Page 53 of Forbidden Whispers

“Yes,” Margot sniffed and lifted her chin. “While you were busy learning Krav Maga, I took several online research classes offered by the public library. I’d be happy to look into it for you, Maggie.”

“That would be wonderful,” Maggie said.

“What would be wonderful?” Jaime asked, coming up to stand beside Maggie. She was holding Emma, but when the baby saw Maggie, she immediately put out her arms and Maggie placed her on her lap, cuddling her in a hug.

With her little halo of yellow curls, Noah could easily imagine her as Maggie’s own baby, which sent his mind into a reverie, wondering what their babies would look like if they ever married. Then he instantly gave himself a mental slap. What the heck is wrong with you, Riley?

“Margot may be able to help me figure out who has been leaving those terrible reviews,” Maggie said.

“Oh good!” Jaime said. “My Emma is a rock star, and she doesn’t deserve that negative stuff they’ve been saying about her online!”

“Emma?” Tilly looked in confusion at the baby in Maggie’s arms.

Maggie laughed. “Jaime has been calling me Emma ever since I started applying my matchmaking skills back when we were in college.”

“Ah,” Tilly said. “I’m guessing she named you after Jane Austen’s heroine?”

“Yup,” Jaime said with a grin. “Except that my Emma is way more successful than Jane’s.”

“Have I met this Jane person?” J.P. said, pausing mid-bite to give Tilly a sidelong glance.

“No, love,” Tilly laughed. “She’s a very famous romance author from the early nineteenth century.”

“Oh,” he grunted, and took the bite.

“I just love all of Jane Austen’s books!” Margot said with a dreamy look.

“They’re all right,” Rita said. “Although, I prefer my romances with a lot more steam in ’em.”

“Shocker,” Gretchen muttered, jabbing a slice of sausage with her fork.

“Oh my goodness, sugar! You have a bit of ketchup on your shirt. Let me get that for you.” Rita began daubing her paper napkin against George’s chest, and Noah watched George’s face go red for about the hundredth time.

Gretchen rolled her eyes. “Seriously, McCay, you’re about as subtle as a brick.”

Rita didn’t seem the least bit phased by Gretchen’s blunt comment. She simply turned a dazzling smile in George’s direction and gave him a wink.

Now it was Noah’s turn to press his lips together to stop himself from laughing out loud.

Suddenly Boon, who had been lying quietly beside him, got up and walked around the table. He reared up on his hind legs and put his two front paws on the picnic bench seat beside George, similar to what he’d done earlier that day. Then the dog gave George a big lick on the face and attempted to lay his large, upper body across George’s lap.

“What’s he doing?” George sputtered.

“Nothin’ I haven’t already thought about doin’,” Rita murmured.

“I’m so sorry.” Noah jumped to his feet. “No, boy! Boon, down!”

The dog looked at Noah with his gentle, brown eyes, but he didn’t move until Noah came around the table and physically lifted the big dog off George’s lap.

“There must be something about you that invites doggie cuddles, George,” Tilly commented.

“It isn’t just you, George,” Maggie commented. “He did the same thing to me. Maybe once we find his owner, we’ll figure out what’s behind this weird behavior.”

“It’s all right,” George said, reaching down to pat Boon’s head since the dog still stood by his side gazing up at him. “I can tell he doesn’t mean any harm. In fact, in the right circumstances, it might even be comforting.”

“With McCay so obviously makin’ the moves on you like that, you could probably use some comforting,” Gretchen said, and everyone laughed.

Noah glanced up at Jaime, wondering how she was reacting to Rita’s extremely forward behavior toward her father. He expected to see shock or annoyance. Instead, he noted the hint of a smile playing at her lips. Then she surprised him by saying, “I think it’s kind of refreshing to see someone flirting with you like that, Dad.”

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