“Thank you,” I whisper.
Norah huffs a laugh, “For what? An orgasm?”
“No, smart arse,” I tease, pinching her side playfully, which only makes her laugh harder. “Though I’m thankful for that too. Thank you for taking me back.”
She quiets and looks up at me, “I don’t think I ever really let go if I’m being honest. I told myself I was going to move on, but it was a lie. I don’t want anyone else but you.”
“Good. Because I’m here to stay, love. There’s no getting rid of me now,” I tell her, rolling to my back and pulling her to my chest.
Norah
I sigh contentedly, running my left hand over the planes of his stomach and onto his chest. I follow the lines of his tattoo, observing the Kennedy crest. My future last name. I grin at the ring on my finger, holding my hand up toadmire it.Norah Kennedy.I could get used to that.
“Are we really getting married?” I ask.
“That was the plan,” Eamon says sleepily. “Not getting cold feet already are you?”
I slap his chest. “Never. Just trying to wrap my mind around it. I don’t even know where to begin with planning a wedding.”
“I’d think the first, and most important, thing would be deciding when. We can wait as long as you want, but I’d marry you right this second if there was someone to officiate,” he says seriously, intertwining our fingers.
“Naked and in bed?”
“It would make the consummation quicker,” he deadpans.
I snort loudly at that. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Alright, fine. Not naked and in bed,” he grumbles. “How long do you need to plan?”
I prop myself onto my elbow and gaze down at myfiance, getting momentarily lost in the depths of his blue eyes.
“When I was little, I always imagined a huge, lavish wedding complete with twelve bridesmaids. I would, of course, make all of the dresses. And we would release doves at the end of the ceremony.”
Eamon raises an eyebrow at me, “Doves? You’re joking.”
“Looking back, that does seem a little excessive,” I laugh. “But I would like to at least make my own dress. As far as everything else, I don’t have a clue. We could get married in Ireland and come back and do a reception at Paddy’s for all I care. I don’t need anything extravagant.”
He turns his head to me abruptly. “Really? You’d get married in Ireland? What about our friends? I’m pretty sure a few of yours would be quite unhappy about that.”
“It’s not their wedding,” I shrug. “Though they could always come too. The girls and I had talked a while back about going together someday, so it’s not too far-fetched. I’m sure Teag and Ro wouldn’t mind going back home for a visit. Maybe we could even get Paddy to go.”
“Ach, Paddy would love that,” Eamon grins. “I bet he’d even give you away if you wanted him to.”
I inhale sharply and feel tears start to well in my eyes. Eamon immediately wraps his arms around me, pulling my head to his shoulder. “Shite, I’m sorry, love. That was stupid of me.”
“No, it’s okay.” I sniffle. “I wasn’t even thinking about not having parents at my wedding. I mean, I knew there wouldn’t be a dad, but my Mom…”
“I know, Acushla. I’m so sorry. We can elope if you want…” he offers.
I shake my head. “Mom wouldn’t want that. She’d want me to do what makes my heart happy. Even though she’s not here anymore, it would feel like an insult to her memory. But I do love the idea of Paddy giving me away. He’s the one responsible for us being together anyway.”
“Aye, I suppose that’s true. Though I always give credit to that pint of black stuff you were choking on that night.”
I snort again. “I’ll never live that down, will I?”
“Not a chance, fire sprite.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
