Page 36 of Niall

I shrugged. “I’ve never had feelings like this before, so I don’t know. Last night meant so much to me…” I trailed off when I realized what I had said. Una’s eyes were wide.

“Last night?”

I bit my lip and nodded. “He, um, was my first.”

She grabbed my arm. “Finn was mine.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

I leaned on the counter with a sigh. “He treats me so well and is so protective. He calls me cute names, and I want to think I mean something other than someone he lusts after…” I ran a hand through my hair. “I don’t know. If I push him, he shuts down. If I say too much, he gets mad. Then you tell me he’s all possessive about other men.” I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

“What names does he call you?”

“Oh, ah…well, Polly. For one”

“Polly?”

I told her about what he said, and she laughed. “Polly Pocket—that is cute. Finn calls me mo chroí. It means my heart.”

“That’s beautiful. Niall calls me little doll sometimes. Mo mhuirnín,” I said, hoping I was pronouncing it right.

Una stopped mid-bite of a cookie. “That doesn’t mean little doll, Anna.”

“What does it mean?”

Her smile was wide. “My darling. He calls you my darling. Hardly the term a man would use for a woman he wasn’t serious about.”

“Oh,” I murmured, shocked. “He told me he thinks he’s broken. That he doesn’t connect with people—women—the same way Finn or Roman do. That he doesn’t love.”

She snorted. “Bullshit. Finn says he hides his feelings.”

“Well, I can’t force them.”

The door opened, and the two men walked in. I felt my heart race a little when I saw Niall. He smiled as he came forward, sniffing the air. “I smell cookies.”

Finn laughed, walking to Una and pressing a kiss to her head. “What a great surprise. Niall didn’t tell me what you two were up to.” His eyes widened. “Are those ginger molasses?”

Una held out the plate, and he took one, biting down and closing his eyes. “Delicious,” he muttered. “We need the kitchen outfitted ASAP.”

Una laughed. “You want more cookies, my love?”

He grinned and pulled her to his chest, bending her over and kissing her soundly. “I want you pregnant and in the kitchen.”

She laughed, throwing her arms around his neck. “Take me home and start then, Mr. O’Reilly.”

Finn winked at me, bending and throwing Una over his shoulder. She gasped as he grabbed the plate of cookies. “Excuse us.”

I laughed watching him stride to the door, carrying Una upside down, holding her in place with one hand, the other holding the cookies. At the door, he stopped and turned. “Niall, some assistance.”

Chuckling, Niall opened the door and let them out, Una demanding to be put down, and Finn ignoring her.

Niall returned and picked up another cookie. “These are incredible.”

“Thank you.”

“Did you have a good afternoon?”