So far Mick was enjoying his new job. His time off had been boring, so he had been eager to get to work. Because Mick was used to working on different projects, he settled in quickly.

Levi approached him one afternoon. "It's like you've worked here forever. I'd like you to come with me next week to see the new Harrisburg building."

He smiled. "Just let me know the details."

"Barbie books the travel. She'll send the details."

Mick smiled as he thought a quick trip would break up the monotony every once in a while. He had lunch earlier with Roberto and they spoke Spanish which reminded him of Trish. Maybe she lived in Harrisburg. Did Tyler think about Poppy after his vacation, before she turned up pregnant? Mick still regretted not getting Trish's number.

Mick didn't find Trish in Harrisburg, but he loved inspecting the building. Levi was a fun guy and didn't act like a boss. They ate dinner together, and it wasn't uncomfortable. On the plane ride home, Levi asked, "Big plans this weekend?"

"Not really. I'll hang out with my best friend. And Harper and I are going to a charity event on Saturday night."

"What kind of event?"

"It's just a gallery show to support literacy. She took me to the gallery when we were decorating my place. It seemed like a worthwhile event."

"Gallery. So paintings?"

"Yeah. I bought a photograph. I may not buy anything else, but we'll grab dinner afterwards."

"Maybe I should check it out."

"Come with us. Hunter, her older brother, is coming too. He's working so we're planning to get there around seven."

"What are you wearing?"

"A suit."

Levi rolled his eyes. "You look like you belong in a suit. All the single ladies must flock to you."

He laughed. "I wouldn't say that." Except for Candy and he hadn't worn a suit. "Are you looking for a serious relationship or companionship?"

"Serious? I have my eye on someone."

Mick chuckled. "Seriously? Ask her out. Don't wait or some other guy might move in."

"I'm shy with women."

"Why? You have a lot to offer."

"You think so?"

Mick laughed. He was coaching his boss on dating. Mick was never shy around women, but he was better at having sex with them than dating. He thought of Hunter, who was interested in a doctor. They had gone out, but her divorce was in the way. More likely, it was her feelings for her ex. Mick wanted to tell him to cut bait, but Hunter wasn't ready to hear it. At least he was hanging with them on Saturday night.

Before the gallery, Harper stopped at Mick's apartment. She had framed a few of his photographs and wanted to hang them. Mick had dressed but left his suit coat off, since he had to hammer the small nails under Harper's direction.

She wore a black dress. Meg had schooled Mick on the versatility of the popular garment. He suspected the art would stand out among the dark suits and dresses.

"How was your trip?" Harper asked.

"It was interesting. Levi is a good guy. He's meeting us."

Harper swallowed. "Us?"

Mick shrugged. "I mentioned it and he was interested. I figured one more won't matter."

"And you said I was coming?"

"Yeah. It was our idea. Why? Do you have a problem with Levi?"

"No. No problem." Pink painted her cheeks.

Mick chuckled. "Do you like my boss? Now that I think about it, he got interested when I mentioned you."

"Seriously."

"He said he's looking for a relationship. I think he's shy with women."

"Seriously."

Mick laughed. "Yes. I don't joke about people's feelings, but I might have said too much."

Harper ran to the bathroom. Mick walked over and shouted, "Are you okay?"

She opened the door. "Just checking my makeup."

He laughed and felt like cupid. He'd have to make sure the arrow struck them both. When they arrived at the gallery, Levi was standing outside shifting his feet nervously. The man might suffer from being a bit too smart. He was a very competent structural engineer, but socially shy.

Mick greeted him enthusiastically. "I'm glad you came."

Harper had her phone to her ear. "Okay." She looked at Mick. "He's on his way. We should go in without him."

Mick stepped forward and opened the door letting the other two go in first. Mick should have felt ire at the way Levi's eyes scanned the back of his cousin, but it amused him.

"What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing." Then he moved closer to Levi and whispered, "She likes you."

His eyes grew big while Harper was occupied with greeting the gallery owner. They each took a glass of champagne and Mick turned when he felt a hand on his back.

His face morphed into a smile as he bent to kiss Chickie's cheek and shake Arthur's hand. "We've missed you. Come for dinner tomorrow. We'll invite the others. You don't mind wedding talk do you?"

He shook his head. "Nope. I like weddings. The cake. The bridesmaids." He winked.

"You're incorrigible, but I still love you."

Mick's heart swelled; that was the way parents should treat their child. The Hathornes left, and he turned to the other two who were talking, a good sign.

"I was just telling Levi they aren't your parents."

Mick rolled his eyes. "I wish. I went back and forth for years on who I would choose as my mother. It was your mother or Chickie. Chickie might have had the edge only because she wasn't the witch's sister."

"She's not a witch. She is sweet to me."

Mick sighed. "You made my point. Let's enjoy." He emptied his flute.

As they looked at the art, Mick felt a heightened awareness. His skin prickled, and he rubbed his arm. Harper had her phone to her ear. "We just started to look. Follow the crowd." She looked up and said, "My brother's here."

