Moonlight Over Manhattan(92)

As Elizabeth served food and Sean and Tyler continued to argue, Harriet had a chance to glance around the room. There were bunches of herbs drying above the range, surfaces gleamed and everywhere she looked there were family photographs.

She noticed that the grandmother, Alice, was knitting at the table and mostly ignoring the arguing going on around her. Everyone was relaxed and comfortable.

Family night.

She felt the hard ball of tension inside her gradually melt.

This was how it should be. Love and respect simmered in the air. It was there in the teasing, in the laughter, in the listening.

This was what she wanted. She wanted a big scrubbed kitchen table with scars that showed the passage of family life. She wanted to be surrounded by this much laughter and this much love. She wanted people to be able to disagree without fear, to voice differing opinions without animosity.

She wanted family night.

Sean and Ethan started talking about some medical development and Kayla covered her ears with her hands.

“No hospital talk at the table, Sean, that’s the rule.”

“All I’m saying is that I was called to the ER last week to see—”

“La la la,” Kayla sang loudly, “I can’t hear you.”

Sean rolled his eyes and gestured to Ethan, indicating that they’d grab some time later.

The door opened again and another man entered carrying an armful of logs. He was older. In his sixties, Harriet guessed, but still handsome in a rough, outdoorsy sort of way. His hair was gray and he had the kindest eyes she’d ever seen.

Elizabeth put down the plate she’d been holding. “Tom.”

The look they shared excluded everyone else in the room.

Harriet knew she should look away, but she couldn’t. When had her parents ever looked at each other like that? Never.

There was a tight feeling around her heart. A sting in her throat.

“No romance at the table.” Tyler covered his eyes. “Spare us.”

Did Elizabeth’s sons mind that their mother was marrying again? She could see how that might be a sensitive topic for them.

“Sit down, Tom.” Jackson pulled out the chair next to him. “You need to eat while there’s still some food.”

“Don’t hold back,” Sean advised. “That’s the way to starvation in this family.”

Tom’s smile indicated he was familiar with the rules of the house. He nodded at Harriet and then turned back to Elizabeth. “I fixed the shower in the Hayloft.”

The conversation continued, back and forth, switching between subjects, occasionally punctuated by the dogs.

If there was tension, it was well hidden.

She felt an almost unbearable longing. She knew what she was witnessing was precious. It was love in all its different forms. Mother to child. Grandmother to child. Man to woman. Brother to brother. Husband to wife. It was all right there, a perfect web of love.

Some people might look at a mansion and covet it. They might want to fill their closet with designer labels, or travel the world.

What Harriet coveted was right here in this room.

They drew her into the conversation, asking her about herself, about the dogs, about living in New York. After only an hour in their company, she felt more at ease than she ever had with her own family.

For these people mealtimes were something to be celebrated, a chance to get together and share stories. Despite Tyler’s griping about food, napkins and visible displays of affection, it was clearly an important night for them. Nothing like her own family gatherings, which had been something to endure.

By the time she and Ethan left to return to their cabin, she felt as if she’d known the O’Neils forever.

“Lovely people.” She virtually danced along the path, a feat in itself given the ice.

Ethan held her hand tightly to stop her slipping. “I don’t know what’s happening to you, but I love it.”

“What’s happening is that I nailed today’s challenge. I did not run out the door.” She punched the air with her free hand and saw that he was grinning.

“I’d say you kicked your challenge in the butt.”

The moment they stepped through the door of the cabin, he caught her to him and kissed her.

“I’m proud of you. You’re incredible.”

She kissed him back, feeling powerful and capable of anything. Anything. When she lowered her hands to the zipper of his jeans, he raised an eyebrow.

“Miss Knight, are you doing what I think you’re doing?”

“I am.” She closed her hand around his erection and heard the breath hiss through his teeth.

“The bedroom is—”

“No.” She pushed him back and they both tumbled onto the rug in front of the fire. In less than ten seconds both of them were naked. It wasn’t the first time they’d made love, but it was the first time she’d been in charge.

She kissed her way down his body, taking her time to explore, allowing her mouth to roam. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this way before, having this fierce craving to discover. She wasn’t just discovering him. She was discovering herself, and it was a heady experience. Up until recently she’d tiptoed through life, careful not to draw attention to herself. Now, there was no more tiptoeing, and she definitely had his full attention. She went where she wanted to go. Did what she wanted to do, and what she did drew a rough sound from somewhere deep in his throat.