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“Whatch you grinnin’ about?” Mike asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tony said, putting the stick shift in reverse when everyone was on board.
“I talked to Ma, and she said you didn’t come home Saturday night.”
“She’s got a big mouth,” Tony said, but he smiled. “I didn’t come home last night, either. You’d better hurry. I might make it to the altar before you and Aisling.”
“Aisling won’t even discuss marriage yet. I don’t want to listen to the bitching from Ma and Pop either if I move in with her.”
“Yeah, we need to cut the apron strings.”
“I don’t want to piss Pop off,” Mike said. “I gotta work with the guy every day.”
Laughing, they high-fived. Big Mike could be intimidating.
Tony knew he would have to find a way to navigate working with Bridget, but since he’d figured out how to do it with his brothers and dad, he was confident he’d manage it. She was easy to get along with and wasn’t jealous, at least not yet. He’d do what he had to, to make her feel secure.
Working with Katherinewas going to be trickybecause she was still steaming about their brief relationship. He’d make the effort not to rub her face in the new romance. But it would be difficult because he couldn’t wait to show Bridget how much he cared. He wanted to do it in all the hokey ways men did—sending flowers to their job, planning special outings for the two of them—and it was all under the watchful eye of his uncle, father and brothers.
One of the things he’d discovered about Bridget that he appreciated was that she was no-nonsense. After the first night together when they’d finally decided they needed to get some sleep, she got into her sleep attire, sweatpants and a T-shirt. The minute her head hit the pillow, she was out cold and didn’t budge. He woke up around six, and she was already up and showered, feeding baby Flynn while she packed his diaper bag.
After he showered and dressed, he joined her in the kitchen. “I want to go in together today.”
“You do? Why?”
“I want people to see us coming in to work in the same car.”
“Tony, why? What people?”
“Well, Katherine, for one.”
“Ha! I think it’s for Katherine only. I don’t want to rub salt in her wounds.”
“It’s better this way, like pulling a Band-Aid off with one swipe.”
“Ouch. Okay, whatever you want. After last night, I’m putty in your hands.”
He put his coffee cup down and encircled Bridget and her baby in his arms. “I’m so content; I could fall asleep standing up.”
“You’re a riot. Well, you’d better wake up. We need to leave early to drop Mr. Flynn off at his grandparents’ house. They’ll see the truck and freak out, but it has to be dealt with sooner than later.”
“Ugh, are you sure?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
“I’m ready.”
They loaded up, bringing coffee in travel mugs. She handed his over. “I bought two mugs a while ago just in case I’d have a travel companion someday.”
“I’m honored.”
He took Flynn from her and kissed her cheek while he locked up, and he strapped the baby in his seat.
“I can’t help it,” she confessed. “I’ve got the nervous shakes.”
“’Cause of your folks?”
“Yes, that and work, and sitting next to you after last night. Wow.”
