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“John Kavanagh,” he said, introducing himself with a warm smile and an outstretched hand. “Johnny’s dad.”
I didn’t take the bait.
But my girlfriend did.
“Aoife Molloy,” she chimed in, taking his hand in hers when it became clear that I wasn’t going to. Flashing one of her infamous smiles, she flicked her hair back and beamed up at both Kavanaghs. “Joey’s girlfriend.”
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Milfs, Dilfs, and Drug Addicts
AOIFE
Johnny Kavanagh’s mother looked like she had fallen from heaven, while his father looked like he had been carved from gold. Seriously, the boy had some damn fine genes flushing through his veins. He was almost as blessed in the looks department as the little bruiser growing in my belly was going to be.
Almost.
“So, this is the famous Joey Lynch,” John Kavanagh said, giving my boyfriend a polite smile. I had to give the man props for not adding in to famous. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Unmoving, Joey studied him, looking a little cornered and a lot defensive. Intervening on his behalf, I took what I hoped was an inconspicuous step in front of him, knowing that he needed a minute to take a breath and not react on instinct.
“Looks like this little guy had a ball at your house,” I offered, reaching behind me to ruffle Sean’s curls. “You have a lovely home.”
“Your brothers were alone,” Edel Kavanagh cut the bullshit and stated, never once taking her eyes off Joey. “Johnny couldn’t leave them on their own.”
I could read Joey like a book, and it broke my heart knowing that every instinct inside his body was screaming danger. Knowing that he wasn’t in his right frame of mind right now made him even more unpredictable. My gaze flicked to Johnny, who seemed to be thinking the same thing and had taken a step toward his mother.
I narrowed my eyes and gave him a look that said as if.
He shrugged unapologetically.
“I’m sorry,” Joey surprised me by responding, giving the woman his full attention. “I was at work.”
The lack of bite or fire in his response gutted me because it just clarified what I already knew to be true: He had checked out.
Pain flickered in her brown eyes, and she cast a worried glance to her husband before shaking her head. “No, Joey love, I wasn’t implying that you had done anything wrong.”
“Either way,” Joey replied with a shrug as he rounded the passenger side of my car with his youngest brother in his arms and opened the door. “It won’t happen again.”
“You don’t have to leave right away, love,” Edel was quick to protest as she watched my boyfriend settle Sean in the back seat and fasten his seatbelt. “Stay for dinner. All of you. It would be our pleasure.”
“No, we’ve stayed long enough,” was all Joey replied, straightening back up and searching the grounds for the others. “Boys,” he called out, followed by a piercing whistle. “Let’s bounce.”
As loyal to their brother as these dogs were to Johnny’s mother, Ollie and Tadhg came thundering toward Joey, not stopping until they were standing beside him.
“Thank Johnny and his parents for holding on to ye today,” Joey instructed quietly.
“Thanks,” Tadhg parroted, more interested in saying goodbye to the dogs than the humans before climbing into the back seat with Sean.
“Thanks, Dellie,” Ollie chimed in, bolting back to the blond woman and throwing his arms around her waist. “I had the bestest time.”
Clearly taken aback, she hugged him back tightly. “You come back to see me soon, love.”
“I will,” Ollie replied, taking a little too long to release her. When he finally did, he took a safe step back and eyed her husband warily before holding his small hand out. “Bye, John.”
“Bye, Ollie,” the big man replied in a soft voice, accepting his handshake. “Remember what I told you.”
“Uh-huh.” Ollie nodded brightly up at him and smiled. “I gots it, John. I won’t forget.”
