Page 68 of Shea's Hero

Shea’s smile dips. “It sounds really nice. But I’m not sure if I can?—”

“We can make it work,” I tell her. “I can wait outside for you. Or?—”

“You can come here,” Ari says. “It’s not a problem. And it’s perfectly safe.”

“Absolutely,” Cash adds. Then he smirks at me. “And if Kingston wants to come along, he can help me with Winnie. She’s getting into everything now, and I could use the extra set of eyes.”

“Actually, there’s Penny, now.” Thea waves at a petite red-head over by a table that looks to have an assortment of cupcakes and cookies spread across it. “Pen, come meet Shea!”

As Penny weaves her way across the room, Shea glances at me with a bemused expression. I lean down to speak near her ear. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes.” She kisses my cheek, then continues quietly, “It’s good, Oll. Your friends are really nice.”

Her expression shifts to surprise when Penny joins us, though she hides it quickly. Before Thea can finish introducing her, Penny blurts out, “We’ve met.” Her cheeks go bright red. “I mean, sort of. At the Hop-less Horseman. That night…”

I’m trying to connect the dots, and then I remember. Penny was there, but Kane talked to her, not me. Penny had been out on the patio when the van pulled up, but she and her friends had run inside for help right away.

Flustered and red-faced, Penny tugs at her hair as she continues, “I know I apologized before, but I’m so sorry for not helping that night. I wasn’t thinking?—”

“It’s okay.” Shea touches Penny’s arm. “Really. It was the smart thing to do.”

“But are you okay?” Penny asks. “I mean, obviously you’re okay, but are youreally? After all that…” She claps her hand over her mouth. “God. Could I be any more awkward? Bringing up something like this during a party.”

Honestly, while Penny seems very sweet, I wish she’d stop talking before the reminder of that night drags Shea’s mood down. But before I can change the subject, Shea deftly does it instead.

“You’re fine,” she tells Penny. “Don’t worry. And I’m good. It brought me and Oliver back together, so I’d consider that a pretty great silver lining.” A pause, and then kindly, “How are you doing? I didn’t mean to overhear on the patio, but with your ex?”

“Oh.” Penny grins. “Old news. Iris and Reagan were right. I’m much better off without him.”

After that, the conversation shifts to easier topics, like barbeques and plans for the summer and which restaurant will win the annual competition at the Sleepy Hollow Wing Fest this year. Shea seems like she’s really enjoying herself, all signs of her nerves from earlier gone. But it doesn’t stop her from touchingme—either holding my hand or looping her arm around my waist or leaning her head on my shoulder.

I love it. Having Shea here, feeling her touch, hearing her lilting laugh, seeing her eyes sparkling as they meet mine. After years of dragging myself to events because I felt like I had to, this is the first time I’m actually happy to be here.

During a lull in the conversation, Shea glances up at me. “Oll, do you want to look at the silent auction? And maybe play some games?”

“Definitely.” Taking her hand, we say our farewells and head off in search of the dining room. As we leave the living room, I give her a kiss. “You look beautiful. Did I mention that yet?”

“A few times. But you can say it again.” Framing my face with her hands, she stretches up to kiss me back. “And have I mentioned how sexy you look in a suit?”

“Maybe once or twice.” I grin at her. “But you can say it again.”

Once we make it to the dining room, Shea goes into shopping mode, towing me around the colossal dining room table filled with dozens of signs and photos describing all the auction items. Some of the items are more reasonably priced, like dinner out at Horse and Ghost or a brewing lesson from the head brewmaster at the Hop-less Horseman. Then there are more expensive ones, like the spa weekend in Manhattan that Thea was talking about, and a cruise through the Caribbean.

I’m debating between a pretty necklace crafted by a local artisan and a small painting donated by Ian’s wife, Rose, when Shea nearly yanks my arm out of its socket as she drags me down the table.

“Look.” Her voice pitches up with excitement as she jabs her finger at a photo of the Adirondack Mountains. “It’s a week-long stay at the Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid. In a suite with a fireplace and porch. Look at the view.”

Inspecting the informational flier displayed next to the photo, I swallow back my dismay at the starting bid for the auction. I’d love to bid on it for Shea, to take her on a luxury getaway to the Adirondacks, but it’s a little out of my range. I do pretty well as a cop, and I saved a lot from back when I was in the CIA, but spending tens of thousands on a vacation? Probablynotthe best idea.

Still. She looks so excited about it. And it would be such a great trip. Once this business with the van and the guy at Shea’s house, we could go up there, spend the weekend doing all sorts of romantic things…

“I’m bidding on it.” She scribbles a number high enough to make my jaw drop. “We’ll have to check back later to make sure I’m the highest bidder.”

“Shea.” I meet her gaze. “I’m not sure…”

“I’m bidding on it.” Her chin lifts. “Don’t try to talk me out of it.”

“I’m not. It’s just… that’s a lot of money.”

---