by Toni Aleo
I smile. “I’m from America; I had no clue who the O’Callaghans were. I never drank whiskey, and I’d only been here two months maybe before I met Declan.”
“You stay with the Maclasters, yeah? They didn’t tell you?”
I nodded. “Yes, with my aunt and uncle and cousin. Fiona had told me about it, but it didn’t seem like a big deal to me. I don’t consider someone royalty like you guys do because they are rich.”
A few ladies gasp as Mrs. O’Callaghan laughs. “It’s more than that,” she informs me.
My brows come together as I meet her affronted gaze. “I didn’t mean to offend you. Sorry if I did. But what I mean is that I’ve met rich folks, even some famous ones, and still, they don’t get treated the way you guys do here.”
“It’s a different way of life here,” Lena says with a smile. “Our family has been around since the formation of County Mayo, even then we were what people held the standard to.”
Mrs. O’Callaghan nods. “We are the bar. The high bar in society. Everyone wants to be us because of how we carry ourselves. We are not only rich, as you say, we do a lot for the community, we make the best damn whiskey in the world, and that’s why we are considered royalty, as you say.”
I can tell I’ve pissed her off. I’m not entirely sure how to fix that, so I only nod, tucking my hands in my lap. An awkward silence falls on the table before Mrs. O’Callaghan clears her throat, lifting her cup from the table. Looking at the ladies, she smiles. “Declan adores her.”
I feel as if she said that a tad offhandedly, kind of like Declan is crazy to adore me, but then I think maybe I am being paranoid or even feel a little guilty for what I said. So I don’t say anything as the ladies nod in acknowledgment, grinning at Mrs. O’Callaghan.
“That’s wonderful. He deserves to be happy,” one of the ladies says. She is younger. My age, even.
Meeting her gaze, I say, “What was your name? Sorry.”
She waves me off. She is very pretty, long brown hair to her butt, built like Lena, and, of course, she is rocking her dress like she’s on a runway and not at a tea party. Meeting my gaze, she smiles widely at me as she says, “Keeva O’Malley. It’s wonderful to meet you.”
“You too,” I say, a little perplexed. Glancing at my mother-in-law, I ask, “I thought everyone’s last name was Fadmish?”
She smiles, tapping the back of my hand. “No love, we are the Fadmish ladies. A tea group.”
Oh, ’cause that’s cool, but I smile just the same.
“We’ve been doing this since before Noreen was born. I was friends with Ivor’s parents. It’s an old tradition around the O’Callaghan estate.”
“Wow,” is my thought, but who am I to think it is stupid? They probably think I’m stupid for not liking their little tea party.
“Have you gotten your dress for the wedding yet?” Rhonda asks me.
I grin as I nod my head. “Yes, it should be ready by the end of the week. They had to take it in some.”
“Do ya have a picture?” someone asks and I reach for my phone, but Mrs. O’Callaghan stops me.
“Sure, she does, but it’s a surprise. We aren’t showing anyone.”
Rhonda rolls her eyes before waving at Mrs. O’Callaghan. “Ya sly dog, you just don’t want to show us ’cause you don’t like it.”
I look over at Mrs. O’Callaghan expectantly, and she laughs in a very stuck-up way. “That isn’t true. It is a surprise.”
“I didn’t know that it was,” I find myself saying. “But you don’t like the dress?”
Mrs. O’Callaghan doesn’t meet my gaze. Instead, she sends a look at Rhonda before looking back at me. “It isn’t what I would have picked for you.”
Which was a nice way of telling me she hated it.
“Oh well, I love it,” I say proudly.
“I do too,” Lena agrees, squeezing my hand. “It will blow Declan away, for sure.”
“Which is all that matters,” I add and everyone smiles at me.
Rhonda nods as she says, “This is true. From what I heard, it’s blue. A blue wedding dress is very traditional. I like your style, my dear.”
I smile. “Thank you.”
“I can’t wait for the wedding. It’s gonna be so much fun,” Keeva says. “Seeing both of you all dolled up and pretty. It’s gonna be great.”
