narrowed her eyes at him. He gave her an encouraging little nod then took a step back as though giving her room to work. Her hand went to her hip. A quick glance around told her no one was watching. She stepped close to him and placed a hand on his chest before throwing her head back to stare at him. She batted her eyelashes as fast as she could. “Lawson, honey, it’s been you all this time. Tell me how you really feel.”
“Well, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you for a long time, Ellie O’Brien.” His gaze traveled solemnly over her features. Without warning, he sank to one knee and stared up at her. “Will you marry me?”
Chapter Two
Ellie stared at Lawson, speechless. Her brain seemed to stop working. She had to repeat his words in her mind to make sure she’d understood them correctly. Finally, she gasped and punched him in the shoulder. “Get up before someone sees you!”
Her punch knocked him off balance and he put a hand on the ground to stabilize himself. He was laughing too hard to stand. She shook her head even as her lips curved. “You think you’re so funny. I can’t believe you did that!”
He staggered to his feet but continued laughing. “You should have seen your face.”
“I hope it looked as appalled as I felt.” She glanced around noting a few curious stares, including a few she recognized. “Don’t you know this town is match happy right now? You can’t pull a stunt like that. It’s dangerous. What if someone thought you were serious?”
That ought to put some real fear into him. Not that it was all that likely since everyone in town knew his taste in women tended to run toward beautiful, sophisticated women like Lorelei. Ellie was more likely to catch a fish than an eligible bachelor like Lawson. He didn’t seem concerned as he tried to hide a grin. “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? I thought you were Peppin’s matchmaking queen.”
She pierced him with a glare. “I refuse to discuss it. In fact, I think I’d better walk away from you now.”
“Aw, don’t leave.” He easily kept time with her faster steps. “You promised to help me find my parents. Besides, it was funny. That’s why you’re trying so hard not to smile.”
She rolled her eyes. Of course Lawson would know she was trying not to smile. He’d practically grown up with her and Sean so he had her pegged. That didn’t mean she had to like it. “Oh, all right. I’ll help you find your parents.”
* * *
He’d almost forgotten how easy it was to read Ellie’s face. Her every thought was written right there for him to see...and what a beautiful face it was. Had he ever taken the time to appreciate the way her full lips were almost always lifted into a smile? Had he ever noticed the faint freckles that danced across her pert nose? Or the way her large green eyes sparkled as if she was laughing at some private joke?
No, he hadn’t and he sure as shooting shouldn’t be doing it now. Ellie was and always had been his surrogate little sister. Nothing more and nothing less would do. That’s the way it would stay. He wasn’t about to jeopardize his close relationship with her or the O’Briens by changing things now. No matter how appealing her willowy figure appeared in that green dress. He shook away his odd thoughts to search the crowd for some glimpse of his family.
Ellie stopped and waved a sweeping hand toward the left. He followed her gesture to find his ma standing nearby. He cleared away the emotion in his throat, prompting Ellie to send him a knowing look. As they neared, Lettie turned away to signal to someone. He followed her signal to see Doc wave back. Neither of them had seen him yet.
“Ms. Lettie,” Ellie’s soft voice called.
The woman turned toward the sound. Her gaze rested on Ellie for an instant before it traveled to him. Lettie’s eyes filled with tears even as a smile wreathed her face. He pulled her into a hug. “Hello, Ma.”
“You came.”
“Of course I did. I always do what you tell me, don’t I?” He stepped away and looked down to see her smile.
“You always were a good boy.”
Ellie snorted. “Let’s not get carried away.”
He shot her a glare over his mother’s shoulder then glanced past her to see Doc standing quietly to the side with a grin on his face. Lawson stepped forward and met the man with a hearty handshake. “Hello, Pa.”
“It’s good to have you home, Son.”
He stepped back and tried not to feel uncomfortable as everyone just stared at him like he might up and vanish on them. Ellie seemed to recover first. “I guess I’d better round up the rest of the O’Briens and Rutledges.”
He sent her a grateful grin. “Thanks. I’d like to see them.”
“Then turn around and look,” a familiar voice called from behind him.
He turned to find Sean standing behind him, a wide grin on his face. Lawson reached out to one of the few men he’d let close enough to hug. They pounded each other on the back then quickly stepped apart.
Lawson couldn’t stop smiling. “How are you, Sean?”
“Fine, just fine.” Sean shook his hand for good measure. “It sure is good to see you in Peppin again.”
“It’s just good to see you period. Where’s Lorelei? I heard you managed to get her down the aisle.” Lorelei stepped up beside Sean and offered him a hopeful smile, looking just as beautiful as always. She looked so happy—just further proof of how right she’d been to stop her marriage to him just before saying “I do.” Everything had turned out for the best, so there didn’t need to be any awkwardness between them now. This was home. This was the only family he had and now she was a part of it.
He didn’t question his instincts. He just pulled her into a quick brotherly hug then stepped away from her. “It looks like married life agrees with you.”
She smiled and slipped her hand into Sean’s. “It certainly does.”
Nathan and Kate Rutledge appeared with their children. There was more hugging and more talking. Finally, they all settled into a rather familiar group with Kate and Nathan talking to his parents and him with Sean, Ellie and Lorelei. He glanced around at the festive celebration surrounding them and smiled in relief. Just like that he knew he was back where he belonged and everything else seemed to fade into the past.
* * *
Ellie glanced over her shoulder to give Lawson a parting smile as the caller had everyone switch partners. Sean spun her around as they danced across the grass together in time with the music. Her gaze traveled back to where it had rested many times since the dance started. Once again, Maddie and Jeff nearly ran into another couple because they couldn’t keep their eyes off each other. Ellie frowned.
Sean followed her gaze then glanced down at her. “I would have thought you’d be proud.”
“Proud of what? Proud that the tale of my desperate attempt to find a husband has been bandied across town like the joke of the century? Proud that not one of the men who approached me afterward wanted anything more than a point in the right direction? What am I supposed
