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I fix my cufflinks – yet again. The tie is too tight, and my shirt is sticking to my back, despite the stone church being freezing cold this autumn morning.
“Relax,” Sean whispers next to me. “I’m sure she’s not done a runner.”
I shoot him a glare, and the dick clamps his lips together to stop him from bursting out laughing.
“Don’t worry,” he continues. “Even if she did do a runner, you’d still have the majority of the company over Finbar.”
I snort, but he’s not wrong. Caitlin received an early wedding present last week – well, one she had to pay for with the money she earned from the fair, but nonetheless, it was a gift. Her brother has finally decided designing jewellery is not for him and sold his share of Keenan Jewellers to Caitlin, leaving her with one percent higher ownership than her dad.
It was a dark day for Finbar. He wanted his son to give the shares back to him, for free. But it turns out Fin’s greed is greater than his loyalty to his father. He needs the money, he insists, for his new career as a travel blogger. He’s tryingto persuade Irene to travel with him – it will be a unique generation-gap take on a travel blog, he says. I have to admit, for once he may have a point. But I doubt Junior will ever manage to cut Irene’s ties to Father Seamus Murray, so for now, they’re staying put.
From the corner of my eye, I see Father Murray step forward and motion for the congregation to rise. The tones from the string quartet fill the room, and the tension in my shoulders dissipates. Eagerly, I gaze down the aisle between the pews, all decorated in white and blush-pink flowers. Yes, we never did the Las Vegas wedding. Irene can’t havethatscandal added to all the other scandals her daughter is placing on her.
This wedding may be rushed, but that doesn’t mean it’s a courthouse affair – or a small family gathering for that matter. Neither Caitlin nor I wanted this big-ass wedding, so everything is paid for by none other than Finbar Keenan himself, to his dismay. But the last thing he wants is to lose face in front of his brother-in-law, so no expense has been spared.
I grin widely as my four nephews appear, dressed in dark navy suits and pink ties. They’re adorable, scattering rose petals from pretty little baskets. I can’t believe I’ll have a child of my own in five months time. I’m less patient for our baby’s arrival than a kid is for Christmas morning.
I hear a gasp from my soon-to-be mother-in-law followed by muted laughter from the congregation as the wee one twirls and throws the basket up the aisle.
“Guess he’s into athletics now,” I comment quietly.
“Yeah, the hammer.” Sean nods. “Nice throw.”
Behind the boys, an eighteen-year-old young woman appears. I bite both my lips to stop my laugh. Next to me, Seanmumbles, “What the…”
Sally O’Reilly – and the three other bridesmaids following her – are wearing long-sleeved, high-neck A-line dresses in thick blush-pink satin. The stiff smiles on the girls’ faces makes me chuckle under my breath. These unflattering and unsexy dresses are Caitlin’s little revenge on the girls that have treated her wrong. It took some persuasion on my part to make Caitlin go through with the dress choice, but I reminded her that a bit of revenge isn’t always bad.
But then…
The bridesmaids could have done a choreographed striptease for all I know, as all I see is my woman.
In her wide skirts and long veil – clutching a bouquet that seems much too big for her small frame – Caitlin glides up the aisle, just like a fairy. She’s also in long sleeves, but unlike her bridesmaids, the material is delicate, see-through lace. Finbar stomps next to her, his chest puffed and a smirk on his lips, but that smirk changes to a sneer once he has the congregation behind his back.
“Dad!” Caitlin whispers, and only then does he let go of her arm, giving his daughter to me.
I could grin triumphantly at my business partner, but right now, I couldn’t care less about him. My heart swells to triple its size as I lift my bride’s veil. Staring back at me is the epitome of blushing innocence – but we both know the innocence is only skin deep. Below the fine lace of her long-sleeved wedding dress is a body made for sin with not only a three-and-a-half-month-old baby growing in her belly but also a butt plug wedged up her ass – a prototype for our new stylish erotic jewellery range. It’s there to prep her for tonight when I’ll take her last remaining cherry…
As Father Seamus Murray ties our lives together in the presence of God and two hundred so-called important people, that I have no idea who they are, I slip the ring on Caitlin’s finger – a ring I designed myself – and I feel true happiness.
If the glow in Caitlin’s eyes is anything to go by, she feels the same.
39
Caitlin
On a big exhale, I sink back against the plush seat in the limousine that will bring us to the wedding photo shoot. It took forever to get out of the church and past all the well-wishers, but Aidan guided me through the crowds with his arm safely around me.
Who knew that what I needed in my life was a daddy to take care of me? He makes sure I eat right, take my vitamins, do moderate exercise and practice my breathing. Aidan thinks that part of why I’ve taken to our relationship is because I have daddy issues – that I’ve felt neglected by Dad all these years. He may be right, but I don’t really care what the reason is. Aidan raises his eyebrows, probably wondering why I’m grinning up at him like a lovesick fool.
“Mrs Byrne?” he asks.
“Yes,husband.”
“What’s going through that pretty head of yours?”
I run my hand over the tiny swell of my belly and sigh contentedly. “I can’t believe how lucky I am to have found you, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“You and me both, my little fairy. You and me both.” His lips press gently against mine before he pulls away, excitement shining in his eyes. “I’ve got a surprise for you tomorrow.”