“Yes, it’s gonna be gorgeous, for sure,” Lena agrees. “I’m gonna be a crying mess!”
I send her a grin as Mrs. O’Callaghan says, “So will I. I can’t wait though. Declan is so happy with you, Amberlyn. She’s good for him. ”
“He is,” Lena agrees and it warms my heart, but when I look at the ladies, I don’t think they feel the same as my future in-laws. Especially Keeva, which I don’t understand at all.
“Well, let’s hope it lasts a lifetime!” Rhonda cheers, holding up her teacup to me.
“It will, don’t worry,” I inform her with a grin.
“You are very young,” Keeva says. “Only twenty, yes?”
I nod. “Yeah. I’m one of the lucky ones to find her soul mate so young.”
“I couldn’t say it any better myself.”
I turn quickly at the sound of Declan’s voice as he climbs the stairs, a grin on his face that is only for me. He holds himself so regally and handsomely. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he kisses my temple before squeezing my shoulders tightly.
“Ladies, good afternoon,” he says and they all beam at him. Except for Keeva. She is just staring at him. My brow comes up before I look up to see that he is looking at her in a distressed way. What the hell? Looking down at me though, the look goes away and he smiles. “Having fun, mo stór?”
I grin at my nickname from him but then lie, “I am.”
“Grand. I was coming by to see if ya was done. Figured we’d go for a ride.”
“I’d love that,” I say excitedly.
“They don’t go long without each other,” Mrs. O’Callaghan says with a grin.
“Ya can tell they’re very much in love,” Rhonda says and Declan grins.
“She’s it for me. Ready, love?”
“I am,” I say, standing up and cuddling to his side. Looking out at the ladies, I say, “Thank you. I had a wonderful time.”
It’s a lie, but then again, it wasn’t that bad.
“You’ll have to join us every week, so we can get to know ya better,” the lady who sits next to Keeva says. She looks like an older version of her, so I assume she must be her mother. Keeva is still looking completely distraught as she stares up at Declan. I’m not sure what that is about, but I know that coming to another one of these is the last thing I want.
It may have not been that bad, but I still feel like they don’t approve of me. No matter how much I love Declan and he loves me.
But instead of saying no, I say, “Sure, if I have time.”
I wish I could say no, but it just worries me. I feel like they don’t think I am good enough for Declan, or at least that is the way they are looking at me. Maybe I can convince them before the wedding. I don’t know why I want their approval. As pathetic as it is, I find myself wanting it. Don’t ask me the reason; I’m not even sure why.
Looking up at Declan, I smile when he grins down at me and I know why.
For him.
Chapter 15
Declan
“Is your dress ready for the engagement party?”
I look over at my bride and meet her playful gaze. She is sitting on my sister’s horse, Belle, and looks like a vision. I had Fiona meet me so I could get Amberlyn some jeans and a tee, something she is completely comfortable in. I think I like her more in jeans anyway. She doesn’t hold back when she is in jeans; she is happier, and I like her that way. I know that it isn’t what O’Callaghan women wear, and I’m sure I’ll get an earful from my ma, but in a way, I don’t care.
I won’t dim this girl’s light. Not when the world has been out to dim it at any passing chance.
“Yeah, I think
Fiona picked it up with hers.”
“I heard it’s very scandalous,” I tease.
She giggles. “Who told you that?”
“My ma.”
“Yeah,” she says with a shake of her head. “Your mother does not like anything I like.”
I smile. “She probably never will, either.”
“I think she wants me to be like Lena. All proper and pretty and I’m not that girl.”
“I think you are,” I say as our horses trot alongside each other. The sun is bright in the sky, kissing her skin in the most beautiful way. Her hair is down, brushing along her back as she bounces in the seat. Of course, I notice her breasts that are hidden behind the T-shirt she wears, and I want to tear the shirt off, but I feel like we are both waiting until our first night living together. Or maybe we just don’t have the time, and she is too scared to do it anywhere but in a bed. Which really, who am I to ask for anything else? I should probably have candles and soft music playing.
