Page 13 of Captivated

I suppose American habits are rubbing off on him. They’re a touchy, feely sort, I’ve learned, with one notable exception. Kennedy hasn’t hugged me once today.

As I follow Will into the house, I’m consumed by the thought that Kennedy and I will be sharing accommodations for a whole weekend.

Just the two of us.

Together.

Alone.

The potential has my head spinning. It reminds me of those rom-coms Kennedy likes to watch—second chance romances, former lovers thrust together in tight quarters. I can’t help thinking of the possibilities.

Just as I step into the foyer, I hear Skye’s delighted squeal from the back of the house. “Kennedy!”

I reach the lounge in time to see Kennedy bending down to hug Skye, who’s reclining on a long settee with a tiny form wrapped in a fuzzy blue blanket cradled in her arms.

“Ah, there he is,” I say as I come farther into the room to get a peek at the little tyke. “Nicholas Fitzwilliam Carmichael, I presume. That’s quite a mouthful, isn’t it?”

“We call him Nicky,” Penny says as she gently pats her brother’s tiny head.

This little bloke has no idea that he’s heir to a multi-billion-pound fortune. He and his sister both.

Skye invites Kennedy to sit on the sofa, and the two ladies hug like they haven’t seen each other in years, which is a bit of an exaggeration as I know Will and Skye make a point of laying over in Brooklyn to visit Kennedy every time they fly to and from London. The girls are talking at once, and the sound levels must be a little too much because the baby starts squirming as mewling sounds erupt from him.

Immediately, the girls break apart.

“So, where is little Nicky hiding beneath all this blanket?” I ask, stepping forward to lift a corner of the blanket and peek underneath.

Skye turns her attention to me. She looks as beautiful as always, with her long, wavy dark blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. Her blue eyes are lit with excitement, and her cheeks are a little plumper than I remember—baby weight, I’m sure. But I’ll keep that thought to myself.

She gives me an indulgent smile. “Connor Murphy, you’re as handsome as ever. It’s so good to see you.” She reaches out and squeezes my hand. “Thanks for coming all this way on such short notice.”

I shrug. “I wouldn’t miss meeting this little chap for the world.” I reach into my suit jacket pocket and pull out a small package. “This is for the young gentleman,” I say as I hand it to Skye.

She opens the package, which contains a small silver baby rattle with the boy’s name engraved on it. “Oh, Connor, it’s perfect. Thank you so much.”

“You’re quite welcome.”

I look around the room for Will, but he’s nowhere to be seen. “Where’s Will gone off to? And Penny, for that matter.” They’ve both disappeared.

Skye points to an open doorway. “I think you’ll find them right through there. They were in the kitchen baking cookies when you arrived. Penny was hoping to surprise you both.”

“I’ll go see how they’re getting along, then.” I cross the spacious room and step into the kitchen just in time to see Will sliding a baking tray filled with little blobs of dough into the oven. “This is a sight I never thought I’d see.”

Will straightens and turns to me with a smile. “What, me in the kitchen? You’d be surprised, Connor. I’ve learned a thing or two over the years.”

Penny points to a metal cooling rack on the worktop where chocolate chip cookies are lined up in perfect rows. “Do you want a cookie, Uncle Connor? These are cool enough to eat.”

“I’d love one,” I say as I reach for a cookie.

A woman wearing a gray uniform dress and white apron walks into the kitchen. She wears her long silver hair in a single braid. Maggie’s smile widens when she sees me. “Connor, how nice to see you again. Welcome.”

“Hello, Maggie. You’re looking quite well.”

She nods toward Penny. “This little one keeps me on my toes.”

Maggie, like Hamish, travels with the family, no matter which side of the pond they’re on. She’s both cook and housekeeper, not to mention an occasional babysitter and nanny.

Penny gazes up at her father. “Can I take a cookie to Aunt Kennedy? And one to Mommy, too?”

---