Page 60 of Sullivan

I glanced at Autumn, who nodded, so I shrugged. “Sure.” Then I grinned. “So Seamus is a grandfather now, is he? To a grown man?”

She laughed. “His daughter had a baby young. A good mum, but she relied on Seamus for a lot. He was a single da, so he knew how hard it was. He is more a da to Ryan than grandpa, but that is what he is.” She shook her finger. “Don’t be teasing him too hard. You’re the same age.”

She was right, and had my life been different, it could have been me. But it wasn’t, for which I was grateful. I liked my life. Especially now that I’d found Autumn.

“I’ll be easy.”

She snorted. “We’ll see.”

AUTUMN

“What did you and Roisin do all afternoon?” Sully asked as we sat waiting for the plane to taxi down the runway.

“She showed me baby pictures of you and your cousins.” I nudged him. “Your arse was nice even then.”

He groaned. “She didna.”

I laughed. “She did. And she told more stories of you growing up.”

“I am certain she exaggerated.”

“Maybe, but I enjoyed hearing them. She talked a lot about Niall and Finn. Their wives. She loves them dearly.”

“And they her. She adored you.”

“I liked her a lot. She made me very welcome. She didn’t seem shocked over our relationship at all.”

“You expected her to be? Even after I told you how fast Finn and Niall fell for their women? It didn’t faze Bonnie either.”

“No, I guess it didn’t.”

“Roisin fell pretty fast for her Rory. And my da met my mum at a dance on Friday and had proposed by Sunday, from the stories I was told. And even though he turned out to be an arse, her sister, Finn’s mum, fell quick for his da.” He rubbed his chin. “It’s in our genes, I think.”

“Well, something is in your jeans,” I joked.

He leaned over the armrest and kissed me. “I’ll show you later, lass. Trust me, you’ll like it.”

“I already know that.”

I changed the subject. “How was your visit with your friend?”

“It was good to see Seamus. He is well. Looks healthy. He’s seeing a lady from his parish. Seems smitten. He’s a foreman at the local plant. His grandson, Ryan, works there too, but he plans to go back to uni and get his teaching degree.” Sully looked thoughtful. “I might see what I can do to speed that up.”

“How?” I asked, intrigued.

“A scholarship of sorts. Something to help. Seamus wants more for Ryan. Not the never-ending monotony of the plant. He says Ryan has always wanted to teach, but things haven’t gone his way. But he’s a good lad, and he helps Roisin and the troublemakers.”

I squeezed his hand. “You’re a good man, Sully.”

He looked at me, intense and serious. “I try to be. I fail at times, but I try. I’ve been lucky, Autumn. I have a great career, no money trouble, and a good life. Not everyone I grew up with has that. I try to help those I can, but I do it quietly. Behind the scenes. Not everything is visible.”

I smiled, getting the feeling he was trying to tell me something, but I wasn’t sure what. I cupped his cheek and kissed him.

He kissed me back, his mouth claiming and hard. Then he drew back, his gaze locked on me. “And my life is complete with you in it now, mo fhiadh beag. You mean more than you know, and I will do everything I can to be the man you deserve.”

The flight attendant appeared before I could speak, offering us a drink. Sully took a whiskey, and I asked for water, sipping it as he shut his eyes, leaning back into the seat with a quiet sigh.

I had asked Roisin earlier about Sully and the gang he was in when he was younger. She had stayed silent for a moment before she spoke.