Hunter appeared dressed in a suit. Harper stepped forward. "Hunter, this is Levi."

"Levi. Nice to meet you." He offered his hand. "My sister's been holding out on me."

Curiously, neither disputed Hunter's assumption. Maybe Cupid's job was done. Mick focused on the art and turned when he heard Ted Calhoun's voice. At first, he was talking to another couple, but he walked over to their group.

"Admiring the art."

"This is my favorite gallery." Harper smiled at their boss.

He nodded. "Our friend Samantha Hayes displays her paintings here." He looked at the beautiful woman at his side. "Mia, Harper Putnam is one of our interior designers. You've met Levi, and we recently hired Mick Daigle as a structural engineer."

"Are you the one Monty recommended?"

Mick nodded. "I met him at the Kane's party. This is Harper's brother, Dr. Hunter Putnam."

"My father is a retired reconstructive surgeon. He still lectures. What's your specialty?"

"Pediatric critical care at Children's."

"My father was on staff at Children's and Mass General."

"What's his name?"

"Brian Reilly." She smiled as if expected recognition for Hunter.

"He has an amazing reputation."

She chuckled. "At home he's dad or more often grandpa these days."

Hunter asked about their children. Mick listened to learn more about his boss. Their exchange ended with Hunter smiling. "I hope we never meet professionally."

As the couple nodded and moved on, Harper said, "That was fun."

"They were nice. Who are they?"

Harper whispered harshly. "That's the owner of Homestead, Ted Calhoun."

Hunter laughed. "I'm more impressed with his father-in-law."

Mick wondered how the son of the building mogul met the surgeon's daughter. Famous or not, they were on different rungs of the social ladder. Maybe the CEO's son could marry a server. He would have to find her first. Tyler Hathorne married a preschool teacher from Ohio, so anything was possible.

Mick took some time studying more photography. His eyes kept returning to a couple walking by the old State House. Unfortunately, a sold sign stuck out like a sore thumb. Maybe he could purchase another copy. He pointed to the framed art.

Harper teased. "You're a romantic. Maybe you can order one. We'll ask."

Harper purchased a piece of amateur art which was more affordable. Hunter bought a painting of three children's feet in the grass. It cost a lot more than the photograph Mick liked.

"What are you going to do with that?"

"Hang it in my office. It's a reminder of the reason we do it. Happy, healthy children."

After his purchase, the owner introduced him to the artist. "I'm flattered. Our children are my models. It was a photograph I took a few years ago. Their feet have grown." She had the dreamy look of a mother who loved her children.

Mick happily handed over a check for the photograph he loved. "It may be a few weeks."

He nodded. "That's okay."

"The purchase won't be a donation."

"That's fine." Feeling bad for not supporting the charity, he wrote another check as a donation.

"Thank you, Mr. Daigle."

Harper teased him. "Big spender."

Mick never understood why he had a trust fund, when none of his cousins did. Their maternal grandparents paid for their tuition, but he had an account that he gained access to at twenty-five. His father paid for his education including the most prestigious private school in Boston where he met Tyler.

They chose a restaurant near the gallery. When Levi slipped into the booth next to Harper, Hunter turned to Mick. "I guess you're my date."

"What about the hot doctor?"

Hunter frowned. "I don't know. I hate competing with her ex husband."

"Breakups are hard. My friend from Christmas escaped so she wouldn't see her ex-boyfriend in her hometown."

They had just received drinks when a tall woman walked by and turned back. "Putty?"

He looked up. "Hey, Jocelyn. How are you?"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm on an awful date. Can you save me?"

Putty gulped, and Mick laughed. "I will. I've played the game before." She smiled and walked away. Mick asked, "Who is she?"

"The next-door neighbor."

"The one you watched Netflix with half the night?" Harper's look of disbelief amused Mick, but annoyed her brother.

Mick stood. "Here goes nothing." He stood and walked to the front of the restaurant. With his phone out, he walked briskly to the table where Jocelyn sat. "Jocelyn! Who is this?" She stammered, but no words came out. "I'm tired of my wife stepping out on me. You're coming home now. The kids are crying for their mother."

The guy looked like Mick kicked him in the jaw. "Wife. Kids. I'm outta here."

As he left, Mick frowned. "Sorry. He stiffed you."

"No, that was amazing. Who are you?"

"Hunter's cousin. Come join us. I'm Michael," Mick said, as he squeezed in with Levi and Harper. He suspected she might sit on his lap before the night was over.

Hunter teased, "Michael?"

"It's better than Putty."

"Do you have the same last name?"

"Mine is Daigle." He honestly didn't know why he called himself Michael. Maybe it was the persona of the husband claiming his wife. If Mick's wife went out with another man, she would find out the hard way what terms she agreed to in the prenup.

As soon as the meal was over, Mick begged off leaving his cousins to navigate on their own. Cupid had a busy night.

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