Page 53 of Sullivan

“I have never taken anyone to meet my family,” he countered.

He studied me. “Am I pushing too hard, mo fhiadh beag?” He frowned. “I want to show you off. Spend as much time with you as possible. But I made you move in. I commandeer your evenings. I keep pushing myself into every inch of your time here, don’t I?” He shook his head. “We can wait until you return.”

“No, I would love to meet her. You didn’t force me to move in. You asked, and I said yes. I want you in every inch of my life, Sully.”

He smiled widely. “Yeah?”

I reached out and gripped his hand. “Yeah.”

“Good.” He grabbed his phone. “I’ll book the flights.”

I was nervous as we drove to Roisin’s house. Despite Sully’s assurances, I was worried about what she must think of a woman he’d only met a short time ago being introduced to her as…what exactly?

“Sully?”

“Hmm?” he replied, concentrating on the road.

“What does Roisin think I am?”

“Human, I believe.”

I slapped his arm, and he laughed. “My girlfriend. My lover. My soon-to-be fiancée. Then Mrs. Black.” He paused and squeezed my thigh. “My new world.”

I sat back. “Well, no pressure, then.”

“She is gonna love you.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I love you and, more importantly, you love me and make me happy. That is all she will care about.”

“And you’ve never brought anyone to meet her?”

“Once,” he said seriously. “My first love.”

“Oh?” I asked calmly, even though I hated to hear about him loving someone else.

“Rosey Connoll. Bright red hair, freckles everywhere, and the best tree-climber I ever knew.”

“The best what?”

He flashed me a grin. “I was six, and she lived across the street. Dirty little urchin—her mum used to chase her around to clean her up for school. Always in the mud, climbing trees, walking along roofs. Constantly in trouble. Ah, me heart was hers. I told Aunt Roisin I would marry her, I did,” he finished in a thick Irish singsong voice. “Then she broke my wee heart and kissed Robert Baker from down the block.” He shook his head. “I never recovered.”

I crossed my arms. “You are such an arse.”

He laughed merrily. “You are the first and only woman I have ever talked about to Roisin. Ever thought about bringing to meet her. Ever considered anything but a fling with. You, Autumn Briggs, one day soon-to-be Autumn Black, are my unicorn.”

We pulled up to a small house. He turned in his seat and met my gaze. “She will love you. And if she doesn’t, I would still love you.”

“I want her to like me.”

He glanced over my shoulder. “Well, here she comes. No time like the present to find out.” He opened his door. “And I already know she will.”

I took a deep breath. I hoped so.

Roisin Black was a whirlwind with an apron. She hugged Sully, talking a mile a minute, then turned to me with a wide smile. She was robust and tall. Her dark hair was streaked with gray, and her green eyes were warm and friendly.

“Och, Sully, ye didn’t do her justice! What a beauty!”