Donovans 03 - Pearl Cove

don’t like chocolate icing.”
    The Donovan’s V-shaped black eyebrows shot up. “Since when?”
    “Since a minute ago. The lady and I rub each other the wrong way.”
    “Bullshit.”
    “Okay. We rub each other hot enough to set fire to plaster. That’s not enough for me. It’s enough for her. Life’s a bitch and then you die.”
    His father sighed and raked his fingers through his hair in a gesture that was a mirror of his son’s. Then he chuckled. “Giving you a run for your money, is she? Good for her.”
    “Thanks. Should I turn around so you can stab me in the back, too?”
    His father gave a crack of laughter and hugged his oldest son with one arm. “I still think you should apologize to her for being rude, but I won’t make an issue out of it. The course of true love never ran smooth, remember?”
    Archer smiled thinly, hugged his father hard, and kept his mouth shut. Obviously The Donovan wasn’t going to let go of his hope that his oldest son was finally going to know the joys of his own home and family.
    “How’s Faith doing?” Don asked.
    Archer leaped on the change of subject with something close to relief. “Working too hard. Tony keeps dropping by the shop, telling her how he’s learned his lesson and it will never happen again.”
    “It?”
    “Whatever made her tell him to go to hell. Given his history, my guess is another woman.”
    Don said something scathing and profane under his breath. “She isn’t weakening, is she?”
    “I hope not. But I know it’s tough on her, seeing her twin with a husband and a kid, and she doesn’t have anyone at all.”
    “She could marry Tony and still not have anyone,” Don said sardonically.
    “She figured that out all by herself. That doesn’t make being alone any easier.”
    “You ought to know.”
    Archer shrugged, but his eyes were the color of steel. “I’ve seen too much. Done too much. I’m not a good bet for hearth and home.”
    For a moment Don was too surprised to say anything. Then it was too late. Jake was coming down the hall carrying a happily crowing Summer. She was sitting on his broad shoulders with his hand braced behind her back. Her little fists were buried in his dark hair. She was holding on hard enough to make his eyes slant.
    “Make way, make way,” Jake said from down the hall. “Summer the Magnificent is coming through. Closely followed by Lianne the Gigantic.”
    Lianne gave Jake a swat on the butt as she walked past him. “Gigantic, huh? Watch it, big guy. I’ll dump you on your pride and joy.”
    “Not for a few months you won’t.”
    “I’ve got a long memory.” She winked at Archer and smiled at The Donovan. “It’s a shame how you got all the looks in the family, Dad.”
    He held out his arms and gave her a hug that lifted her right off the floor. “How’s my favorite jade expert?”
    “He’s in the kitchen making icing, last I heard.”
    “I meant you, beautiful, not that tall blond ox you married.”
    “I’m fine. Eating for three.”
    “I hope they’re girls. The world needs more women like you.”
    Lianne’s whiskey-colored eyes darkened with emotion. The generous acceptance she had found in the Donovan family kept surprising her. Her in-laws truly loved her like a daughter. And she loved them right back. She kissed The Donovan on both cheeks, hugged him hard, and grinned up at him as he set her back on her feet with the easy precision of a man whose lifelong love was fourteen inches and one hundred pounds smaller than he was.
    Summer gurgled and bounced and held out her arms toward her grandfather. Don picked her off her father’s shoulders and started making gobbling noises against her tummy. Squealing with laughter, Summer grabbed his thick, silver-streaked hair.
    “How is Susa?” Lianne asked Archer as the others drifted off in the direction of the kitchen.
    “Looking and moving like her old self.”
    The relief on Lianne’s face sent warmth through Archer. He cupped her cheek in one hand. “Kyle is a lucky man.”
    She smiled, but the eyes searching his were intent. She sensed the turmoil beneath his outward calm. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing that you can cure.” He bent and kissed her. “But thanks for caring.”
    “That’s what families are for.”
    He thought of Len, who had never known a real family and had refused one when it was offered. And of Hannah, who had never known real love and had refused it when it was offered. Sex was all she wanted. Cold