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Fuck.
Inessa was messing with my head, and with war at our heels, that wasn’t fucking good.
I grunted at that, then glowered at Aidan when I saw he was looking at my boner. “You need a pair of fucking slippers too? Weren’t you the ones giving me shit about how they had an open invite?”
Aidan grinned, and from his eyes, I knew he was high. “Had to watch the show.”
“What show?”
He cocked a finger at me, and I bent down to his angle, looked ahead, and saw what he meant.
Ma and Winnie were talking in the kitchen, and from that angle, you could just see that Winnie was pinned against the counter with fear on her face, even as Ma was five feet away from her.
Even though I was pissed at my housekeeper, and hated that she was making Inessa uncomfortable, the prospect of getting new staff made me wander over there fast.
“Ma?” I called out, watching as Winnie’s focus switched to me, and I could sense her praying I was a lifeline.
I wasn’t.
Ma looked at me. “I was just telling Winnie about what a lovely daughter-in-law I’ve got.”
My lips twitched. “Yeah?” Then, I stared at Winnie. “Heard you’ve been giving Inessa shit, Winnie. That true?”
“It’s true,” Inessa rasped from behind me. “But I think things will be better now, won’t they, Winnie?”
The housekeeper blinked and nodded fast.
I’d finally figured out that Inessa was cooking because of Winnie, so deciding to save my gut, I asked, “You gonna make me some of that cottage pie I like?”
Winnie’s nod came fast again. “Of course, Eoghan.” She cut Inessa a look, and I saw no malice in her eyes, but Ma evidently did. Inessa, too, because she tensed. “If that’s what you’d like, Inessa?”
“I hear you give my daughter-in-law any shit, Winnie, I’ll be telling Aidan about that stunt your Brian pulled. You got me?”
My ears pricked at that.
What stunt? I knew Brian was on Brennan’s crew, so whatever it was, and knowing my bro, I doubted Brian hadn’t already been castigated. But Winnie evidently wasn’t aware of that, and she tensed up before whispering, “I got you, Lena.”
“Good.”
Ma huffed then wandered toward me, and Inessa murmured, “The slippers fit! I’m so glad.”
She grinned at Inessa. “They’re beautiful, thank you, dear. And right in the entrance! It’s nice to know I’ll be able to see more of both of you now. Eoghan’s a rude little booger. He never invited us home.”
There’d been a reason for that.
Inessa cleared her throat, and surprised me by asking Ma, “Lena, in future, would you mind giving us some notice?” Her smile was hesitant. “I’d prefer not to have to rush through getting cleaned up, and I’d like to make sure the apartment is nice and tidy for you.”
Approval sparked through Ma’s eyes. “I can understand that. Aidan’s mother was an old bitch, and she’d always pull moves like that on me.” She patted Inessa’s arm, even as she leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “I only did that today because of the situation.” She meant Winnie. “I promise, I won’t do it again.”
Inessa’s smile practically sparkled. “Thank you.” She returned the kiss, then asked, “Would you like to stay for brunch?”
“That’d be lovely. Winnie, Aidan will have his usual, but the rest of us will have whatever you can scrape together.” The order was clear.
“Yes, Lena,” Winnie agreed meekly.
I grinned at Ma as she moved out of the kitchen, but I tugged her into a quick hug, grateful for her backing Inessa up. “And they say Da is the tyrant.”
Her eyes twinkled. “Behind every strong man, there’s a stronger woman,” was all she said, but I let out a laugh, because what the fuck that said about her, I didn’t even want to know.
