“Your grandmother’s coming here?” Billie looked about ready to jump out the window and run.
“Get dressed. Don’t worry my brother will stall her if we aren’t out in time.” Mike yanked on his shirt.
“That’s great because my panties have vanished.” Billie tossed the blankets off the bed.
Mike scanned the floor and the bed for her missing undies, but he didn’t find them anywhere. Billie mumbled something under her breath, but Mike caught the tail end of it and burst into laughter.
“Yes, Mike’s grandmother I do make a habit of losing my underwear.” Billie frantically fastened her bra and pulled her shirt on but she was still naked from the waist down, and Mike couldn’t help himself. He grabbed her by the hips and spun her around.
“Calm down,” Mike whispered.
“I can’t find my freaking underwear, and your brother is down the hall, and if my calculations are correct, your grandmother will be here in less than a minute.” Billie bounced back and forth from one foot to another.
“She just pulled in the driveway, Mikey boy,” James shouted.
“Fuck,” Billie groaned and then bit her lip.
Mike took one more look around his room and finally located the missing undies. In their frenzy of undressing her panties had landed on top of his bedpost. Mike turned her around and pointed toward them.
“Well, if we tried to do that it would never work.” Billie laughed and jumped on top of the bed. It looked sexy as hell to see her naked ass scurry across his bed.
“I’ll head Nan off and tell her you’re in the bathroom. Although, I’ve got no idea what she’s doing here today.” Billie disappeared into the ensuite as he closed the bedroom door.
James stood in the foyer with his hands tucked into his front pockets and a huge grin on his face. Something told Mike Nanny Betty wasn’t as close as James said.
“It’s a good thing Keith stalled her.” James chuckled.
“Why the fuck is she coming today?” Mike turned into the kitchen.
“The fence building tomorrow. Nan's bringing over some of the food today.” James said it as if Mike should have realized it and the truth, he should have.
“Does she know I have company?” Mike glanced out the front window to check for Nanny Betty’s arrival.
“Why do you think I’m here?” James chuckled. “You weren’t answering your phone, so Keith and I put two and two together.”
“Thanks, bro.” Mike was so glad he had brothers that had his back.
“So, are you hiding her?” James motioned toward Mike’s room.
“No, she had to…” Mike stopped when Billie appeared.
“Make myself presentable.” Billie smiled.
“James this is Billie Carter. Billie this is one of my older brothers, James.”
“Very pleased to meet you.” James held out his hand.
“It’s great to meet you since you just saved me from a huge embarrassment.” Billie shook his hand, and James laughed.
“Hey, we’ve all learned to protect each other from Nan’s surprise visits.” James laughed.
“I tried stalling her but…” Keith burst in through the door and stopped. “Oh, okay. So no more stalling necessary.”
Mike and James laughed, and Billie smiled because Keith looked like he’d ran the entire way from his parent’s place. He yanked open the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water and gulped it down in about ten seconds.
“Looks like you're getting a little out of shape there, big brother.” Mike teased.
“I’m in perfectly fine shape, but you try running from mom and dad’s place with biker boots, jeans, and a leather jacket. Asshole, we could’ve just let nan show up and surprise you.” Keith pointed the empty bottle at Mike.
“I think we owe you a huge thank you, Keith.” Billie rested her hands on the counter in front of her.
“You’re welcome, honey.” Keith smiled at her. “You not so much.” Keith tossed the stopper of the bottle at Mike and dropped the bottle in the recycling bucket next to the fridge.
Before Mike could respond, the front door flew open and Tom walked in with a huge box. James was the first to relieve him of what looked like a cumbersome box.
“Thanks, James.” Tom sighed. “Your grandmother said to get outside and bring in the rest of the boxes and bags.”
“On it.” Mike jogged out through the door followed by Keith.
He prayed Billie didn’t get spooked by Nanny Betty because the truth was, he loved his grandmother, but sometimes she could be a little too blunt. The last thing he wanted was Billie to feel insulted by her.
