Page 64 of Other Side Of Never
Eamon stood up.With a small smile, he crossed to me and dipped his chin.His blue eyes softened.“It’s good having you, Lass.”Turning to Kian, he continued, “Get ready to head out.Best if you get there before it gets dark.It’s all set.Lachlan and Finn went up yesterday to ready it for the both of you.”
Kian angled a suspicious look at his brothers who smiled back guilelessly.
Oh, no.Would there be snakes in the beds?Salt in the sugar?What manner of pranks would these two get up to?
“We’re heading out, bud,” Kian announced, pulling Isaiah into his arms for a tight hug.
My heart warmed when Isaiah came to me next.Pressing his head to my stomach, he wrapped his skinny arms around my hips.
I closed my eyes, remembering Jakey at that age.Could I have done anything differently?Anything to ensure I might have held onto at least a bit of him?
He tipped his chin back and looked up at me, his little chin trembling.“You’ll take care of my dad, Bridge?”
Startled, I met Kian’s stricken gaze before focussing on Isaiah.I cupped the back of his tawny head.“I’ll take the best care of your dad, Iceman.”
He nodded and allowed his grandpa to lead him away as the anxiety I never knew he had spiked with the prospect of separating from his dad.
Finn’s teasing voice carried down the hall as we left.“He’s a might territorial, isn’t he?”
Kian huffed out a soft laugh and shook his head as he handed me my purse.
“May as well have pissed on her leg,” Lachlan’s deep voice responded.
I giggled, my smile huge as Kian snorted.
“Pissed on her leg,” Moira exclaimed exasperated.“Give your brother some peace.”
“He’s had enough peace, Ma,” Lachlan stated quietly, but his deep voice carried.“That one will give him life.”
Kian stiffened beside me.
I slipped my hand into his and squeezed, letting him know I wasn’t taking anything to heart.
After a moment, he squeezed back and offered me a wry smile.“You ready?”
I nodded, having no idea what would be waiting for us two hours down the road.“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
I was wrong.
The cottage was beautiful.After seeing the house, I expected something grandiose, but it was quaint.Charming.
Cozy.
Like Goldilocks and The Three Bears meets Hansel and Gretel only no one’s eating anything.
I snorted to myself.Unfortunately.
I loved it.
I was poking around the tiny kitchen when Kian’s exasperated cursing reached me.
I ran down the hall to the bedrooms, following the sound of Kian’s voice.“What?”
“Those fucking bastards,” he fumed, his hands on his hips.
He shook his head and began to laugh, then groaned and rubbed a rough hand over his face.“Those assholes took all the beds out except for this one.”He laughed again, tipping his head back to look at the ceiling.“It must have taken them hours.And they took all the extra sheets, blankets, and pillows.I’m surprised they didn’t take the bloody couch.”
I moved to stand beside him, looking down at that wide, inviting expanse.Tired, my defenses down, I sighed deeply.“I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to be held.”
