LITMIR.BIZ

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showplace at one time.

      There was an old silver knocker on the door, but no bell, so she lifted the knocker and heard the resounding boom inside. She waited a moment, expecting Dr. Beau to open the door. But when it was slowly pulled open with a creak, Cassie found herself peering into the eyes of a small, rotund man who strongly resembled a mischievous leprechaun.

      “Aye, who is it bothering me now?” he bellowed, his voice tinged with a heavy Irish brogue. Scowling, he blinked at her from around the door as if she’d materialized out of thin air.

      Cassie swallowed, resisting the urge to step back. She had a feeling this was Dr. Beau’s uncle.

      He was about as round as he was tall. His white fringe of hair sprouted in tufts around his ears and temples as if he’d been tugging at it. His eyes were big, blue and twinkling with good humor, but at the moment, they were also a bit confused, as if she’d interrupted him from some intense project. His cheeks were full and rosy, as if he’d been dashing about in the snow.

      He looked like a slightly unkempt mad scientist leprechaun. Cassie resisted the urge to chuckle. Now she knew what Beau had meant about his uncle being…eccentric. In spite of it, she had to admit he was absolutely adorable.

      “Have you found them, yet?” he asked in a conspiratorial whisper, surprising her as he intently peered around the door at her.

      “Found them?” Cassie repeated, blinking back at him.

      He nodded. “Aye, lassie, I’m heartily afraid they’ve gone off on their own again.” He looked at her, eyes wide and innocent. “Oh, don’t be alarmed, it’s not the first time, lassie, no siree. They’ve conspired for years to drive me daft. And now, I’m afraid they’ve gone off on their own again. Sprouted legs as sure as I’m standing here.”

      “Sprouted legs?” Cassie repeated. She leaned closer to him. “Who?” she whispered, glancing around to see if someone sprouting legs was in the vicinity.

      “Me spectacles, of course, lassie,” he admitted with a sad shake of his head. “They’ve gone a’traveling again,” he added with another sigh, and a light, impatient tug on his white hair, making Cassie smile again. “They’re trying to drive me daft for sure.”

      “Um…actually,” she began slowly, as she reached toward him. “Um, may I?”

      His face was blank as he blinked up at her. “Aye, yes, please, please,” he encouraged with a wave, letting his gaze follow her hands so that his eyes nearly rolled back in his head.

      “I think this should do it,” Cassie said, lowering his glasses from where they’d been hiding on his balding head to rest them gently on his nose.

      He blinked owlishly at her from behind the thick, heavy glasses as if seeing clearly for the first time in a long time. Then his face cleared and he beamed at her.

      “Ah, so that’s where they went off to,” he said. “I’ve been searching for them for hours.” Now that he had his glasses on, he looked her over from head to toe. “Well, for St. Margaret’s sake, lassie, who on earth left you standing out in the snow and cold?” he asked as if there was someone else in the foyer deliberately being rude to her. “Come in, come in. ’Tis colder than an Englishman’s heart out there,” he said with a cluck of his tongue, reaching for her hands and drawing her into the warmth of the huge foyer. “Ah, lass, I’m sorry, you’ll think I’ve no manners now that you’re chilled to the bone.”

      Cassie shivered a bit as she stepped inside and snuck a quick glance at the interior. She almost caught her breath. The foyer was as wide as her mother’s living room and twice as long, with black-and-white marble tile floors, peeling wallpaper, and a gorgeous, but delicate fading fresco on the ceiling. There were two large, elegant arched entryways on either side of the foyer, leading to what she assumed were other rooms.

      “Uncle Jasper?” Beau walked into the foyer from one of the adjoining rooms, one hand in Sofie’s. The moment he spotted Cassie, he stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes meeting hers. She had to swallow hard, knowing that intense masculine gaze was taking in every inch of her.

      “You made it.” His smile was wide and welcoming, as his gaze slid over her and a pool of warmth puddled in her center.

      Lord, the man’s impact was incredible. No wonder every woman in town was after him.

      “Mama!” Sofie skipped toward her, delight shining in her eyes. “Guess what? Guess what?” Hair a mess, Sofie was all but bouncing out of her scuffed and bruised school shoes. “Dr. Beau and I already looked at the stars and the solar system and Dr. Beau’s gonna help me with my science project.”

      “He is, is he?” Cassie said, grinning down at her daughter. A fierce surge of love rose up in her. “That’s wonderful, honey.” Absently, Cassie reached out and tightened one of Sofie’s barrettes so her hair wouldn’t fall in her face.

      Sofie tugged her mother’s hand. “And you know what else, Mama? Uncle Jasper’s got a telescope, a real big one and he said after dinner I could look through it, and maybe I could see to another planet! And then, Mama, we’re gonna play checkers. Me and Uncle Jasper.” Sofie tugged on her hand again. “And Dr. Beau says he has lots of good ideas for my science fair project,” Sofie continued, obviously thrilled as she turned to stare adoringly at Beau. “And he said…that maybe…” Sofie hesitated, frowning back up at her mother.

      “What, sweetheart?” Cassie asked, bending down so she was eye level with her daughter.

      “Well, do you think maybe…I mean…could I maybe invite some kids from school over to help with my science project?” Sofie peeked at her mother from under lowered lashes.

      “You want to invite some kids from school over, honey?” Cassie repeated in surprise and her daughter nodded, then grinned, rocking back and forth on the heels of her school shoes.

      “Dr. Beau said sometimes it’s good to have the help of your friends with a big project. ’Specially a big science project.”

      “He did, did he?” Cassie said, glancing up at Beau. That was some miracle act the man had performed, Cassie realized, wondering just what he’d said to her daughter. This afternoon Sofie had wanted to run away from the very same kids she now wanted to invite over.

      She was definitely going to have to learn the man’s secret.

      “Well, I think it would be wonderful to invite your friends over. How about on Sunday? The shop is closed and I’ll be home all day, and I can make my special homemade pizzas.” She brushed Sofie’s dark hair from her eyes. “What do you say?”

      “Really?” Sofie breathed, her eyes going wide in excitement. “Mama makes the bestest pizzas ever.”

      “She does?” Beau said with a smile and a lift of his brow. His gaze remained on Cassie, making her want to fidget. She should probably invite him for pizza, she realized, considering how kind he’d been to Sofie. But she just couldn’t get the words out, not wanting to willingly spend more time than necessary with the man. “I guess I’ll have to try some.”

      “Wanna come for lunch Sunday?” Sofie asked and Cassie almost groaned.

      Beau saw the look on her face before she could disguise it and his eyes twinkled mischievously. “I think that would be lovely, Sofie. Thank you.” He merely flashed Cassie a grin as she scowled. He’d done that deliberately, she realized. Deliberately agreed to come to lunch simply because he knew he made her uncomfortable. The blasted man!

      While Cassie and Beau merely stared at each other, Sofie tugged her mother’s hand again. “And Mama, Uncle Jasper says I’m really, really smart, and that being smart is a good thing, and not any reason to run away. Isn’t that right, Uncle Jasper?”

      “Aye, absolutely, lassie, ’tis a truly wonderful thing,” Jasper confirmed with a nod of his head, reaching for her free hand. “The very best thing,” he added, taking Sofie’s hand and giving Cassie and Beau an encompassing glance.

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