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Chapter Twenty-Four
LAUREN
The reception is at averyfancy hotel in Back Bay, and Andie is gawking at it all when I stop to hug her.
“You’re a long way from Dot now, girl,” she sighs, holding me close. “AndWestRoxbury. You’ll forget you were ever a Townie.”
“That’s unlikely,” I snort at her, jerking my head to the bridal table where Fiona and Mellie are giggling together. “The blonde is from Roxbury, and the brunette is from Southie.”
Andie glances over at them in surprise, laughing as she eyes the two of them.
“Well, they’d better keep you grounded. I’d be devastated if you forgot all about me.”
I roll my eyes at her. Andie understood my reasons for not asking her to be a bridesmaid. If anything, she looked relieved.
“We’ve been through thick and thin, girl. You can’t get rid of me that easily. Where’s Hamish?”
Something flashes in Andie’s eyes as she shrugs. “Gone. Done.”
She waves her hand dismissively, but I hear the thread of pain in her voice, the one she’s trying so hard to hide, and hug her close again.
“I’m so sorry, girl,” I murmur into her ear.
“I’m better off without him. It’s just a pity I’m now homeless and jobless.”
“Where are you staying? We have space. Stay with us!”
I grab her hands, but she’s already shaking her head. “I’m fine, Low. Really, I am. I’m sofa surfing and applying for every job I can find. But I don’t want charity. Though, keep an ear to the ground for me? If you hear of a job going, I’m the girl for it. Seriously.” She grabs my hand and holds my gaze. “I’ll doanything.”
I nod, starting to promise I’ll keep my ears open when Paddy comes to find me.
“Dance with me,mo chroí,” he murmurs, his lips sliding along my ear as I shiver.
Andie smiles and melts into the crowd as Paddy pulls me into his arms on the dance floor. Seamus and Tiggy are already dancing, and Connor has his tongue down some woman’s throat in the corner of the room.
Liam is in another corner, some woman sitting on his lap, with his hand up her skirt. Lovely. Niall is seated at the otherwise empty bridal table with Mellie, crowding her with his legs, his arm resting along the back of her chair, glaring at any other man who happens to look in Mellie’s direction.
She is tracing patterns on his forearm where it rests on the table in front of her. I can’t imagine being comfortable with touching the Reaper. Mellie is so brave.
“Let’s get out of here,mo chroí,” Paddy whispers, tearing my attention away from where Niall is now nibbling Mellie’s earlobe. “I want to crawl under that skirt, and I’m losing my patience.”
Um. Yes,please.
“Let’s go!” I whisper backer eagerly. Paddy’s pupils dilate, his fingers tightening on mine as he nods sharply to Seamus on the dancefloor and Sean Fitzpatrick, sitting at a table with a glass of whiskey in his hand.
“Come on, lass.” Paddy pulls me out of the room, ignoring the cheers and catcalls.
As we leave the ballroom, my eyes widen with shock.
“Fucking finally,” Paddy mutters, catching my eye and hustling me with a grin away from where Ronan and Fiona are glued together in a small alcove, kissing passionately while Ronan presses her against the wall with his body.
PADDY
The second I have Lauren through the door to our suite, I strip off my suit jacket and tie. Leading her to an easy chair, I sit her down, dropping to my knees in front of her, slowly lifting her skirt. I’ve been waiting for this moment since she walked into that church. It was fucking worth the wait.
“Jesus fuck,” I mutter, my eyes widening, my mouth suddenly drier than the Sahara Desert at the sight greeting me.
Lauren is wearing ivory lingerie to match her dress, all lacy and see-through. There’s a garter belt, and I don’t know where to look or put my lips first.
