Bronagh Chapter 7
I was astonished at what the past week had been like since I said yes to tying myself to Cathal.
When we told his extensive family the news, they broke into cheers.
I was shocked. They waited until everyone was home after work, not only to have a family dinner, but also to bring out the champagne to toast us.
The O’Sheeran ladies hadn’t wasted a second in beginning to plan our wedding.
Cathal made it clear it couldn’t be a long engagement.
Sure, being engaged to him helped, but marriage was a stronger bond that made our enemies reconsider their actions.
His mom, aunts, and the other women all shooed him away, assuring him they would make it happen.
They insisted we give them a month. Reluctantly, Cathal agreed.
The morning after agreeing to the engagement, when Dad called, I told him the news. The relief was evident in his expression, though he asked me several times if I was sure. I told him yes. When Cathal joined the call, he vowed to do everything in his power to keep me safe and make me happy.
Dad had moved to another safe house since that call.
He was taking behind-the-scenes steps to ensure he was still running the family.
Others within the extended family were warned of the threat and to be careful.
He didn’t tell them what happened to me.
And when asked if he was hurt in the shooting, he lied.
Dad wanted no one to know he had been shot. It would be perceived as a weakness.
After the call, I was sucked into wedding preparations. They considered my need to rest and heal, but I still had work to do. Cathal would come in and run them off when I wasn’t working so he could get his time with me.
I loved the alone time we spent together.
No matter the time of day, he was nearby and available.
It made me wonder if he had free time like this all the time.
The O’Sheerans had numerous businesses, as my family did, but I had never asked Dad questions to learn about all of them.
Some were rather famous, such as Maeve Cellars, their winery.
There was their nightclub, Sirens. And they had Crystal Castle Chalet in Aspen, Colorado, their premier ski resort.
Divine Jewelers was their high-end jewelry store.
There was so much to discover about each other that I hadn’t gotten around to asking Cathal what he did in the family’s enterprises. I doubted he just lay around doing nothing. None of the others appeared to do that.
Today, I wasn’t embroiled in wedding planning.
They knew my preferences on colors, menu, cake, and even the style of dress.
I told them not to go crazy and to keep it low-key.
I wasn’t sure if they listened. Instead, I’d spent the morning working on my latest design and having conference and video calls with various team members or colleagues.
I felt safe doing that after the family’s main computer guru, Cody, encrypted my laptop and cell phone so no one could trace my location or access them remotely.
Cathal had taken them to the office to have them done for me.
A knock on the door made me glance at the clock.
It was one o’clock in the afternoon. It was time for lunch.
And it had to be Cathal at my door. I worked in my bedroom at the big house.
It was equipped with a desk, all the hookups, and a printer.
“Come in,” I called out as I got to my feet and stretched. I was sore from sitting for so long.
The door opened, and in came Cathal. He carried a large tray with plates of food and glasses. I rushed over to see if I could help.
“I’ve got it, just go sit on the loveseat,” he instructed.
I did after closing the bedroom door. I checked over the food as he set the tray on the coffee table in front of the loveseat. It smelled and looked scrumptious.
“Be prepared to fall in love. This is Agatha’s shepherd’s pie. I hope you like that kind of thing,” Cathal said, sitting next to me.
“I love it. How can I call myself Irish if I don’t?” I teased.
“Amen to that.”
“I could’ve gone downstairs to eat like we usually do,” I informed him.
“I know, but I wanted to be where it’s cozy and private. You know, in case the pie drives you wild with desire, and you attack me,” he smirked.
I laughed and said before taking my first bite. “Well, you’d better watch out. Potatoes do make me crazy.”
When the taste of that bite hit my taste buds, I moaned and closed my eyes. I’d had several different shepherd’s pies in my life, but none of them tasted this good. I moaned again.
“Dia, are you trying to make me crazy? Don’t moan like that,” he muttered hoarsely.
I opened my eyelids and peeked over at him.
Cathal stared at me with raw desire. Over the past week, our time together had included several more kisses.
And every time, it was hard for both of us not to go further.
But he always cut them short before we had to decide.
I found myself wishing he had less self-control.
I knew I should take my time and get to know him before we made our relationship fully sexual, but I ached for him.
