“And you’re giving Lucy to Uncle Liam and Natalie?” Jenny asked.
“Yep. It’s their wedding present. I’m giving Lucy six coats of varnish and some antique brass instruments I ordered online. I’ve been busy making everything extra spiffy for Liam and Natalie’s wedding day.”
“Wow,” Brendan repeated, apparently too stunned to say anything else. He began to circle the boat, and Jenny followed him.
“I was going to put on some Christmas decorations for the special day. I thought it went with the wedding theme…what was it? A Lake Michigan Christmas? Do you think they’ll like it?”
Colleen stared at him in amazement, but he seemed entirely genuine in wanting her approval.
“It’s a rare piece of art and history. It’s a Baby Gar. Are Natalie and Liam going to like it? Are you mad? They’re going to adore it.”
She blinked when he smiled. He looked unabashedly happy at her praise.
“I’m glad you think so,” he said as they began to follow the children, circling the boat. “I know the Kavanaughs love all things water-related, and Natalie has always liked boating on Lake Michigan. I thought Lucy’d be a nice addition to their new family. What newlywed couple wouldn’t want some nights together on the lake under a blanket of stars?”
“Now I’m about to accuse you of being the closet romantic.”
His eyes gleamed when he glanced at her sideways. “I just thought they’d like it.”
“You thought right,” Colleen murmured, studying his profile as he fondly inspected the boat. “Are you sure you’re going to be able to let Lucy go?”
“They might have to pry her out of my hands, but, yeah—I think my better nature will prevail. You wouldn’t believe all the effort and drama I went through to get her.”
“It’s an incredibly generous gift, Eric.”
He did a double take. “Do you think it’s too much? I never budged from my bottom line. Besides, an investment I’d made happened to turn out really well, so I had a little extra to spare,” he said modestly.
Colleen considered before she spoke. She didn’t know precisely what a boat like that would have cost, but she was quite sure the price tag would have been astronomical, even with Eric’s bargaining and investment prowess. She wondered how Liam would react to be presented with such a generous wedding gift. She glanced into Eric’s eyes and saw how concerned he was about her reply.
“I think it’s clear how much you love your sister,” Colleen said quietly. “I think it’s obvious how much you want her to have a happy future.” She paused, and they faced one another. “Do I think it’s too much? No. I think it’s an amazing gift to start them off on their new life together.”
“You don’t think I’m coming off as an arrogant snob?” he murmured, one raven eyebrow arched.
Colleen had the decency to glance away in embarrassment. It was precisely what she would have thought of his gift a year ago.
“No. I think it’s a generous, but also a very personal and heartfelt, gift. The fact that you worked so hard to get it and are putting some of your own labor into it only adds to that. Natalie is lucky to have a brother like you,” she finished hoarsely.
“Colleen.”
She kept her gaze averted, but something about the resonant timbre of his hushed, deep voice made her heartbeat escalate. That increasingly familiar feeling of longing she’d been experiencing lately chose that moment to swell in her chest.
“Yes?” she asked softly.
“I know Lucy is an eyeful, but do you think you could look at me?”
She hesitantly dragged her gaze off the boat to Eric’s face.
“I’m sorry for pushing you the other night,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
“You don’t have to apologize. I’m over it.”
His mouth twitched at that.
Not that she was staring at his mouth or anything.
“Are you sure there isn’t some other reason why you don’t want to become involved with me?”
Colleen glanced furtively at the back of the boat. She could hear the children talking excitedly on the other side.