Driftwood Cottage by Sherryl Woods Read Free Book Online

“That’s a great idea! I could design a special brochure advertising smallcorporate retreats, then send it to all of the law firms and other corporations in Baltimore and Washington.”
    She shoved aside papers on her desk, found a notebook and jotted down notes, her brow knit in concentration. Connor might as well have been in Baltimore.
    Eventually, his subtle cough caught her attention. She grinned sheepishly.
    “Sorry. I got caught up in the idea. You should be proud, since it was yours. And you know I have to write everything down when it’s fresh, or it will have flown right out of my head by morning.”
    “I’d sit right here and brainstorm with you all evening, but to be honest, I’m starved. Can I interest you in dinner?”
    Her expression brightened. “Let’s go to Brady’s for crabcakes. Now that you’re a big-time lawyer, you can buy.”
    “It’ll be mobbed on a Saturday night,” he protested. “We could just eat here. Word is you have a first-class chef.”
    “Our kitchen’s already closed. We don’t stay open this late until the season kicks in. Don’t worry about getting into Brady’s, though. Dillon lets me sneak in the back way. Oh, he yells at me for doing it, but he hasn’t stopped me yet.”
    “All because you introduced him to his wife,” Connor replied. He stood up. “Okay, let’s do it. We can sit in the bar and check out the other singles. Maybe one of us will get lucky.”
    Jess patted his cheek. “You’re already luckier than any man has a right to be. You just need to wake up and see it.”
    Connor groaned. “Are you really going to hop on this bandwagon, too?”
    “Of course I am. I like Heather. I love your little boy. And you, big brother, should claim them before somebody else snaps them up.” She gave him an impish grin. “Not that I’m meddling, of course.”
    “Of course,” he said wryly.
    In the O’Brien family, everyone had an opinion, and not a one of them was shy about expressing it. More’s the pity.
     
    Overnight the springlike weather had taken a turn back toward winter. Temperatures dropped, dark clouds rolled in and what started as rain on Sunday morning had turned to sleet by lunchtime. Heather thought about calling Megan to cancel, but she knew that not only would she be depriving Connor and their son of time together, but it would look as if she were running scared.
    She had little Mick bundled up and was about to head out, when Connor appeared at the door.
    “What are you doing here?” she asked, letting him step inside but no farther. It wasn’t just that he was soaked from the run from the car to her apartment. She didn’t want him in this new sanctuary of hers.
    “The roads are getting slick. I didn’t want you to drive over to the house. I figured I’d pick you up.” He hunkered down in front of little Mick. “Hey, buddy, you ready to go to Grandpa’s?”
    “Ga’pa,” little Mick echoed, nodding eagerly.
    Even though Heather hated admitting it, the thoughtfulness of the gesture wasn’t lost on her. “Thanks, but it’s just a couple of miles, Connor. I’m sure it would have been fine. Besides, the car seat’s in my car.”
    “I have one, too,” he said, shrugging at her look ofsurprise. “I got it awhile back. It just made sense so we wouldn’t have to transfer the one from your car to mine if little Mick’s with me.”
    “You’re right. It does make sense. Okay, then, we’ll ride with you.”
    Connor frowned at her. “Where’s your winter coat? It’s turned really cold out there. I wouldn’t be surprised if we had snow before tonight.”
    “This late in March?”
    “It can happen,” he insisted. “Grab a scarf, too. And some gloves. You never remember your gloves.”
    Heather hid a smile as she dug in the closet for her warmer coat, scarf and the gloves that had somehow ended up on the floor instead of in her pockets. Connor was right. She rarely wasted time hunting for them. And he was always pestering