“What, so you can cheat me my money?” Cara poked her finger in his ribs.
The good doctor leaned over and tickled—tickled—his wife.
My stomach flipped at their easy display of devotion and affection. I pushed my chair back, standing abruptly. “I have some work to do. Count me out.”
A beat of silence fluttered through the group. Wary glances were shot in my direction, but I steeled my spine against them.
Da made a joke, and I silently blessed him as the good spirits returned.
“Let me fix you a plate for tomorrow.” Ma patted my wife’s hand.
My beautiful little bird didn’t inform my mother that she was probably the better cook out of the two. She simply accepted.
I watched them disappear from the table. It took five controlled seconds before I lost it—and followed.
But the bleeding pup needed to be contained. The moment I opened the kitchen door, Storm shot out, diving under the table to hunt for crumbs.
The uproar that followed restored the balance to a jollier level.
Ears flaming hot, I finally caught the wee shite by the hind leg, pulled him gently from under Finn’s seat, and wrestled him into my arms.
“He won’t be that small for long. Look at those paws!” Cara exclaimed. Rounding on her husband, she stabbed a finger in his chest. “We need another dog, Sean.”
“Jaysus, woman, we have three already,” the doctor grumbled.
“Sean O’Ryan, we’re getting another dog.” Cara crossed her arms over her chest. “Or you’re going to knock me up again. Your choice.”
Doc Ryan sighed and bowed his head as the room burst into jolly laughter. “Fine. Get a dog.”
I made my escape.
Ma was alone in the kitchen. She gave me one long look and just shook her head.
“What?” I snapped, heading toward the mud room, knowing that it was the most likely place to find my wife.
Ma sighed. “I worry about you, laddy.”
“Then pray for me.”
I pushed into the space and caught Gabriella setting down a shoe. A shoe that wasn’t hers.
The door swung closed behind me, plunging us into darkness.
“Liam, I—uh—” Gabriella gasped, fidgeting in the dark.
I dropped the pup as I bent to my knees. Alone. At last. I couldn’t take it any longer. I reached for Gabriella, my palms sliding up her bare calves.
The words that came out of my mouth were strangled. The voice, not my own. “You look very pretty tonight.”
Bowing my head, I placed a kiss on the top of her foot before I slid it into the shoe she’d been standing next to. The sweet sound of her inhale catching in her throat was music to my ears as I repeated on the other side.
“What are you doing?” she whispered.
Apologizing.“Helping my wife.”
I could hear the eye roll. It made my lip twitch.
“Gabriella, I’ve—”been such an arse.
