Page 121 of On The Rocks

Then, I promptly fell asleep.

Sighing contentedly,I snuggled deeper into the soft blankets, and my mouth curved into a smile. A feeling of completenesssettled in my soul, and I breathed my husband’s fresh laundry scent into my lungs. My body ached deliciously, and I stretched languidly to work out the kinks.

We’d made love again during the night, and it wasawesome.Callum was a talented man, and as much as I hated the thought of how he learned those talents, I was glad I was the one to reap the benefits.

Cracking one eye open, I smiled at my husband's face, just inches from mine. He was dead to the world, though it was to be expected after our busy day and the opening night. Callum said the party couldn’t have gone better, and I agreed, seeing as everybody had a blast. People would be talking about the Lucky Shamrock’s reopening for weeks, which was exactly the buzz we wanted to create.

Sliding out of bed, I slipped my robe over my shoulders and padded into the bathroom. It was still early, and I was determined to leave Callum resting for a while. All the work he’d been doing had exhausted him, and then I’d exhausted him again during the night and again a few hours later.

I giggled at the memory and picked up my toothbrush to clean my teeth. I did my business, then tying up my hair, I jumped in the shower and lathered the sexcapades off my body from the night before.

Within fifteen minutes, I’d dried off, thrown on some clothes, and was inspecting the contents of the fridge.

I hadn’t had time to go grocery shopping because of how busy we’d been. Maureen had cooked our dinners, which we’d eaten in the bar during our breaks, so we’d stayed fed, but my mother-in-law couldn’t feed us forever, and a girl couldn’t live on pizza delivery alone, especially with my ass.

I decided to go over to Martha’s for coffee and a selection of sugary treats, which I’d then bring home and wave undermy husband’s nose, subsequently waking him up to the scent of lemon heaven bars, caramel macchiato, and, well... me.

Awesome.

Pulling my boots on, I slipped my coat over my shoulders and wrapped my scarf around my neck while softly singing the words to the “Honeypie” song from the night before. Then I grabbed my keys, skipped down the stairs, and headed over the street.

The cold had set in, but Main Street was still quite busy for a freezing December Sunday morning. Hambleton had a thriving Church community, and many of the congregation came to Martha’s before Sunday Service, so my short walk there was taken up with greetings, smiles, and friendly nods.

I loved this town. It was so darn friendly. I’d heard stories about the old mayor and his cronies being wrong ‘uns, but I couldn’t imagine it. Everybody had been so nice to me.

Still smiling like a loony, I reached for the handle of Martha’s. Pushing open the door, I walked inside and automatically glanced around the room, pausing when I saw Shannon sitting at a table under the window with a dark-haired woman who had her back to me.

My sister’s stare landed on my face, and I immediately felt the coldness in her expression. It chilled me to the bone, even more so than the iciness of the air blowing in from the street.

“Maeve!” she called, beckoning me over.

The brunette woman sitting with Shannon craned her neck to look at me, and my stomach dropped when I saw it was Saskia.

I had no idea why, but suddenly, I was a bundle of nerves.

Shannon’s expression was one I’d seen many times. She was about to do something bitchy. I was still riding the high of the opening night and our lovemaking, and I simply wasn’t interested in my adoptive sister’s silly games.

“I don’t have time.” I pointed toward the counter. “I need to order—” but Shannon was already out of her chair and across the room. Taking my elbow, she propelled me forward.

“I know what you’re going to try and do,” I cut out, trying to free my arm. “And it won’t work.”

“You need to listen for your own good,” she told me as we approached the table. “Believe it or not, I am trying to look out for you this time.”

“I very much doubt that, Shannon,” I clipped. “Why change the habit of a lifetime?”

She motioned to the chair next to hers. “Just listen, Mae. We’re not your enemies. If you don’t care about what we’re about to tell you, it’s fine, but if it was me, I’d want to know. Sit down. Do you want a coffee?”

“I just want you to get your shite-stirring out of the way so I can order and get back to my warm bed and my naked husband,” I retorted.

I saw her flinch slightly.

To the rest of the world, she was cool, calm, and collected, but I knew her better. She was rattled. Whatever she was about to tell me was making her nervous, which didn’t bode well for me at all.

She took her seat and nodded toward some official-looking papers strewn across the table. “Read those.”

I sighed exasperatedly. “Just spit it out, Shannon.”

She took a sip of her coffee and sat back in her chair. “Okay, here it is. Da blackmailed Callum into marrying you.”

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