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I immediately recognized the stunning blond lying on the picnic blanket on the grass as a younger version of Mrs. Kavanagh. She had huge sunglasses covering her eyes and a big white floppy hat perched on her head as she beamed up at a man.
The man in question—a beautiful man who looked just like an older version of Johnny—was standing over her, and on his shoulders sat a small dark-haired boy of no more than five or six.
The little boy was dressed in a light-blue-and-white-striped jersey and white shorts. His hair was cocking up in forty different directions, and he was holding a rugby ball proudly above his head and grinning this huge double-dimpled, toothless smile.
“This is my favorite picture,” Johnny said, stirring me from my thoughts. He tapped the photo. “And he’s my hero.”
“Your dad?” I whispered, eyes glued to the photo. “That’s you with your mam and dad?”
“Yeah,” Johnny replied. “In all our glory.”
“And it’s your favorite photo because it’s of you and your parents?”
Johnny shrugged and the movement caused his hard chest to brush against my back. “That’s partly why it’s my favorite.”
I shivered involuntarily.
“What’s the other part?” I whispered.
“Because it’s real.”
“Real?”
“Innocent. Good. Pure. Before the limelight,” he explained. “When all that mattered to me was a ball and my folks.”
“Oh,” I breathed, staring down at what looked like the happiest little boy in the world. “Well, you were a gorgeous child.”
“Was?” Johnny quipped. “As in, I’m not anymore?”
“Uh, no… I mean yes, of course… I didn’t… Um, you have all your teeth now,” I spluttered, feeling flustered and foolish for voicing my thoughts aloud.
Johnny chuckled at my response. “I’m only messing with you, Shannon.”
Embarrassed, I set the picture down on the desk and stepped around him, needing to put some space between us. I couldn’t think when I was this close to him.
“You play GTA?” I asked then, eyeing the PlayStation box on the floor with excitement.
“Yeah.” Johnny eyed me curiously, “Do you?”
I nodded. “I’m awesome.”
He cocked a brow. “Is that so?”
“Uh-huh.” I was terrible at most things in life, but I kicked ass at GTA. “Joey has Vice City and San Andreas and I’ve cleared both games.”
His brows shot up.
“In a week.”
His mouth fell open. “No.”
“Oh yeah.” I nodded, smiling proudly. “I’m the best.”
Johnny tilted his head to one side, giving me a curious smile. “Do you want to play a game?”
I smirked. “If you want.”
He grinned. “You think you’re that good?”
