“For the love of God,” Aileen threw her hands up, “to think that I missed you two.”
Charles, as calm as ever, put his hands up in front of his chest. “I love you, which was why I went along with your wishes, but I did warn you that there would be consequences.” He then pointed one finger at Coll and one at Thomas and said, “Meet your consequences.”
After a few more minutes, Jonathan and Mags poured themselves drinks and sat at the large kitchen table with Lochlann and Laith, both young boys had managed to stare at him with looks of distrust while still watching their parents’ reunion with Charles and Aileen. Mirren, Mags’ sister, wouldn’t be there until the morning.
After half an hour, Coll and Thomas stepped away from the women and made eye contact with Jonathan. He prayed his face remained impassive—Coll Barr and Thomas MacGregor were intense sonofabitches.
Without breaking the stare-off, MacGregor asked Margaret, “How long have you and O’Faolain dated?”
Unperturbed by the accusatory tone, she grinned and linked her hand with the hand Jonathan had resting on the tabletop. “Not long. We’re very serious, however.”
Jonathan barely swallowed his groan. She was baiting them.
“Gray and Blair never told their mothers,” Coll growled.
“I asked them not to. Surprise!”
Christ Almighty.
“Patrick didn’t call us,” Coll continued, his frown growing deeper if that was possible.
“We only just shared the news, and Dad knew I was joining Mags this weekend. I’m sure he thought, as two adults, Mags and I could handle sharing the news on our own.” Jonathan let a hint of his irritation sound in his reply. He wasn’t some pimply teenager for crying out loud.
Attempting to divert the interrogation, he glanced at Lochlann and Laith. “Ciar asked if you two were still coming to stay in Dublin over the Christmas holiday this year.” Before the boys could answer, he added, “He also wanted you to know, Lochlann, that Gray was looking forward to it.”
Jonathan had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. Neither boy looked thrilled to spend some of their holiday in a home with two small children, but at the mention of Loch’s big sister, it was clear the boy would give in, which meant his best friend would as well.
Sighing in defeat, Lochlann crossed his arms over his chest in irritation, not unlike his father, but said, “We are.”
“Where do you plan on sleeping for the next two nights? Coll and I have space for you.” Clearly, there was no sidetracking the men in Mags’ family.
Mags didn’t let him answer. “Thank you for the offer, but Jon and I sleep together.”
Fuck my life.Did Mags want him to get his ass beaten?
“Charles,” MacGregor barked, “surely you don’t mean to let your young daughter sleep in the same bed with a man. In your house.”
Before her dad could intervene, Mags shot back with “Gray is less than a year older than me and has two children. I hardly think you’re in a position to cast disparagements. Also, you aren’t my father.Myfather doesn’t mind.”
“Oh shit,” Josephine muttered.
“Mirren is my daughter as much as she’s Charles’, which means you’re partly mine too.” The big man swung his head to Charles. “Isn’t that right?”
Charles, always the peacemaker, said, “You are Mirren’s father as much as I am, of course, Thomas, and Margaret has always been fortunate to have you as well. And Mags, I do mind. Very much. However, once we’re home, if both of you can convince me that this is permanent, for both of you, then you’ll have my blessing.”
Everyone remained silent for a moment. Charles may not bark or bite, but he wasn’t a pushover either.
Clearly, the evenings gauntlet wasn’t over yet.
Mags looked startled by her father’s decree, saying quietly, “Of course, Dad.”
Somewhat mollified, Thomas lifted his brows in an “I told you so” move to which Jonathan had to squelch any hint of amusement, well used to close-knit families and their antics.
Charles cleared his throat and gave him and Mags an amused smile before announcing, “I forgot to mention that I met with a Netflix representative a few weeks ago. It seems they are interested in turning my historicals into a miniseries.
“I have to fly back in a few months when I finish the second book to meet with them again.”
And just like that, mine and Mags’ sleeping arrangements, as well as Aileen’s cancer subterfuge, were forgotten amidst the shouts, screams, and congratulations.
