man beamed at him. “Gracias, señor. Thank you. Rosita and I will be there. We are very hard workers. You’ll see. You will never have reason to regret giving us this chance.”
Ryan sighed as the man went to join his wife. Maggie stepped up behind him.
“That was very nice, what you did just then,” she said.
Ryan whirled around, almost dropping the plate he was holding. “Where did you come from?”
“I’ve been here for hours.”
He gave her a sour look. “Believe me, I’m well aware of that. I’ve had to field more than one question about the red-haired angel with the ready smile. You’ve drawn more attention around here today than the turkey.” He didn’t sound especially pleased about it. “I was referring to your popping up just now. Were you eavesdropping on a private conversation?”
“Nope, just bringing out more pies,” she said, holding up the armload she’d retrieved from the kitchen. “I couldn’t help overhearing what you were saying. You’re hiring them?”
He shrugged as if it were nothing. “They need work. I can take on a couple of extra people at this time of year. It’s no big deal.”
“I’m sure it is to them.” Then, to avoid prolonging a topic that obviously made him uncomfortable, she asked, “I understand you’re responsible for providing all this food every year. It’s very generous of you.”
“I have a restaurant. Rory likes to cook for people who appreciate a fine meal,” he said. “Why not help out a good cause?”
Once again he’d dismissed his good deed. She probably should have