Chapter 6
Darcie sighed, sinking deeper into the mound of pillows Connor had stacked behind her on their bed. “You’re spoiling me,” she murmured, her voice thick with exhaustion. Darcie sighed in pure bliss as Connor’s hands kneaded gentle circles into her aching, swollen feet. Beside her, Bootstrap lay stretched out, warm and protective, softly snoring.
Connor smiled and kept his touch firm but careful. “I’m taking care of my beautiful wife.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “They should be here soon. Are you sure you’re up for a visit, love?”
“Connor, all I’ve been doing is lying around sleeping, reading, and watching TV.” She peeked one eye open.
“Fair point,” he conceded, pressing a kiss to her ankle before continuing his slow, methodical work. “I just don’t want you getting worn out.”
“I’m not worn out. I’m starving and bored. Nobody could take better care of me than you do but—” Connor sensed a moody moment coming on so he increased the pressure on her ankle and she fell silent.
Before Darcie could melt entirely into the moment, the front door swung open, and Keefe’s voice carried down the hall.
“Fear not Darcie my love—for I have brought fried food and chocolate!”
She perked up instantly. “Keefe is that you? We’re in the bedroom.”
Keefe appeared in the doorway with Sophie beside him, holding up a paper bag like an offering. “Tis I, oh pregnant cousin and I have come bearing culinary gifts.” He held up a large paper bag that had something inside that smelled amazing. Can I tempt you with my triple chocolate croissants? And—just for you, lovely lady—a dill pickle slushy. Though, to be honest, that one repulses me a bit.”
Darcie reached out as if she could summon it with sheer will. “You’re my favorite O’Brian.”
Connor shot her an exaggerated affronted look. She waved a hand dismissively. “You were winning five minutes ago. Keefe just took the lead.”
Sophie smirked as she set a large bowl of fruit salad on the nightstand beside a bottle of chocolate syrup. She smiled at Darcie and winked. “And I brought you something healthy because someone has to balance this out.”
Before Darcie could argue that flaky pastry was its own food group, more footsteps sounded in the hall. A moment later, Bitsy came racing into the room and leaped onto the bed, snuggling up with Darcie and Bootstrap. Then Sondra and Simon appeared, Sondra grinning as she held up a pink polka-dot bakery box.
“We brought triple chocolate, peanut butter cheesecake! And,” she held up a jar, “Pickles!”
Darcie beamed, holding out her one free hand—since the other was busy hugging the tiny dog and balancing her slushy, while Bitsy licked her ear.
Chocolate and dill pickles were Darcie’s favorite foods to eat these days. She couldn’t wait to dip a pickle into that luscious cheesecake.
Connor traded a look with Simon, who gave a quick nod signaling the dessert was store bought and not made with Sondra’s loving care.
“This will go great with my drink, thank you!” Darcie said with an en eager smile.
“Keefe, where on earth did you find a dill pickle slushy?” Connor watched as Darcie eagerly sucked down the frozen drink through a red-striped straw. The green concoction repulsed him too, but it made Darcie so happy that he didn’t mind.
“I made it myself. I was thinking of putting it on the menu. You know, as a quirky sort of thing.”
A chorus of “Eww” filled the air—except for Darcie, who shouted an enthusiastic “Yes!”
“Let’s leave the womenfolk and go have a beer. You look like you could use one,” Keefe said, directing his observation at Connor. Besides, he didn’t want to be in the room when Darcie ate the pickles with the chocolate. It was simply too gross to even think about.
Darcie smiled at Connor who was reluctant to leave her.
Sondra knew how to handle these men. “All right you two and your secret looks, break it up. Connor, go in the living room and relax while we girls gossip. She won’t be alone. Sophie and I have got this.”
Seeing as his wife had enough sweets to keep her fed for a good hour, Connor kissed his wife on the forehead, and followed Simon and Keefe to the living room.
“So, how is Darcie really?” Keefe asked as he accepted a bottle of Harp from Simon who appeared from the kitchen carrying three beers.
“So long as she stays off her feet, she’s okay. Although her mood swings are getting worse. Yesterday she called me an idiot.”
