“Damn it, Maggie! You went and grew up while nobody was looking.”

Dean wrapped his arms around me and gave me a big kiss on the cheek. I could feel myself blushing red. My brother had changed plenty himself.

“Went away a girl and came back a woman,” I said pointedly. I could feel Joe standing behind us, still near his expensive roadster. “I’m not a kid anymore.”

“Well, no shit, Mags. I’m not sure I’d have recognized you at the bus station either. It’s been way too long.” Dean took my hand, making me blush again. “You’re downright pretty now. You must have had to beat those college guys away with a stick.”

I glanced over at Joe, who was head down in the trunk, wrestling with my suitcases. He shot me a dark look and I looked away. What the hell would it hurt… a little white lie?

“Yeah, well… they say college is the time to spread your wings, kick your heels up a little.” I tossed my hair over my shoulder. “I might have broken a heart or two.”

“Maggie!”

I turned to see Ryan flying down the gravel drive. He caught me up in his arms and spun me like I was weightless. We were both dizzy and panting by the time he put me down. “God, honey. It’s so good to see you again. More beautiful than ever…”

I wiped the tears off my cheeks and gave him a big kiss. We broke away, both of us laughing. “Rye, oh my God, it’s so good to see you. Thanks for the great sweater you sent for my birthday.” I stroked his blond curls. “I’ve missed you so much…”

He smiled, his eyes lit with delight. “Come on,” he said, pulling me by the arm. “Maria’s planning a crab boil for dinner, but we’ve got plenty of time for margaritas by the pool. We’ve got all evening to catch up, and I want to hear everything.”

Thank God I’d thrown my old black bikini into a suitcase instead of the donation box when I’d cleared out my dorm room. The last time I’d been invited to swim at the big house, I’d been an embarrassed kid in a polka-dot one-piece. This time was going to be different. I took my sweet time drying off.

I lifted my arms high, pressing the water out of my hair with the towel. My curves might not be the biggest in the world, but they were graceful enough and in the right places. The tiny black bottoms showed my legs to their best advantage, and as long as I tied the top tight, it still stayed in place well enough. Ryan teased me gently about how grown up I was, and handed me a frozen margarita. My brother frowned, and draped his shirt around my shoulders.

Joe had made the drinks and taken a quick dip in the pool himself… but he’d kept his distance, letting the rest of us have time to catch up and relax. I caught a fast glimpse when he climbed out of the water and grabbed a towel. He dragged it across the broad expanse of tanned chest, and water ran in thick rivulets from his dark hair. He shook his head hard, and it curled back into a rough mane, just brushing the line of his shoulders…

Maria had managed to make something as casual as a crab boil into an elegant outdoor event. The long wrought-iron table was spread with a creamy linen cloth. Candles lit the evening with pinpoints of flickering gold. There were bowls of sliced lemon and steamed crab legs, along with clams and corn on the cob.

“So,” Dean punctuated the word with a crash of his wooden mallet. Elegance be damned, nothing opened a crab shell better… “Tell me how it’s going with the funding. I’m expecting RemedAid to be up and running by the time I finish nursing school.” He sucked at the broken end of the claw. “You know, your enthusiasm is contagious. You must have half a dozen millionaires in line to write you checks by now.”

I smiled over the table. “Not exactly lined up, but yeah, we’re getting there.” I pushed the empty shells away and wiped my hands on my napkin. “I’m really proud of you, Dean. Going back to school…” I could feel my face growing warm. “I know it hasn’t been easy.”

We locked eyes for a moment, and I could feel his pleasure. Then he went back to work on his crab leg and I leaned back to look up at the night sky. It was still hot, the air heavy and humid. I sipped my drink and savored the moment. It really did feel like I was home. After so many years…

Dean had started having trouble in high school, partly because of his drinking… and mostly from skipping classes. But he’d cleaned up his act in the last several years, and he’d made up for a lot of lost time. In another year, he’d have his nursing degree, and he’d earned it. We’d kept in touch while I was gone, and in spite of the distance, we’d become closer than ever. It finally felt like I had a brother who cared about me. And now it was my turn, to show him I was responsible and capable, too.

Maria came out after we were finished and began to clear away what was left of our dinner. Dean and Ryan stood talking near the bar. “Welcome home, Miss Maggie,” she said with a shy smile. “Madam says you’ll be staying with us in the guest house?”

“Yes, Maria… I…”

“No,” Joe’s voice interrupted, catching us both off guard. He’d been quiet during dinner. Too quiet. And I’d been all too aware of his eyes on me all evening. He seemed unsettled somehow… distant, until now.

“She’s staying in the main house,” he added firmly. “There’s more than enough room, and I don’t want her in the cottage by herself. It’s too isolated down there.”

“I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” I answered sharply. “It’s not like I haven’t stayed there alone before.” I met his eyes and set my jaw determinedly. “I’ve grown up… in case you haven’t noticed…”

I saw his eyes flicker downward for a fraction of a second, and I felt a surge of satisfaction. My bikini top accentuated the curves I had, lifting my breasts and displaying them to their best advantage. He stayed silent, but when his eyes lifted back up to mine, I felt my short-lived confidence drain away. There was something in his sharp blue eyes that I’d never seen before. Something I didn’t understand… Suddenly I felt heated and foolish, like a child caught playing dress-up, lipstick smeared across her face…

“As you like,” he said shortly.

And without a backward glance, he disappeared inside the house.