Warm Nights in Magnolia Bay Babette Jongh (best romance ebooks .txt) 📖

my next-door neighbor,” he told Sean. “I can’t wait for you to meet her. She can cook like nobody’s business.”

* * *

Sean looked like a darker version of his father. Quinn’s hair was a sun-streaked light brown; Sean’s was dark chocolate with milk chocolate highlights. Quinn’s eyes were a smiling blue-jean blue; Sean’s were a deep, serious indigo. Quinn’s skin was dark-golden tan; Sean’s was Mediterranean olive.

“Man,” Sean said, just before he shoveled in another massive forkful of twirled-up noodles with a fat shrimp on the end. He chewed with gusto and swallowed, then smiled at Abby. “This tastes just like restaurant food. Even the broccoli is good, and I usually hate broccoli. I was planning to take a few bites and feed the rest to the dog, but I’m gonna eat it myself.” He reached down to pet Georgia, who sat between Sean’s chair and Quinn’s. “Sorry, girl.”

Abby had set the table with the three place settings at one end. Abby and Sean sat across from each other, with Quinn between them on the end. Georgia sat with her chin on Sean’s knee, having rightly determined which side of the table offered her the best chance of getting a handout.

Abby smiled at Sean. “I’m glad you like it.” She took a sip of wine and glanced at Quinn, who was surreptitiously texting, his phone held under the table. “Quinn, is everything okay? You seem a little distracted.”

Quinn glanced up, looking guilty. “Sorry. Work stuff.” He set his phone facedown on the table. “I’ll stop.”

Sean poked Quinn’s shoulder. “You always fuss at me for texting during dinner, Dad. Shame on you for not setting a good example.”

Quinn pushed his phone farther out of reach, as if even now, its evil lure tempted him to stray. “You’re right. Completely right. I apologize.”

Abby felt guilty herself; she had been keeping Quinn away from his own work while he tended to hers. “You know, Quinn, my foot is feeling much better. I think I can take over the chores from now on so you can get back to your own work.”

Quinn ate another shrimp and pointed his fork at her. “You heard the doctor, Abby. Two full weeks off that foot before you even think of resuming normal activities.”

“Yes, but—”

“You know what?” Quinn’s face lit up. “Maybe I could hire Sean to help out around here.”

A bright idea she figured he’d thought of long before now; having his son working next door would give Quinn the excuse to spend more time with Sean. “Maybe we should let him decide for himself after he helps with the evening feed.”

Sean shrugged. “I could definitely use the money. Mom doesn’t pay me for the yard work anymore. She says I ought to do it anyway, just to pitch in.”

“I agree with your mom,” Abby said. “Kids should help out around the house, because that’s what families do. Wouldn’t it be silly if your mom made you pay her for cooking your dinner or picking you up after school? What would you say if she did that?”

Sean grinned around a mouthful of cheesy broccoli. “I’d tell her it’s a sin to charge money for the crap she cooks.”

“Sean,” Quinn said in a warning tone. “You don’t get to disrespect your mother that way.”

Sean swallowed, and his olive cheeks turned a dusky rose. “Sorry, Dad.”

“Your mother and I may have our differences, but she deserves your respect—and mine, too. It’s not easy being someone’s mother, and it’s even harder now, because she has to do a lot more of the parenting by herself.”

“Sorry,” Sean said again. Shamefaced, he met Abby’s eyes. “I apologize for being rude at your table, Miss Abby. I wasn’t thinking.”

Abby’s heart melted. Quinn and his ex-wife had obviously raised a respectful teen, and the fact that Quinn hadn’t allowed Sean to bad-mouth his mother made Abby’s estimation of him rise another notch. “Apology accepted.” Abby pushed back her scooter and stood, leaning on the handlebars. “Now, who wants dessert?”

Not that Quinn’s gallant defense of his ex-wife meant that Abby would let him get past her panties anytime soon. Though she was sorely tempted to say yes to a summer fling, she knew her still-aching heart wasn’t up for it. Quinn had just now proven himself to have a measure of decency Abby’s ex had never claimed nor aspired to. But as Abby told herself on a regular basis, she had no business falling in love with any man who had a child she wouldn’t be able to keep in her life if things went wrong between her and the child’s father.

Abby had fully expected Sean to be a terrible teen, someone whose prickly exterior would easily repel any motherly feelings she might be inclined to experience. But no, Sean wasn’t a terrible teen; in fact, he seemed to be just the opposite. Knowing that, she had to be even more on guard against developing any deep romantic feelings for Quinn.

After dinner, Quinn topped up Abby’s wine, then he and Sean cleaned the kitchen. Griffin, shaved down and stitched up, came in from the bedroom, looking for a handout.

“Oh, wow.” Sean swiped some cheese from the casserole dish and let the cat lick a spot of cheese off the tip of his finger. “What happened to him?”

“Raccoon fight,” Quinn supplied. “It was gnarly.”

“‘Gnarly’ isn’t a word anymore, Dad.” Sean sat on the kitchen floor and petted Griff’s head. “But, how did you know it was a raccoon? Did you see the fight?”

“Yep.” He told the story—embellished somewhat, Abby hoped—while she sipped her wine and brainstormed with herself on ways to feed Wolf closer to the house. Quinn had taken over the task of putting food out by the road every night on the way back to his place. Abby didn’t want a repeat of what had happened before, but she wanted to lure Wolf closer to the house so he could join the Bayside Barn family.

But no matter how she twisted it, she couldn’t come