"We'll debate that when the time comes," Ryan said, refusing to commit to staying under this roof, especially with the tempting Maggie just down the hall.

Maggie set his coffee in front of him, then slipped onto her own chair right next to him and leaned closer to whisper, "That's the last act of kindness you can expect from me. When it comes to poker, I play a take-no-prisoners game."

"Listen to her," her brother Matt said. "Our Maggie liked to stay up and play with Dad's cronies as she was growing up. Dad allowed it because she split her winnings with him."

Ryan laughed, regarding Maggie with new respect. "Well, we'll just have to wait and see if you've lost your edge, now won't we?"

"Trust me, there are some things a woman never forgets," she retorted, dealing the cards with quick, professional efficiency.

Ryan drew a scowl from Maggie and hoots from her family when he won the first hand. When it was his turn to deal, he made an elaborate show of allowing her to cut the cards. "For luck," he declared.

"Thank you," she replied, though there was an edge to her polite tone.

"I believe you misunderstood," he said as he dealt. "The lucky cut was for my benefit."

"Oh, my, he's a smug one," Garrett remarked happily.

"With good cause, I'd say," Katie said when she threw in her hand.

Nell, John and Matt followed suit, as did John's wife. Garrett added his cards to the pile with a m.u.f.fled curse.

Ryan leveled a look into Maggie's eyes. "It looks as if it's just you and me."

Her gaze never wavered. "I'll see your bet and raise you a dollar."

"Uh-oh, our Maggie has that glint in her eyes," Matt said. "Watch yourself, Ryan."

Ryan was already all too aware of the dangers he faced anytime he was around Maggie. This card game was just the tip of the iceberg. "I'll see your raise and call you," he said, watching her expectantly.

"You're absolutely sure you want to do that?" she asked. "There's still time to take it back."

He nodded. "My bet's on the table."

"Okay, then." She fanned her cards out on the table. She had a full house, jacks high.

"Very nice," Ryan complimented her.

She smiled and reached for the pot. "I thought so."

He placed his hand on top of hers. "Just not nice enough." His own full house had kings high.

Maggie frowned as he scooped up the money.

Ryan leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Don't pout. I told you luck was going to be with me."

Matt winced. "Oh, brother. You've really done it now, Ryan. You've won and, worse, you've gloated about it. She's going to be out for blood."

Maggie gave them all a serene smile. "I am, indeed."

Ryan thought they were joking, but to his amazement Maggie took the next four hands in a row. He regarded her with amus.e.m.e.nt. "Feeling better now?"

"Much," she said, a satisfied gleam in her eyes.

"Why do I have the feeling this game has gotten personal?" Katie inquired. "I think I'll just slip off to bed while I still have two cents to my name."

"And I have to be getting home before my wife disowns me," Matt chimed in.

John exchanged a look with his wife. "I guess we're out of here, too."

Within ten minutes, the entire room had been cleared. In the silence that followed, Ryan stared at Maggie.

"That was fun," he said.

She seemed surprised. "Even though you lost?"

"Only because I lost to you. You take the game so seriously. Next time, though, I'll know what to watch for. You won't be so lucky."

"What does that mean?"

"It means when you're bluffing, you get this little nervous tic by the corner of your eye. Right about here," he said, touching a finger lightly to her cheek. "And this corner of your mouth starts to tilt up into a smile, but you fight it." He skimmed a caress along her bottom lip to emphasize the point.

Maggie swallowed hard. "Ryan, what are you doing?"

"Just explaining how you give yourself away. I'm surprised the others haven't noticed. Then again, I doubt any of them are as fascinated with your face as I am."

The pulse at the base of her neck jumped. "Ryan..." Her voice trailed off.

He leaned forward and covered her mouth with his. He'd been wanting to do that from the moment they'd started to play, had been so obsessed with the idea, in fact, that he'd lost his concentration in the third hand. That was why she'd won so many rounds. His mind hadn't been on the cards at all.

"You taste so good," he whispered against her lips. "And you smell like flowers."

"Roses," she said, sounding breathless. "My favorite perfume."

Shaken by the emotions racing through him, he sat back, sucked in a ragged breath and raked his hand through his hair. "I need to get out of here."

"Mom invited you to stay."

"She wouldn't have, if she'd known what was on my mind," he said.

Maggie's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Exactly what is is on your mind?" on your mind?"

"You," he said, opting for total honesty. Maybe that would scare her into being wary around him. "Getting you out of those clothes so I can touch you. Making love to you for the rest of the night."

"Oh, my," she whispered.

He stood up. "Which is why I need to get out of here now."

"No, don't. Stay," she pleaded.

"That's a really bad idea," he said, reaching for his coat.

