Chapter 31 Eredine
EREDINE
“Ithink this leaving the bride before the wedding day is nonsense.” Thane’s words carried down the upstairs hallway.
I was in the guest room Arro and I would be sharing for the night. The wedding dresses were safely hidden in here, along with Robyn’s and my bridesmaid gowns.
“It’s tradition, so you don’t see the bride in her wedding dress before the big event,” Regan explained unnecessarily. She giggled, and I raised an eyebrow. “Thane, you can handle a night without me. In fact, I bet you’re looking forward to it.”
“Never, Mo leannan.” There was silence, and then a female moan.
My cheeks colored. Had they forgotten I was up here too?
“Okay, okay,” Regan said breathlessly. “We have to stop. You need to leave.”
“Stupid bloody tradition.” I heard Thane murmur. Then louder, he said, “You’re already my wife in my mind and in my heart. You know that, right?”
“I do. And just to freak you out, you’ve been my husband in my head since my first day officially as your nanny when you found me in the kitchen making the kids’ lunches.”
“That soon, hmm?” I heard the rumble of amusement in his voice and was starting to feel very guilty for eavesdropping.
“That soon. And now it’s really happening, I can barely believe it.”
“Do you know how happy you make me, Mo leannan?”
“As happy as you make me.”
I grimaced at the obvious sounds of a passionate make-out, looking for an escape where there was none. Thankfully, however, Regan broke free and forced Thane downstairs.
Now that I knew I wasn’t about to be forced to listen to them having sex, I could smile at what I’d accidentally overheard. Anyone who met Thane Adair would never believe he was sappy and romantic with his fiancée. No wonder Regan was head over heels.
I’d watched him during family events and occasions looking at her as if she was the most perfect thing he’d ever seen, but to hear him be so free with his affection was heartwarming.
And tomorrow Regan would finally be his wife on paper, too, and I couldn’t be happier for them.
For the double wedding, it was decided that all the girls would stay at Thane and Regan’s the night before, and all the boys at Lachlan and Robyn’s.
Robyn and Regan were sharing a room, and Eilidh would probably join them, while I was sharing with Arro.
It would be like a giant jittery slumber party.
It had always been nice to be included like this by the Adair family, but now that I was with Arran, it felt more somehow.
And it brought me the kind of peace I hadn’t dared hope for in such a long time.
As I crossed the room to go downstairs, now that it was safe to emerge, I caught sight of two people out the bedroom window. Arro and Mac were on the back lawn.
An ache, the good kind, flared to life inside me.
Mac had Arro’s face clasped in his hands.
They pressed their foreheads together while Arro clung to his waist. I didn’t know if words were being exchanged or if they were just holding each other.
Even from up here, I could feel the love between them.
It was so special. Then Mac lowered to his haunches to speak to Arro’s belly.
Whatever he said made Arro throw her head back in laughter.
She didn’t see the look on Mac’s face when he stared up at her.
But I did. My God, did that man love her. It was epic.
He stood and drew her into a kiss that turned so passionate, I moved away from the window to give them privacy.
My smart, kind, strong, loyal friend had waited a long time for Mac, and I was so beyond thankful he had worked so hard on himself to offer her the life she’d wanted with him.
Yeah, I thought, a small smile on my lips as I walked downstairs toward the raucous sounds of the whole family together, I feel content.
Everyone I loved was happy, and that was more than anyone could hope for.
The last time I was inside the reception hall of the Gloaming, it had been dark, despite its high ceiling.
That had a lot to do with the wood paneling on the walls, now completely gone.
Arran’s team had replaced the paneling with light stone brickwork and revealed a vault in the high ceiling by opening it up so the beam supports were visible.
Garlands of fairy lights, attached to three large hoop lighting fixtures across the ceiling, draped like a canopy and were connected to the walls on either side.
The tables were dressed simply in white linen, the wicker chairs unadorned.
Copper lanterns with white candles inside served as centerpieces, surrounded by elegant wreaths of white peonies.
A ceilidh band had played during the wedding dinner, but now as people mingled and danced on the newly replaced dance floor, music blared from the deejay station.
I stared around at the mostly familiar faces. Regan and Thane chatted with Regan and Robyn’s mom and Regan’s dad (Robyn’s stepdad) Seth. Eilidh and Lewis were out on the dance floor with Robyn and Lachlan. Arro and Mac swayed out of sync to the too-fast music, oblivious to anyone but each other.
Both Regan and Arro had chosen elegant, simple wedding gowns.
Regan’s was white crepe with delicate straps, a V neckline, and a silhouette that skimmed her slender curves and then flared at the knees.
The only detail was its scooped cowl back and row of buttons down her derriere and train.
It was almost like a simplified version of Robyn’s wedding dress.
If Regan looked like a Hollywood starlet, Arro looked like a fairy-tale princess.
Their dresses couldn’t have been more different.
Arro’s dress had cap sleeves that, like the bodice, were made from an off-white material cut into leaves and flowers.
They were delicately sewn onto the sheer bodice fabric and cascaded down over her baby bump into a sheer tulle skirt.
It had a silk underskirt, so she wasn’t naked under the tulle, but that, with her delicate silver floral crown the stylist had woven into her platinum waves, created an overall ethereal look that suited Arro to a T.
Mac had teared up when she walked down the aisle toward him, while Thane had looked impatient for Regan to reach him, as if he was desperate to have her be his wife as quickly as possible.
Neither groom had been able to take their eyes off their brides, and it was a miracle I noticed because I was distracted by the fact that Arran couldn’t take his eyes off me.
Like Robyn, I wore a pale lavender bridesmaid gown that suited both brides’ aesthetic.
