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  The adults crowded around the long table in the dining room. Once her dad finished the prayer, bowls and platters began moving from person to person, the only sound being the clank of the serving spoon on the china as the food moved from serving dishes to individual plates.

  “Holly, did I tell you about the new guy in our department who just moved here from Colorado?” Patrick said.

  “Nice guy,” Lawrence interjected.

  “Nope. Not interested,” Holly said and took a long sip of wine.

  She knew her family meant well, but ever since her husband had died, they’d tried to fix her up with men. At first, after Steve died, she’d been too emotionally destroyed to think about seeing other men. After a couple of years of widowhood, she’d gone on some dates. Wow. Wrong decision.

  It had seemed like every date had wanted to “help” her end her self-imposed celibacy. Oh, if she wanted dinner, too…well, they could talk about it.

  If her date wasn’t one-hundred percent sex-on-the-brain, then he was looking-for-a-mother for his children.

  After the fifth- or sixth-blind date—she’d tried to erase them all from her memory—she’d put the brakes on her family fix-ups and any other blind dates from friends. She knew her friends and family meant well, and all they wanted was for her to be happy again. None of them would accept she was content being a mom, teacher, and summer lifeguard. She didn’t have to have a man in her life. Sure, it’d be nice, but she wasn’t looking. Maybe when Katie started college, but until then, she was fine as is.

  Being from a family of cops, her dad and brothers were always trying to fix her up with fellow cops. Her late husband had been a San Diego patrol officer when he’d been killed in the line of duty. She’d had enough the of the uniform, thankyouverymuch.

  For the past six years, she’d batted away every match-making attempt from family and friends. Once her mother had asked if she preferred women, and was quick to assure Holly that the family would be fine with that. Holly had laughed and told her mom that she loved her, but she was definitely into men, not women.

  Her mother had been married to her father for over forty years. She couldn’t understand why Holly wouldn’t want that, too.

  Finally, Holly gave up explaining and just politely refused, even when her brothers went behind her back and slipped her phone number to single guys they knew and approved of.

  At tonight’s dinner, her father even got into the discussion about how great this new guy was and how Holly should at least give him a chance. She couldn’t say what came over her at dinner. All she remembered was setting her fork on her plate, gently wiping her mouth with her napkin and announcing, “I’m seeing someone right now, so no thank you on the blind date.”

  Forks paused in mid-bites. Heads and gazes turned to her. A frown arched her mother’s eyebrows.

  “You are?” Patricia said. “Who? Why haven’t you brought him around? Do we know him? Does he work with your father?”

  Then the questions from the other family members at the table began overlapping as each had his or her own question about this mystery man in Holly’s life.

  Finally, she put two fingers to her lips and whistled for quiet. “You do not know him. Katie doesn’t know him. She doesn’t know I’ve been seeing someone, and I want to keep it that way, so….” She glared at her three brothers. “No interrogation of the minor child. She knows nothing.”

  “So, who is he?” Bethany, her sister-in-law-to-be asked.

  Holly pointed her fork at her brothers and then her father. “Those four will do all kinds of background checks if I tell you anything, so no names. Well, his first name is Ben. That should keep them busy looking up all the Bens, Benjamins, Bentleys or whatever in the area.”

  “What does he look like?” her sister-in-law asked. “Tall, dark, and handsome?”

  Holly pictured the man she’d seen for the past couple of years jogging on Coronado Beach. Sunday’s breakfast at the Breakfast Club Cafe had been her first up-close-and-personal look at him—and holy moly. She might have drooled a little. Then when he’d pulled in that drowning surfer, she’d been close enough to have pressed lips, not that she would’ve even thought about that since she’d been, after all, in the middle of saving someone’s life. Still, she’d planned to thank him after everything was over, but he'd stood with two model-thin beauties wearing scraps of materials that passed as bikinis, and she’d shrugged him off as out of her league, not that she was completely sure what her league was.

  She drew in a deep breath and lied to her family. “Tall, yes. He’s probably six-three or so.”

  “You’re dating him and you don’t know how tall he is?” Her brother Lawrence asked. “Seems like something you’d know.”

