Cara O'Shea's Return Read Online Free Page B

faced with looming males, she would have frozen in awkward fear. Instead, the smile remained on her face as Ryan made the introductions.
    “This is Erin’s sister, Cara. Cara, my cousins. Mathew, Austin, Tony.” He jerked his thumb toward the youngest of the men. “And the shrimp there is Paul.”
    “Hello.” Cara’s eyes moved over the group without pausing on anyone in particular. She’d been right. She knew all but the youngest by sight.
    “I think I may have just found my own.” The tallest of the group captured her hand. Sandy blond hair capped a handsome face with faded blue eyes. The family resemblance was evident in his crooked smile.
    “Get in line, Matt.”
    Cara jumped and didn’t need to spin around to know who had spoken. Finn’s deep voice set off a ripple of goose flesh that caused the fine hair on her arms to stand on end, and several sensitive body parts to pucker.
    Forget hormonal imbalance. Michael Finnegan was more like a virus. She tugged her hand, but Matt held her fingers firm.
    “I saw her first.” Matt frowned.
    “No, you didn’t.” Humor permeated Finn’s easy response.
    Matt’s frown flattened into a scowl, and she took advantage of his loosening fingers to free her hand. She shot an annoyed frown at Erin.
    “Quit it, you two. You’re embarrassing my sister.” Erin tucked her arm through Cara’s, tugging her toward the front door. “Sorry.” She rolled her eyes at Cara then glanced back at the group of men following them up the front lawn. “I’d forgotten the effect you have on the weaker sex.”
    Cara laughed. “Lighten up, little sister. I’ve learned a thing or two over the years. They don’t bother me.” And they didn’t. Well, except for the viral Finn. Her laughter died.
    Maybe she should begin taking antibiotics.
    The mouthwatering smell of roasting beef scented the air of the back yard. Cries of greeting rose for the arriving bride. Erin introduced Cara to Ryan’s parents. A handsome couple, the Espizittos’ affection for her baby sister gained them Cara’s undying appreciation.
    Erin then pointed out various Espizitto family members. Cara was surprised to find Maive holding court at one of the linen covered tables scattered about the expanse of lawn. Great Aunt Maive nodded in greeting.
    Cara shook her head. Small towns. Nearly everyone was related somehow. And that explained why Finn was fixing Maive’s back step.
    Mary O’Shea and Shan, Cara and Erin’s older sister, sat at a table beyond the patio with Shan’s two young boys. Cara wiggled her fingers at her nephews, taking the glass of wine someone handed her while Erin jabbered on about wedding details to one of the female guests.
    As though sensing his presence, Cara turned to find Finn several feet away. He ambled by with a football tucked under one arm and a group of teen boys at his heels. His deep blue gaze swept from the top of her head to her painted toenails.
    “Nice.” His quiet murmur made her bristle.
    She gave him a tight smile and turned away, pretending interest in Erin’s ongoing discussion of her wedding centerpieces.
    When Cara eventually joined Mary and Shan at the table, her father still hadn’t appeared. She began to relax as the meal was served, laughing along with everyone else at the barbed jibes and teasing toasts for the engaged couple, until a flash of tension dimmed her mother’s eyes. Knowing what she would find, she followed Mary’s gaze.
    Tom O’Shea spoke quietly to Ryan’s father at the far edge of the patio. Erin joined them, greeting Tom with a tight hug. Cara laid her hand over Mary’s. Across the table, Shan smiled tightly and shrugged her shoulders. She followed her boys as they raced off to greet grandpa.
    Cara remained where she was.
    Unfortunately, all too soon, Ryan’s mother called for the members of the wedding party to line up for a quick rehearsal. Cara stood and sent Mary a forced smile. Shan stepped to Cara’s side and linked their arms,