Harley’s hands went up in the air and then dropped as she sighed.
“Did you even hear the part where I said I was pregnant?”
I nodded. “Congrats and ‘bout damn time. So, why can’t she have kids?”
“Ugh! Cord! Please, I’m asking you to not be a Parker!”
“What’s that supposed to fucking mean?”
“Don’t go after Maebh just because she’s the latest flavor of your month. She’s already turned off by your playboy ways, and she has…um…”
“You don’t think I’m good enough for her?” I asked, my chest felt like it had been kicked. Is that what Harley thought of me? Did Paxton feel the same way?
“What! Of course I do. I think you’re confused by your feelings, and she’s so different from the girls you’re used to. Her heart will be broken if you lead her on, and with her being a virgin and all, I don’t want you to—”
Harley’s face constricted with horror as she slapped her hand over her mouth. The silence was so loud, I couldn’t even take a breath.
I stumbled and hit the pool table, grabbing it to keep my legs from going out from under me. My heart had never hammered in my chest like this before.
“W-what?”
“Oh, God! Oh, God! Cord, please don’t tell her you know. She’ll kill me for letting that slip. Stupid pregnancy brain!”
I pushed my hands through my hair and took in a few deep breaths. Maebh was a virgin? A virgin?
I looked at Harley. “That’s not fucking possible. You must have misunderstood her. Have you seen her? How old is she?”
Her head tilted. “Does it matter how old she is? She’s saving herself for the right guy. And the right guy isn’t the guy who is going to lead her on and run.”
My stomach knotted up, and I made my way to one of the stools.
“Cord, I mean it. You can’t let her know that you know. That’s for her to tell, if she even has a reason to tell you.”
Snapping my head up, I met her gaze. “I… Wait, I need to process this.”
Harley rolled her eyes and started going off in Spanish. “Porqué hay hombres tan ignorantes!”
I stood. “Okay, all I got was a word that sounded like ignorant!”
“Fine, how’s this for ya? Porqué los hombres son tan estupidos. Better?”
“Why do I feel like you just called me stupid?”
She groaned. “You are stupid! I find it hard to believe you’ve never been with a virgin. Why are you freaking about this?”
“I have, but that’s not the same thing. This is different!”
“It’s not different. Maebh is an amazing twenty-five-year-old woman who is saving herself for someone who will love and respect her. I’m not sure you’re the guy, and based on that T-shirt, I’m pretty sure Maebh knows you’re not the guy.”
My jaw nearly hit the ground. “I respect her! Why do you think I pulled away? I’m so fucking scared that if I get close I’ll hurt her because I’m a prick who only likes to fuck women and move on. I’m scared of these weird feelings, and the last thing I would ever want is to hurt her. She’s better off without me in her life. But I…can’t… Ahh, fuck!”
I shouted the last two words, and Harley didn’t even flinch. She was pushing my buttons, trying to make me realize what a dick I was, but she didn’t need to remind me. I knew.
“You can’t what?”
I dropped against the pool table. “I can’t stop wanting to know her. Wanting to kiss her…touch her. Make her mine. Harley, I don’t know what to do. I’ve always said I wasn’t the settling down kind of guy, but tonight, seeing her holding Liberty…”
I slowly shook my head. “For a moment I let myself dream she was holding our baby. Then when you said she couldn’t have kids, I panicked. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
Harley took my hands in hers and looked up at me. “I’ll tell you what’s wrong. You, Cord Parker, have fallen for a girl. You’ve been Smurfed.”
I closed my eyes while I groaned. “Not you, too.”
“Ignore the boys, Maebh,” Melanie said with a sweet smile. “They like to give each other a hard time.”
I smiled. “I’m not bothered by it.”
It was a lie, but I didn’t need to let Cord’s mother know I was smitten with her manwhore of a son. Sighing internally, I tried to push me feelings away.
Melanie and I were in the kitchen finishing up Cord’s birthday dinner. She had made lasagna, which was Cord’s favorite meal, homemade bread, salad, and a chocolate cheesecake for dessert.
