The next kiss was the sort to make your knees weak and your chest explode. We wouldn’t talk about what it would do to underwear but it did take away any breath I had left.
“I get it.”
He nodded, stepping away from me. “Good. Now we really need to discuss these points.”
“That’s fine.” I pulled myself together. “The points.” Sort of pulled myself together.
“Are you okay, Marie?” He sat down, looking at me almost sternly.
I took a seat opposite. “Perfectly fine.”
His smirk was nothing but the devil himself. “Let’s crack on then.”
CHAPTER 6
SEPH
Icouldn’t remember the last time so many of the grandkids had been in my parents’ house at the same time; neither could my mother, who was watching some of the chaos via a video call, which also involved lots of instructions to Max who was standing behind Claire as she showed Mum what was going on.
“The dining table’s staying so don’t let Will anywhere near it, Max. In fact, keep him out of the dining room. Can you pass on to the packers that the bed in the spare room is staying, and then whichever beds you lot scavengers aren’t taking, can go to that charity.”
I’d already had a call with her this afternoon, asking for more details about Rose and what and when things were happening. They were in Portugal in a service villa and should be there for two weeks, however I suspected they’d only stay a week. Mum was clearly itching to be here and organising everything, which surprised no one.
“Have you managed to relax today?” Claire asked, directing the camera at Niamh and Orla who were actually sat down, reading a book that I vaguely remembered from when me and Payton were little – fuck knew where they’d uncovered it.
“It’s been very relaxing. We spoke to the estate agent and we have an extra couple of days to get everything cleared.” Her voice carried over to where I was sitting, going through the drawers of a dresser in the dining room that I didn’t think I’d every been in before.
“That wasn’t the question,” Claire said, sounding a real adult which always surprised me. “Are you relaxing, because if you’re spending all your time planning this sale, then you’re rushing it.”
“Darling girl, whenever we’ve made big decisions, we’ve always made them quickly. If I’d thought for an extra day about marrying your father and taking on four feral children, I wouldn’t have done it. My life would’ve been completely different.” She sounded far too serene.
I closed the drawer, impressed at how much silverware my parents possessed and unsure of why the fuck they’d need so much of it.
“Mum, why’s there so much cutlery?” I stuck my head in view of the camera.
Claire handed me her phone and I flipped the camera round so we could see each other.
“Wedding presents. I think we had about six people send us huge sets. We should probably take it with us to Oxford.” She looked unimpressed. “Or you could all have a set – most of you. Someone would have to miss out.”
“I’m happy to miss out.” Max chirped in. “We were sent two sets for our wedding and we’ve never opened either.”
“Only two? That’s pathetic.” Mum grinned. “Anyway, I’m going to leave you all to ransacking our house while I go and have a double gin and tonic by the beach. Love you all.” She didn’t quite manage to turn the video off before the next comment. “Little eejits. I bet they’ve been waiting for this to get their paws on it – gree - ”
I looked at Claire, who was grinning, shaking her head.
“Sometimes she’s complicated.” It was an understatement. Once I’d wondered how my dad did it, managing to keep Mum happy even though she changed her mind at least three times before fixing on something. Then I met Georgia and knew why I did it.
“Aren’t most women?” Killian chose a possibly suicidal moment to come into the room, carrying Quinn, which could well be the best line of defence.
Claire sent him a look that should’ve toppled him to the floor. “I’m not complicated. You couldn’t have married someone less complicated that me.”
“Really?” He leaned against the wall. “Explain how? Because I’m not sure you’d have let me marry someone else. You worshipped me from day one.”
“In your dreams.” She took a few steps closer.
“Inyourdreams.” He grinned at her, looking at her in a way that made me question whether I should take my niece and leave them to it. “You followed me round like a puppy.”
“I did not.”
