Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(82)

“You worried about that?” Luke asked, smiling. “I’ll help with that. You’ll work the knife fine—you do everything else with tools just fine. We’ll get the steak small enough for your mouth. By the way, I don’t buy that, that your mouth is small. I listen to you all day long, and I wouldn’t call it a small mouth. Come on, you’re the first person my mother asked about.”

“My mother’s gone now,” he said.

“I know, Art. You’ll like my mother. She’ll like you.”

“I’m not like everyone else.”

“I told her you had Down syndrome, Art. She knows all about that. We had a good friend with Down’s growing up—you’re not going to disappoint anyone. You’re perfect. She’ll like you very much.”

“You think?” he asked.

“Is that what you’re worried about? Aw, it’s going to be fine—my mother is a very nice person. To people other than her sons, anyway. Come on, let’s get on with this so you can settle down. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you nervous. You act like you’re scared.”

“I had a shower,” he said. “And didn’t eat the sandwiches. One, I had one.”

“It’s okay.” Luke laughed. “Were you hungry? Because around here you eat when you’re hungry. You don’t get in trouble for that.”

“I know,” he said. “I know.” And he twisted his hands.

“Jesus, we better get this over with,” Luke said. “She’s not the queen of England. Calm down.”

Art moved slowly. As Luke walked to his house, he had to pause and wait for Art several times and it was not far. By the time he opened the door to his house, his mother and Sean were working their way into the wine.

“Well, hello,” Maureen said brightly. “You must be Art.”

Art stood just inside the door, looked down at the floor and nodded.

“Then come in. I’m so happy to finally meet you. I hope you’re hungry—I think we’re going to a place called Jack’s.”

Luke shot a glance at Sean and scowled. This could really screw up his plan to have his relationship with Shelby appear casual. Sean shrugged and glanced away.

“I like Jack,” Art said tremulously.

“I have steaks,” Luke said. “I thought we’d stay in.”

Maureen came out of the kitchen and went to Art. “Steaks will keep—we want to do the town. Are you a little shy, Art?” she asked him softly.

He nodded, but not quite so ferociously.

“Well, you don’t have to be shy with me, because I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. And I hear you’ve been a big help to Luke.”

Art lifted his eyes and said, “You’re not the queen of England.”

Maureen gave Luke a withering stare from narrowed eyes, something she had perfected by the time he was seven. It was that warning glance. The boys called it the “don’t fuck with me” look, but Maureen had never in her life uttered that word.

“But I almost am, Art, so I trust you to be very sweet and nice.”

He nodded.

“Of course you will,” she said. “Now, do you have a handshake or hug for Luke’s mother?”

He just stood there, uncertain. Maureen wrapped her arms around him, pulled him close and rocked him. “Ah, yes. So wonderful of you to help Luke. So wonderful to meet you.”

When she released him, he said, “My mother’s gone now.”

“Is she dead, Art?” Maureen asked gently. And he nodded. “Then I’m so sorry. And you must need a mother’s hug even more.” She grinned. “Let’s have another.” And he freed up his arms to hug her back.

Luke found himself smiling in spite of the fact that he was trying to remain insulted by the whole invasion.



The one thing that would make any man—at least a normal man—happy, was tougher than a two-dollar steak for Luke to swallow. Maureen won them over. Not just Shelby, not just Shelby’s family, the entire town. To be fair, Maureen hadn’t met every resident of Virgin River, but she’d met the crowd Luke considered to be his new friends. And she not only impressed them, she made Luke look good.

They started out with dinner at Jack’s the first night she was in town and of course Shelby was there when they came in, so the introductions began early. Of course, why wouldn’t Shelby be there? She had nothing better to do; she hadn’t been invited to Luke’s. Her face lit up in a way that made Luke feel guilty; Sean grabbed her and hugged her like they were old friends, then made the introductions himself because he was like that—out in front, the gregarious one. The general wandered in with the famous Muriel and they all stayed for the usual gang dinner with Mel and Jack, Brie and Mike. Maureen couldn’t be kept out of the kitchen, asking Preacher and Paige a lot of questions about the operation of the bar and while doing so, holding their new baby. Luke peeked into the kitchen to see what she was up to and got the hell out of there before she started harping on the fact that she had five healthy, handsome, successful sons and no grandchildren.

Maureen had a gift for getting to know people, for putting them at ease and showing her finest qualities. For example, she kept Art near her and was often seen holding his hand, something that showed her kindness, her tenderness. She made the general laugh, endeared herself to Mel and Brie, nurtured and courted Shelby, and she was best friends with Muriel in minutes. A covert glance at the general told Luke he was close to thrilled with Luke’s gene pool.