Fear for herself, and fear for her mother had her hand trembling. Could she make him understand? She didn’t know why, but it suddenly seemed so important that he understand where she was coming from. Dean’s large hand covered her own, the warmth of it sliding under her skin to chase the shivers away. She couldn’t take her eyes from their joined hands.

  “You’re scared she’s going to be hurt?”

  “Men leave. They stick around for a little fun, but when things get serious they run.”

  “Forgive me, but if this guy has proposed to your mom, then it sounds like things already are serious. Marriage is a huge commitment.”

  Shannon scoffed, tugging her hand out from beneath his. “Marriage is nothing. It’s easily dissolved. Standing by your significant other and sharing responsibilities, that’s commitment. Having the guts to be a dad and help raise and shape your children. That’s commitment!”

  “Sweetheart?” Dean’s voice was soft. “Your mom is in another phase of her life. She’s done raising children. She wants to share her life with someone.” He leaned in close. “You said you understood that she could get lonely. You said it was just the two of you during your childhood. Would you deny her the chance to grow old with someone?”

  “But would it be forever? How do we know? How does anybody know?”

  Shannon tried to blink away the stinging behind her eyelids, but all that did was let the backed up tears fall. Sniffling, she swiped angrily at her cheeks. She wished he’d just go home. Why did he have to be so kind? Why was he bothering to listen? Why couldn’t he understand how terrifying this was?

  A moment’s weightlessness was the only warning she had before Shannon felt herself drawn into Dean’s arms, draped across his lap. Oh, why did he have to be so perfect? Burying her face in his neck, she registered the fact that he wasn’t wearing any cologne. Oddly, this made him even more appealing. He smelled faintly of soap, shampoo, and man. Looping her arms around him and acting on impulse, Shannon flicked her tongue out to taste the spot where his pulse beat strongly.

  “Woman, you’re playing with fire,” Dean uttered gruffly.

  His hands began to roam up and down her back. It felt so good to forget. She twirled a finger in the ends of his hair. So silky. His breathing hitched. Emboldened, Shannon replaced her tongue with her lips, kissing her way up the long column of his neck to his ear. Intoxicated by his scent, his very nearness, she drew his earlobe into her mouth.

  With a muffled oath, Dean pulled her off his lap long enough to wrap her legs around his waist, before settling down again. He took control, his kiss telling her exactly what he’d like to do with her. Teeth scraping against the tender inside of her bottom lip, he couldn’t seem to get close enough. Shannon moaned when his tongue swept in and tangled with hers. More. She wanted more.

  “Mommy! I need you, Mommy!”

  The sheer panic in Brenna’s voice had Shannon scrambling from the warmth of Dean’s embrace and jumping into Mommy mode in mere seconds. She spared him the briefest of glances before charging down the hallway.

  • • •

  Dean stood up, legs trembling, lungs working like a bellows. He ground the heels of his palms against his eyes and then ran his hands through his hair. What the hell had just happened? This woman was going to be the death of him, for sure.

  With considerable effort, he finally regained most of his composure. Looking around the kitchen, Dean thought he should probably help put things to rights. There were plastic containers on the counter. He could pack up the cookies. But Brenna had sounded so scared.

  Treading softly so as not to wake the boys, Dean tried to figure out which room Shannon had disappeared into. As if on cue, a soft lullaby carried to him from the end of the hall. He stood back from the doorway. Mother and daughter were snuggled in a small bed piled high with stuffed animals.

  Shannon’s voice was hauntingly lovely. Dean was stunned. She deserved a record deal more than him. She had spotted him peeking in the doorway and smiled softly. “I’ll be out soon,” she mouthed, rocking Brenna gently.

  Nodding, Dean took that as a dismissal and headed back to the kitchen. Strangely, he felt disappointed that he hadn’t been asked in to help comfort the child back to sleep. Brenna wasn’t his. He had no responsibilities where these kids were concerned. Yet, he found himself wanting to be asked, wanting to be included.

