all of them.”
“Yes, each has a share in the family business. Besides, Bryant was seeing Laurie when I went to work for them five years ago. And Ric—geesh, he was barely out of high school.”
“Like you were much older. You were right out of college.”
That was true. She’d met the Murphys at a university job fair that had netted her a few offers. It took only one visit to the quaint town of Destiny and the headquarters of Murphy Mountain Log Homes in a grand, two-story log home on the Murphy family ranch. That same day she’d signed on as their executive assistant.
The fact that the one brother who’d first interviewed her was six feet of perfection with sad eyes like dark chocolate hadn’t factored into her decision—
“Now the guys are dropping like flies,” Peggy went on. “Two married in less than two years, both expectant daddies. Two more leaving town to live with their amours in jolly old England. That leaves Ric stationed overseas and Nolan—”
“You don’t have to give me a rundown, Peg. I know what’s going on in their lives better than most. Even with Destiny’s thriving gossip mill.”
“A mill still buzzing about how the only single brother still in town isn’t making time with the high school vice principal anymore.” Peggy’s declaration came out in a singsong voice. “Care to dish?”
No, she didn’t. Katie didn’t like to talk about the Murphys.
Especially about Nolan.
The brothers and their parents, the founders of the company, had been good to her from the moment she started working for them. She’d been alone, on her own for much longer than those four years at college. It’d taken her a while to accept their affection and inclusion in their personal lives as genuine.
They were the closest thing she had to family.
She’d never do anything to mess with that.
“So, what’s the scoop on none of the Murphy men—or their wives—being here tonight?” Peggy continued. “Seems a bit strange not to see at least a few of them around.”
Katie was glad for the change in the conversation. “Both mommies-to-be haven’t been feeling well, so I’m guessing their hubbies stayed home with them. Nolan is traveling for business. Even if he were around, I’d doubt he’d be here.”
“Didn’t he—” Peggy paused and peeked at her glowing phone again. “Oh, what the...it’s my ex. I knew it was too good to be true. Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
Katie, glad for the interruption, pushed any thought of Nolan out of her head, a habit she’d gotten good at over the years. She scanned the sea of costumes, from the homemade to the store-bought.
Hmm, might she get another glimpse—
Oh, there he was again.
Her pirate.
She had a better view this time, even if it was from the back. He’d taken off his jacket to reveal a white shirt with billowing sleeves and a blackish vest. The hat was gone, too. Flowing hair that had to be a wig hung past his yummy broad shoulders. It was held in place by a silk bandanna wrapped around his head.
Boy, he could’ve stepped off a tall-sailed, three-masted schooner.
She lowered her gaze, taking in tight breeches, knee-high boots with oversize cuffs and a sword hanging from the wide leather belt on a trim waist.
Hmm, very nice.
Then the Captain Jack wannabe turned around. His mask was much like hers; it covered most of his face, except for a strong jaw and sexy mouth accented by a pirate-type beard.
Their eyes met and held, and darn if she didn’t get a little breathless. Then his gaze raked over her and Katie’s skin tingled. An urge to go to him filled her, but she’d promised to stay put. Without her cell phone—there was no place to carry it in this outfit—Peggy wouldn’t know where she’d gone.
Maybe he’d come to her.
She lifted her hand. Alcohol-fueled bravery had her poised to crook a finger in his direction when a group of revelers got between them. By the time they moved past, he was gone again. Darn.
* * *
Once he finished this latest beer, Nolan Murphy was out of here.
Damn, he was tired. Worse, he was hot and pissed off. Okay, hot, pissed off and surprisingly, turned on.
What a way to end a crazy week.
It had to be a hundred-plus degrees in the Blue Creek Saloon. Taking off the costume’s heavy coat had helped. So had a few too many icy-cold beers that had gone down fast. Anything to stop thinking about his hard-to-please client.
What should’ve been an easy project—building a compound of log homes, much like what his family had done on the ranch—had turned into a project from hell. After promising to work on a new list of must-haves from the client and his three adult children—all women and as opinionated as their father—Nolan had grabbed a seat on a late flight out of Spokane.
He’d arrived home after dinner and relieved his mom from babysitting duty. Square footage calculations, source materials and window placement had continued to fight for space in his brain.
Then instead of relaxing at home, he’d let his kids convince him that dressing up in this crazy costume and coming to the party was a good idea. Luckily, his brother’s lady love was a costume designer in the movie business and she’d sent a group of outfits to choose from for Halloween.
But eyeliner?
When Abby had insisted a pirate wasn’t a pirate without darkened eyes, he’d gone along with her putting the crap on his face, despite the mask that would cover it.
Mainly because it was the first time he and his sixteen-year-old daughter had talked in weeks without fighting.
The twins had chimed in and helped shave his beard, which was now mostly gone except for a strip outlining his jaw and a bad version of a goatee with beads dangling beneath his chin from braided whiskers.
Proud of their handiwork, they’d insisted on snapping selfies with him, good-naturedly threatening to post the images online. He talked them out of that by agreeing to go snowmobiling if the weekend’s prediction of more snow came to pass.
Abby had gone quiet, except to remind him she was grounded—under house arrest, as she put it—until the end of the month.
Meaning he’d have to leave her behind and ask his folks to keep an eye on her.
Something else the two of them continued to fight about. If she was old enough to drive and babysit her brothers, she was old enough to take care of herself.
Nolan took a long draw on his beer. Even with his parents living next door, he wasn’t comfortable leaving Abby home alone.
Not after the crap she’d pulled last month.
Asking for