“Thank you for helping. I know the kids love to spend as much time together as they can. Especially with the two new little ones.”
“It’s my pleasure. I used to help me ma in the kitchen all the time. It’s how I found me love of cooking, helping her with all her recipes. Me da loved it as well because she was always trying something new out since he was the tester.”
Melanie gave me a warm smile.
“Well, you’re welcome in my kitchen anytime you’d like.”
I felt me face heat. “Thank you, I’d love that.”
“Your accent is just precious. I love to hear you talk.”
With a chuckle, I went back to mixing the lettuce up with the salad mixings I’d cut up earlier.
“Not everyone has a fondness for it.”
She frowned. “Who doesn’t like it?”
“Cord. He said it’s hard for him to understand me.”
She huffed. “That just means he likes you.”
“What?” I asked, confused. “How does him not liking me accent mean he likes me?”
Melanie didn’t bother to look up. “Trust me. A mother knows these things. You probably didn’t notice how he perked up when he saw you standing in the doorway of the family room. The boy nearly lit up the entire room.”
Hope bubbled in me chest. “I’m sure he was just surprised to see me here for your family dinner. Amelia didn’t tell me the entire family would be here or that you’d be celebrating Cord’s birthday.”
Her gray eyes met mine and a wide grin moved over her face. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?”
I frowned and was about to ask her what she meant, but she laughed and waved off her comment.
While cutting up the cucumber, I yawned.
“You poor thing, you must be so tired with the restaurant opening and all.”
“I am. I’m pretty wrecked and already longing for a holiday.”
“That means a vacation, right?”
I nodded.
Melanie stared for a few moments before she set her spoon down and placed her hands on the island.
“Maebh, I’ve got a great idea.”
“What is it?” I asked, matching her smile with one of my own.
“We have a house on LBJ Lake. It’s a few hours away, and it’s open next weekend. Four whole days of nothing but peace and quiet.”
My teeth sank into my lip, and I wanted more than anything to tell her I’d take it.
“Oh, I’m not sure I can leave the restaurant. I mean, we just opened.”
“Your father can watch it! I know he owns a successful business back in Ireland.”
I was tempted to take her up. I knew my da and Eric would be able to handle the restaurant for a few days.
“Just think about it. We’ll keep that weekend open for you.”
“Thank you, Melanie.”
Her face lit up. “Of course, my sweet girl! Now, go tell everyone to get into the dining room. Dinner is fixin’ to be served.”
I made my way through the kitchen and into the large family room. I loved hearing all the craziness coming from that room. Chloe was begging Mitchell to sing something from Frozen, while Gage was laughing. When I rounded the corner, me breath caught in my throat.
Cord was the one making Gage laugh hysterically. Me stomach dropped, and I instantly felt a throbbing heat between me legs.
Goodnight, nurse.
That man was so good looking. Hot didn’t
even begin to describe how handsome he was. I could see his ripped muscles through his shirt as he grabbed his little nephew, pulling him across the floor and back into his lap to tickle him. I didn’t notice anyone else in the room, only him.
“He’s good with Gage, isn’t he?” Paxton asked, making me jump.
“Um, yes. Gage seems to really love his uncles and aunts.”
Paxton’s eyes were on me, but I didn’t look at her. I’d told the girls I was going to move on and forget about my feelings for Cord, but Paxton had caught me staring. And when I say staring, I mean me tongue was practically on the floor.
Shite. I needed to be more careful with my ogling.
I faced Paxton. “Your ma said that dinner was about to be ready and for everyone to come sit down.”
“Okay, I’ll make the cattle call!”
We chuckled and I headed back to the kitchen to help Melanie. I felt so terrible for crashing their dinner, so much so that I was trying me best to help with whatever Melanie needed. I stopped in the hall, watching the Parker parents together.
“Oh man, sweetheart,” John said, coming up behind Melanie and wrapping his arms around her. “It all smells so good.”
