Taming the Lone Wolff(77)
Devlyn flicked her ponytail. “You’re a smart woman. Figure it out.”
Seventeen
Larkin stood atop a wobbly ladder, winding little white lights around the central tent pole. His stomach pitched when Annalise, below him, accidentally bumped his perch. Heights made him queasy, and he was anxious to get this job done. It hadn’t escaped his notice that Winnie and his brother were getting very chummy.
When he clambered back down to terra firma, Annalise beamed at him. “Thanks, bro.”
His baby sister was happy all the time these days. And her sharp-edged tongue had mellowed considerably. It was a disconcerting, but enjoyable change. “You might want to rein in our sibling,” he said. “He seems to be flirting with Winnie.”
“Jealous much?” Annalise snorted. “If Gillian isn’t concerned, why should I be?”
“Forget I mentioned it,” he said grumpily. “Give me another string of lights and help me move this ladder.”
* * *
By dinnertime Larkin was like a cat on hot bricks. The day had turned into one long pre-celebration. The entire family converged at the main house after the decorating, and didn’t leave. The children were included at tonight’s meal. Which meant that adult conversation was limited in favor of laughing at the antics of a toddler and an infant.
Little Cammie took her role as older cousin very seriously, and jumped up time and again to retrieve baby spoons, pick up toys and rescue Cheerios before they were ground into the priceless Oriental rug that ran the length and width of the dining room.
Larkin bantered back and forth with his relatives, all the while keeping a covert eye on Winnie. She was holding her own. The semi-organized insanity of a Wolff family meal was not for the faint of heart. But Winnie’s shyness had melted away amid the unselfconscious joie de vivre of the evening’s reunion .
As he surveyed the room, Larkin marveled inwardly at how far they had come as a family. Tragedy had brought them to this place, but love and acceptance kept them here.
He touched Winnie’s knee beneath the Irish linen tablecloth, leaning over to be heard as he whispered in her ear. “Not exactly dinner at a five-star restaurant, is it?”
She smiled at him. “I adore your family,” she said. “I stand by what I said earlier. You’re a very lucky man.”
“They like you.” He wanted to say more than that, but he was still processing the words and feelings in his head.
“I like them, too. I’m so glad you brought me to the mountain.” She was wearing another dress that made him sweat. Tonight’s meal was more casual, and Winnie had chosen her wardrobe accordingly. But the cheerful halter-necked sundress in black-and-white check with appliquéd daisies left a lot of bare skin on display.
He draped an arm across the back of her chair, running his fingers lightly over the nape of her neck. “Are you wearing anything under that outfit?”
She lowered her voice, her attention ostensibly still on the table at large. “Why don’t you find out?”
Her teasing question made him choke. He took a sip of wine, wiped his mouth with his napkin and moved his fingers three inches up her thigh. Winnie’s virtually inaudible whimper hardened his sex instantly.