I wanted to have his hands and mouth all over my body.
I wanted to explore his and do the same.
I throbbed inside to know what his cock would feel like.
I knew he was endowed. The size of his erections that strained his pants told me that.
It had been a while since I’d been with a guy, but that had nothing to do with my desire for Cathal.
The other thing I wanted was not to sleep alone.
He had told me that when I was ready, I should let him know, and he’d get me moved over to his house.
I loved the time I spent there, which was over half of the time I wasn’t working.
It was no hardship to be in that gorgeous house with him. Again, I wanted him to insist I move.
We ate in relative silence, only remarking on the food or sharing tidbits about what I’d worked on. When the food was gone, I leaned back and patted my stomach. He finished before me, even though his portion had been bigger.
“Agatha is a gem. Better watch it. Someone might try to steal her one day,” I warned him.
“Oh, there have been attempts to lure her away over the years, but she’s family and refuses to leave. If someone did get her, we’d go after her.”
“Hunt their asses,” I said.
We both chuckled, and I was about to ask him what he did all morning when his phone rang. I stayed quiet while he took it out to answer. His brow wrinkled.
“It’s Patrick…Hello, do you need me? I’m upstairs with Bronagh.”
He paused to listen. I heard the rumble of Patrick’s voice but not the actual words. Cathal’s eyebrows shot up, and then he straightened.
“She is!? Okay, what do you need me to do?”
More silence. I wanted to ask him what was up, but I held tight.
“Alright, I’ll be there in a bit. I’ll ask her. Give them time to get set. Thanks for letting me know. Be safe.”
As soon as he hung up, I exploded. “God, tell me!”
“Whoa, impatient much. It seems that Gia decided today is the day to have the baby. Patrick said Rian called about five minutes ago to say he took her to the hospital. They were in town when she began having contractions. The O’Sheeran phone tree has been activated.
“Since this is your first baby with the fam, let me tell you, we all converge on the place, or at least most. Someone has to watch the other kids, but we take turns spelling them. We stay the entire time. Drive the staff crazy, then fight over who gets to see and hold the baby first after the parents and grandparents have their turn. You don’t have to go with me, but you’ve been invited, and I’d like you to come, if you want. ”
I was touched that I’d been asked, and the thought of being there after a baby was born was exciting. I’d never been there for any of the ones born from my extended pool of cousins. I was lucky if I got sent a picture to see them. I hopped to my feet.
“What’re you waiting for? Let’s take these dishes to the kitchen. Oh, and let me change clothes and tidy myself so I don’t scare the baby.”
I gestured to my hair in a messy bun, no makeup, and my T-shirt and leggings. It had become my normal attire at the house. Cathal snorted and rolled his eyes.
“Bronagh, you couldn’t scare that baby or anyone else if you tried.
You’re beautiful even if you were in a potato sack.
But I know how women are, so I’ll take this back to the kitchen, and I’ll be back in twenty minutes to get you.
Is that enough time? I’ve got to arrange the car and tell Troi, though he probably already knows. ”
I’d forgotten his bodyguard. “That should be plenty of time. I can meet you downstairs,” I offered.
“No, I’ll come up. Go, I can load the tray.”
Beaming at him, I almost jogged to the closet to grab clean clothes before heading into the bathroom. When I came out, he was gone.
?
The drive to the hospital in St. Augustine took about ten minutes longer than it should have due to midday traffic. But when Troi pulled up to the hospital’s back entrance, I saw it had only been an hour since Patrick called.
“Go ahead inside, and I’ll be out here. There are enough people inside to keep you safe. Look, there’s Eamon. He’ll take you up,” Troi explained.
I saw a large man with a stern face coming toward the car.
“Thanks, Troi. Bronagh, since this is our first time out together, let me explain how things work. We let Eamon, who’s one of our enforcers, open the door once he feels it’s clear.
That’s the case regardless of the security we have in place.
You stick to my left side. Whatever Eamon, one of the others, or I tell you, please do it without delay.
We never expect trouble, but we’re always prepared for it.
Once we’re inside our secured wing, we can relax. ”
“Wing? You have your own wing?” I asked in shock.