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With a diamond so big, I need to do bicep curls every morning to strengthen my arm enough to lift my hand.
Of course, I said yes. He could have asked me with a candy ring pop, and I would have said yes.
Underneath the soaring wild spruce are tons and tons of presents. Darragh’s daughter, Sophie, a sweet little blonde runs around handing them out.
It’s the life, the big, tight-knit family, I always wanted and never had.
In the past two weeks, I’ve been driven around and formally introduced to all the wives. Women who will call me sister and every time I think about it, I want to cry.
On the sofa, Riordan sits with his wife, Priscilla, passing their newborn daughter back and forth. She’s an adorable cueball wearing a pink bow on her head, which is, yeah, a little pointy.
Near the tree, Darragh swings his son around, while his wife, Ana, plays got your nose. Her sister, Katya, Lachlan’s wife, who’s very pregnant, hands gifts to Sophie each time she returns.
“That’ll be us next year,” Eoghan whispers in my ear. “I hope.”
I squeeze his hand. The pregnancy test I took two weeks ago was inconclusive. The insert said it was too early in my cycle.
Everyone has been loving and warm, asking questions about my mom who we’re seeing tomorrow when Eoghan and I fly to Vegas early tomorrow.
Balor approaches me wearing dark horn-rimmed glasses. He’s taller than I thought, six-one and lean with thick, fringed-up hair the color of mink and green eyes. Every inch of skin bulges with veiny muscle.
“When you’re further settled, Jillian, let’s talk,” he says, looking right at me with a voice deeper than I remembered. “It’s time I patent several of my technical inventions. I’ve been sitting on dozens for years.”
I shudder, hearing inventions thinking it’s got to be more of those weaponized drones. “I… I can help you with that.”
Smiling, he says, “You were a patent attorney before you joined the Las Vegas D.A., right?”
My heart does small flips mostly because that means he vetted me.
Eoghan and I have not talked about what kind of job I’d have here in Astoria, if any. It’s only been two weeks, and I’ve been flying back and forth to Vegas.
On a private jet with a bodyguard. Dressed in expensive designer clothes.
Like a celebrity, which isn’t as exciting as I thought and mostly embarrassing because it’s not who I really am.
But Balor gives my heart hope I can do something useful for the family.
“I was a patent attorney,” I say, straightening my back. “A great one.”
“I need someone to file my patents. And take trips to Washington. Schmooze with the patent office. You know the ins and out of public service. You know the players.” Balor smiles at me.
It’s so unexpected. The brother I thought I had the least in common with because I have two left hands and a hole in my brain when it comes to computers, will apparently be the one I’ll be working closely with.
I didn’t want to work in Eoghan’s office. That’s his domain—but this, this I know how to do. And it’s something I want to do.
“I’m in. I’m excited.”
“Good.” He nods, looking down into his glass. “Kieran wants us to have a solid legit arm of the business. This is it.”
“Thank you for trusting me.”
“We all trust Jillian,” Eoghan says, hugging me.
“We’ll talk more when I get back from Australia.” Balor sips his drink.
“Australia?”
His hooded green eyes find me, then drift over my shoulder to Eoghan, who I bet is death-staring his younger brother to open up to me.