Grandda help me.
Chapter 16
James placed the box on the counter and followed Mike outside. Billie started for the door, but the older man stopped her.
“My dear, don’t let Betty see you try to lug in those boxes with the boys around.” The man smiled at her and held out his hand. “I’m Tom Roberts.”
“Billie Carter,” Billie shook the man’s hand, and he held it for a moment as he cupped his other hand over hers and smiled.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He tapped her hand and then released it. “It’s good to see Mike finally settling down.”
“Oh, no we just started… I mean… we don’t know….” Billie sighed when the man chuckled.
“I understand.” Tom nodded toward the door.
A small gray-haired woman scurried into the kitchen holding a black purse in one hand and supermarket bag in the other. Billie quickly relieved her of the bag and was shocked at how heavy it was. For such a tiny woman, she didn’t lack strength.
“Tank you, ducky.” The woman dropped her purse on the counter next to where Billie placed the bag. “Now let me get a look at ya.”
Before Billie could move the little woman she assumed was Mike’s grandmother cupped Billie’s face in her hands. She stared into Billie’s eyes for a moment, then nodded, and smiled.
“Our Mikey’s a good lad. He’ll take good care a’ ya.” She turned around, and that was it. She started to pull things out of the bag and store it on the counter next to the stove.
“Ummm… Do you need any help, Mrs. O’Connor?” Billie glanced back and forth between Nanny Betty and Tom.
“First ting ya need ta know is, Mrs. O’Connor was me mudder in law, and she was a witch. Me girls call me Nan or Nanny Betty.” With that statement, Nanny Betty went back to her unpacking.
Billie turned when she heard Mike’s voice. He returned with Keith and James as well as another man who was obviously another brother. What the hell did they have in the water in Hopedale because the men were all hot as hell?
“How the hell did you find a woman like that?” The man winked at her.
“Nicky, shut yar yap and bring over dat box.” Nanny Betty tossed the empty bag toward Tom and pointed to the counter in front of her.
Billie couldn’t help but laugh when the man pressed his lips together and obeyed his grandmother. Nanny Betty reminded her a lot of her late grandmother, and she had to blink to keep tears from forming in her eyes.
“Billie, this is Betty O’Connor.” Mike wrapped his arm around his grandmother
“We kind of met already but it’s really nice to meet you…. Ummmm…. Nan.” Billie wasn’t making the same mistake twice.
“Looks like nan already gave her the speech.” James laughed.
“I’m the better-looking brother, but you can call me Nick.” He was as cocky as the brother she’d met the week before.
“Or at least the more conceited brother.” Mike moved next to Billie and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She didn’t miss the possessive move, but she also didn’t dislike it.
“It’s nice to meet you, Nick, but you should know I think you’re all quite handsome.” Billie laughed when Mike growled in her ear.
“How many of us have you met?” Keith asked.
“Mike, of course. You, Nick, James, and A.J.” Billie stopped for a minute and t
hen held up her finger. “Oh, and I met John when...”
“I’m sorry about your friend.” Nick’s cocky attitude disappeared, and genuine compassion replaced it.
“Thank you.” Billie swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. The same one that showed up every time she thought about Peggy.
“Doncha worry, ducky. Between Johnny and da rest of me b’ys, dey’ll find dat sleeven dat hurt yar friend.” Sleeven was a term she’d heard many times growing up in Newfoundland. It was a nice way of saying asshole. Nanny Betty scurried over to Billie and took her hands. “Yar one a us now.”
Something about the way the woman looked at her had a tear slip from Billie’s eye because it was the first time in a long time she felt like just maybe they’d find out who killed her friend.
“Until den, we’re all here fer yar family and you.” Nanny Betty gave her a gentle hug and stepped back. “Now, tell yar mudder and fadder dere more den welcome ta join us here tamara’”
“What exactly is going on here tomorrow?” Billie cleared her throat glad Nanny Betty had changed the subject.
