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“We’re delighted to meet ye,” Paddy added. “But why is it not Conner that brought ye?”
My lips parted to answer, but Keir beat me to it.
“He was busy and asked me to bring her by.”
“Ach, too busy for us? Maybe, but surely not for such a lovely bride. I’ll have to give him a piece of my mind next time I see him.” Nana looked at me as she sat back in her recliner. “That’s the first thing you’ll need to learn—never give ’em an inch, not these Byrne men. They’ll take it and run a mile.”
Paddy grunted. “You causin’ problems for the boy before he’s even walked down the aisle, Aine? Hold yer whist.”
She shot him a look that could have withered a newly bloomed flower to ash. I had to bite down on my lips to keep from laughing.
“Now, tell me if I’m wrong,” Paddy went on, “but I could have sworn I was told you were mute.” He rubbed his scruffy jaw with a wrinkled hand and studied me.
“I was,” I explained. “But in a strange twist of fate, my voice returned just last night after six months of absence.”
Nana crossed herself. “Ain’t that just the way of him? Workin’ miracles we can only guess at. Why, just last week, Paddy here took out the trash without me even havin’ to ask.” She cut her eyes wryly to her husband.
I grinned, deciding I officially adored Nana Byrne.
We talked for several minutes before a knock sounded on the front door.
“Well, who could that be?” Paddy said to no one in particular, getting to his feet. Before he could move toward the entrance, the door opened and closed, and Conner joined our little party.
“What a lovely surprise, Paddy,” Nana cried. “Do ye see who it is? Conner’s come to see us.”
“I’m old, not blind,” Paddy grumbled. “Glad you came, son. It’s only fitting.”
Conner hugged his grandparents, a fondness to his soft smile. “I agree, Paddy. It’s only right I’m here to introduce my bride.” He shot a glare at Keir, then me.
Nana clasped my hand and grinned. “And did ye already know the incredible news? Our girl here can talk again!”
“As a matter of fact, I did know. I was lucky enough to be the first to know when shereleasedher first sounds.” Conner’s devilish stare pinned me to my seat, where I suddenly wished I could melt into the floral fabric.
Nana and Paddy seemed oblivious to his innuendo, but Keir smirked.
Flames licked at my cheeks.
If I could have slugged him in the arm without looking insane, I would have. “I’m surprised you’re here,” I shot at Conner instead. “I thought you’d made other plans.”
“Not at all. I try to stop in and visit Nana here whenever I can.”
Nana snorted. “That’s some bollocks if I’ve ever heard any.”
I coughed out a poorly disguised laugh.
“Well,” Conner continued. “If I hadn’t meant to visit, would I have come prepared with these?” He lifted the paper sack I hadn’t noticed he was carrying and handed it to his grandmother.
Her scowl melted to a wry grin. “Yer forgiven.” She took the sack and peeked inside. “Orange slices! Ye know how I love them.” She took out an orange jellied candy and bit off a corner like it was the most precious delicacy known to man. Granted, they were the nice kind of candies you had to go to a specialty candy shop to get, which meant Connerhadplanned to come. I wondered if that was out of his own free will or if he suspected I’d defy him from the beginning.
“Can’t have sweets without tea,” Nana said. “Have a seat, Con. Paddy,” she barked. “Go an’ fetch us some tea.”
He scowled at her but rose to his feet and shuffled from the room.
“You have to try one of these, lass.” The old woman held out the opened bag. “They’re my absolute favorite.”
Happy to oblige, I reached in and fished out a half-circle slice then took a bite. When I glanced at Conner, feeling his eyes bearing down on me, I was shocked at the unadulterated fury hardening his gaze. Then I realized his stare was trained on my wrist, where I still wore the gold cuff covering the remnants of my bruise. Every ounce of his control was focused on restraint. He would insist on an explanation once we were alone, but I was granted a reprieve for now.
I’d hadto drag Bishop’s groggy ass from bed to spar with me first thing that morning. He’d been up most of the night finishing off the Albanian, but I didn’t care if he was tired. I was desperate to work through the shitstorm of emotions clouding my thoughts since sneaking out of Noemi’s bedroom window.
