here--"
"You're not an outsider." Grace all but gaped in shock. "You're Cam's
wife."
"And you've been a part of his life, of all their lives, a great deal
longer." She turned her hands palms up, smiled. "Let's get this one
thing out of the way so we can forget it. Whatever you've been doing
around here works just fine for me. I appreciate knowing you're doing it
so I can concentrate on my marriage, on Seth, and on my job. Are we
clear there?"
"Yeah."
"And since my instincts tell me you're a kind, understanding person, I'm
going to confess that I need you a lot more than you need me. And throw
myself on your mercy."
The quick, easy laugh made shallow dimples flicker in Grace's cheeks. "I
don't think there's anything you couldn't do."
"Maybe not, but I swear to God I don't want to be Wonder Woman. Don't
leave me alone with all these men."
Grace nibbled on her lip for a moment. "If you're going to have the
living room sofa redone, you'll need new curtains."
"I was thinking priscillas."
They beamed at each other, in perfect accord.
"Mama! Gotta pee!"
"Oh." Grace sprang up and scooped a frantically dancing Aubrey into her
arms. "We'll be right back."
Anna had a good chuckle, then rose, stripped off her jacket, and
prepared to start her sauce. This kind of cooking--the familiar, the
dependable--relaxed her. And since she had no doubt that it would earn
her points with the Quinn men when they got home, she intended to enjoy
herself.
It pleased her as well that she'd cemented a basis of friendship with
Grace. She wanted that benefit of small towns and country living--the
neighbors. One of the reasons she'd been restless during her time in
D.C. was the lack of connection with the people who lived and worked
around her. When she'd moved to Princess Anne she'd found something of
the old-neighborhood ease she'd grown up with in her grandparents'
well-established section of Pittsburgh.
And now, she thought, she had the opportunity to become good friends
with a woman she admired and believed she would enjoy.
When Grace and Aubrey came back into the room, she smiled. "You hear
stories about toilet training being a nightmare for everyone involved."
"There are hits and misses." Grace gave Aubrey a quick squeeze before
setting her down. "Aubrey's such a good girl, aren't you, sweetie?"
"I didn't wet my pants. I get a nickel for the piggy bank."
When Anna roared with laughter, Grace winced good-naturedly. "And
bribery works."
"I'm all for it."
"I should finish up."
"Are you in a hurry?"
"Not really." Cautious, Grace glanced at the kitchen clock. By her
judgment, Ethan shouldn't be back for at least an hour.