“The need to raise more money for the arts in public schools is stupid?” she asked, well aware he wasn’t referring to the topic she’d been discussing.
“What? No. Damn it, you know what I mean.”
“I’m sorry.” She started to turn back to the circle of very interested faces, but he took her arm and pulled her aside. “Do you want me to cause a scene in your sister’s house?” Nell said between her teeth.
“No.” He weaved his way through the minglers, around the dining room table and through the kitchen door. His sister was busy replenishing a tray of canapés. “Give us a minute,” he ordered Mira.
“Mac, I’m busy here.” Distracted, Mira smoothed a hand over her short brunette hair. “Would you find Dave and tell him we’re running low on cider?” She sent Nell a frazzled smile. “I thought I was organized.”
“Give us a minute,” Mac repeated.
Mira let out an impatient breath, but then her eyebrows shot up, drew in. “Well, well,” she murmured, amused and clearly delighted. “I’ll just get out of your way. I want a closer look at that boy Kim’s so excited about.” She picked up the tray of finger food and swung through the kitchen door.
Silence fell like a hammer.
“So.” Casually, Nell plucked a carrot stick from a bowl. “Something on your mind, Macauley?”
“I don’t see why you have to be so …”
“So?” She crunched into the carrot. “What?”
“You’re making a point of not talking to me.”
She smiled. “Yes, I am.”
“It’s stupid.”
She located an open bottle of white wine, poured some into a glass. After a sip, she smiled again. “I don’t think so. It seems to me that, for no discernible reason, I annoy you. Since I’m quite fond of your family, it seems logical and courteous to stay as far out of your way as I possibly can.” She sipped again. “Now, is that all? I’ve been enjoying myself so far this evening.”
“You don’t annoy me. Exactly.” He couldn’t find anything to do with his hands, so he settled on taking a carrot stick and breaking it in half. “I’m sorry … for before.”
“You’re sorry for kissing me, or for behaving like a jerk afterward?”
He tossed the pieces of carrot down. “You’re a hard one, Nell.”
“Wait.” Eyes wide, she pressed a hand to her ear. “I think something’s wrong with my hearing. I thought, for just a minute, you actually said my name.”
“Cut it out,” he said. Then, deliberately: “Nell.”
“This is a moment,” she declared, and toasted him. “Macauley Taylor has actually initiated a conversation with me,andused my name. I’m all aflutter.”
“Look.” Temper had him rounding the counter. He’d nearly grabbed her before he pushed his anger back. “I just want to clear the air.”
Fascinated, she studied his now-impassive face. “That’s quite a control button you’ve got there, Mac. It’s admirable. Still, I wonder what would happen if you didn’t push it so often.”
“A man raising two kids on his own needs control.”
“I suppose,” she murmured. “Now, if that’s all—”
“I’m sorry,” he said again.
This time she softened. She was simply no good at holding a grudge. “Okay. Let’s just forget it. Friends,” she offered, and held out a hand.
He took it. It was so soft, so small, he couldn’t make himself give it up again. Her eyes were soft, too, just now. Big, liquid eyes you’d have expected to see on a fawn. “You … look nice.”
“Thanks. You, too.”
“You like the party?”
