Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 120240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120240 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Whether my family believes her is another matter entirely. We agreed to let them both live, let Tara keep the house, but there's a price for that mercy—exile for her father, and Tara Kavanagh doesn't show her face at McCarthy events. Keeps her head down and her mouth shut.
It's likely why she declined tonight, though I suspect the conditions I’ve made—for the way she treats Erin and now having to ask for my permission—had something to do with it too. Maybe she needs to find another whipping boy or girl, as it were.
Erin and I sneak away onto the terrace, where the night is clear and the stars are out in force.
“Happy?” she asks.
“Deliriously.” I lean into her warmth. “Never thought I'd have this,” I say quietly. “A proper marriage. Love. Someone who chose me.” I tug a lock of her hair. “You? You once told me you didn’t believe in marriage.”
She shrugs. “Mmm. That was a lie.”
I chuckle. “Well, hope you do now.”
She turns to face me, her eyes fierce in the moonlight. “I suppose. And you're stuck with me.”
I kiss her, slow and sweet, and I taste forever in it.
Behind us, someone clears their throat. We break apart to see Seamus grinning at us like a cat with cream.
“Sorry to interrupt the moment,” he says, sounding not sorry at all, “but there's something you should know.”
Erin tenses beside me. “What's that?”
“That Boston connection Declan's been watching? Wants a meeting.”
“When?” My voice has gone cold, professional.
“Next week.” Seamus’s expression is serious now. “Could be nothing. Could be everything. Either way, we need to be ready.”
Erin looks at me, and there's a question in her eyes. Are you ready for this?
She straightens her shoulders and lifts her chin.
That’s my girl.
“I'm Erin McCarthy now. Wife to Cavin. Sister to Bridget. Part of this family.” She meets my brother’s gaze steadily. “We'll handle it. Together.”
Seamus grins, approval gleaming in his eyes. “That's what I like to hear. Welcome, Erin.”
“Thank you.” She pauses. “We don't bring to the table what I thought I would. I'm sorry about that. My family—they don't have—”
“No.” I cut her off, my voice firm. “You bring you to the table, and that's all I need.” I kiss her temple, possessive and tender. “You're my family now.”
Erin McCarthy is fearless when the ones she loves are threatened, not to mention her skill at turning pocket change into gold. She told me she’ll let them know that when the time is right.
I lean in, my lips brushing hers, my voice dropping to a wicked whisper. “Are you ready to do the devil's work, Mrs. McCarthy?”
She grins. “With you by my side, Mr. McCarthy.”
THE END