“Dellina helped.” Although she knew that wasn’t what he meant.

“She never said anything. I know he didn’t lift a finger. It’s always been like that. She takes care of them. That’s the marriage they have.”

She put her hand on his arm. “She loves him. There’s no regret. It might not be what you’d want or what I’d want, but it works for them.”

“I can’t figure out why.” He turned to her. “I used to ask her why she stayed.”

“She told you it was because he was her world.”

“How’d you know?”

“She’s my friend and her love for her husband isn’t a big secret. You look at your dad and you see how he disappointed you. How cruel he’s been. She doesn’t see that. Not in the same way. It works for them.”

“I guess.” He leaned over and kissed her. “Did I ask you to the family dinner?”

“No. It’s for family.”

“I want you with me. Is that okay?”

“Sure.”

The evening would be highly charged and difficult, but she didn’t care. Time with Del was precious. Summer was drawing to a close. The changing leaves coloring the mountains moved a little lower every week. Soon fall would arrive. Del had said he was staying for the summer. With his father’s party over, there wouldn’t be anything to hold him here. Certainly not her.

“I’m going to change the subject,” she said.

He leaned in and kissed her. “Want to tell me how much you want me?”

“With every breath, but this is about your project.”

He straightened. “Shoot.”

“You could get some feedback. School started this week. Talk to the local drama teacher at the high school about speaking with his or her class. You could show them one of the videos and then get their thoughts. What worked, what didn’t and why. I’m sure the teacher would be pleased for them to see real-world application of the arts and you’d get information.”

He stared at her. “Damn, you’re good.”

She smiled. “So I’ve been told.”

“Seriously good. That’s brilliant.”

She shrugged. “I’m a good team player.”

“The best.”

He kissed her again, then slid off the stool. “I’m going to go find out who the instructor is and contact the school right now.”

He was out of the room before he finished talking. Maya appreciated his enthusiasm, even as she wished he wanted to talk about that team thing a little more. As in the two of them working together. Permanently.

* * *

NEARLY A WEEK LATER, Maya watched the Mitchell family men standing together. There was no doubt Ceallach was the father of his five children, she thought humorously. Talk about a powerful gene pool.

All five sons were tall, with dark hair and eyes. Del and Aidan looked a little more like Elaine, while the younger three favored their father. Each of them was strong, muscled and annoyingly handsome. Not a loser in the bunch. She might be a little biased, but she was confident that Del was the best looking of them.

Elaine joined the family. She looked so much more delicate than her boys. Maya refused to think about the illness she was battling on her own. This was a night to enjoy good company. Not to worry about her friend.

Sophie was in doggie heaven, going from brother to brother to get pats and treats. In addition to ordering dinner, Del had instructed Angelo’s to send over appetizers. There were trays of bruschetta, a couple of dips with crispy focaccia bread, stuffed mushrooms and mini mozzarella with tomatoes and basil on a toothpick. Wine flowed freely and Maya noticed that by the third bottle, conversation was a lot louder.

“Do you like it there?” Elaine asked, sounding doubtful.

Mathias and Ronan stood by their mother. “Happily, Inc. is a great town. A little like Fool’s Gold, but with a different vibe.”

“You’re still working in glass?” Ceallach demanded. “You must work in glass. The rest of it, any idiot can draw or paint. A three-year-old can paint. But to create something from fire, that’s talent.”

The twins exchanged a look. “Dad, we saw that article about you in Time magazine,” Mathias said. “Nice coverage.”

“The reporter mostly got it right,” the older man admitted grudgingly. “They don’t always.”

“That must be frustrating,” Nick said. “Remember the guy from the New York Times a few years ago?”

“Idiot,” Ceallach bellowed, then proceeded to list every way the reporter had failed him.

Del moved next to her. “You’re seeing it, too,” he murmured directly in her ear.

The feel of his breath against her skin made it difficult to concentrate, but she did her best to focus and process the words. “That they’re deflecting him every time he asks what they’re doing? Yeah, I noticed. Nick’s part of it.” She studied the middle brother. “Do you think it’s a plan?”

“Absolutely.”

She turned back to Del and found him standing deliciously close. If they’d been alone, she would have leaned in to press her mouth to his. Only they weren’t. Worse, they were surrounded by his family.

“Why do you think they don’t want to talk about what they’re doing?” she asked, then sighed. “Never mind. I know the answer.” Ceallach. He had a way of sucking the joy out of a room.