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“Oh, boy. I’m in for a long six weeks, huh?” Val asked, turning to chop cilantro for the salad.
“You got it,” Lori said.
“But I’m feeling fine. It was just a precautionary measure, remember? I don’t need anyone to fuss over me.”
“You’re fine until you’re not,” Lori said. “I was also fine right until bed rest was ordered. And remember Mom said all her pregnancies were difficult? Don’t tempt fate.”
Val didn’t have a comeback for that. Together with the boys, we carried the dishes to the table. Yum... saffron rice with beef and tomato salad with coriander. I was already salivating.
Since we’d been surrounded by many a manly ear in the kitchen, I couldn’t fill the girls in on my Chicago escapade, but as we were preparing to sit at the table, Val whispered, “So, how was Chicago?”
“I loved it. Reid’s the best vacation partner.”
I realized what I’d said only when Val winced. So much for swearing Reid to secrecy. I’d gone and put my foot in my big mouth.
“Ouch.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”
She laughed. “No offense taken. Not trying to compete anyway. So... details?” Then she glanced over her shoulder. The whole gang, including our brothers, was approaching the table. “Or, we can keep it for after dinner. Will and Jace are already looking suspicious.”
“They do, don’t they? Sometimes I think they have supernatural senses.”
As if to prove my point, as soon as we were all seated at the table, Jace said, “What’s this I heard about a rendezvous in Chicago?”
I laughed. “Oh, Jace. One of these days I’ll find out how you can tell exactly what we’re talking about even if you’re across the room.”
“It’s not so hard. The two of you were whispering, Val kept looking over her shoulder. Sure signs you didn’t want us to hear, which is why I thought it deserves some more digging. You went with the guy who was with you the night we looked for Milo?”
“Yes.”
“When are you bringing him around for dinner?”
“So glad you brought this up,” I told him sweetly. “He has a late meeting today, but he’ll be here next week. Which means I need to drill a few things into all the Connor men.” I looked at my nephew. “Including you.”
Milo piped up. “I’m a Connor man?”
“Yup. Which means you have the propensity to say the wrong thing.”
Will and Jace looked
at Landon. “You’re the oldest. You have nothing to say about this?” Jace asked.
Landon leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. His lips twitched. “I think we all need this. Me included.”
Will blinked. Jace shook his head, muttering something that sounded like traitor.
“You’re not allowed to be difficult,” I told them.
Landon smiled. “I think we need you to elaborate.”
“You know, just let this be a regular dinner, not a test. Don’t play the brother card.”
Jace grinned. “We can’t help ourselves.”
“I’m with Jace. Someone’s got to do the job,” Will said.
I rubbed my hands over my face, shaking my head. “Well, I had to try. But you’re upsetting me, just so you know.”