Ha.
She sends me a grin, pulling my gaze away from her breast as she says, “Well, that’s all that matters, I guess.”
“No guessing about it,” I say with a wink, reaching out to take her hand. “Is the dress a surprise?”
She shakes her head, squeezing my hand. “No, it’s glittery and backless.”
I give her a sexy grin. “Scandalous for sure.”
She laughs. “Maybe. But I went with blue because of my wedding dress.”
I perk up in my seat. “It’s blue?”
She nods but looks a little sheepish. “I thought you knew that.”
“Nope.”
“Yeah,” she says, smiling sweetly at me. She lets go of my hand and cups my face, our legs knocking into each other from how close we’ve brought the horses, not that we mind. “It matches your eyes.”
I lean over, kissing her quickly before pulling back to better see her. “I can’t wait to see it.”
“Me either,” she says, sending me a grin I know is just for me. Her grin is so refreshing and honestly makes me day.
As we ride, we discuss the engagement party and how my ma is making a circus out of it all. I want to get the damn thing over. I am tired of waiting to marry this girl. I know I wanted to give her time before, but now, I’m just tired of all the hoopla.
“My ma tried to invite the blogs because she said they weren’t the papers,” I say as I dismount my horse before helping her down.
She laughs as her arms come tightly around my neck. “Why does she want people there other than friends?”
“’Cause it’s all for show, don’t ya know?” I say, shaking my head as she cuddles closer to me.
“I just want it to be us,” she says against my neck. “Do we have to stay long?”
I chuckle against her hair. “Believe me, the first opportunity I have to pull ya away, I will.”
“Promise?” she says, a little sex-kitten look on her face, her eyes burning with desire.
“On my life,” I state before giving her a suggestive look. “I can even take ya right here. You tell me.”
She grins as she looks around and I do the same, even though I know where we are. We’re off pretty far from the estate, and I doubt we’ll be bothered, but even I know that it doesn’t feel right. As much as I want to be buried inside of her with no cares in the world, I also want to it be perfect. Memorable.
Looking back at me, she holds my gaze as she shrugs.
“I mean we could…” she says, her voice trailing off. I can feel her heart pounding against her ribs, vibrating against my chest.
“But it doesn’t feel right,” I supply since I can sense the “but.”
She smiles shyly. “Yeah, it doesn’t feel right.”
I smile back at her as I wrap my arms tightly around her, almost making us sway in the cool air of the day. Staring into her eyes, my heart kicks up in speed. It always does. There is something so magnificent about this woman that just does it for me. Lacing our fingers together, I pull away and then lead her to a flat area for us to lie. Spreading out the blanket I brought with us, I sit down first before she comes down to sit beside me. Lying back, she cuddles into my side, her fingers dancing along my ribs with the sounds of our horses grazing around us.
Closing my eyes, I turn my head so that my nose goes into her hair before taking a deep breath in. This feels so right. So perfect even, and I honestly still can’t believe that I get to do this for the rest of my existence. Curving my hand along her hip, I smile as she cuddles deeper into me. I know that we’ll do this a lot. Just the two of us. Lying back, I let the sun warm my face as we both relax in the warmth. Along with the noises from the horses, I can hear the fish flopping out in the pond, and I have the urge to go out there. Maybe take Amberlyn out.
“Do you like to fish?”
I feel her shrug against me. “Yeah, it’s okay.”
“We’ll take my boat out soon.”
“That sounds relaxing and fun,” she mentions and I nod.
“Yeah, it will be nice. Get away a bit in the boat I made.”
“You made a boat?”
“I did. Kane helped.”
“And it still floats?” she teases and I laugh, my hand tightening along her hip.
“Yeah, it does! It’s in top shape, thank you.”
She giggles beside me, and my face breaks into a grin when her nose tickles me along my jaw. “Let me know when.”
“Will do,” I agree. “It will be soon.”
“So you’ll be able to get away?”
