Page 57 of Forced Vows

Everyone in my family adores my brother's wife. Catalina is different in a good way, nothing Sev expected and everything he needed.

I'm not expecting that result from my marriage. I don't want it either.

Seeing my brother with a heart of granite go soft over his wife is a great source of amusement, but it's not something that will happen to me.

And still for some reason, it really bothers me that Róise can't expect the same welcome Catalina received.

After one final look around the room, my sister-in-law says, "I put your gift for Róise on the table."

She bought a gift from me too? What does she think? That I can't be bothered to even buy my own gift for the secret fiancée? "What is it?"

"A pink cat bed."

"A cat bed?" That doesn't sound like much of a gift. "I didn't know she had a cat."

"She doesn't. There's a gold foiled coupon printed on thick pink stationary in the card."

Suspicious, I ask, "What's the coupon for?"

"A trip to the shelter to adopt a kitten."

"The fuck I'm going to the shelter…" My mother's look has me stopping mid-rant. "I apologize for the language, mamma."

But then I glare at Catalina. "You'd better be joking."

"Nope. It will be good for you."

"Róise told you she wants a cat?" I ask.

"No, but doesn't everyone?"

"A dog maybe." At least dogs can be trained and they're loyal.

"Oh no, are you a dog person?" Catalina asks.

"My brother is not an animal person," Sev says as he arrives.

"Your wife wants a cat," I inform him, knowing my brother is no more an animal person than I am.

And he will have a new feline companion for his wife by tomorrow if he believes me.

Like I said, he's gone for her.

Catalina's eyes narrow at me. She knows how Sev will respond too.

I dare her with my eyes to disagree. My sister-in-law said everyone wants a cat and everyone by definition includes her.

Besides if I'm going to be saddled with a furry nuisance eventually, assuming Róise will insist on bringing the animal with her after we marry, so is my brother.

Sev leans down and kisses the side of Catalina's neck. "You want a kitten, mi dolce bellezza?"

She shivers as he whispers something else in her ear.

Whatever my brother said has Catalina's eyes going unfocused as she says, "Mmm…hmm."

"That's enough you two. The guests are going to start arriving soon and the birthday girl even sooner."

"Where's the gift table?" I ask, determined to remove "my" present and replace it with the one I bought.

---