Page 61 of Taming Irish

“Jinxwhat?”

“Shit,” Cillian mutters. “Guess I’m going to lose thatbet.”

“What bet?” Idemand.

“Ye like this one,” Owen says, nodding atMakena.

“She’s just a friend,” Ilie.

Cillian and Aiden laugh loudly, and Owen grins. “Right. And ye brought her here tonight,why?”

“Because my mom wouldn’t stop rattling on about setting me up with one of her friend’s daughters,” I say a little too loudly, causing Emer to turn and glare atme.

“She’s been on ye for years about that,” Owensays.

“Where is my mom?” I ask, knowing Aiden would have already picked herup.

“Kitchen.” Aiden nods towards the hallway that leads to the newly renovated kitchen that my sister has little use for considering her specialty is burnt eggs and undercooked toast. “She kicked Emer out before yecame.”

“She seems to be feeling better,” Cillian adds, though his expression remains tight. “But she doesn’t seem to be following the doctor’sorders.”

We all care about her, no matter how much of a pain in the ass she can be attimes.

I nod, shifting Cadence in my arms. “The woman doesn’t know the definition ofrest.”

As if on cue, my mom comes bounding out of the kitchen, clapping her hands and exclaiming that dinner is ready. When she sees me, she gives a small disapprovingnod.

“Good of ye to join us,” she says before clucking her tongue and taking Cadence from me. “Figured ye would have been down at Ol’ Tommy’s pub again. And don’t think I didn’t hear the rumors about ye bringing somegirl-”

“Mom,” I say, stopping her. I motion for Makena to join us. The others are all slowly trickling into the dining room, but I have no doubt they’ll be eavesdropping from the other room, wondering how this will playout.

Makena winces as she comes to stand besideme.

“I’d like ye to meet Makena Fraser.” I say, placing a lazy arm over her shoulder. The gesture was meant to be casual, but I see my mom take it a whole other way. Her eyes widen, and her pursed lips pull into a widesmile.

“Makena,” she says, taking her hand in both of hers. “It’s so nice to meet ye. What a wonderful surprise. Shane doesn’t usually bring his girlfriendshome.”

“I’mnot-”

“We’re taking things slow.” I interrupt Makena’s protest, happy for one evening to have my mom off my back about settlingdown.

It seems to satisfy her, at least for the moment. And I know that when whatever this is with Makena ends, I’ll be able to use the heartbreak card for at least six months to keep the woman off myback.

Sometimes I surprise myself by how smart Iam.

Chuckling under my breath, I lead Makena into the diningroom.

“Why did you say that?” she frowns up atme.

“What?”

“You implied that we’redating.”

“I said we’re taking it slow. We are, aren’t we?” I grin down her, but she doesn’t smileback.

“We’re justfriends.”

Before we round the corner, I take her arm and pull her towards me, trapping her so her back is against the wall, cupping the side of herface.

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