Melanie lifted her head to look back at her husband. The way they held each other made me heart melt on the spot. It was beautiful how in love they were. For a few moments, they seemed lost in each other’s eyes and me chest ached thinking about me own parents. I wanted a love like this someday. Not just wanted, longed for.
“They love each other very much.”
His voice made the hairs on me neck stand and a tremble rushed through me entire body. I kept me eyes focused on Cord’s parents while I answered. “You can see it with how they look at each other. It’s beautiful.”
“Do you need any help?”
Taking in a deep breath, I forced meself to look at him.
Ugh.
His deep blue eyes made me heart flutter, and when he smiled, me knees knocked together. They actually knocked together.
“Hmm, your eyes.”
Squeezing mine shut tightly, I cursed myself for the slip-up and shook my head before looking at a smirking Cord.
“I mean, you can help getting ice for the drinks.”
He lifted his chin and said, “Oh, ice.”
I nodded. “Mm-hmm.”
While Cord got a bucket of ice from the icemaker in the kitchen, I helped Melanie carry out the food. Harley and Amelia helped while everyone else got settled at the table. Waylynn had put Liberty down in a small portable playpen while Corina had Merit in a swing. Both babies were sleeping away.
A million and one conversations were going on at the table, and I loved it. It had always been just me, ma, and da for dinner. This was a nice change.
Cord had filled up everyone’s glasses with ice and tea.
“Look at the birthday boy helping out!” Tripp teased as Cord walked the iced tea back into the kitchen.
“Oh, I just sat down. Maebh, will you grab the bread and butter, dear?” Melanie asked.
“Sure!” I said and headed into the kitchen. Cord came walking around the corner, and we ran right into each other. I let out an oof sound, the wind nearly knocked out of me.
“Sorry, Maebh. I was walking too fast.”
“S’okay,” I mumbled, trying to get me breath. How in the world did the man knock it right out of me? “It’s like walking into a brick wall, though,” I said, taking in a deep breath.
Cord lifted his arms and flexed, and I nearly dropped to my knees. He smirked a little. “Did you forget something?”
Me eyes raked over his body, and I didn’t even care if he noticed. He was so nice to look at. It would give me a nice mental image for later when I was alone in me bed.
Cord stepped closer and brushed a piece of hair from me face.
“Why are you blushing, darling?”
I swallowed hard. Why was he calling me darling? It made me skin tingle from the tip of me toes to the top of me head. “It’s warm in here and running back and forth from the kitchen and all.”
He nodded and looked into me eyes like he knew I was handing him a line of bullshit.
I stepped away and his mouth dropped into a tight line.
“Your ma needs the bread and butter. I’ve got the bread, but not sure where she keeps your butter.”
It took Cord a few seconds to acknowledge what I had said before he made his way across the kitchen to the refrigerator.
He held it up. “I’ve got it.”
I laughed at the tub of Irish butter.
With a shake of his head, he smirked, “Grab the bread and let’s eat.”
Her laugh made my chest squeeze. In a good way. A very fucking good way. I took a chance and glanced across the table at Maebh. Luck would have it, my mother made sure we were the last two to sit down and we were sitting directly across from one another.
“Maebh, spell your name!” Corina called out.
With a roll of her eyes, Maebh glared at Corina. “Why do you insist on having me spell me name all the time.”
I couldn’t help but smile. Damn that accent of hers. Because being beautiful wasn’t enough, she had to add adorable on top of it. And innocent. Let’s not forget the bomb Harley had dropped on me about Maebh being a virgin.
My eyes moved over her body, or what part of it I could see since she was sitting.
“M. A. E. B. Hache.”
“No, it’s H!” Waylynn chuckled.
Staring at Waylynn liked she’d lost her mind, Maebh teased her right back. “That’s what I said, hache.”
Jesus, I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted another woman in my entire life. The fact that she was a virgin and deserved someone who wasn’t a whoring prick wasn’t lost on me, but I didn’t care. I was a greedy bastard.
Maebh smiled even bigger and turned her head. When our eyes met, her cheeks turned even pinker, and she glanced down to her plate.