  “Really?” Bethany asked. “We’re engaged. How tall am I?”

  He waved her off. “Not important.”

  “Sure, it is.” Bethany said and rested her chin in her hand. “How tall am I? For that matter….” She shut her eyes. “How tall and what color are my eyes?”

  Lawrence sighed. “Height is five-seven and your eyes are hazel.”

  Bethany’s eyes flew open. “That’s right.”

  “See? I notice things like that,” Lawrence said and turned back to Holly. “You really ought to let us check him out. He could be a serial killer for all you know.”

  “How very kind of you,” she said in a droll, sarcastic tone. “But, forget it.”

  “What else?” Diana asked. “Dark hair?”

  “More silver blond.” Holly looked at Lawrence. “Blue eyes, by the way.” Holly had no idea if this imaginary guy had blue eyes or green or hazel or turquoise. She was making this up anyway. “So, tall, silver hair, blue eyes. Wide shoulders. Very muscular. Very handsome.”

  Her mother smiled. “I’m so happy for you, honey. We all just want you to be happy.”

  “I know. Mom.”

  Danny, her youngest brother, frowned. “This guy in the Navy? Maybe a SEAL?”

  Holly’s heart leapt into her throat. “Why’d you ask that?”

  Danny shrugged. “Frogmen are everywhere around here. I just wondered.”

  “No,” she said hurriedly. “He’s a teacher, like me.”

  Patrick pointed at her with the glass of wine he’d just lifted. “Ben. Silver hair. Teacher. I can probably ID this guy within a week.”

  “Let it go, son,” her father said, aiming a glare his way.

  “Thanks, Dad,” Holly said with a smile. “You’re my favorite dad ever.”

  “I can do it faster than Patrick can,” he said.

  Holly growled and went back to eating. With her dad and Patrick targeting San Diego schools looking for a ghost named Ben with silver hair, she should be in the clear.

  Once dinner was over and cleanup accomplished, Holly, Diana, and Bethany said their farewells and headed out for the first of four monthly bachelorette parties leading up to Bethany and Lawrence’s September’s wedding.

  “Now, remind me again where you’re headed,” Patrick said.

  “Bridgman’s Bar,” his wife told him.

  “Never heard of it.”

  “You know,” Bethany said. “It’s where that guy who got married on that stupid reality show works.”

  Patrick frowned and looked at his brothers. “Do either of you have any idea what she’s talking about?”

  Lawrence shrugged. “Yeah, but it’s a long story. I’ll explain after they’re gone.” He hugged his fiancée. “I’ll pick you up about midnight.”

  Bethany kissed him. “Works for me. Someone will have to drive Holly home.”

  “Nope,” Holly said. “I never drink enough to get drunk. I’ll be fine. I’ll get myself home. Let me say bye to Katie and we’ll head out.”

  The three ladies piled into Holly’s small sedan and drove into Coronado. The live music filtering from the open doors of the Bridgman bar was a homing beacon. The back lot was crowded, but there was still ample parking and Holly slid her car in between a black
truck and a red Honda.

  The place was alive with music and dancing. The tables were full and most of the barstools occupied. Luckily, they spotted one table across the room right at the edge of the dance floor. Holly hotfooted it toward the empty table, not wanting to spend the entire night standing by the bar.

  Truth be told, she’d never been that comfortable with the singles bar scene. She’d met her late husband when they’d been fifteen, long before either of them had been of drinking age. When their daughter was born, they’d both been twenty. When the big twenty-first birthdays hit, they’d been struggling with an infant, jobs, college, and a marriage that felt like it’d been built on the San Andreas Fault.

  When Steve had died on the job, Holly had been left a twenty-two-year-old widow with a two-year-old daughter, bills, and college courses that required her attention to graduate since she was the sole provider now. Life hadn’t been easy or fun. There had been no nights out drinking with the girls or crazy dates and one-night-stands. There had been tears and fears, lots of both. But she’d grown into her life and she was comfortable. Tonight was for her future sister-in-law, not Holly letting her freak flag fly.

  “Whew,” Holly sat sliding into a high seat. “Lucky us.”

