don’t you sit next to me?” Lisa invited. “We can talk fashion and you can tell me how you were able to drag my reclusive brother out of his cave for the evening.”
“Sorry. Mom has the seating arranged,” Dawson said before Eve could respond. Picking up a small place card, he told his sister, “Eve is next to Colton. It looks like Mom’s put you next to David.” He glanced around then. “Speaking of your husband, where is he?”
“He and Dad are out by the coat check.” Lisa rolled her eyes as she added, “They’re listening to the last period of the hockey game on David’s iPod.”
“The Avalanche are playing the Red Wings,” Colton supplied.
Dawson snorted as he shook his head. “Does Mom know what they’re doing?”
“What do you think?” Lisa said.
“I think if she catches them, there’s going to be hell to pay.” Dawson chuckled after saying it. The sound was a bit rusty at first, but it wound up rich and inviting.
His reaction surprised Eve. She hadn’t been aware the man knew how to smile let alone give in to mirth. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one in shock. All eyes at the table had turned to him. But it was his sister’s expression that caught Eve’s notice. Lisa looked wistful and … hopeful?
“God, I’ve missed you,” she said, her eyes turning bright. “I’m so glad you came tonight, Daw.”
He unbuttoned his jacket and tucked his hands into the front pockets of his trousers. Though his shrug was intended to be casual, Eve saw the discomfort he tried to hide. “You know Mom. She wouldn’t take no for an answer since this is the silver anniversary of the party.”
“Well, whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here. And it’s good to hear you laughing again,” Lisa said.
Dawson glanced Eve’s way, but then his attention was diverted by an older man, who slapped his back before pulling him in for a bear hug.
“Dawson! You made it.”
The man was the same height as Dawson, although his build was a little thicker and less muscled. He was handsome, distinguished in the way men get from the same crow’s feet and silver hair that women paid big money to diminish and conceal. Eve would have figured out his identity even if Dawson hadn’t said, “Hello, Dad. How are you?”
“Better now that you’re here.”
Was Dawson the black sheep of the family? The prodigal son returning? Eve couldn’t help but wonder given all of the comments.
“So, what’s the score of the hockey game?” Dawson asked.
The older man shook his head in disgust. “The Avalanche are down by two. They should have traded that goalie when they had the chance.”
“Actually, they’re down by three now,” inserted a younger man Eve assumed was Lisa’s husband, David. “Detroit just scored during the power play.”
At this, Lisa stood. “That’s it.” She settled one hand on her hip and held out the other. “Give me the iPod before Mom gets to the table and pitches a fit.” She nodded in Eve’s direction then. “And before Dawson’s date gets the impression that his family is completely backward.”
“Dawson has a date?” David asked as he handed over the iPod, earpiece and all.
“Yes, he does.” This comment came from Tallulah as she joined them at the table. Eve felt her stomach knot. And that was before the woman smiled brightly and said, “Why don’t you introduce Eve to everyone, Daw, and then we can all sit down and start getting better acquainted.”
After he made the introductions, Tallulah said, “Eve, dear, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself?”
She smiled easily even as she straightened in her seat. “What exactly would you like to know?”
“Anything you wish to share. This isn’t an inquisition, dear.” Tallulah laughed, intending to put her at ease.
“No, that comes later,” David inserted sotto voce. Lisa slapped his arm and the boys giggled. Dawson’s expression softened.
“Why don’t you start with where you’re from?” Tallulah said. “I detect an accent of sorts in your speech.”
“Actually, I was thinking the same thing about all of you,” Eve replied without missing a beat. Then she added, “I’m from Maine originally. I was born in Bangor. I guess to folks here it probably sounds as if I flatten my vowels.”
“Maine? You’re a long way from home,” Tallulah said.
“Do you have family here?” Lisa asked.
“No. No family here.” At least she didn’t think so. But her father tended to get around. In college she’d gone into a Daytona Beach bar while on spring break only to discover her dad was the opening act for the band.
“What brought you to Denver?” Dawson asked.
“I came here for the view.”
“That’s an interesting reason to pull up stakes and move across the country,” he said.
“I was ready for a change of scenery.”
“What about a job?” his father asked. “Did you have something lined up here?”
“Not exactly, but I had no problem finding employment once I arrived.”
“What line of work are you in?” his mother asked.
Eve felt Dawson’s foot nudge hers beneath the table. He needn’t have worried. She’d told him she wouldn’t lie and once again she didn’t have to. “I specialize in sales,” she said.
“Well, if you ever need any investment advice, go see Daw. He’s got the Midas touch when it comes to picking stocks.” Tallulah beamed with pride.
Eve eyed him speculatively. “Really? The Midas touch.” She wondered what other things could be said about the man’s touch. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
For the next several minutes, while his family subtly grilled Eve, she returned the favor. And not just for work purposes. They were an interesting and likeable bunch. Despite their obvious curiosity about her, they were warm and inviting. They were not in the least what she’d expected. Given Dawson’s wealth, she’d figured his family for upper crust, emphasis on crust. She’d been prepared for them to be distant or act superior. Drew’s family had been outright judgmental of those who came from less affluent families.
The Burkes were anything but.
Dawson was turning out to be a surprise, too. There was far more to the man than first met the eye, which was saying a lot given how little he’d been wearing at their first meeting.
At first she’d pegged him as a workaholic who was too busy to buy gifts even for his family. Then she’d thought that maybe he was a self-absorbed CEO who was indifferent to everyone around him and estranged
