‘Aye, as I said, they’re gobshites, those two. Which is why I recommended ignoring them, but I appreciate you have your own unique approach.’ Sean peeled the security seal off the packet, placing the cellophane wrapper on the counter. He ran his thumb over the opening of the small box. ‘I can’t help feeling there’s a subliminal message here.’ Drawing his eyes back up to Cherry, he waited for an answer.
‘Is there?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know.’ His gaze never deviated from hers. ‘Is there?’
Cherry swallowed. She hadn’t considered it that way at all, but now that Sean pointed it out, it was glaringly obvious. It was possible to act as she had in the shop today for more than one reason. Sure, she’d been trying to teach those women a lesson, but there were other ways to go about it. She could have stuck it to them without buying the village’s supply of sexual protection whilst implying that her husband was hung like a horse.
‘I’m sorry for not ignoring them,’ she said.
‘Aye, ignore me instead, eh?’
‘Again, sorry. I should have found a middle ground. Maybe said, “Excuse me, but I’m the new Mrs Butler, so could you stop being so nosey, and may I please have one box of extra small condoms and this pasta sauce? Myhusband and I are going to have a nice meal, and then he’ll see to me with his teeny tiny penis.”’
Sean burst out laughing. Fixed on her with electricity nearly sparking from him, like he couldn’t quite believe her. He placed the condoms down on the counter and leaned against it.
‘Aye. That might have worked. Although, I prefer the original version.’
‘You do? Ah, I didn’t think you were mad.’
‘Of course I’m not mad. I’m impressed. I’ve no idea what we’re going to do with all these fucking condoms, though. Guess you’ll have to take them back to the shop tomorrow, so the village birth rate doesn’t spike dramatically.’
Cherry brought her feet to the couch and crossed her legs into the lotus position, a little disappointed he wasn’t suggesting they start working their way through the supply. With him looking like he did and being so chivalrous, they’d be through them in no time. ‘Okay, I’ll do that and tell them I’m dreadfully sorry.’
‘Aye, make sure you do.’
‘Seriously, though, Sean, I can understand now why you want us to pretend the marriage is fine. I get it.’
His face lit with surprise at her understanding. ‘Aye, this place is no fun when you’re the grain the gossip mill is grinding. But seeing as the current outcome is that I’m a sex god and my wife has my back, we’re good for now.’
‘I appreciate that. Listen.’ Now seemed like the right time to mention the elephant in the room. ‘I printed off an annulment application. It’s over by the printer.’
‘Righto.’ Sean didn’t even glance at the printer, choosing instead to keep staring at Cherry. ‘I’ll check later. I’m off to get changed for a ride.’ He pushed off thekitchen counter. Then, out of nowhere, he pulled off his t-shirt, revealing possibly the most beautiful body she had ever seen in her life. My God, the man was sculpted six ways to heaven. Biceps that swelled like the ocean he surfed on every day, a stunning Celtic knot tattooed around one of them, countless other tattoos and a natural firmness that was borne of solid hard work building whisky barrels, rather than hours spent in a stale, sweaty gym. He practically gleamed. And the abs. Oh, the abs. She could bury her face in them and lick them forever.
Sean Butler was pure perfection.
And she’d married him.
Cherry must have been gawping.
‘Oh, sorry.’ Sean noticed her expression. ‘I forgot you were there. My bad.’ He winked and threw the t-shirt over his shoulder. ‘I’ll see you for that pasta when I’m back.’
It was hard not to laugh. ‘Forgot’ her arse. And ‘changed for a ride’. The man knew exactly what he was doing.
And boy did it ratchet her right up to boiling point.
Chapter 10
Sean
‘Your sisters are worried, and I have to say, so am I.’ On Sunday afternoon, Amanda Butler eyed Sean over her kitchen table with such seriousness that he was cast right back to being a teenager again.
‘Worried about what exactly?’ Sean sipped his scalding tea and decided to play innocent, despite having a fair idea of what she was getting at.
‘Oh, just a little matter of finding out you are married.’
As suspected, this was about Cherry, or more to the point, the wedding. He kept up the bravado. His mum enjoyed being humoured from time to time; maybe today was one of those times.
‘How can you be worried? You haven’t even met her yet.’
