Lilac Lane (Chesapeake Shores #14)(65)

“Now you’re catching on. Just tell them to butt out. That’s what I intend to do.” He gave her a long look. “Ready?”

She sighed heavily. “As I’ll ever be,” she said.

One of these days she’d have to focus on how, at this stage of her life, she’d managed to find herself in such a fix.

*

“You and Kiera seem to be getting along much better today,” Luke said, cheerfully greeting Bryan as he walked into the kitchen.

“You should be grateful,” Bryan retorted, reaching for his apron and going straight into the pantry to collect the ingredients for the day’s special—bangers and mash with onion gravy—for those who wanted an Irish twist to the traditional hot dogs and French fries that would be available at booths on the town green.

Sadly, Luke didn’t take the hint and disappear while he was in the pantry.

“You’ve been asking for a return to peace and harmony. I’m working on it,” he told his boss.

“So that kiss I witnessed was for the benefit of the pub?” Luke asked, clearly amused.

“That’s what I said,” Bryan confirmed.

“And you took no personal pleasure in it?”

Bryan stopped what he was doing and scowled at Luke. “Are you asking as my boss?”

“I was, but now I’m asking as the concerned son-in-law,” Luke said.

“Then I’m telling you to butt out. Kiera and I are adults. We’re figuring this out day by day. Once we have any notion where this might lead, we’ll be sure to let you know.”

Luke looked surprised. “Then you think it might lead somewhere? There are feelings involved?”

“I’m not thinking about it at all at the moment. I’m trying to get ready to cook for the legions of customers likely to wander into your pub today.”

“Fair enough, but if Kiera’s heart gets broken and I have to deal with the fallout, I may not be able to protect you from Moira’s wrath.”

Bryan nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind. I notice, by the way, that you don’t seem to be too concerned that my heart might get broken. Haven’t you told me repeatedly that Kiera’s not an easy woman?”

Luke laughed. “From my vantage point, it seems to me you’re handling her just fine.”

Luke left the kitchen then and Bryan sighed. If only that were true.

*

The quiet, sleepy little town Deanna recalled from her previous visit was nowhere in evidence as she and Milos drove into town on the Fourth of July. The streets of downtown Chesapeake Shores had been blocked off and were packed with people. They were directed to an already crowded parking lot by the high school on the outskirts of town.

“I thought this was a small town,” Milos said, his eyes wide. “It looks as busy as London.”

Deanna laughed. “Perhaps it seems that way at first glance today, but I promise that the last time I was through here, it was a typical small village. Look around. There are no skyscrapers, and I think there might only be one traffic light. I don’t even think there’s a McDonald’s or a Taco Bell, and definitely no Starbucks. All the businesses are local, or at least that’s how it seemed the day I drove through.”

“Why did you come here?”

“I’d read about it somewhere,” she said. “And I needed a break on my drive to Baltimore.” It was simple enough and mostly true. The reality was far too complex for a day like today, with the sun already beating down and only a slight breeze stirring off the water. She glanced at her watch. “The parade doesn’t start for a half hour. What would you like to do first?”

Not that there were many options with the crowds seeming to move as one toward the town green.

“There are booths over there,” Milos pointed out. “I will buy you something, a souvenir for bringing me to my first American Fourth of July celebration.”

“You don’t need to do that,” she objected.

“A flag at least,” he argued. “We’ll need one to wave when the parade starts.”

His excitement was contagious, and Deanna found herself being swept along with it. With flags in hand, they found a spot along the parade route and waited until they could hear a band playing in the distance. “It’s starting,” she said, glancing up the street in the direction of the sound.

An hour later the last charming float had passed by and the crowd was dispersing, most of them heading toward the green and the arts and crafts festival there.

“Are you ready for a hot dog?” she asked Milos.

“Let’s walk around first and see the shops,” he said.

Deanna had to admit she was curious about this town where her father had settled. She let herself be led down Main Street, where they passed Sally’s, which seemed to be jam-packed, despite the competition from the food vendors on the green. They peered in the windows at the flower shop, the bookstore and a souvenir shop before turning onto Shore Road with its cafés and galleries.

Deanna caught sight of the sign for O’Brien’s and tugged on Milos’s arm. “Let’s walk on the other side, by the water,” she suggested, unwilling to pass directly in front of the restaurant, as if she might be tempting fate.

With Milos willingly following her, she crossed the street and walked out onto the town pier, where they lingered to watch people fishing. Then they started along the waterfront. Deanna kept her gaze focused on the bay, where an increasing number of boats seemed to be gathering in anticipation of the fireworks coming later.