He leaned down and kissed her one last time. "Good night, Maggie."

"Good night," she said with obvious reluctance. She stood up and walked with him to the door. "Will you call me when you get home?"

"And wake the household? I don't think so."

"I'll worry if you don't."

He stopped and stared. She'd sounded totally sincere. "You can't be serious," he said, struggling with the unfamiliar sensation her words stirred in him.

"Well, of course I will. It's late. Who knows what could happen on the road at this hour? I'll keep the phone right beside me in the bed. I'll pick up on the first ring. No one else will be disturbed."

It was the first time in decades that anyone had expressed the slightest concern over his whereabouts or his safety. Ryan expected to rebel against it, but instead her plea made him feel warm deep inside. "Okay then, I'll call," he said eventually.

She reached up and touched his cheek. "You're not used to anyone worrying about you, are you?"

"No."

"Well, that's about to change. I'm an O'Brien and we worry about everything," she said lightly.

"Then it's nothing personal?" he said, hiding his disappointment.

"Oh, in your case, it's very personal. I just don't want you freaking out about it."

"I don't freak out."

"Of course you do," she teased. "But that's okay. I understand. You'll get used to me and the others in time."

In time? Ryan wondered about that on the drive back into Boston. Would he ever get used to having someone care what happened to him? Or had his past destroyed any chance of that? Ryan wondered about that on the drive back into Boston. Would he ever get used to having someone care what happened to him? Or had his past destroyed any chance of that?

"Who called in the wee hours of the night, or was it morning?" Katie inquired sleepily as the family sat around the breakfast table before church.

"My money's on Ryan," Nell said. Her gaze came to rest on Maggie. "Am I right?"

"I asked him to let me know he made it home safely," she said.

"You couldn't persuade him to stay here?" her mother asked.

"He didn't think it was a good idea," Maggie said.

"Probably afraid we'd catch him sneaking into Maggie's room," Katie said.

"Mary Kathryn O'Brien, watch your tongue," their father scolded. "I don't like to hear such talk from my very own daughter."

Katie refused to be daunted. "Only because you're terrified it could be true and it would ruin forever your image of us as your darling girls, rather than grown-up women."

"That's true enough," he said easily. "And what is wrong with a man thinking his girls behave as angels, at least until the very day they say their wedding vows?"

"Nothing," Nell soothed. "As long as he's prepared to admit he's been wrong. Now let's drop this before we end up in an argument before ma.s.s. Maggie, are you coming with us this morning?"

"I was thinking of going to a ma.s.s at St. Mary's," she admitted.

"You think you'll be b.u.mping into Ryan there?" her mother asked.

"I can always hope," Maggie admitted candidly.

"Well, if you do, bring him back with you for Sunday dinner."

"It takes a brave man to face this crowd two days running. I doubt I'll have much luck convincing him, but a.s.suming I see him, I'll try."

Unfortunately, she didn't get the chance. There was no sign of him at the church, but when she ran into Father Francis after ma.s.s, he was happy to tell her that Ryan could be found at the shelter. "He likes to spend some time with the children on Sunday morning. I imagine you'll find him with Lamar Monroe this morning."

"Lamar? He hasn't mentioned that name," Maggie said.

"He's a lad Ryan's taken an interest in. He's having surgery later this week."

"I see," Maggie said, sensing there was far more to the story than Father Francis was sharing. Whatever it was, though, it was also clear she'd have to pry it out of Ryan himself.

She found him, as predicted, sitting on the edge of a cot with a young boy crowded next to him, the boy's fascinated gaze locked on the book Ryan held. Maggie remained in the shadows watching the two of them as Ryan read the story in a voice filled with so much animation that he had the child laughing.

"He's a wonder with my boy," a woman said quietly as she joined Maggie. "I'm Let.i.tia Monroe."

"Maggie O'Brien."

"You're a friend of Ryan's?"

Maggie wondered if she could legitimately make that claim. She asked herself if a few kisses added up to friendship, when it was evident that there was so much about Ryan Devaney that she didn't know.

"I'm hoping to be," she said finally.

Let.i.tia Monroe grinned. "So, that's the way of it, is it? The man is playing hard to get?"

"Try impossible," Maggie said fervently.

"You know what they say about anything worth having," Mrs. Monroe reminded her.

"That it's worth waiting for."

"That's right."

Watching as Ryan coaxed yet another chuckle from the obviously ill boy, Maggie realized with a sudden burst of insight that she would willingly wait for as long as it took.

He looked up then and spotted her. "Hey, Maggie," he said, then turned and said something in an undertone to Lamar that had the boy grinning. Ryan patted a spot next to him. "Come join us. I have to finish reading this story. I can't leave Lamar in suspense."