Page 72 of Power Play with My Brother's Irish Friends

“Sorry. Patrick, Duncan, and Charlie bought us a house. I should have called you. Sorry if you were worried.”

“I know. They told me they planned to surprise you. That’s why I waited so long to call.” He cleared his throat, a beat of hesitation passing. “I’d like to swing by and see the house. And.” Another deep pause. “I have some news to share.”

“Come on over.” I glanced at my robe. “Give me a few minutes to change.”

“Not like I’m standing on your front porch.” He laughed into the phone. “Be there in fifteen minutes.”

He ended the call still laughing and I dashed to my room to change. I’d not been kidding when I told my men that I’d turned to stretchy pants as my go-to. They were the only thing that felt comfortable.

Patrick rose up, his hair tousled and his eyes sleepy. “What’s up?”

“Austin’s on his way over. He wants to see the house.” I yanked on a pair of pants and threw a loose t-shirt on once I found and snapped on my bra.

Duncan growled and rolled to the edge of the bed. “Is that code for something?”

“Yeah.” Charlie snorted and grabbed his jeans. “It means Austin wants to check up on us and make sure we’re treating Miranda right.”

“Really?” Duncan asked.

I threw a pair of socks at Charlie’s head. “It does not. He said he had news.”

“Oh.” All three of them left the bed and tugged on rumpled clothes from the piles on the floor.

By the time I’d brushed my hair and walked out of the bedroom, the front doorbell rang with a merry chime that drifted through the house. “That’s cute. I like it.” I grinned over my shoulder and opened the door.

Austin and Samantha stood on the other side, holding hands and grinning like a pair of lovesick fools. “Hey.” Austin hugged me without letting go of Samantha, and I pulled her into the hug, causing a startled laugh to burst out.

She’d changed her hair again, this time opting for a bright blue with white streaks, the team’s colors.

“Well?” I pretended not to notice the giant ring on Samantha’s finger and waved them inside. “What’s the big news?”

“You should show us around first.” Austin tried to weasel out of the situation, but I shook my head.

Samantha rolled her eyes and elbowed him hard in the ribs.

“Okay. Fine.” If the ring hadn’t already given him away, the giant, goofy smile definitely finished the job. “We’re engaged. Samantha agreed to marry me.”

“Poor girl.” Charlie quipped from behind me, his voice absolutely oozing sarcasm.

Austin raised a fist and shook it in Charlie’s direction. “Don’t start.”

“I’m shaking from fear.” Charlie walked up beside me and grabbed Austin up in one of his bone-crushing hugs, pulling Austin clear off the ground. “Congratulations.”

“I’m guessing you don’t really want to see the house.” I pretended to pout. “That’s a shame. Anyway. I’m going to the kitchen for ice cream. Who wants to celebrate with me?”

“Me.” The chorus of voices thrashed against my ears, followed by all their footsteps.

This was what I’d been missing, what I’d wanted for so long but had no idea how to find. Love. Laughter. Family…both old and new.

Charlie beat me to the freezer and pulled out several half gallons of different flavors of ice cream. By the time he finished, half the counter was covered and we needed a dozen spoons to sample all the containers.

Austin and Samantha fell in with the four of us, our laughter growing so loud and boisterous that it filled me to bursting. “To the celebration of a lifetime.” I held my spoon aloft and clinked it against Duncan’s. “May there be many more.”

“I’ll eat to that.” Patrick scarfed down his bite of chocolate cherry and reached for the vanilla, which started a fight between him and Duncan.

Austin leaned his elbow on the counter and widened his eyes at me. “You’re sure you’re ready for all that?”

“Absolutely.” I wanted them more now than ever before.

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