  “No kidding,” Bethany said. “You must be our lucky charm.” She looked around and pointed toward the bar. “There he is.”

  “Who?” Diana asked, taking the last seat.

  “Tuck. The reality star who married that crazy chick to win one-hundred-thousand-dollars on Cold Feet.” Bethany grinned. “I’d tap him for one-hundred K.”

  “Hey,” Holly protested. “You’re engaged to my brother.”

  “And I love him, but take a look at that prime slab of meat.”

  Diana laughed. “Prime slab of meat? Obviously, I’m watching the wrong television shows. If he isn’t part of Lego Land, the Movie, then I have no idea.”

  Holly’s seat gave her a direct view of the man Bethany was talking about.

  “I hate to admit to watching Cold Feet,” Holly said. “What a train wreck. I think there’s something about how screwed up all those people were that made us normal folks feel better about ourselves. But yeah, that’s Tuck. I read, somewhere, that he’s engaged to the woman who owns this bar.”

  “Wait,” Diana said. “I thought you said he got married for money.”

  “He dumped that crazy chick,” Bethany said.

  “Lucky him,” Holly agreed. “She was a piece of crazy that no one needs in their life.”

  “What can I get you ladies?” the server asked as she set cardboard coasters on the table.

  “I’ve got this,” Bethany said. “Bring us one, no wait, two pitchers of margaritas-on -the-rocks, and two tequila shots each.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Holly asked. “Shots?”

  Bethany waved her off. “Make that Herradura Silver for those shots.”

  “You got it,” the woman said. “My name’s Liz. Be back.”

  The woman walked toward the bar to place the order.

  “First, shots?” Holly asked. “And second, dropping tequila names?”

  Bethany laughed. “Trust me. This is sipping tequila. You’ll love it. Besides, it’s our first night out as family sisters. We are cel-e-brat-ting.”

  “Remember, I’m driving,” Holly said.

  “No problem. We’ll get you home if you can’t drive.”

  Liz returned. “Okay, ladies. Here we go. Two pitchers of margaritas-on-the-rocks and six shots of Herradura Silver.” She set empty margarita glasses on the table. “What else can I get for you?”

  “I think we’re good,” Bethany said. She picked up the pitcher and filled each glass. Then she lifted hers in a toast. “To having the sisters I’ve always wanted in my life.”

  “Awww,” Holly said and fake sniffed. She clinked her glass to Bethany’s.

  “You say that now,” Diana joked. “Just wait until we drop the boys at your house for the weekend. Then, let’s hear what you have to say about family.”

  The three women toasted with laughter and drank.

  That was only the first toast. For the next hour, every freshy poured drink started a new round of toasts. As Bethany had warned, Holly found that the tequila shots slid down her throat like melted butter. Smooth and tasty.

  The first round of pitchers and shots lasted almost an hour. Diana offered to buy the next round. After a serious discussion, the ladies decided that changing drinks would be a mistake, so they placed an order for two more pitchers of fresh margaritas. However, Holly suggested—and both women agreed—that there should be nine shots of tequila this time….three for each of them.

  They had just toasted to the moon landing in the sixties when Bethany whistled. “Wow. Remember how I said I’d do Tuck-the-bartender for one-hundred K? Well, check out what just walked in the door. I think I’m going to melt off my seat.”

  Diana followed Bethany’s gaze and moaned. “Oh, yeah. He is something. I’m thinking Navy. Maybe SEAL. Patrick would kick my ass for saying this, but Patrick who? That guy is totally yummy.”

  Facing the bar put Holly’s back toward the door. She laughed at her tablemates. “Seriously? No guy looks that good.” She turned in her seat and almost dropped her drink in her lap. She whipped back around. “Shit, shit, shit.”

  “What’s wrong?” Bethany asked. She studied the guy closer. “Hey, Diana. Does that guy look about six-three?”

  “I’d say so.”

  “Silver hair. Body to die for?”

  “Yep,” Diana said. “Can’t see his eye color, but I’m guessing blue. What about you, Holly?”

  “Don’t call him over here,” Holly said.

