“Ah-ah!” Eilidh says sternly, “No more distraction. Talk to us. How is life with the family sociopath?”
“Shut it!” Edin snaps, “That’s a terrible thing to say about your own brother.”
“Everyone says it,” Eilidh is unrepentant.
“Mason is known for being somewhat cold and controlled,” Arabella breaks in, “but he protected me on a mission last year. He really cares about this family. But he might take some… getting used to now that you’re married, I’m guessing?”
“He’s very attentive.” My gaze drops to my plate. Of course, I’m not going to tell these women anything. I didn’t even tell Mom or Lucia about what I’d overheard. “He got a phone for me right away, since my father had taken mine.”
Edin’s lips purse. “Is it inappropriate to say that your father is a complete and utter bawbag?”
I nearly aspirate my mouthful of wine as I choke and laugh at the same time. “You would not be incorrect.”
“How are ye and Mason getting along, then?” Edin is relentless.
“We’re fine. We’re just getting to know each other. He’s been gone more days than we’ve been married, so…”
“We should have swooped down on ye sooner,” Arabella says. “It has to be lonely, starting again in a new country, a new home.”
How can I say I didn’twantto meet them? That it just means I’m one step closer to my eventual exile? Still. I’m here, they’re very kind and I’m going to let myself enjoy the afternoon without thinking about what comes next.
“I know my brother is very reserved and quiet,” Edin says, “but I work with him in the Finance Division at MacTavish International. I will tell ye that even as unsettled as everything is, he’s out the door at 5pm these last few days.” She winks at me. “Almost like he has someone to come home to.”
“True that,” Arabella says, “and Logan told me that Mason was first on the jet when it came time to come home from the mission.”
I smile weakly and take another gulp of wine. If Mason is doing these things, it’s not for me.
***
Bawbag - Scottish slang for scrotum, also used to describe somebody as one.
Chapter Eighteen
In which I’m not saying the cousins are cock-blockers. But they really are.
Mason…
All my wife’s clothes are back in my closet, where they should be. I know enough about the MacTavish women’s plan of attack to know they’ll have charmed Afton and made her feel welcome. Or would they be more reserved, because it’s an arranged marriage? Careful about what they say since my wife is from another crime family?
I should have considered that and spoken to my sisters beforehand. Afton is going to need their support to grow into this life.
My concerns are alleviated when they stumble back into my house, giggling a bit drunkenly and holding a pile of dessert boxes.
“What’s all this?” I lean against the doorway to the living room.
“We have realized, much to our chagrin, that our dear sister has not been introduced to the delights of Scottish desserts,” Eilidh informs me. “This must be rectified immediately. We will require all your dessert plates, if you please.”
“And forks!” Arabella adds.
“A couple of bottles of wine would not go amiss,” Luna says, smiling at me hopefully.
“I think you all need to leave off the lady petrol right now,” I say.
It’s making me itch, having all these women in my house. I’d intended to have a conversation with Afton when she returned home. This irrational reluctance to have sex when I know she wants me needs to be addressed now. There are so many things I want to do with her.
Specifically,toher.
But… Afton is flushed and happy, laughing at something Luna whispers before she smiles at me. “Please?” she asks. “We can share. There are pistachio macarons that look amazing. Oh! Did I tell you guys about the marzipan cake Mason ordered for me because we missed the cake at our reception? It was truly the most delicious thing, and…” They close around her, asking questions and sighing and Eilidh sends me an approving grin.
