“Let me guess,” Gray smirked, “when you told him, he forbade all contact like a medieval warlord?”
Mags felt her jaw drop. “Exactly. He did exactly that. I reminded him that we’d have trouble going to the damn toilet without running into one of his conquests. Give me a break. Tell me Ciar loosened up now that you’re married and have two children.”
At Gray’s silence, Mags swore. “Fuck me,” she groaned.
“So,” Bébhinn began slowly, “are you two exclusive? Like, has he agreed to that?”
“He said I was it for him, that he didn’t want anyone else, and well, you guys know how I feel about him.”
Blair clapped her hands and grinned. “It took a while, but you’re finally there. I’m so happy for you, Mags.”
Bébhinn held up her glass of water, and they all clinked glasses. Mags felt a surge of warmth for her friends and their support. She could only hope that she and Jonathan didn’t screw things up.
“Clearly, Jonathan knows you weren’t a virgin after last night, but does he know it was only one man and who that man is?” Blair asked.
Mags groaned. “He knows there was only one. He knows his name is Rory and that we’ve been seeing each other for a few years.” She held her hands up like “What more is there?”
Bébhinn raised her brows in a knowing look. “Does he know that Rory is thirty-seven and is a partner of a successful commercial architecture business? The very business that I’ve heard the men in my family discussing will give Jonathan the most competition once he opens up his firm next year?”
Mags deflated. “Yeah, that didn’t come up, but honestly,” she defended, “it was never serious.”
Blair touched Mags’ hand to get her attention. “The few times I was around him when we all went out, I have to say that the man had hearts in his eyes when he looked at you.”
Mags was taken aback. She didn’t outright deny that Rory might have felt a certain way about her because Blair notoriously saw things in people that most missed. She just didn’t want it to be true.
“I hope he didn’t. We were always open about where we stood with each other.” She popped a grilled shrimp in her mouth and used the time to think over the Rory thing while she chewed.
“I should probably reach out to him and let him know that I won’t be meeting him anymore.”
“But that’s a problem for another day,” Gray said, bumping Mags’ side while shoving a chip in her mouth. “Tell us when you and Jonathan are having sex again.”
Blair signed, “Yes, do. You know I live vicariously through you guys, which is really sad when I hear that in my head.”
Mags shook her head in exasperation but gladly spent the next thirty minutes telling the girls some of the romantic gestures Jonathan had made, his apologies for the past, and their tentative plans for the future.
“Speaking of,” Mags said, clenching her teeth and grimacing, “I asked Jon if he wanted to go home with me to see my folks this weekend even though we’re so new.”
“And he said?” Bébhinn asked, her hands clasped against her chest.
“He said yes and then immediately took charge of the travel arrangements.”
“Of course he did. He’s an O’Faolain, they don’t know any other way,” Bébhinn shrugged. “That he didn’t hesitate to go with you to see your family tells me he truly has changed.”
“Yeah,” Mags agreed. “I was nervous to ask, but I admit that when he instantly wanted to come, I was pretty pleased.”
“I wish I could go home too,” Blair frowned. “I want to see Aunt Aileen. My parents are super disappointed, but they understand.”
Mags clasped one of Blair’s hands. “Your interview with the head of Oklahoma State University’s plant pathology is too important to miss. The woman is flying to Dublin to meet with you. We’re all so proud of you.”
“My grumpy father-in-law is still mad he couldn’t convince you to join his cause in Wales, but he still has hopes of bringing you around after youSew your wild oats in America.”
Blair rolled her eyes but grinned at Ulf’s antics. Talk turned to the Chamber of Commerce dinner hosted by Gray Eyes next week. She couldn’t wait. As a new business owner, the networking potential would be crazy.
Plus, it would be the first event she and Jonathan showed up as an official couple, which was equal parts amazing and terrifying.
“I created an embroidered fan for Eze’s mother for her birthday. I refused payment, of course, but he threw such a mantrum, I told him I would use his credit card to order a dress for the Chamber event. It came in a few days ago. I love it.”
“Does he know that you’re a bargain-shopping queen and spent next to nothing for the dress?” Bébhinn asked.
