“Ye’re the shite eater,” Alex mumbles at his sister.
“Whit, are ye two still in grammar school?” George asks, joining us. “I swear Claire, they’ve never grown up.”
“Hey, has anyone tried this meat stuff?” Colin asks, sitting next to George, scooping up a spoonful to pop in his mouth.
“The haggis?” Jaimee asks, sitting next to Rory.
“I don’t care what you call it, that’s some good stuff,” Colin says, shoveling another spoonful.
“Gross, you’re not kissing my mouth after eating that tonight.” Maggie scrunches up her face, watching Colin scoop up one spoonful after another.
“I had in mind starting a little lower.” We all laugh as Maggie grows bright red. Alex leans over, giving Colin a high five. “Hey, do you know what we need to do while we’re here?” Colin looks around the table, nodding his head in a silent conspiracy. “Poker!” he declares. Maggie and I groan.
“Are we talking poker? Count me in,” Matt says as he holds Lily’s chair for her.
“I’m in, too. Tomorrow night?” Grayson sets two plates down before helping Izzy lower into her chair without dropping a sleeping Theo. “Aiden,” he calls down the table where my brother is helping his son eat. “Poker tomorrow night?”
“Oh hell yeah!” he says, covering his son’s ears.
“I’m there,” adds George. “I’ll see if we can have it at Rob’s. Speaking of, has anyone seen him?”
“I think he’s still hoping to relieve Sienna of her panties later,” Colin says. “Sorry man,” he adds, hearing Aiden growl.
“I’m right here, but I’m naw opposed tae the possibility,” Robert says, plopping down next to Matt. “I heard something aboot poker night. There should be room at the hoose. Sean!” he calls over to Bryce’s husband. “Poker, my hoose tomorrow night?” Sean gives a thumbs up before returning his attention to their herd of children. “Ye know Preacher will show up, probably still drunk from tonight. Rory should really let him oot more.”
“Okay, hold on. If you think I’m sitting in some cottage all night in the center of Middle Earth, you’re mistaken,” Lily pipes up. “Rory, is there anywhere in the surrounding area with a good bar with at least marginal wine?” A slow smile lights up Rory’s face.
“Damn, I told ye I liked them, Alex. Aye, I know a place in town. We’ll meet there tomorrow night and tie a proper one on.” Lily narrows her eyes, pointing her fork at Rory. They both nod at each other.
“Did I just hear there’s a ladies’ night heating up?” Dia asks as she and Marcus join us. “Perfect! We can discuss whatever Alex’s brother and Claire’s sister has going on. There should be some details by then.”
“Dia!” I say, but I can’t control the smile on my face.
“Guys, I dinnae know…” Alex starts in before George cuts him off.
“Oh, ye’re naw coming. I expect ye tae either be rutting or dead from trying by then.” The table bursts into laughter as Alex glares at George. I watch as the conversation continues down the table. My friends easily melding with Alex’s Scottish siblings as they laugh at each other.
Alex reaches over, taking my hand in his. He has a giant smile that, I swear, reaches all the way to his toes. Without a word, I know he thinks the same thing I do. We are two of the luckiest people in the world. Not only do we have each other, but we have the best family anyone could hope for.
Soon the music picks up, making everyone start toward the designated dance area. Robert is the first of us to be drug off to dance by my sister. He doesn’t put up much resistance. As a matter of fact, he seems to rather enjoy his handfuls of my sister’s ass.
“Just let it go,” Alex says before pulling me to my feet. “Ready tae make the rounds, Mrs. Ross?” We work around the yard thanking our guests as the dance area slowly fills up. Alex’s mother sits rocking Izzy’s baby as Izzy and Grayson hold each other, swaying to the music.
“Are all of your weddings like this?” I nod at Colin and Maggie making out in the shadows by the barn. Alex smiles before pointing toward Marcus with Dia sitting on his lap visiting with Bryce who’s sitting on Sean’s lap next to them. Alex wraps me in his arms, pulling my back flush against his chest. “I wonder where Matt and Lily went?”
“There’s harnesses in the barn. Should we be concerned?” I snort a laugh at Alex’s innuendo. “On second thought, let’s try tae naw think aboot it.” I watch, resting in his arms as one of his older neighbors speaks to him in Gaelic.
“Oh, I forgot tae tell ye. It's a tradition that the male members of the family will pay ye tae give them a kiss. On the cheek only.” he adds pointing as the old man laughs.
“What?” I ask, spinning to look at him. “So we’re married all of a few minutes and you’re pimping me out?” He smirks at me. “You are joking, right?” He shrugs at me before saying something over my shoulder in Gaelic.
He shrugs at me before saying something over my shoulder in Gaelic. “He’s naw joking, love.” I turn in time to see Rory stop next to me. “The guys give ye money for a kiss and ye shove it in the bodice of yer dress. It’s meant as a gift tae help yer husband pay for the honeymoon, I think. We made right good money at our wedding, I remember.”
“I promise it’s fairly harmless,” she adds. “Just make sure they hand ye the money. Dinnae let them talk ye into them putting it there themselves. Ye dinnae want tae be felt up by some old man trying tae get his rocks off.” She laughs as my mouth falls open before strolling off.
I turn to look at the sweet-looking old man holding his money and shrug. What could it hurt? Taking his money, I lean over, kissing his cheek. Suddenly there’s a line of men as Alex is pushed aside. I only have a couple of them offer to help me stow the money, Teddy being the biggest culprit.
Finally, after I reach the end of kissing what seemed like every man in the country, including my best friends’ men, Alex’s brothers and even his Da, it was Alex’s turn. He slowly approaches me with that same wicked grin he wears when he stalks me through the bedroom.