“It’s kind of a housewarming as well as a fence building party.” Mike laughed. “I was going to ask you today but I got … distracted.”
Billie felt the heat rise in her cheeks and turned away from the grinning faces of Mike’s brothers. They obviously knew what kind of distraction Mike meant.
“Basically, Mike gets free fence building labor and Nan, Mom and my aunts feed us all. Then when the work gets done, we’ll pull out the instruments and have a little party.” Nick explained.
“Pull out the instruments?” Billie glanced back and forth between Mike and Nick.
“Mike didn’t tell you about our band?” Nick laughed.
“Yeah, okay.” Billie rolled her eyes because Nick had to be pulling her leg.
“I’m serious.” Nick almost seemed offended that she didn’t believe him.
“Billie, we do sing in a band.” Mike chuckled. “It’s one we put together about ten years ago. We play at functions to raise money for charities.”
“You and your brothers have a band?” Billie stared at Mike.
“Not all my brothers. It’s John, Nick, A.J. and myself along with a couple of friends.” She must have had a weird expression because Mike laughed.
“Not dat all my b’ys can’t sing. Keithy here used ta sing solo at church when he was a youngster.” Nanny Betty pat her hand against Keith's massive arm.
“Nan, I’m sure Billie doesn’t want to hear about us singing at church.” The big burly Keith actually blushed.
“Ya should bring da little one too and yar brudders.” Nanny Betty grabbed her purse and turned to Tom who quietly stood in the background.
“Are you ready, Love?” He looked at Nanny Betty with such love and affection that Billie felt a little guilty standing there witnessing it.
“Now, Mikey, doncha touch any a dat stuff. Me and yar mudder’ll be here in da mornin’ to start cookin’” Nanny Betty turned toward her grandsons. Each one of them kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see ya tamara.” Then she was gone as quickly as she came.
“Well, we should get outta here. The guys were here this morning to set the posts so we should be able to start putting up the rails in the morning.” Keith said.
“Between your guys and us, we should get it done in a few hours,” James said to Keith.
“Are we painting it too?” Nick asked.
“No, it’s composite,” Keith said.
“What the hell is that?” Mike asked.
“You said you wanted a fence that was maintenance free. Composite is like plastic, but it looks like wood.” Keith sighed. “Just trust me it’s going to look good.”
While Mike walked his brothers out, Billie made her way to the back of the house and looked around. The yard was huge, and she could see where the posts stood. She wondered why a single man would want such a huge yard, but part of her hoped it was for the same reason she would want one.
She’d always dreamed of having a huge family, but she was twenty-nine. Not that she was hearing the clang of her biological clock, but she would at least like to have a child before she got too old.
There was just one thing that kept her from being completely happy. Someone had murdered her friend and took her brother’s chance at happiness. She prayed Nanny Betty was right and her grandsons could find the bastard that killed Peggy.
“Can you picture it?” Billie jumped when Mike wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“Your fence?” Billie leaned back against his hard body and relaxed.
“Kids running around.” Billie turned her head so fast that she actually felt a click in her neck. Did she just hear him right?
“Kids?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a lot of nieces and nephews. I want a place to keep them contained when they come to visit.” Mike chuckled.
“You’re a good uncle.” Billie forced a smile.
“I try to be.” Mike turned her around and pulled her into his arms. “I’d like to be a father someday too.”
“You would?” Billie gazed up into his eyes.
“I never thought I would. Until I met you.” Mike whispered.
“How can we be talking about things like this? We hardly know each other.” Billie reached up and cupped his cheek.
“I know everything I need to know. I know I’ve never felt like this before.” Mike pressed his forehead against hers, and she could hardly breathe as he spoke. It was as if he read her thoughts.
“Me either.”
“It seems crazy, doesn’t it?” Mike kissed her cheek.
