Teardrop Lane by Emily March Page A

lips twitched, but he made the save. “Man, it was an ugly game, but we squeaked it out.”
    When Nic’s husband added his opinion of the game,Cicero breathed an inward sigh. He’d successfully changed the subject. The last thing he needed was somebody around here dumping a dog on him.
    Despite his best intentions, a flash of memory distracted him.
    “He’s a wheaten terrier,” his new foster father had said. “He’s just the best dog. If you don’t mind, we thought we’d let him sleep in your room.”
    A burst of laughter dragged him back to the present as more guests arrived and filled Angel’s Rest’s walls to near bursting. It was a happy crowd gathered for a happy occasion. Cicero pushed off thoughts about pets and pests, and concentrated on the here, now, and—
    His lips twitched with self-amusement as his gaze lingered on Rose’s cleavage. Here, now, and green.
    “Scarlett O’Hara has nothing on you,
Bellissima
.”
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
    “You look beautiful tonight.”
    “Oh.” Delightful color stained her cheeks. “Thank you.”
    At eight o’clock, Gabi’s brother Zach called for attention and thanked their guests for coming to the party. He then offered the first toast to the happy couple, and soon had everyone laughing with tales of Gabi’s escapades when she worked as his deputy sheriff.
    It was a nice event, an enjoyable evening. Cicero liked his new friends and neighbors.
    But he still felt edgy.
    Throughout the evening, he circled Rose like a shark, at times keeping his distance, occasionally brushing up against her just to remind her that he was still around. She flicked her tail at him more than once, and Cicero was ready to follow her right into the deep. The party was beginning to wind down when he spied Celeste carting a tray filled with dirty glasses toward the kitchen. Itlooked heavy. Smoothly, he swooped in and lifted the tray from her hands. “I’ve got that.”
    Celeste smiled up at him. “Thank you, dear. Your assistance is timely. I’m afraid my eyes were bigger than my muscles, and I overloaded my tray.”
    “I’m glad I can help.” He followed her into a room that was a cheerful cross between a commercial kitchen and a kitchen in a private home. The angel wing motif made him smile. Even though the symbol appeared everywhere he looked, the effect wasn’t overdone. “I like your kitchen, Celeste.”
    “Thank you.” Her blue eyes twinkled. “It makes me happy.”
    “You make everyone around you happy.”
    “Why, what a lovely thing to say. Thank you, Hunter.” Celeste gestured for him to set the tray on a counter beside a large sink. After doing so, he unconsciously rolled his shoulders.
    Eagle-eyed Celeste noticed. “Are your shoulders stiff? You should scoot over to the hot springs and soak for a little while before you go home. You’ll find swimsuits in the pool house.”
    “Thanks, but I—”
    “Get Rose to go out there with you. Soaking in the mineral springs is one of her favorite things to do after a busy workday. It’d be good for her.”
    “I’d like that,” he finished, changing his mind. “That’s a great idea. Thanks.”
    A self-satisfied smile lit her up like a sunbeam.
    “Playing matchmaker, Celeste?”
    “Actually, I am. And I’m very good at it.”
    “Then I’ll consider myself warned,” he replied.
    “If you land Rose Anderson, Hunter, you should consider yourself lucky.”
    “I can’t argue with that.” Of course, he wasn’t sure that his definition of “landing” was the same as Celeste’s.
    Cicero rejoined the party and looked around for Rose. He found her in the parlor listening politely to Maggie Romano babble on about wedding plans. Cicero liked Maggie, but he’d already heard her and her daughter debate floral bouquet choices at length when Maggie visited the studio. Something told him that by his apprentice’s wedding day, he’d be an expert on all things bridal.
    Maggie interrupted her talk