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“Yes, please! And buttermilk biscuits too, please and thank you! Liam, you’re going to love this.” As she passed behind him, Sophie gave Liam’s butt a quick pinch, making him jump. She shot him a wink over her shoulder before falling face down onto the sofa to pass out for a few minutes. “Wake me up when it’s ready, would you?” she said, her voice muffled from the cushion.
Keefe blinked after his sister then looked back at Liam. “Did I miss something? Are you two…?”
She had caught him completely off guard with that cheeky pinch. Not that he didn’t like it. And he didn’t know that she hadn’t told Keefe about them. Those two told each other everything. “Ah… yes.” Liam gestured with his hands, trying to explain. “That is, we… I… it’s pretty recent.”
Keefe grinned wide with a snort as he cracked two eggs simultaneously into a bowl. “It’s about time.”
“Thanks.”
“Should I be threatening you or something?”
“I think a small brotherly threat would satisfy protocol.”
“I don’t have to tell you what her divorce did to her, but if you hurt her in any way, I’ll cut your balls off and serve them in my mulligan stew.” Although it was said in jest, the sentiment was genuine. Liam slowly nodded, looking a little fearful. Keefe grinned, then went back to work. Deep Fried cheese would not fry itself. “Should I be asking what your intentions are with my sister?”
“I love her and want to marry her. I know she’s not ready for that but I’ll wait for as long as it takes.”
The question hadn’t been genuine but Liam had given a very genuine answer. Keefe had hoped that Liam would say something like that.
With protocol now satisfied they could move on. “For god’s sakes don’t let her drink anymore. Any more and we’ll be dining with Her Majesty.”
Liam was filled the kettle to make tea. “I hate to break this to you but the queen has already made an appearance. She was singing when I got here.”
Keefe glanced back over his shoulder. “Anne Boleyn?”
“The one and only.”
“That’s your fault.” He pointed a spatula at Liam then turned back to his cooking.
“I was nine years old when I taught her that. She wanted something to jump rope to. How was I supposed to know it would become her drunk anthem?”
“Liam! I need you.” Sophie summoned him from the living room.
Liam shook his head and laughed. Apparently, she hadn’t passed out. It was good to have Sophie back.
Chapter13
Sophie wokeup the next morning tucked into her bed. She opened one eye then closed it again. For once, the sun was out, which was lovely, of course, but did it need to shine on the one morning she had a whacking hangover? She groaned and turned over away from the window and its evil sunlight. The scent of fresh coffee drifted in, tickling her nose. And by the scent she could tell it was Keefe’s special coffee. Now that was worth dragging her sorry carcass out of bed for.
She sat up and noticed a note on her bedside table beside a glass of water and two white tablets. “Your aspirin, Your Majesty,” it read. She swallowed the aspirin then crawled out from under her warm covers and staggered to the kitchen.
Keefe heard her stumble out of bed and swear when she bumped into the doorway. “How’s the head feeling?” he asked as he finished pouring her a cup of coffee.
“Not great, but better than it should.”
“I bet it hurts when you carry it underneath your arm for so long.”
“Bite me.” He placed her coffee, made just the way she liked it, on the counter and slid it in front of her. She lifted the cup to her lips and sipped the hot libation. “Bless you.”
“That’s more like it. Scrambled eggs and pancakes sound good?”
“Mmm, yes, please.”
“How about some potatoes too?” Sophie had her face buried in her cup so she gave him a thumbs up. Keefe opened the refrigerator door and brought out the tray of eggs. “You know, you might have told your brother.”
She placed her cup on the counter. “Tell you what?”
“That you’re seeing Liam.”
