Page 6 of The Winter Laird

“I don’t really know,” she admitted.

A long pause followed, and Reilly finally replied, “Don’t worry, Bri. I’m with you.”

She smiled, relieved. She knew he would be.

Chapter 1

“James!”

Evelyn Sullivan shot her eldest son a look only a mother could, and he reluctantly let go of his brother’s neck. She turned her attention to her younger son. “Colin, where’s your cousin?”

“She’ll be here in a second. She was on the phone. She’s traveling again.” He rubbed his hands together as he sat down at the breakfast table. “I love Sundays, I love pancakes, and I love eggs!”

“Wash your hands,” she chided just as Brianagh joined them.

“How old does one have to be in order to remember to wash up before a meal?” Brianagh wondered aloud, grabbing a plate.

James smirked. “Well, seeing as Colin is twenty-six—”

“And you are almost thirty. I didn’t see you at the kitchen sink, young man,” Evelyn cut in, taking the serving spoon out of his hand. “Honestly, boys. I thought I raised you better than this.”

“You know, if you keep feeding them, they’ll keep coming back,” her uncle Connor boomed as he entered the kitchen. He caught a glance of the large mound of pancakes on Colin’s plate. “I thought we weren’t supposed to feed the animals at the zoo, anyway.”

Brianagh laughed. Sunday mornings were the same almost every week—no matter what their schedules were, it was ritual to show up around ten, eat pancakes and eggs, and tease each other until either James or Colin tackled the other to the floor. She loved it.

“Reilly’s coming, too,” she said, placing her phone on the table. “We’re heading to his cottage tonight.”

“You’re going to Ireland?” Evelyn exclaimed, almost dropping her coffee. “Whatever for?”

“She’s running,” Colin cut in, pouring syrup all over his food. “I think she should invest in a good pair of Docs, personally. Those heels she’s wearing won’t last much past a mile before she breaks one of her ankles.” He shoved pancakes into his mouth, then mumbled around them, “Go on, Bri. Tell her why you’re running this time.”

She glared at him. “Don’t be a jerk.”

“Jerk? What are we, in high school?” Colin swallowed, then turned to his mother. “Matthew popped the question, and Bri can’t handle it so she’s convinced Ry to go with her to Ireland. She’s itchy. Don’t even try to deny it,” he added as Brianagh opened her mouth to protest. “You’re tapping your foot.”

“Marriage?” Evelyn asked, shock evident in her voice. “But you’ve only been dating, what? Three months?”

“Six,” she replied, holding out her hand.

“You said yes?” Connor asked. “He didn’t ask for my blessing…but, I suppose times have changed.”

Brianagh sighed. “Uncle, I’m sure he meant no insult. And while I did say yes, I’m still thinking on it. There’s a lot to consider.”

Evelyn was gazing at the large diamond, biting her lip. “This is a very, er,largering, honey. I thought your style was a bit more understated.”

She snatched her hand back. “I like it. Can you please pass the orange juice?”

“Morning.” Reilly strode in, filling the kitchen with his presence. He grinned at Bri. “Hello, cousin. I hope you’re ready for why you can’t marry that prig. I made a list. We’ll go over it on the plane.”

“I made one, too,” Colin added unhelpfully.

“Give me a few minutes and I’ll come up with one as well,” James piped in.

Brianagh groaned and dropped her head in her hands. Sometimes her family was overwhelming.

* * *

“You’d best tell me everything.”

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