  This time he did put the cookies away. Good lord, Shannon had better know what she intended to do with them. There were probably a good six dozen here. Did cookies go in the fridge? Nah. Dean shook his head. Cold cookies were hard cookies.

  Looking around, he snatched up the wax paper that lined the counters. He threw it away and began to gather up the dirty cookie sheets and baking racks. When Shannon still didn’t show herself, he grabbed a bottle of dish detergent and set to work washing dishes. It didn’t take long and he left them to air dry in the plastic rack.

  Surely, Brenna couldn’t still be upset over whatever nightmare had woken her up? Dean dried his hands on a crocheted dishtowel and hung it back on its hook. He slipped back down the hall and tiptoed into the darkened bedroom.

  Shannon lay curled up beneath the Disney Princess comforter, Brenna cradled in her arms. They were both fast asleep. Dean had no idea how long he stood watching them. Fame had taught him that home and hearth probably just weren’t in the cards for him. He’d had a lot of time to get used to that idea. But right at this moment, he wanted nothing more than to climb in on the other side of Shannon and hold them both tight.

  Swallowing past a hard knot in his throat, Dean backed out of the bedroom. A quick peek in the room across the hall revealed Brian and Brady, snoring softly and safe for the night. He turned off lights as he went and made sure the front door was locked as he let himself out.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  They couldn’t have asked for better weather for the 4th of July parade. Dean rolled the bill of his ball cap to help cut the glare of the sun. He slipped his mirrored shades off his t-shirt and put them on. He was starting to refer to this as his standard uniform. Pathetic. Why couldn’t he be like the other guys who had been in the band? They didn’t care who recognized them.

  What would it hurt, really? People might come up to him and ask for his autograph or a picture with him. No big deal. But it had gotten more complicated than that. There was more at stake. Dean was starting to fall for Shannon, and her kids. He couldn’t ruin the possibility of a relationship, not when he was just starting to realize that he actually wanted one.

  Hoping to catch a ride with Shannon and the triplets to the parade, Dean had strolled next door. Her smile was apologetic as she explained that her mother and Roger were riding with them and there was no extra room. Still she made no move to invite him in.

  It was almost laughable, really. Dean was used to women who couldn’t wait to show him off to their friends and family. She may not admit it, but Shannon was making a concerted effort to keep him and her mother apart. Waving a hand in farewell, Dean spun on his heel and headed back the way he’d come.

  “Dean?” He paused, glancing over his shoulder. “Thank you for cleaning up the kitchen and putting the cookies away for me.”

  “It’s what neighbors do for each other.” He winked.

  Shannon had told him they planned to watch the parade from in front of her friend’s business, Tumble Tots. He found a parking spot at the elementary school and now strolled down Main St. looking for the brightly colored building, or three carrot-topped munchkins, whichever he spotted first.

  Folding chairs of every style and size lined the parade route. Not all of them were filled yet. The parade started in the harbor, about two miles from this end of town. It wasn’t due to start at that end for another half hour, so there was plenty of time to find his neighbors and settle in.

  Dean had to do a double take when he noticed someone grilling out of the back of an old pickup truck. Now that was some serious partying spirit! He grinned, wondering if the police on duty would have anything to say about the red plastic cups the grilling group sported. He highly doubted they were filled with lemonade.

  Up ahead he spotted the bright yellow building that housed Tumble Tots. Tiny monkeys cavorted in a painted mural on the plate glass window. The window frame had been painted a bright, cherry red. The door was royal blue, with more monkeys on the glass inset. Dean had to admit, monkeys seemed quite fitting.

  “Mr. Dean, Mr. Dean!” Brian waved wildly from his spot on the curb. His brother and sister turned and the group jumped up, as one, to race over for hugs.

  “Hey there, monkeys. You ready to see some cool fire trucks?”

  They bounced around, squealing and giggling. Then they were joined by a pair of identical twins who looked a couple of years younger than their friends. What did they put in the water supply in this town? Dean tried not to let his surprise show.

  “We’re gonna ride on the fire twuck! Mommy said you can come wiff us,” one of the twins hollered.

