The Hometown Hero Returns Read Free Page A

seemed to bore right through her across the span of Main Street.
    It felt like someone had reached inside her and twisted her intestines. He’d said he only returned to Harbor Town a few times a year, she thought wildly. What were the chances he’d be here for the same handful of days she was?
    She shivered despite the heat. It was Independence Day. Tomorrow would be the anniversary of the crash. Perhaps the Kavanaughs had gathered to visit Derry Kavanaugh’s grave. Why hadn’t she considered that possibility?
    She jerked her gaze back to the parade, making no sense of the flashing, moving, colorful scene before her eyes, still highly aware of him watching her. He’d always been able to melt her with those blue eyes. She couldonly imagine the effect they had on the people he’d cross-examined in the courtroom.
    Mari had certainly felt the power of his stare during that night in Chicago.
    He must be furious at her for not showing up at their agreed-upon lunch, for not returning his calls…especially after what had occurred between them in that hotel room.
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    â€œWell, if it isn’t Mari Itani,” Liam Kavanaugh drawled under his breath.
    Marc followed Liam’s gaze, too surprised by his brother’s statement to comment at first. He immediately found Mari in the crowd. She wore her long hair up and a casual, yellow dress that tied beneath her full breasts in a bow. The garment set off Mari’s flawless, glowing skin to perfection. Not to mention what that innocent-seeming ribbon did to highlight the fullness of her curves.
    â€œMari Itani?” Marc’s sister Colleen asked incredulously from behind him. “Where?”
    â€œStop pointing, Liam,” Brigit Kavanaugh scolded when Liam tried to show his sister where Mari stood.
    â€œDid you know she was back, Mom?” Marc asked sharply.
    â€œI knew it. She’s just here to get the house in order before it goes on the market. Can’t believe she and Ryan have waited this long to sell it, but obviously they haven’t been hurting for money,” Brigit replied bitterly.
    â€œMommy, can we follow the parade down the street? I want to see Brendan again. He looked so funny,” Marc’s niece, Jenny, begged from her perch on his shoulders. Marc’s nephew, Brendan, had marched in the parade as part of the Harbor Town Swim and Dive Club.
    Colleen laughed and reached up for her six-year-old daughter. Marc bent his knees to make the transfer easier.
    â€œAren’t you coming, Uncle Marc?” Jenny asked, tugging on his hand once her feet were firmly on the ground.
    â€œI’ll stay here and keep Grandma company. Tell us if Brendan trips or anything,” Marc replied.
    Jenny grinned broadly at the prospect and yanked her mother down the sidewalk.
    Liam chuckled. “How come sisters always want to see their brothers humiliated?”
    â€œProbably because brothers make it their mission to ignore their sisters,” Marc muttered, his gaze again fixed on the vision in yellow across the street.
    â€œIt looks like Mari grew up real nice,” Liam murmured as he rubbed his goatee speculatively. Liam wore sunglasses, but Marc sensed the appreciative gleam in his brother’s eyes as he studied Mari. When he saw Marc’s glare, Liam just raised his eyebrows in a playful expression that said loud and clear, so sue me for noticing the obvious.
    He felt like he was still recovering from a sucker punch to the gut.
    At first, he’d had the wild thought that her presence in Harbor Town was somehow related to what had happened in that hotel room in Chicago. When he saw how Mari made a point of avoiding his gaze, though, he wondered.
    â€œIs Ryan with her?” Marc asked slowly, not liking the idea of Mari’s insolent brother residing down the street from his mom, even if it was just for a few nights. Ryan Itani’s behavior during the lawsuit hearings stood out as one of the