Just Between Friends (O'Rourke Family 4) by Julianna Morris Read Free Book Online Page A

lifted. She could never be sad around children who were healthy and happy.
    “Amy ’n’ me are having a cousin,” the youngster announced.
    Amy. That meant this was Peggy.
    “Yes, Peggy, you’ll have a cousin before you know it,” Kate said. She stood and balanced the four-year-old on her hip. If she was very lucky, she might be holding her own child in a year or two. With Dylan as the father.
    “Goodness, she’s far too heavy for you,” Kathleen called. She rushed over and put out her arms.
    “We’re fine.”
    “Better let her,” Shannon O’Rourke suggested. “Sooner or later you’re going to have to throw the bouquet, and there are lots of single ladies here hoping to catch it.”
    Kate swallowed and reluctantly let go of Peggy. “My flowers? Heavens, I’ve lost track of them.”
    Shannon lifted an eyebrow. “I’ll organize a search. We wouldn’t want to disappoint anyone. Several of the cousins are getting anxious.”
    “Hah. You’re the one who’s secretly hoping to catch the bouquet,” Dylan said.
    His sister sent him a warning glance. “One wedding this summer is enough. Besides, I’m not the least bit domestic.”
    “You can say that again.”
    An unreadable emotion flickered in Shannon’s eyes before she tossed her head. “Why would I say it a second time, when my family is more than willing to point it out on every occasion?”
    His forehead creased in confusion, and Kate dug her elbow into his side. Honestly, men were so dense.
    Dylan looked down at Kate. “What?”
    “Don’t you have something to do?” she asked sweetly.
    He looked at her warily. “Such as?”
    Jumping off a cliff sounded like a good idea at the moment, but she’d probably regret it if he did.
    In a day or so.
    “You could check on how Kane is surviving,” she suggested.
    “Uh…right. I’ll be back.” Dylan beat a hasty retreat.
    “I should hope so—you wouldn’t want to miss the honeymoon,” Shannon called after him.
    Dylan turned slowly. “We’re not going on a honeymoon. Summers are busy for contractors, and Katydid has a number of charity events she’s committed to. We’ll go later.”
    Shannon frowned, then stuck out her tongue as her brother disappeared into the house.
    “No honeymoon?” she asked.
    “Uh…maybe later,” Kate said lamely.
    She’d suggested they go away, at least for a long weekend, but Dylan had refused. It was just like her idea of getting married in Victoria or having a preacher. He didn’t want it to seem like a marriage at all. A honeymoon, even a fake one, was out of the question.
    “A honeymoon is half the fun of getting hitched.”
    “We’ll honeymoon—on weekends, evenings after we’re finished…that is, after Dylan is finished working.”
    Shannon didn’t seem convinced. “But why not go now?”
    Kate crossed her fingers behind her back. “It’s a bad time, like Dylan said, but I had this superstition about getting married before my birthday. He was sweet and went along with me, even though it would have been better to wait.”
    “All right, but you don’t know what you’re missing.”
    Kate slumped into a chair as her new sister-in-law strolled away, calling to everyone to look for the bridal bouquet.
    “I know what I’m missing,” she mumbled, thinking about Dylan’s broad shoulders and strong body—a body that wouldn’t be crawling under her sheets anytime soon. A frustrated ache sank low into her abdomen. “I know exactly what I’m missing.”
    Dylan noticed Kate was silent the entire drive into Seattle. When they arrived at the converted carriage house, she jumped out and opened the front door while he was getting his suitcases from the back of his truck. She was already shoving leftover wedding cake into the freezer when he walked inside.
    “I don’t know why Mom insisted on sending that home with us,” he muttered.
    “It’s the top layer,” Katydid said as if that explained everything. She put the rest of the food—some of the