“In fairness you kind of are,” said Simon. He sat down in an armchair beside the sofa and made himself comfortable.
“Yeah, but she hasn’t said anything like that since our big fight, you know, just before we got engaged.”
“What’s this? A fight? You and Darcie? I don’t believe it!” said Keefe.
“It’s true. Tell him, Simon.”
Simon chuckled. Darcie and Connor didn’t know the meaning of a fight. Now he and Sondra—they knew how to fight! “Don’t listen to him Keefe. These two have been all over each other in love since day one.”
Connor took a drink of his beer, sank into the sofa, then spoke. “You should talk! Even when you and Sondra aren’t together you’ve got your hands all over each other. Keefe, honestly back me up here.”
“He’s right, Simon. I mean you two really need to get a room like… always.”
Connor laughed.
“I don’t know what you’re getting on me about. You and Darcie are just the same.”
Connor smirked. “Not like that we aren’t.”
“B-U-L-bullshit!” Keefe cried. “Maybe I don’t know Darcie as well as I’d like but even I can see the way you look at each other! Everyone can see!”
“Everyone?” asked Connor.
“Everyone,” replied Keefe and Simon together.
Connor raised his eyebrows in amusement at his notoriety then took a drink. “It’s your turn now, Keefe. When are you going to settle down?”
“Just as soon as I meet a woman my sister gets along with.”
“Good luck with that,” said Simon.
“Tell me about it. Every girl I’ve ever brought home Sophie’s called a slut, a bitch, or a skank.” Keefe sighed. In all fairness she had been right every time. When it came to women, he had terrible judgment. “I’d like to marry, maybe start a family but that won’t ever happen if Sophie doesn’t like her.”
Simon and Connor shared a look of amusement. There was no point in saying that Keefe should marry whomever he damn well chooses because he and Sophie were connected at the hip. All four would need to get along or it would never, not in a million years, work.
“So, has Shamus heard anything from his contacts about the mystery girl?” Simon asked, changing the subject.
Connor shook his head and sighed. “Not a word. We have nothing to go on except that the girl looks just like Cian’s twin sister.”
“And the mysterious wedding present,” Keefe added.
“And the present. I was thinking, was the painting signed? If so, we could trace the artist and maybe find some answers that way.”
Simon answered Connor’s question. “Rory O’Toole. We haven’t found a trace of who that is, though. We looked it up, and all we found was they have a series of prints for sale. Couldn’t find a picture or any personal information. Who knows if we’re looking for a woman or a man, even.”
“So, it’s a fake name.”
“Seems that way.”
“So, we’re no better off than we were before to solving this mystery.”
“Not a jot,” Connor said. Was it too much to ask that his wife give birth in peace? Why did things with Cian have to keep creeping up on them? As much as Connor would like to believe that the stranger in the photograph and the mysterious wedding present were nothing but harmless, his instincts said different. He wouldn’t let this go until they had answers. At the same time, though, he had Darcie to look after. She was his priority, so he needed to let Shamus and the rest of the family handle this one. Anyway, they certainly would not solve the mystery right now, so he might as well relax for a bit with his cousins.
“So, Keefe? What are you going to call the place?” asked Simon.
“O’Brians, of course. What else? We want it to be for the locals you know?”
“It’s a great location. Just out of the way enough that you won’t get too many tourists, not enough to worry over, anyway. They generally go around the ring on those tour buses in a day. I doubt they would stop.”
“That’s my thinking too. Let’s hope it’s true or Sophie will wring my neck. That was the only thing she never liked about working at the pub—the tourists. I don’t think we’ll get nearly as many here. Back home, the place was always packed with tourists.”
“Well, here’s to hoping.” Simon held up his bottle in a toast.
Keefe took a drink then said, “You know, your crew is the best.
“Speaking of tourists, why haven’t you taken Sondra on a proper honeymoon yet?” asked Keefe.
“She wants to be here when Darcie has the twins. She says we can go on a honeymoon anytime but her best friend will only give birth once.”
Connor nodded his head. Sondra was like a sister to him and he couldn’t have chosen a better friend for his wife.
“Besides, she would miss Connor too much.”
