face.
“Lena, shut it,” Declan says before glancing at me. “Don’t pay her any mind. She obviously is off her meds today.”
She sticks her tongue out at him as everyone starts to laugh, but I just poke at my carrots. I don’t want to live here with his family.
Is that weird?
“Amberlyn, I’ll need you to come to tea with us with the Fadmish ladies in two weeks, please,” Mrs. O’Callaghan says once she’s stopped laughing. “I just remembered, and they are so excited to meet you. Maybe you could wear something of Lena’s.”
My brows come up as I shake my head. “While I’m flattered by the fact you think I could wear Lena’s clothes, I’m pretty sure my butt and boobs wouldn’t fit.”
“Sure wouldn’t,” is Declan’s response, which causes my cheeks to redden as I playfully lean into him. “But gorgeous, just the same,” he says, kissing my cheek and hugging me tightly to him.
Meeting Mrs. O’Callaghan’s gaze once more, I notice her eyes are a little sharper. “I guess you’re right. You should go shopping with Lena before then.”
I tilt my head to the side. “I’m sure I have something.”
She waves me off with a smile on her face. I’m not sure if she is joking or being serious. “You’ll need to be dressed accordingly.”
“Isn’t it just tea? I’m sure I have something.”
“A pantsuit?”
“A pantsuit?” I ask incredulously. “For tea?”
Lena laughs, and I notice that now Mr. O’Callaghan is watching me intently. Almost expectantly. I remember Declan telling me that his da thinks I’m not ready for this life. Well, he’s got another thing coming.
“Or a tea dress. I’ll take ya out,” Lena says, but I don’t want to go get new clothes. However, I swallow that and smile.
“Sure, it will be fun,” I say with a nod, but I’m pretty sure it will be anything but.
“Grand!” Mrs. O’Callaghan says with a big grin before squeezing Declan’s hand. He smiles up at her and then me before taking a sip of his whiskey. “We need to plan the engagement party quickly since the wedding is going to be here before we know it.”
“Wouldn’t be that way if Da would give me more time,” Declan says, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. “Give us a year to plan.”
“Well—” Mrs. O’Callaghan starts, but Mr. O’Callaghan interrupts her.
“No, you’ll be married soon, or good ol’ Micah will be taking over operations at the distillery. I want to travel, son. I am done here; it’s time for me and your ma to leave, enjoy our retirement,” he says, joining his fingers with hers.
I can see the tick in Declan’s jaw and I hate that. This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, and I’m more than a little annoyed with his father. While we really don’t need time, I understand Declan wanting it for me. He’s nervous and I understand that, but I’m not going anywhere.
“So when should we do the engagement party?” I say, lacing my fingers with his, and then I cover our hands with my other one. He glances at me and I smile. He leans to me, his lips close to my ear as he whispers, “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to entertain them.”
When he pulls back, his eyes locked with mine, I can read everything on his face. He is nervous and annoyed, but, above all, he loves me. I never thought I could look into the eyes of someone other than my parents and just know they love me. Getting lost in the blue of his eyes, I know that he is right, but at the same time, why shouldn’t we experience it all? If they are going to give us a lavish engagement party, hell, let’s do it. If she wants to show me off to every tea party, let’s go. I’ll do anything to ensure that Declan knows I am here for him. We have things to discuss, but in the end, I’m his. Completely and fully his. So cupping his face, I say the only thing I am thinking. The only thing I am always thinking.
“I love you.”
I want to tell her no.
I want to
“Lena, shut it,” Declan says before glancing at me. “Don’t pay her any mind. She obviously is off her meds today.”
She sticks her tongue out at him as everyone starts to laugh, but I just poke at my carrots. I don’t want to live here with his family.
Is that weird?
“Amberlyn, I’ll need you to come to tea with us with the Fadmish ladies in two weeks, please,” Mrs. O’Callaghan says once she’s stopped laughing. “I just remembered, and they are so excited to meet you. Maybe you could wear something of Lena’s.”
My brows come up as I shake my head. “While I’m flattered by the fact you think I could wear Lena’s clothes, I’m pretty sure my butt and boobs wouldn’t fit.”
“Sure wouldn’t,” is Declan’s response, which causes my cheeks to redden as I playfully lean into him. “But gorgeous, just the same,” he says, kissing my cheek and hugging me tightly to him.
Meeting Mrs. O’Callaghan’s gaze once more, I notice her eyes are a little sharper. “I guess you’re right. You should go shopping with Lena before then.”
I tilt my head to the side. “I’m sure I have something.”
She waves me off with a smile on her face. I’m not sure if she is joking or being serious. “You’ll need to be dressed accordingly.”
“Isn’t it just tea? I’m sure I have something.”
“A pantsuit?”
“A pantsuit?” I ask incredulously. “For tea?”
Lena laughs, and I notice that now Mr. O’Callaghan is watching me intently. Almost expectantly. I remember Declan telling me that his da thinks I’m not ready for this life. Well, he’s got another thing coming.
“Or a tea dress. I’ll take ya out,” Lena says, but I don’t want to go get new clothes. However, I swallow that and smile.
“Sure, it will be fun,” I say with a nod, but I’m pretty sure it will be anything but.
“Grand!” Mrs. O’Callaghan says with a big grin before squeezing Declan’s hand. He smiles up at her and then me before taking a sip of his whiskey. “We need to plan the engagement party quickly since the wedding is going to be here before we know it.”
“Wouldn’t be that way if Da would give me more time,” Declan says, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. “Give us a year to plan.”
“Well—” Mrs. O’Callaghan starts, but Mr. O’Callaghan interrupts her.
“No, you’ll be married soon, or good ol’ Micah will be taking over operations at the distillery. I want to travel, son. I am done here; it’s time for me and your ma to leave, enjoy our retirement,” he says, joining his fingers with hers.
I can see the tick in Declan’s jaw and I hate that. This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, and I’m more than a little annoyed with his father. While we really don’t need time, I understand Declan wanting it for me. He’s nervous and I understand that, but I’m not going anywhere.
“So when should we do the engagement party?” I say, lacing my fingers with his, and then I cover our hands with my other one. He glances at me and I smile. He leans to me, his lips close to my ear as he whispers, “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to entertain them.”
When he pulls back, his eyes locked with mine, I can read everything on his face. He is nervous and annoyed, but, above all, he loves me. I never thought I could look into the eyes of someone other than my parents and just know they love me. Getting lost in the blue of his eyes, I know that he is right, but at the same time, why shouldn’t we experience it all? If they are going to give us a lavish engagement party, hell, let’s do it. If she wants to show me off to every tea party, let’s go. I’ll do anything to ensure that Declan knows I am here for him. We have things to discuss, but in the end, I’m his. Completely and fully his. So cupping his face, I say the only thing I am thinking. The only thing I am always thinking.
“I love you.”
I want to tell her no.
I want to
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