The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

door. “I liked looking at you.”
    She smiled to herself when he left. “Well, now, that goes both ways, New York City.”
    Debating how she would answer him the next time he asked her out, she picked up the pot of tea to carry it upstairs. The back door flew open.
    “You’re back.”
    Brenna took one leap inside. Little pellets of drying cement flew.
    “Keep your distance.” Darcy held up the pot like a shield. “Christ Jesus, Brenna, you have as much of that muck on your person as you do on the brick.”
    “Block, and not by any means. Don’t worry, I won’t hug you.”
    “Damn right you won’t.”
    “But I missed you.”
    Though she was touched, Darcy let out a snort. “You’re too busy being a newlywed to have missed me.”
    “I can do both. Can you spare a cup of that? I’ve ten minutes coming.”
    “All right, then, but get some old newspaper to put on the chair before you sit down. I missed you too,” Darcy admitted as she took out another mug.
    “I knew you would. I still say it was adventurous of you to go off to Paris like that by yourself. Did you love it?” Brenna asked as she dutifully laid out newspaper. “Was it everything you wanted it to be?”
    “It was, yes. Everything about it: the sounds and the scents, the buildings, the shops and cafe¥s. I could’ve spent a month just looking. Now if they’d just learn to make a decent cup of tea.” She sipped at her own. “But I made out fine with wine. Everyone dresses so smart, even when they aren’t trying to. I got some marvelous clothes. The shopkeepers are very aloof and act as if they’re doing you a great favor in taking your money. I found it added to the overall experience.”
    “I’m glad you had a good holiday. You look rested.”
    “Rested? I barely slept the whole week. I’m . . . energized,” Darcy decided. “Of course, I’d planned to lay like a slug until I had to get up for work this morning, but that noise outside’s enough to keep the dead alert.”
    “You’ll have to get used to that. We’re making fine progress.”
    “Not from my window. It looks like a rubble heap, with ditches.”
    “We’ll have the foundation finished and the plumbing roughed in by the end of the week. It’s a good crew, the ones from New York are well trained, and the ones from here Dad and I picked ourselves. Magee doesn’t tolerate slackers. And he knows every step of putting a building up, so you’d better be on your toes.”
    “Which tells me you’re enjoying yourself.”
    “Tremendously. And I’d best get back to it.”
    “Wait. I got you a present.”
    “I was counting on it.”
    “I’ll go up and get it. I don’t want you tracking through my rooms.”
    “I was counting on that, too,” Brenna commented as Darcy hurried up the stairs.
    “It’s not boxed,” Darcy called down. “It was easier to pack just keeping it in a bag. Jude was wise in telling me to take an extra suitcase as it was. But yours didn’t take up much room.”
    She came back with a small shopping bag, then narrowed her eyes at Brenna’s hand. “I’ll take it out for you.” She slid out a thin bundle wrapped in tissue, carefully uncovered it, then held it up.
    Brenna’s mouth fell open.
    “Shawn’s going to love it,” Darcy decided.
    It was a short, narrow-strapped nightgown in a shimmering green that was nearly transparent. “He’d have to be a complete dunderhead not to,” Brenna agreed once she had her voice back. “I’m trying to imagine wearing that.” Slowly wicked amusement brightened her eyes. “I think I’ll love it, too. It’s beautiful, Darcy.”
    “I’ll keep it for you until you’re cleaned up and ready to go home.”
    “Thanks.” Brenna kissed Darcy on the cheek, mindful not to transfer any dirt. “I won’t say I’ll think of you when I’m wearing it, nor do I think you’d want me to.”
    “That I don’t.”
    “Don’t let Shawn see it,” Brenna added as she started out. “I’ve a mind to surprise him.”
    It was almost too easy to fall back into routine. Though Shawn refused to bicker with her because she’d bought him a fancy French cookbook in Paris, everything else just slipped right into place. As if, she thought, she’d never been away.
    For the life of her, Darcy wasn’t sure if that pleased or annoyed her.
    The lunch shift kept her busy. Added to the regulars were the tourists who were beginning to come in packs for the season, and added to them were the men hired to work on