Page 30 of Sullivan

Bonnie and I turned our heads in surprise. Autumn was beside the booth, looking amused and worried at the same time. Her smile was tremulous and her eyes anxious. She was beautiful.

“Mo fhiadh beag,” I breathed out.

Bonnie stared at me. “Oh my God,” she muttered. “You have a pet name for her. This is serious.”

She slid from the booth and flung her arms around Autumn. “I don’t know whether to welcome you to the family or tell you to run. He’s a handful, but since I get to keep you, I am thrilled!”

Autumn shut her eyes, her relief evident. I waited until Bonnie stopped hugging her, then stepped from the booth, pulling Autumn into my arms and pressing a kiss to her head. “Hey,” I murmured. “Everything is good.”

She looked between Bonnie and me. “Yeah?”

Bonnie nodded. “Yeah. Now get her a drink, Sully. And I want to hear the whole story. Well, the PG version anyway.”

I let Autumn slide into the booth. “Beer or gin?” I asked, already knowing the answer. She wasn’t a beer fan.

“Gin and tonic, please.”

“We’ll get some food too. You look over the menu.”

I headed to the bar, glancing over my shoulder. Bonnie was already leaning across the table, talking fast. I had a feeling two very different conversations were going to happen. One between the three of us, and a far more entertaining version I wouldn’t hear.

And I was good with that.

AUTUMN

Bonnie was both shocked and intrigued by what had happened between her cousin and me. She bent forward, keeping her eye on him as he went to the bar.

“Jesus, Autumn. That wasn’t what I meant by a relaxing weekend! Sully. It’s Sully! Mr. Never-Gets-Involved. Mr. Too-Busy-for-Relationships. He meets you, and suddenly, that’s it. He’s involved with someone who lives an ocean away, and he wants that changed. Now.”

I laughed self-consciously. “Neither of us expected it. But it happened.”

“That’s an understatement. He’s a goner. He’s already asking for my help in keeping you here.” She widened her eyes dramatically. “He said the word marry.”

“He said it to me too.”

“Jaysus,” she muttered. “I never thought I’d live to see this.”

“Your accent gets very thick when you mutter like that.”

“It happens when I’m feeling gobsmacked.”

“I see.”

“Does Sully’s get thicker when he’s, ah, passionate?”

“That’s private.”

“So that’s a yes.”

I pursed my lips, and she laughed. “Okay, then. Maybe some wine and the lack of Sully in the vicinity will loosen your tongue.”

“Maybe.”

Sully slid drinks onto the table. “Look over the menu?”

“Fish and chips for me.”

“Oh, me too,” Bonnie agreed.