  Brady muscled his way to where his mother stood, under the blue striped awning that shaded the doorway. She was speaking to another young mother and dropped a hand on Brady’s head, letting him know, without words, that he needed to wait his turn. Dean nearly laughed as he watched the boy twitching with excitement.

  She turned to address Brady and the other children. Dean knew the exact moment she spotted him, her jaw dropping slightly, cheeks turning that cute shade of pink. The smile she offered was just for him. Dean wanted to jump up and down just like the kids.

  “Who wants to ride on the big fire engine in the parade?” Shannon asked her brood. Dean watched her wince at the shrill response.

  “Can Mr. Dean come with us?” Brady had slipped a possessive hand into Dean’s.

  “I don’t see why not.” Shannon looked to her friend for verification. “By the way, Dean this is Talia. Talia, Dean.”

  The woman shook his hand as she watched him closely, the same look on her face as when she had spied him on the boardwalk. The wheels were turning. She knew she knew him from somewhere, but where? Though he wore his standard disguise, ball cap and mirrored sunglasses, Dean swallowed nervously. He ducked his head and tried to resist the urge to dart off into the crowd.

  “Hey kiddos, I think I’m going to hang out here. You have a blast, though! I want to hear all about it when you finish the parade route.”

  Their disappointment was a bitter chorus to his ears. Dean reached out to ruffle each silky head. He wanted to go with them. He really did. But the idea of putting himself out there, for everyone to see, made him want to hurl. His heart squeezed even tighter when he looked up to see the sad look on Shannon’s face.

  “Well, we can’t have Mr. Dean watching the parade all by himself. This is his first Scallop Shores 4th of July parade, after all.”

  Dean turned to see another small hand thrust out, waiting to be shaken. He blinked. This little tornado must be Shannon’s mother. Her grip was strong, her expression warm and welcoming. He found himself surprised that the woman was not a redhead, like the rest of her family. Her long, wavy hair was quite dark, peppered with strands of silver.

  “Catherine Fitzgerald. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Dean grinned openly when she shot her daughter a look that said she, too, thought Shannon remiss in not having introduced them sooner.

  “Shannon, darling, you enjoy the parade with Dean. Roger and I will join Talia, here, in child wrangling. Talia, have I introduced my fiancé, Roger?”

  The group started to head for the parking lot at the back of the store. They needed to hurry if they were going to get the kids to the fire trucks, lined up and ready at the other end of the parade route. Brenna tugged her hand from her grandmother’s and dashed back to Dean.

  “We get to throw out kisses to the people watchin’ on the ground. I’m gonna throw mine right to you. So you catch ’em, okay?”

  “You’ve got it, Princess.” He resisted the urge to gather her up and settled for a wink. He laughed when she returned it with one of her own.

  “You’re going to have your hands full with that one.” He nodded at the little girl jogging off, pigtails jiggling as she went.

  “She only has eyes for you, you know?” Shannon looked up at him from beneath her lashes.

  “She’s got good taste for someone so young.” He feigned pain when she punched him in the shoulder. “What? It’s my cross to bear.”

  The lighthearted repartee was cut short when Shannon suddenly frowned. Her attention was focused somewhere across the street. Dean tried to see what was causing her distress. Leaning against a lamppost was an older gentleman, a green plaid sunhat clashing with the salmon colored polo that stretched across his ample middle. To say that he was sneering was putting it mildly. This guy was definitely looking right at Shannon, and the hatred on his face was unmistakable.

  “Come on. Let’s find a better place to view the parade. I want to be closer to the school when the kids get off the fire truck.” She grabbed his hand and began to walk quickly.

  “Shannon, who is that guy? ’Cause, first impression? He looks like a jerk.”

  “That is my ex-father-in-law.” She kept walking, her eyes looking straight ahead, shoulders rigid. “And, yes, he is a jerk.”

  • • •

  It felt like a huge cloud now blocked out the sun. Shannon shivered. She stopped walking, closing her eyes when Dean drew her close, rubbing her bare shoulder. He knew just how to make her feel better. For the briefest of moments, she let herself lean into his touch. If she were a cat, she might have purred.

