Page 80 of An Irish Hope

“You look beautiful.”

She waved an impatient hand. “I know that. No, before when they were kissing. You said something.”

“Hmm, I can’t quite remember.”

“Yes, you can.” Her satin-sheathed form slid close, and she wrapped her hands around his neck. “Do I need to help you remember?”

“Maybe.”

She pressed to her toes and kissed him, and he soon sank into their embrace, not caring about those around him. It was only her and him and this kiss, and this feeling that felt far more powerful than anything he’d experienced before.

“Hello, you two. It’s not your wedding day,” a voice snipped.

Fiona. He reluctantly drew back. He was starting to recognise that voice. She of the irritable temper and snark and impatience that kind of grated on his nerves. But then, people didn’t act that way without reason. And from the way she kept glaring at a local man called Declan who was another guest, Andy wondered if it had something to do with him. Andy knew better than most that relationship challenges could make a person behave in ways unlike their real self.

“Don’t mind her,” Colin said, as he placed a protective hand over his wife’s baby bump. “But maybe save those kisses for somewhere other than the end of the church aisle.”

His cheeks heated, but he nodded anyway. He’d enjoyed getting to know Colin in recent days, and discovering his and Kara’s propensity for karaoke, especially of the 1980s variety, was just as strong as that shown by Aisling and Rory. Fiona seemed to be the odd one out, despite her siblings’ entreaties to join in. She seemed to want to swim a different way.

A short time later they were back at the hotel, in the hotel’s dining room. Rory and Aidan, bless them, had ensured he had a chair next to Aisling, so he was happy again to have a front row seat to the entertainment that was watching the siblings interact with each other.

“Isn’t this just beautiful?” Aisling sighed, leaning against his shoulder.

“It’s perfect.”

“It’s perfect having you here.” She grabbed his hand, pressed a kiss to his knuckles. “I’m so glad your family were happy enough to let you spend Christmas with us here.”

“I think they understood I wanted no other gift than to be in your presence.”

She laughed. “That’s so corny, but I love it.”

“I love you.”

She swiftly turned to face him. “What did you say?”

“I love you, Aisling Fairall.”

“Oh, Andy.”

The soft look on her face pushed more truth from his mouth. “You are perfect to me, and perfect for me, and I thank God that He brought me here to meet you.”

Her eyes blinked rapidly, then she threw herself into his arms. “I love you,” she whispered in his ear. “I knew it the moment I saw you, when you were looking out the window and busted me cleaning off my crumbs. It was like God said ‘this is the one I have made for you’.”

His body tingled with what felt like a core-deep truth. “Really?”

“Really.” She leaned in, met his mouth with hers. “I love you, and I can’t wait to see what God has for our future.”

“Me too,” he murmured against her smiling lips.

“Okay, okay, we get it you two.” Fiona’s voice snarked across the table. “This is supposed to be the Rory and Aidan show, remember?”

“Sorry.” Aisling winked. “Not sorry.”

The others laughed, but Fiona’s scowl only grew. He wondered if he should point out that there were plenty of photos being taken, and she might not want to look unhappy, but figured the newness of his position in this family probably didn’t warrant that kind of remark.

“So, are you two the latest in the Fairall legacy, huh?” Aidan smirked.

“The what?”