Page 57 of Passion Restored

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“Why did I say yes to a Gallagher dinner?” Liz asked, tugging on the bottom of her top. She’d decided to wear comfy slacks and a cute sweater instead of a dress, but she still didn’t feel like she was doing the right thing.

“Because you like me and my family, and the group of us is finally able to get together to have a family dinner for Rowan’s birthday.” Owen put his arms around her as they stood on Graham’s porch before heading inside and then leaned down to kiss her softly. She melted into him, too lost to care that she’d never wanted to fall so fast, so hard. He was just…Owen and there was nothing better most days than having his arms around her.

“Are you sure we didn’t need to bring a gift? Or something for the meal?” She hated coming empty-handed. And since she didn’t have a job any longer, she’d had all day to do something for the dinner they’d had planned for weeks, in between her wallowing.

The idea that she’d been fired hadn’t fully sunk in yet, even if she’d gone through the wide array of emotions throughout the day. It had only been a short twenty-four hours, after all. She hadn’t been sure she had the energy to come to this dinner after being sick in the morning and dealing with the fallout of losing her job, but she and Owen had planned on coming before they’d found out about the baby. And now, according to him, everyone knew he’d knocked her up and they hadn’t made a decision about it. And while the idea that so many knew her business might have annoyed her on any other day, she couldn’t help but feel a little jealous that he had people to go to when he couldn’t think on his own and needed a sounding board.

She reminded herself that she had Tessa. Her best friend had been her everything for years, and Liz would do well to remember that. She might not have a family she could count on, or other friends she could bring in close, but she had Tessa.

And if he had his way, she’d have Owen, as well.

One step at a time, Liz. Just one step at a time.

Owen tapped her on the nose, bringing her out of her spiraling thoughts. “You psyching yourself out yet?”

“No, I had a good freak-out going.” She leaned forward to rest her forehead on his shoulder, and he tugged her close.

“I’ll let you get back to that after dinner if you want. But first, to answer your question, no, we didn’t need to bring anything. Blake and Graham have everything covered and wouldn’t let us bring side dishes or desserts to this one. Sometimes, we pitch in; other times, we just go with whatever the host wants. It all depends on what’s going on. And I already got Rowan a gift for her actual birthday.”

Liz smiled up at him. “That pink and gold planner, right?” God, that was just so like him to get a little girl a daily planner.

He winked. “Yep, it’s a mid-year so she can’t use it for a couple months, but I also got her stationery and the colored pens I love that write smoothly without smearing. I figured it’s never too early to learn how to organize your day.”

She snorted, lifting her head so she could kiss his jaw. “You’re a dork.”

“Your dork,” he replied like he always did.

“Are you guys gonna keep kissing on the porch, or do you want to come in? You’re welcome to kiss in here, I guess. That way, you don’t get cold.”

Liz turned at the sound of Rowan’s voice and held back a smile. She hadn’t even heard the door open, but apparently, she’d been so lost in Owen, she hadn’t cared.

Owen gripped Liz’s chin just then and turned her toward him so he could lay a smacking kiss on her lips. “Okay, kissed her. I guess we can come in because I think a certain niece of mine is in dire need of hugs and kisses.”

Rowan’s eyes widened, and she giggled before turning on her heel and tearing off in the other direction.

Owen looked over his shoulder and winked at Liz. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a little girl to catch.” He moved quickly after Rowan, making growling sounds as the little girl giggled away.

“It’s good to see her laughing like that,” Graham said softly as he held out a hand. “Come in from the porch, Liz, and I’ll take your coat.”

She handed it to him and frowned. “What do you mean? About the laughing?”

He hung up her coat before stuffing his hands into the pockets of his dark jeans. “Rowan isn’t technically mine. You know that, right?”

She nodded. “Owen said she was Blake’s from a previous relationship but you adopted her recently.”

His eyes shone with pride at that last part, and she knew that every child in this family was loved and cared for by these big, burly men and powerful women. She barely kept herself from putting her hand over her stomach, wondering what her child would be like in this family…if they would be enough if she weren’t.

“Her birth father’s parents weren’t happy about Blake raising her and tried to take her from us at one point. It’s a big, messy story, but they broke a few laws and scared the shit out of all of us.”

Liz’s eyes widened as she looked over at Rowan, who was currently being held upside down by Owen as Murphy tickled her into hysterical laughter. “I had no idea.”

“Most people don’t, and we want to keep it that way. Rowan deserves a normal childhood from here on out, and we’re going to do that for her. But, you’re family now, so you should know. Owen can give you the details later if you want.”

Family. He thought she was family?

“Graham…I don’t know where Owen and I are going. Things are still tenuous right now.”

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