I smile. “I’m gonna fucking try. I’ve never worked this much.”
“I know,” she agrees. “But it’s okay. Once I start school, I’ll be busier too.”
“Yeah,” I say, and I can’t help but think of what my ma said about her job and how she needed to quit.
While I don’t agree—I feel she can do what she pleases—I know that the expectations of my family are different. Amberlyn is to marry me, and we must try for a baby as soon as possible like an O’Callaghan should. I’m sure she doesn’t feel that way, and I should probably be honest with her, tell her the expectations, but that’s only what they are. They aren’t rules; they are what we have to do, but these expectations have been pounded into me since birth. I adore my family’s ways, and I do want to do what the men of my family have been doing since the beginning, but not at the expense of losing the love of my life.
“Do you know Keeva?”
My eyes shoot open, the sun blinding me. I close them once more before looking over at her and rubbing them gently. “What?”
“Keeva O’Malley? She was at the tea thingy, and you two were looking at each other weird.”
I clear my throat before opening my eyes again to look at her. Honesty is the best way here and I nod. “Yeah, I do.”
“Who is she? Why were you two looking at each other like that?”
Looking down at her lips, I gather my words. I’ve always heard of women being insanely jealous of exes, but surely Amberlyn is above that. “We dated for almost a year.”
She shoots up and out of my arms, looking down at me. “What?!”
Okay, maybe not.
“I used to date her.”
“Keeva? Really?”
Coming up on my elbows, I nod. “Yeah.”
“For a year?”
“Yeah,” I say again.
“She’s very gorgeous, runway pretty.”
“Eh, she’s all right, but she’s a horrible person.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. Broke up with her ’cause she was using me for my money.”
“Oh wow. What a bitch,” she decides and I laugh.
“That’s how I felt about her most of the time. She was always asking me for money and shite. Drove me mad.”
“I bet. I’d never do that.”
“Oh, I know,” I guarantee her, squeezing her above her elbow. “She’s still in love with me apparently, but I don’t want anything with her.”
>
Amberlyn looks down, bringing her bottom lip between her teeth. She’s always so cute when she does that. Reaching up, I press down on her chin, releasing her lip from her teeth. Grinning at me, she asks, “Are you sure?”
I scoff. She has no reason to ask that.
“Yeah, very sure,” I say very forcefully. Maybe a bit too harshly by the look on her face. “I promise ya, Amberlyn, I love you. Only you. She doesn’t add up to you in any way. I promise ya that.”
A little grin comes over her face before she leans down, pressing her lips to mine. Taking her by the back of her head, I don’t allow her to go anywhere as I deepen the kiss, plunging my tongue into her mouth to taste her. I crave the taste of her. So sweet and perfect. When her leg comes over my body to where she is straddling me, her hot center burning against my cock, I gasp against her lips.
Taking her by her hips, I hold her in place as she devours my mouth, taking over the kiss and blowing my damn mind. We play, tease, and even bite a bit, her mouth so hot as she kisses me over and over again. When she starts to move against me, I swear I am having a heart attack. My heart feels as if it is gonna come out of my damn chest right here! Stopping her, I pull back, looking up into her flushed face. She has those sultry little sex-kitten eyes, and I know I’m in danger of keeping my control intact.
Pulling in deep breath, I manage to say, “My God, mo stór, what the hell are ya doing? Driving me insane, yeah?”
“I want you,” is all she says before she takes my mouth with hers.
Unable to comprehend what she is saying, I allow her to kiss the hell out of me, but when her hand comes under my shirt, her fingers dancing along the muscles of my stomach, I can’t breathe. Pulling away once more, I look up at her, completely hanging on by a thread.
“Amberlyn, love, what are you doing?”
“I want you,” she says again against my lips, her fingers still sliding along my hot skin.
“Here?”
“Here.”
“Now?”
As she grinds against me, her eyes dark with desire, she nods slowly. In a husky way, something I’ve never heard come from her sweet lips, she whispers, “Right now, not a second later.”
Ah, shite.
I’m a fucking goner.
