Laney looked between Owen and Jenny’s receding forms. “Did you say they went out? It seems more like you hate each other.”
“High school,” I informed her. “She popped Owen’s cherry, and he never forgave her for making him a real boy.”
That finally broke through my brother’s trance. “Jenny Churchill did not pop anything of mine.”.
“Owen, are you saying you’ve been saving yourself for marriage?” I patted him on the shoulder. “Brother, that explains a lot. You’ve got to let off some of that excess steam. Bad for a man to keep it all pent up.”
Liam started laughing while Owen glared. Laney, however, seemed less than impressed.
“Hey.” She tugged on my sleeve, pulling me down so she could speak in my ear. “You’re making things worse. He seems like he’s really struggling with her.”
I stood up, suddenly feeling… bad. For giving my brother, of all people, a little well-deserved shit. This conscience thing was really inconvenient.
“Sorry,” I muttered. Which was another wrong move, since both Owen and Liam stared at me like I’d grown two heads.
Before I could say anything, however, a loud voice boomed across the courtyard.
“Ronan!” came my father’s lion-like roar. “Are you going to make your father wait all fucking night?”
The surrounding people quieted, clearly more interested in whatever show was about to happen than their ownconversations. If there was anything people in Boston knew, it was that Niall Black was always good for a performance.
I gritted my teeth as I took Laney’s hand and led her through the room to where my father stood with his cane, flanked by Violeta, Shea, Brendan, and Simone.
“Dad,” I greeted him, then delivered perfunctory kisses to the woman. Brendan and I traded nods. “Everyone, this is Laney. My wife.” Pride speared my chest with those two words.
My father’s gaze scoured Laney from top to bottom. I had to give it to her; she stood as tall as her five feet and change allowed.
“So. You’re the one. Took you long enough to show your face.” He turned to me. “She’s very short.”
“I have a business in Seattle,” Laney replied. “I had to find appropriate people to run it while I came here.”
“You mean your mother’s business, don’t you?” Dad wondered. “Sweaters and boots and things like that.”
Laney nodded. “That’s correct. She started it when I was little.”
“Aww, that’s cute,” Shea said. “What do you think, Mom? Want to update your wardrobe with some ready to wear?”
Shea giggled as her mother looked bored. “Perhaps.”
I scowled. “It’s good stuff. Unique. Quality local vendors and things from Greece. They built it from scratch, and it shows real promise with some new investment.”
“I think you mean it’s hemorrhaging money,” Dad replied with a smirk. “How much are you down this quarter? Twenty percent? Thirty?”
“Dad,” I snapped.
“Relax, Ronan. It’s just a little conversation.” But when he turned back to Laney, those black eyes sharpened, and I could feel her grip on my hand tighten in response. “Tell me—are youwith my son because you love him, or because you need a cash infusion for your little failing enterprise?”
The courtyard went silent. The band was still playing, but even they seemed to quiet, like the guitarist also wanted to hear Laney’s answer.
My wife, however, maintained her straight posture and even stepped slightly forward. “Ronan and I are together because we care about each other. That’s it.”
She didn’t say love. Everyone would have noticed that. I certainly fucking did, though I wasn’t sure why it bothered me so much.
Even so, no one seemed to believe her. Shea was busy rolling her eyes, Brendan looked like he felt sorry for me, and Violeta was actually shaking her head.
“Is that so?”
I gritted my teeth, fighting the urge to step in. I knew what he was doing. Two weeks ago, he’d been all but thrilled when I announced I’d gotten married. He didn’t give a shit why we were married or what Laney wanted from me. This was about intimidating and establishing himself as the alpha of our family’s pack. Laney was new, and he wanted to make sure she would submit.
