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He bites my earlobe and drags his nose down my neck.
Damn it, he knows that’s my weak spot.
“Say it,” he says again.
“I don’t even remember what we were talking about.”
He rests his forehead against my shoulder and laughs. “Sex, Lexi. You said they’ll either think we’re fighting or having sex.”
“No, I didn’t. I was going to say making love.”
His face softens and he nuzzles me sweetly. “That sounds better.”
“Okay, get up.”
I untangle myself from him and scoot out of bed before he can stop me.
“I’m not finished with you.”
“You are for now. Your family’s downstairs. It’s rude to keep them waiting.”
“They’re fine.”
I shake my head and get dressed, but Shawn just lays on his side, his head in his hand as he watches me.
“Are you going to make me go downstairs alone?” I ask.
“No, I’m just watching you for a minute. How was your marathon?”
“It was spectacular. And my time was decent. I’d do it again. You should run with me.”
“Not marathons,” he says. “I’ll leave that up to you. But I’ll go for a jog with you.”
“Okay.” I watch as he rolls out of bed and pulls on the clothes he was in when I woke up. “Where are your things?”
“I have a room here at the inn. Okay, let’s go.”
“Why am I nervous?”
“Because they’ll know we were making love.”
I scrunch up my nose. “That’s awkward.”
“We’re adults, angel. It’s pretty normal.”
We walk down the steps to the first floor and find Shawn’s family sitting in the dining room, talking and laughing.
Tom is the first to see us standing in the doorway, holding hands.
“There they are,” he says.
Shawn’s parents hug him, and I say hello to Kane and Stasia. Mom raises a brow as if to ask if everything’s okay.
I nod reassuringly and then gesture to Shawn.
“Shawn, I’d like to introduce you to my mom, Diane,” I say. “Mom, this is Shawn.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Mom says. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Same here,” Shawn says, kissing Mom on the cheek.
“You’re the man I have to thank for giving me back my daughter,” she says, taking Shawn’s face in her hands. “She’s always been wonderful. But because of you, she saw the potential in herself, and she’s so much stronger now. Thank you for giving that to her.”
“I didn’t do that,” Shawn says quietly. “Lexi is an incredible woman whether she met me or not. And she would have eventually realized what she needed to be happy.”
“You,” I say and lean in to kiss his arm. “You were the only thing missing from my life to make me happy.”
“And I’m right here,” he says.
“It’s about bloody time,” Tom says.Epilogue~Shawn~The lighting is intentional.
It’s the holidays, so traditional twinkle lights are strewn about the space, but Kane was specific about which pieces should be near the lights, assuring that the glass is the focus and not the holiday decorations.
The gallery in Galway hosting this exhibit is stunning. It only features Irish artists, and Kane knew that he wanted pieces that were also fired here in Ireland to be the ones on display for his exhibit.
He and Anastasia have been here for six months while Kane worked tirelessly to be ready.
Despite a museum in his honor in Washington, and the pieces he’s made for heads of state around the world, I don’t know that I’ve been prouder of him than I am today.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” I say to him as I give him a firm hug. “You should be very proud.”
“Thank you,” he says. “Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” I rub my hands together and glance around the room. I spoke with Kane about my plans the other night because I wanted to make sure he wouldn’t think I was trying to steal his thunder.
Of course, he didn’t.
Lexi joins us, and I link my hand with hers just as Keegan walks over to join in on the conversation.
“How does it feel to be away from the pub for a while?” Lexi asks him.
“I’m a fish out of water,” he says. “But it’s nice to take a holiday. This show is beyond amazing, Kane. It’s proud I am to be your brother.”
“We’re a sentimental lot tonight,” Kane says with a laugh. “Thank you. I’d better go find my bride.”
He walks away and stops to talk with Cameron, who also came to Ireland to celebrate the holiday with our family. Cameron’s gaze sweeps the area and lands on Maggie.
His jaw tightens.
He rocks on the balls of his feet.
Yes, Cameron has it bad for my baby sister.
“So, Keegan, we need to find you a nice girl,” Lexi says to my brother. He stares at her for a moment and then tips his head back and lets out a laugh. “Why is that funny?”
“Because, lass, the pub is my one and only mistress these days. I don’t have time for a woman in my life. She’d be angry because I’m always working. I enjoy the company of a bonny lass when I’ve a mind to. That’s all I need.”