  “Ben!” Bethany yelled. “Ben. Over here.” She giggled. “He’s coming this way. You were right, Holly. He’s totally luscious.”

  Holly sprang from her chair and rushed to head him off. When she reached him, she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close in hug.

  “Please play along,” she whispered in his ear. “It’s a long story, and I don’t have time to explain, but we’re dating. Please.”

  She pulled back and looked into his eyes. She must have looked pitiful or scared to death, because he nodded.

  “Thank you.” She pulled his mouth down to hers for a kiss. A kiss that should have been a quick peck of lips to lips. Instead his large hands caught her waist and he pulled her tight for a long, tongue-thrusting kiss that made her knees go wobblily.

  When it ended, she patted her hair and cleared her throat. “Thank you,” she said again.

  “You might want to tell me your name if we’re dating.” His blue—thank goodness—eyes twinkled. His full lips smiled and she had to hold onto his arms to stay upright.

  “Right, right. Holly. Holly Maxwell.”

  “Well, nice to meet you, lifeguard Holly Maxwell,” he said with a slight smirk.

  He remembered her. Of course, he would. She’d been a total bitch at the beach, but it’d been her first day on the job as a seasonal worker and she’d felt like she had to prove herself to the other lifeguards on duty.

  She wrapped an arm around his waist. He dropped a heavy, muscular arm over her shoulder and walked with her to the table. Her heart was a sledgehammer beating her ribs. Her rubbery legs could barely support her weight. She plastered on a smile with quivering lips.

  “Well, I guess you’ve figured out who this this,” she said as they walked up to the table. It was only then she realized she didn’t know his name. Oh, she’d heard the incredible creature in the teeny, tiny bikini call him Ben, but she’d been in the middle of CPR. Had she even heard that correctly?

  “Ladies,” he said. “I’m Benjamin Blackwell. Apparently, Holly has kept me a secret.”

  Bethany and Diana sat straighter in their chairs, their eyes wide as they stared.

  “Diana.” She held out her hand. “I’m Holly’s sister-in-law.”

  He took it and kissed her knuckles.

  “I’m B
ethany McQuiston.” She extended her hand. “I’m engaged to Holly’s brother Lawrence. This is my bachelorette party.”

  He did the same knuckle kiss, and Bethany giggled.

  “Congratulations,” he said. “Lucky groom. Is the wedding this weekend?”

  “Oh, no,” Bethany said with a laugh. “It’s in September, but a girl only gets married once. No one said how many bachelorette parties she can have leading up to it, right?”

  He laughed. “You do have a point. Well, I don’t want to intrude on the festivities.” He squeezed Holly’s shoulder. “Have a seat, honey.” He helped her back into her chair. “I’ve been out of country this week and forgot you were planning on being here. Sorry.”

  “Out of the country?” Bethany asked.

  “SEAL. We had a quick in-and-out mission this week. Okay, I’ll let you ladies get back to the celebrations. Take care of my gal.” He kissed Holly’s temple. “Have fun.”

  It was all Holly could do to not roll her eyes. He’d poured it on a little thick, in her opinion. Still, the other two ladies were eyeing him dreamily.

  “Okay,” Holly said. “Go on. Let the women drink in peace.”

  He grinned, and a ripple of electricity rolled through her. She would bet her last dollar that smile had dropped more panties to the floor than a bathroom toilet.

  He headed over to the bar and struck up a conversation with the reality show guy. Unfortunately, he was directly in her line of sight, and holy moly. He was freaking gorgeous.

  Bethany grabbed Holly’s wrist. “Damn, Holly. I think my panties melted.”

  Diana gulped down a full margarita. “Your brothers are going to hate him.” She grinned. “I can’t wait for the first family dinner.”

  “What?” Holly gasped out. “Oh, no. I won’t be bringing him to Mom and Dad’s for dinner.”

  “Why ever not?” Bethany said. “He’s going to be your date for my wedding, right? You’ve got four whole months to acclimate your family to you dating a SEAL.” She snickered. “God, this is so good. You lied and said he was a teacher.”

  Holly grabbed both of their hands. “You cannot tell my brothers about this.”