“Pricks,” he mouthed. Leaning down, he gave Gray one last smacking kiss before backing up and reaching for Imogen, who instantly held her hands out for her daddy.
Once tickles and nuzzles were given, his daughter was struggling to get out of his arms and was windmilling toward Gray, whose cheeks were pink with delight as she took his daughter into her arms for her own snuggles. To say he was shocked was an understatement.
Gray bopped Imogen’s nose and asked, “Does my sweet Immy want her dinner and bed?” Imogen’s answer was to gurgle happily and latch on to Gray’s long waves and bring them to her mouth.
She glanced his way and shrugged. “I spoke to Tina before you got home and asked after Imogen’s nighttime routine.”
For the first time, Ciar felt peace in explaining himself to Gray after returning from Japan. There was no better partner than Gray. Even after months apart, Gray had never not been his cornerstone. She was the one who would make them a family, and if telling her what she wanted to know ensured she would stay, then he would.
There was also a chance that his revelations would have the opposite effect, and she would leave him anyway.
The food arrived fifteen minutes after he and Gray put Imogen to bed. Bébhinn and Dagr stood in the doorway of his daughter’s room to “ensure Ciar didn’t do anything to make them late for dinner.”
Their bullshit aside, it was the best night he’d spent with everyone since the Colorado trip last summer. He sat next to Gray at the dining table as everyone passed food around and talked about what was going on in their lives.
Blair stayed with them for a while, but she needed to check on one of her “babies” before she could get ready for a date. The girls all quizzed her about the guy, discussing his physique in way more detail than surely was necessary. They missed the look that Daniel and Jonathan exchanged. Neither of the cousins looked happy about the news, which didn’t make any sense.
He caught Dagr’s eye, who had also noticed the look, and raised his brows and shrugged. The call ended, and the talk turned to Dagr and Bébhinn’s wedding. Now he understood why the date had been pushed back. They were waiting until baby Murphy was born.
The wedding would be at St. Mary’s. Family and close friends only, with no groomsmen or bridesmaids. Just the two of them standing before a priest vowing forever. Bébhinn believed that without her father to give her away, she wasn’t sure she could handle too much pomp surrounding the walk down the aisle without him.
He looked at Gray more than once as they described the simplicity of their nuptials. He wanted that. Well, he would marry Gray anyway she wished. Big, small, fancy, or simple, Dublin, Scotland, or even America, it didn’t matter.
An hour later, Daniel, Jonathan, and Mags took an Uber to their townhouses, and Dagr and Bébhinn to their home.
“I’d better pack. Help me?” he asked Gray, who was leaning against the counter, stretching her lower back, causing her baby bump to push against her sweatshirt.
“Okay.” She smiled shyly.
They walked through the living room to the back hallway leading to their suite. “Today’s been something, huh?” she asked.
“Understatement. Finding out about our son, I feel…overwhelmed but in the best way. I also got to have my hands and mouth on you three times. Definitely a good day,” he teased.
“You’re a shit, Ciar.”
She admonished him as she walked down the hallway to their bedroom. He looked around their home, pleased with how well the contractors followed his plans, many of which were from memory of the conversations he and Gray had had during many late-night conversations. He’d tried to remember every detail she’d wanted.
The ground floor had a large living area, with one spacious end devoted to offices that shared a bank of windows. The living room and kitchen were large and open, perfect for entertaining and ideal for cozy family time by the fire.
The gym and small spa were upstairs, as well as Imogen and Tina’s spaces. He’d had the contractors build another bedroom with an ensuite bathroom meant for company, but it was clearly going to be their son’s room.
Their suite had a spacious sitting room, two huge walk-in closets divided by a large bathroom with each side mirroring the other, a his and hers situation.
It was clear that Gray hadn’t explored the building while he’d been gone because her eyes were wide as she took everything in.
“I didn’t have anyone in to decorate any part of the place.” He cleared his throat nervously because everything was glaringly plain.
“I tried to get the colors right on the walls, wood floors, and bathroom tiles. I’ve been hoping for a miracle and that you’d be here to decorate it the way you always spoke about.
“And here you are.” Before she could correct him, he held up his hands in peace, “I know it’s not all worked out yet, but I know you won’t be able to stand the unfinished rooms for long.”
She tried to hide her smile but finally relented. “It does need a few things, and…Imogen’s room is not at all how I would want it,” she admitted softly.
He swallowed three times until his grin went down his throat. Gray was feeling a definite need to take charge of the place, and he was more than willing and ready to hand over the reins.
He always kept a bag partially packed with toiletries, so it didn’t take long to add the necessary clothes. Meetings in Japan were typically far dressier than even London, and he wouldn’t disrespect his client by not looking the part.
“I have a car picking me up at one to drive me to the airport. I hate leaving you here alone on your first night.”