“How’s the restaurant doing, Maebh?” my father asked.
“It’s amazing. We’ve had a steady crowd since opening night and have received some lovely reviews. The Austin American Statesman even gave us flying colors!”
The way she beamed made me sit up a little straighter. I was proud of her and amazed at the same time. I wanted to ask her why she’d picked America to open up an Irish restaurant and bar, and not Ireland.
“Your father owns a distillery in Ireland?” my father asked Maebh.
She nodded. “Yes, one of the biggest ones. He doesn’t plan on staying in America full time. He loves Ireland too much.”
“And you?” Mom asked, her brows hiked up almost to the middle of her forehead.
Maebh smiled gently. “I love it here. I love Ireland, too, but here I feel close to me ma, and I’ve fallen in love.”
When she left her sentence dangling like that, the whole damn table leaned in and silently urged her to finish the sentence. Fallen in love with…
My heart was pounding as heat crept up my neck.
Who in the fuck had she fallen in love with? Jackson? The damn chef who was always hitting on her?
“You’ve fallen in love?” my mother asked, a tinge of hope in her voice.
“Oh! No, I mean, I’ve fallen in love…with Texas.”
With a disappointed, “Oh,” my mother dropped back in her chair.
“It’s beautiful in the Texas hill country, isn’t it?” Harley said.
Maebh nodded.
“Cord, you should take Maebh out on your motorcycle sometime and show her just how beautiful it is here.” My mother stated.
My eyes snapped over to my mother. “Huh?”
“Wouldn’t you love to do that, Maebh?”
“Mom,” Steed said in a soft voice like he was gently trying to remind our mother to keep her nose out of everyone’s business.
“Well, um, I’ve never been on a motorcycle before so I’m not sure I would enjoy it.”
My mother grinned an evil smile. “Cord would m
ake sure you were safe. Wouldn’t you, sweetheart?”
Furrowing my brows, I glared at her. “What?”
“Sweet baby Jesus in heaven,” Waylynn sighed. “Mom, not now.”
“I think it would be fun. You should hurry and eat. Then take her for a ride.”
I nearly choked on my own spit as Trevor lost it laughing, and Maebh glanced down at her hands that were now in her lap.
“What?” I cried out.
Looking at me like I was ruining her grand plan, my mother shook her head. “Why do you keep saying what?”
“Why do you keep talking?” I asked as my father let out a chuckle that earned him a dirty look from my mother.
“I’m just saying, I think you and Maebh should—”
I don’t know why I did it, but I blurted out, “Harley’s pregnant!”
That’s a lie; I knew why I did it. I needed the heat off of me. It was better than shouting “Maebh’s a virgin so stop pushing me on her.” Harley and Tripp would forgive me. At least, I thought they would. Maebh would never forgive me.
“Cord!” Harley gasped as Tripp kicked me so hard I nearly screamed like a little girl.
“You asshole!” Tripp growled.
My mother looked at Harley and tears formed in her eyes. “Is this true?”
Harley looked over to Amelia and then Paxton. Fear was all over her face.
“Amelia’s book is being turned into a movie!” Harley shouted.
“Hey!” Amelia cried out as everyone gasped.
“Oh. My. Gawd! What!” My mother screamed as she jumped up. She waved her hands all about and faced Harley. “You’re pregnant?”
She smiled and nodded. “We wanted to wait a bit longer before we told anyone,” Harley said, looking my way and throwing me a death stare before focusing on my parents with a huge smile. It wasn’t long before my father and mother were hugging both Harley and Tripp and then Amelia.
The rest of the family followed, congratulating Harley and Tripp, as well as Amelia. Even Maebh congratulated them, although I got the distinct feeling she already knew about the baby and the movie deal. By the time the family was finished making the rounds, I glanced around for Maebh but she was nowhere to be found.
“Everyone, sit! I’ve got chocolate cheesecake for the birthday boy! What a beautiful day this has turned out to be!”
This Love Page 8
