Page 202 of Sins of Innocence

I rub the back of my neck. "I'll talk to Áine."

Maureen shakes her head. "I know my daughter. She's holding back because she's afraid to believe this is permanent. Afraid if she lets herself trust what you have together, you'll disappear and she'll be left picking up the pieces again."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"I know." She takes a sip of tea. "Do you think I'd have let you marry my daughter otherwise?"

Amused by her confidence that she could have stopped it, I say, "No."

Maybe she could have at that. The only woman with a more formidable will than my wife, is her mother.

Maureen pulls her knitting out. "I'm going to assume you're a man who knows it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission."

"Depends on who you're asking forgiveness from." You do something that needs forgiveness in the mob and chances are that forgiveness comes with a bodybag.

"True. True. Trust me, in this situation, presenting Áine with a fait accompli will be better than letting her fears dictate your family's future."

"You think that's what's going on?"

For several seconds the only sound is the clacking of Maureen's knitting needles.

"Those girls are looking for proof you're not going anywhere," Maureen says finally. "Áine is too, whether she admits it or not. You living with us instead of out of your suitcase is one way to give them that."

I live here, but it's true that there's no room for my things, so they're still at the Bunker. Maybe that's the real reason behind the girls asking for a bigger place to live. They want to know I'm moved in.

"You're moving with us, right?" Maybe my mother-in-law wants to live on her own.

She disabuses me of that thought fast. "Those girls still need their granny."

I nod. "Pretty sure we all do."

I had no idea when I decided to save Áine that I was the one whose life was getting better.

She smiles at me complacently. "As it should be."

As it should be.

Fuck, she reminds me of gran.

Chapter forty-five

Castles and Promises for the Future

ÁINE

Ibarely get the zipper on my dress pulled up before Kieran scoops me off my feet.

I squeak more from surprise than alarm, one arm looping around his neck automatically while he carries me toward the suite door. "What are you doing?"

"Leaving."

"I gathered that." We're supposed to meet mom and the girls for dinner at an undisclosed location.

Mom said the girls picked out the place and it's a surprise.

Kieran's mouth twitches. Barely.

Still, it's a smile and they're coming a lot more often these days. Since he told me he loved me and accepted that I love him too. He's still working on believing I love him for the man he is and not in spite of it, but that's okay.