My gaze sought out Arran now.
He’d left for the barroom to get more drinks.
With the ceremony concluded, the speeches done, and dinner finished, everyone was relaxed and looking to get happy.
A guest I didn’t recognize, a young woman and her female companion, had caught Arran, and from where I was sitting, it looked like he was flirting with them.
I knew he meant nothing by it, and I tried not to be bothered, considering I was certain I was the only woman he cared about. Arran had made that perfectly clear.
The flirting was just second nature to him. He couldn’t help it.
My eyes narrowed as he laughed at something the pretty brunette said.
“This seat taken?”
I looked up at the familiar voice, and a mix of affection, discomfort, and concern filled me at the sight of Brodan Adair.
He’d flown in last night. And although he’d look gorgeous in any situation, the dark circles under his eyes and the general haggard strain on his features worried me.
If the glances his siblings had been throwing him throughout the day meant anything, I’d say they were concerned too.
The man looked exhausted.
And sad.
“Please, sit.” I pushed out the chair next to me with my foot, and he slumped into it.
Once upon a time, Brodan could tongue-tie me.
He was technically the most classically handsome of the Adair siblings, with a Captain America thing going on, massively broad shoulders, tapered waist, and long legs.
He used to be clean-cut, but the last time I saw him, he had scruff, and today he was sporting an unkempt beard that Arro said was for his current film.
His usually vibrantly pale-blue eyes were bloodshot.
“Are you all right?” I asked as he unbuttoned his kilt jacket and shot me an assessing glance.
He shrugged, his gaze dipping down my body, and back up to my face. “You look well. Happy.”
“I am,” I said truthfully.
“Arran?”
I nodded, even though talking about his brother made me uncomfortable considering the years-long flirtation that had gone on between Brodan and me.
But Brodan smiled wearily. “I am glad. For you both. My brother’s a good man.”
Relief moved through me. I knew they had a rough history with Monroe, and I was soothed to hear it wasn’t affecting Brodan’s opinion of Arran.
I looked past his shoulder to where Arran was still talking with those women. Brodan followed my stare and then looked back at me.
I shrugged. “I wish he’d flirt less, but that’s an Adair trait, I think.”
“He’s not flirting. Believe me.” Brodan sighed. “He’s just social.”
“It looks like flirting to me, but it’s okay. I trust him.”
“You should. I’ve never seen my brother look at a woman the way he looks at you.” He glanced over his shoulder at Arran, and we discovered he was looking our way. Brodan sighed and turned back to me. “I’ve watched him all day with you. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to other women.”
“I know that.” I leaned over and touched his arm. “Brodan, are we okay?”
“Of course, we’re okay. Ery, I just want you to be happy.”
At the abject misery I saw buried behind that Adair twinkle, I pushed. “Are you okay?”
For a moment, something flickered across his gaze, and he hesitated. But before he could respond, Arran slid up to the table with our drinks and set them in front of Brodan.
He clamped a hand on Brodan’s shoulder. “Sorry, Bro, didn’t get you anything. Want me to go back and order something for you?”
Brodan shook his head and stood. “Nah, I think I’ll go spend some time with my niece and nephew.”
He was gone before another word could be exchanged.
Arran narrowed his eyes on him and then took his seat. “Everything all right?”
“Between us, yes. But with him …” I watched Brodan pick Eilidh up and spin her, squeals of delight cutting through the music. “I’m worried about him.”
“Me too.” Arran moved closer to me, stretching his arm around the back of my chair. “He looks fucking exhausted.”
“He’s working too hard.”
Studying my face now, Arran asked, “He say anything else?”
“Not really. He was just keeping me company while you flirted.” I wrinkled my nose at him.
He smirked. “I wasn’t flirting. It’s called conversation with a member of the opposite sex.”
“It looked like flirting from here. She kept touching your arm.”
“I wasn’t flirting.” He kissed my nose. “I promise.”
“I don’t mind if you were. You can’t help yourself. But I trust you.”
Instead of this pleasing him, Arran scowled. “I can’t help myself? I wasn’t flirting, Ery.”
Surprised at his vehemence, I held up my hands defensively. “Okay, I’m sorry.”
Suddenly, he gripped the nape of my neck and pulled me none too gently toward him. His lips crashed down on mine. It was a hard, sexual, claiming kiss, and extremely inappropriate in public. But I couldn’t seem to yank myself out of it.
It was only when we heard a voice yell, “Get a room!” over the music that we parted.
Flushing as wedding guests laughed, I caught Arro turning on the dance floor to smack Will playfully across the biceps.
Will was Regan’s friend, fiancé to Jock, one of the estate security guards.
Jock had a son from a previous relationship and was a single father when Will, an artist, arrived in Ardnoch and swept Jock into a romance he’d never expected.
When Regan was nanny to Eilidh and Lewis, she’d met Will at the school gates, and they’d formed a fast friendship.
I didn’t know him that well, but that didn’t seem to stop him from catcalling us.
“Sorry,” Arran murmured, his gaze searching mine. “Just … I know I was a player before, but that was long before you. There’s been no one but you in months, and I never want you to think that this isn’t serious for me or that I think it’s okay to flirt with other women.”
Lord, now I felt bad. “Arran, it’s okay. I’m sorry. I misinterpreted it and … I’m sorry.”
He brushed his mouth over mine. “You’re all I see.”
My breath caught, my pulse racing. “You’re all I see.”
A cry broke the moment, and we turned to see what the ruckus was.
Shock jolted through me as Arran cursed and lunged from his chair.
Brodan laid sprawled on his back in the middle of the dance floor while Eilidh sobbed and Arro bent over him, searching his neck for a pulse.