Born in Shame by Nora Roberts Page A

decide just how to handle it herself. Just now her attention was focused on the man who was gaping at her as though he’d never seen a female before.
    â€œShannon Bodine, this is our good friend and neighbor Murphy Muldoon.”
    â€œHow do you do?”
    Coherent speech seemed to have deserted him. He nodded, only dimly aware that he probably resembled a slow-witted fool.
    â€œMurphy, would you tell the others tea’s ready?”When she received no response, Brianna glanced up at him. “Murphy?”
    â€œWhat?” He blinked, cleared his throat, shuffled. “Aye, I’ll tell them.” He tore his eyes from the vision and stared blankly at Brianna. “Tell who what?”
    With a laugh, Brianna gave him a shove toward the door. “You can’t go to sleep on your feet like one of your horses. Go out and tell Grayson and Maggie and Liam we’re having tea.” One last push and he was out of the door with her shutting it behind him. “He’s been working since sunrise, I’ll wager, and tuckered. Murphy’s usually a bit sharper than that.”
    Shannon doubted it. “He’s a farmer?”
    â€œHe’s a fine one, and he’s breeding horses, too. He’s like a brother to Maggie and me.” Her eyes leveled with Shannon’s again. “There’s nothing I can’t share with Murphy and trust it stays with him.”
    â€œI see.” Shannon stayed where she was, just on the other side of the threshold. “So you felt you could tell him about this particular situation.”
    With a quiet sigh, Brianna brought the teapot to the table. “You don’t know me, Shannon, nor Murphy, nor any of us. It isn’t fair for me to ask you to trust people you’ve only just met. So I won’t. Instead, I’ll ask you to sit down and enjoy your tea.”
    Intrigued, Shannon tilted her head. “You can be a cool one.”
    â€œMaggie’s got all the fire.”
    â€œShe doesn’t like me.”
    â€œNot at the moment.”
    Shannon had the oddest urge to laugh, and gave in to it. “That’s fine. I don’t like her, either. What’s for tea?”
    â€œFinger sandwiches, cheese, and a bit of pâté, sugar biscuits, scones, cream tarts, apple cake.”
    Shannon stepped in, surveying the spread. “You do this every afternoon?”
    â€œI like to cook.” Smiling again, Brianna wiped her hands on her apron. “And I wanted your first day to be special for you.”
    â€œYou’re determined, aren’t you?”
    â€œThere’s a stubborn streak in the family. Ah, here they come. Maggie, see the lads wash their hands, would you? I have to serve in the parlor.”
    â€œCream tarts.” Gray pounced. “Where’d you hide them?”
    â€œYou’ll not eat my food with dirty fingers,” Brianna said calmly as she finished loading a rolling tea tray. “Help yourself, Shannon. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve seen to my guests.”
    â€œSit.” Maggie waved to the table as soon as she’d washed her son off in the sink. She plopped Liam down in a high chair, gave him a toast finger to munch on. “Will you have sugar in your tea?”
    â€œNo, thank you,” Shannon returned, equally stiff. “Just black.”
    â€œYou’re in for a treat,” Gray said as he piled his plate. “New York may have some of the best restaurants in the world, but you’ve never eaten anything like Brianna’s cooking. You’re with Ry-Tilghmanton?” he asked, taking it on himself to heap Shannon’s plate himself.
    â€œYes—oh, not so much—I’ve been there over five years.”
    â€œThey’ve got a good rep. Top of the line.” Happily he bit into a sandwich. “Where’d you train?”
    â€œCarnegie Mellon.”
    â€œMmm. Can’t do better. There’s this bakery in Pittsburgh, maybe