Pays me slave's wages there and at the boatyard."
"Anna's going to want to know what you got on your report card."
"A's," Seth muttered around a mouthful of drumstick, and Cam choked.
"All?"
"Yeah--so what?"
"She's going to love that. Want to make more points with her?"
Seth jerked a shoulder again, narrowing his eyes as he considered what
he would be asked to do to please the woman of the house. "Maybe."
"Put the soccer shirt on. It took her damn near half an hour to pick out
the right one. Major points if you wear it the same night she gives it
to you."
"Yeah?" As easy as that? Seth thought and relaxed into a grin. "I guess
I can give her a thrill."
"he really liked his shirt," Anna said as she meticulously tucked away
the contents of one suitcase. "And the book. I'm so glad we thought of
the book."
"Yeah, he liked them." Cam figured the next day, even next year, was
soon enough to unpack. Besides, he liked stretching out on the bed and
watching her--watching his wife, he thought with an odd little
thrill--fuss around the room.
"He didn't freeze up when I hugged him. That's a good sign. And his
interaction with Ethan and Phillip is easier, more natural, than it was
even a couple of weeks ago. He was anxious to see you again. He's
feeling a little threatened by me. I change the dynamics around here
just at the point where he was getting used to how things worked. So
he's waiting, and he's watching for what'll happen next. But that's
good. It means he considers this his home. I'm the intruder."
"Miz Spinelli?"
She turned her head, arched a brow. "That's Mrs. Quinn to you, buster."
"Why don't you turn off the social worker until Monday?"
"Can't." She slipped one of her new shoes out of its bag and nearly
cooed at it in delight. "The social worker is very pleased with the
status of this particular case. And Mrs. Quinn, the brand-new
sister-in-law, is determined to win Seth's trust, and maybe even his
affection."
She slipped the shoe back into the bag and wondered how long she should
wait before asking Cam to customize their closet. She knew just what she
had in mind, and he was good with his hands. Considering, she studied
him. Very, very good with his hands.
"I suppose I could finish unpacking tomorrow."
He smiled slowly. "I suppose you could."
"I feel guilty about it. Grace has this place so spotless."
"Why don't you come over here. We'll work on that guilt."
"Why don't I?" She tossed the shoe over her shoulder and, with a laugh,
jumped him.
"she's coming along."
Cam studied the boat. It was barely seven in the morning, but his
internal clock was still set to Rome. Since he'd awakened early, he
hadn't seen the point in letting his brothers sleep the day away.
So the Quinns stood, under the hard, bright lights of the boatyard,