  “What was that all about back there?” His voice was soft in her ear.

  “Don’t worry about it. We’re supposed to be having fun, right?” She flashed him a smile that she hoped looked genuine. Dean’s frown told her she’d missed the mark.

  “I’m not trying to be pushy. I know it’s none of my business. But, Shannon—” He tugged her off the sidewalk, into the shadowed doorway of the real estate office. “That guy had hate written all over his face.”

  “You noticed that too?” She leaned against the door, trying to brace herself against the nerves that threatened to rattle her teeth loose.

  “How did things end? Do you mind talking about it?”

  “To be honest, it didn’t really involve Hollis. I don’t know what that guy’s issue is.” She reached for Dean’s hand again. “Let’s go snag that spot under the big oak.”

  Their end of the parade route was finally beginning to fill up. Children lined the sidewalks, waving small flags. Behind them were rows of chairs, two deep. Then there were the shop owners and their families, hanging out in their doorways. For a small town, the 4th of July parade had an amazing turnout.

  Shannon and Dean sat beneath the mighty oak, digging their heels into the soft grass, so as not to slide down the slight hill into the crowd in front of them. She took off her backpack, rummaged inside, and drew out a couple bottles of water. Dean took his and tapped it against the other bottle in cheers. She took a few swallows, gathering her thoughts.

  “We were high school sweethearts. We didn’t think anything would tear us apart. Then college acceptance letters started coming in.” Her smile turned wistful. “I got into Lyndon State in Vermont. Vince got into USM, just an hour away.”

  “You gave up your own dreams to help him follow his.”

  “All I wanted to do was be a teacher. Not exactly a lofty career ambition. Vince was going to be a doctor. He was going to be somebody.” Shannon was surprised to realize that her voice still held that same touch of pride, defensiveness for her old flame.

  “By the time we found out we’d be in different states, it was too late for me to apply for the fall semester at USM. When he found out I was willing to drop my college plans and follow him up to Portland, Vince melted. He said he felt so honored.” Shannon plucked a blade of grass, rolling and unrolling it over her finger.

  “We got married that summer, just before school started. My mom was happy for us, but a little worried that we were starting life so young. Vince’s parents didn’t care for the fact that their son was marrying so early, but as long as he remained focused on his studies, they let it go.

  “I got a couple of jobs waitressing so we could afford an apartment just off campus.”

  “And what did Vince do?” Dean’s voice was gruff, low.

  “He studied. He kept his grades up.” Shannon shook her head, raising her shoulders in silent question.

  “So when was it your turn? When did you get to start your college career?” Dean turned her to face him. Shannon tried to laugh off the question, but the laughter got caught in her throat when he slipped a finger under her chin and forced eye contact.

  “We never had enough money for me to take classes. It was all earmarked for Vince. Vince had the future. I could always go to college once he got his career established. Then I found out I was pregnant. We were thrilled. He was thrilled—really. It was May and Vince had just gotten out of school for the summer. We were looking forward to bonding over the summer with my growing belly.” She smirked.

  “He came with me to the ultrasound. I was ten weeks along. We were hoping to hear the baby’s heartbeat.” Dean seemed to sense that this is where things started to get rough for her. He pulled her into his arms.

  “The technician found a heartbeat, then another … then another. I was in shock, completely blown away. Multiples didn’t run in either family. I looked up at Vince. I was scared. I needed his reassurance that we could do this.” Shannon scooted ever closer, wanting nothing more than to climb inside Dean’s skin and share it with him for a while.

  “The look on his face, it was like Vince had completely shut down. I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking. But the man who had been looking forward to a baby, a single baby, was just … gone.”

  “Oh, sweetheart.” Dean dropped a kiss on top of her head and rubbed her back. He would have continued to hold her like that, but Shannon needed to finish. She pushed against his chest and wiped at an errant tear. His expression was so compassionate. She dropped her gaze, knowing if she continued to look at him she was going to completely lose it.

 

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