“Connor? But why?”
“Because she’s sick and twisted and loves busting my balls every chance she gets. I don’t mind. She’s like a sister to Darcie. And truth be told, she helps out a lot. I would miss her, too. I imagine—if given the chance.”
“Given the chance to do what?” asked Sondra as she entered the room.
“Connor was just saying he would love it if you would go away on a honeymoon so he could have the chance to miss having you around all the time. He doesn’t know what he’d do with himself.” Keefe, ever the instigator, couldn’t help himself.
“Aww Connor, don’t you fret my love. I’m not going anywhere so you won’t have to miss me.” Sondra took hold of his chin and kissed him square on the mouth with an exaggerated smack. Then pinched his cheek hard.
“You see what I have to put up with?”
“Says the man who drew a pink penis on my face in the middle of the night before my wedding.”
Connor snorted a laugh. “You started it.”
Simon chuckled then patted his lap. “Come sit with me, Sunny.”
Sondra went around to Simon and draped herself across his lap where she fit so perfectly. He didn’t hesitate—his arm curled around her, anchoring her as his free hand slid into her hair. Their eyes met, a spark igniting between them, and then his mouth was on hers. The kiss was deep, slow, and unhurried, a claiming and a surrender all at once. Neither of them cared that there were others in the room. Right now, there was only the heat of his lips, the taste of him, the way his fingers tightened at her waist.
“Do you two need to get a room?” Keefe asked.
“Or a hydrangea bush,” Connor added in jest as he tipped his beer to drink.
“Hydrangea?” Keefe asked.
Connor nodded and swallowed his drink. “You don’t know about that? I caught them at it behind the hydrangea bushes at my wedding. Sondra waved at me—with her foot.” He wiggled his fingers hello mimicking what Sondra had done.
Keefe nearly spit out his beer laughing.
Meanwhile, Simon and Sondra took their time wrapping it up. Their kiss had nearly ended—until Keefe decided to tease them. Just for that, Simon held onto her a little longer and just before breaking free, Sondra added a nibble of Simon’s bottom lip.
Without looking away from Simon, Sondra addressed Connor and Keefe. “Are you through or should we continue?”
“Let’s hope they aren’t through,” Simon murmured and leaned in for another taste.
Keefe was the first to relent. “All right, all right, we’re done teasing you. You can stop sucking her face off now.”
Simon leaned back and admired his beautiful wife for a moment before saying anything. Although part of their moment had been simply for show, the emotion behind it wasn’t. “What are you doing out here anyway, Sunny? I thought you wanted to visit Darcie,” he said with a self-satisfied smirk.
Equally satisfied, Sondra smiled and flicked her hair off from her shoulder. “I thought I’d let Darcie and Sophie get better acquainted. Besides, I missed your face.” She looked adoringly into her husband’s eyes and he squeezed her bottom. She took his beer from his hand and took a swig. “That and I think I upset Sophie.”
“How so?”
“I was only encouraging her to go on a date and she didn’t yell at me or anything but she didn’t like it either.”
“ Pfft , don’t take it personally. She gets that way with anyone who mentions dating to her. That’s how I got this.” Keefe turned his head to show off the bruise left by a coffee cup she’d thrown at him. “I heard her on the phone with her friend Emma the other day and she did the same to her.”
“That’s not how I heard it. I heard you lied to her and invited Liam over without telling her,” said Connor with a grin.
Keefe feigned offense. “I only did what was necessary to, you know, shove her in the right direction.”
Whether Sophie was like this with everyone or not didn’t change how Sondra felt. “I should have minded my own business.” Which everyone knew wasn’t Sondra’s strong point. She couldn’t mind her own business if her life depended on it. “Well, I thought it best if I gave her some space. Anyway, I was going to make us all sandwiches.” Keefe grew uneasy in his seat. “Just some cold meat and cheese, maybe pickles. Things that are already prepared so you can calm down Keefe.”
Keefe was already up and out of his seat and halfway to the kitchen. “Why don’t you let me whip us all up some lunch? I planned on doing that, anyway. I brought some groceries with me.”
“Need any help?”
“No!” said all three in unison.