“Yes.” Billie linked her fingers behind his neck.
“I don’t care how crazy it is. I just know I’m head over heels in love with you.” Mike pulled back and gazed into her eyes.
“It’s crazy, but I love you too.” Billie pulled him down so she could brush her lips against his.
Mike took over from there and covered her mouth with his. His kiss was tender and told her his words were from his heart. For the first time in her life, Billie felt as if all her hopes and dreams would come true. Mike picked her up in his arms, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as she pulled back from his kiss.
“I know I promised you supper, but right now, I need to make love to you.” Mike walked back into the house and closed the sliding door.
“We can eat anytime.” Billie gasped when he kissed his way up the side of her neck and sucked her earlobe into his mouth.
When Mike eased her back on the bed, the only thing she could think about was making love to the man she loved.
Chapter 17
Mike stood in his kitchen and stared through the patio door. The sun appeared over the horizon, and the sight was hypnotizing. Although, he knew if anyone saw him they’d think he lost his mind because he couldn’t wipe the huge smile off his face. Billie did that.
When he’d reluctantly drove her home the previous night, he couldn’t stop touching her. He held her hand the entire way, and she’d laughed when he continued to ask her if he’d told her how much he loved her. It was a wonder she didn’t run from the car considering how he was acting but she smiled and said she liked to hear it.
It was a little after six in the morning, and he had a full day of work, family, and craziness ahead of him. He could have sworn Sunday’s were supposed to be a day of rest.
He poured another coffee and brought it to his room to get ready for the day. It seemed stupid to shower since he was going to be doing manual labor most of the morning, so he just pulled on an old pair of jeans and T-shirt.
He just walked out of his room when his front door opened and Keith and Emily walked in. She had a huge grin on her face, and Keith looked like the cat who ate the canary.
“You two do realize that it’s like seven am?” Mike chuckled.
“Yeah, we were a little excited this morning.” Emily looked about ready to bust.
“I can see that.” Mike poured
two more cups of coffee and started another pot. Keith grabbed one, but Emily declined.
“I’m trying to cut down on the caffeine.” She hopped up on the stool next to the counter and gave Keith a wink.
Mike glanced back and forth between the couple. They were still newlyweds, but this was strange even for them. Then it hit him.
“You’re pregnant.” Mike pointed a finger and grinned.
“How did you know?” Emily gasped and covered her belly with her hands. “I’m not showing.”
“Princess, the glowing smile, no coffee and up before ten on a Sunday. Mike’s not stupid.” Keith wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
“I wanted to surprise everyone after supper.” Emily slouched and pouted.
“I won’t say a word, but you’ve got bad poker face.” Mike laughed as he kissed her cheek. “Congrats to both of you.”
The O’Connors were multiplying quickly. Nobody knew how much Mike wanted a family of his own. He always teased his brothers about being tied down, but the truth was they were lucky bastards.
Billie flashed in his mind, and he couldn’t help but smile. He finally understood what it felt like to love someone so much you wanted to be with them every minute.
“Speaking of glowing smiles.” Emily put her elbows on the counter and rested her chin in her fists. “How’s Billie?”
“She’s amazing, beautiful and will be here in a few hours.” Mike sipped his coffee.
“Ah ha.” Emily turned in the seat and pointed at Keith. “I told you.”
“Fine, I’ll clean the cat’s litter box.” Keith rolled his eyes.
“You’ve got to do that anyway now. I’m pregnant.” Emily poked Keith in the ribs. “I’ll think of a payment later.”
“What are you two talking about?” Mike shook his head in confusion.
“I told your brother last week you got bit by the love bug.” Emily grinned.
“I swear, Aunt Cora is rubbing off on all the women of this family.” Keith laughed.
“Oh, hush. I’m happy for you Mike. It is good to see you settling down. Maybe it will rub off on Nick and A.J.” Emily rolled her eyes.
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