Page 64 of Dirty Eoin

“I had a message from Jaine this morning. She said she wasn’t sure if she could make our meeting, which is perfectly understandable as she does have companies of her own to run.”

Jessie is clearly getting off on the fact that she knows more than the rest of us put together when it comes to Jaine’s movements.

She tosses me the smirk that’s reserved solely for me, which I ignore.

She’s been quieter than normal today. Something we should all be grateful for. She’ll be missing her tag teammate, Sarah. She and Cillian have gone out with Caoimhe, and they’ve taken Finian along for the ride. Sarah says some cousin bonding time is exactly what the doctor ordered now we’re all one big happy family.

Jaine’s obviously not broken the news to her yet. That the happy family Sarah wants to embrace is merely temporary as far as she’s concerned.

“You have to remember that she’s a successful professional in her own right.”

I roll my eyes inwardly as Jessie continues to place her business partner on a pedestal, despite the fact we’re all already aware of her considerable successes.

As usual, it will be for Molly’s benefit. She’s still never forgiven her for the mattress on the back comment.

“Jaine’s a temporary O’Connell. Nothing more. Her and Eoin’s marriage is a sham.” Molly pouts as she adds in her two cents worth.

Whether a permanent arrangement or not, I had no option but to explain to her what had taken place between Jaine and me. That with all the unrest, we had no choice but to wed to safeguard Finian, but that the marriage is on paper only.

The only truth she’s not been made aware of is that Fin is Paddy’s son. For now, she thinks I had a dalliance with Jaine and that he’s mine.

Understandably, she’s not best pleased that this means I can’t marry her, but given the annulment clause Jaine slipped in, I suspect it’s only going to be a temporary delay.

I never mentioned the kiss Jaine and I shared, even when Molly questioned my bruised lip. Some things are better left unsaid.

Da frowns at Molly’s comment. Did he really think Jaine and I would live happily ever after?

She’s manipulative. She’ll never toe the Duster line. Not if she can help it.

It’s clear she’s only tolerating this marriage until the faceless enemy is dealt with and the immediate danger to her sons has passed. Then she’ll request the annulment.

It’s also clear that she’s chosen to take the vows with me rather than Aidan simply because it prevents me from marrying Molly. No doubt another part of her big payback plan.

I’m impressed. She’s coordinated it all perfectly. There’s just one tiny little thing she didn’t fully consider.

That this toxic relationship we share has an underlying mutual attraction. The fact that we’re both now fully aware that my temporary wife is mine for the taking. Physically, at least.

“When does Ma return?” I pose the question. Aside from Da, no one knows her take on everything that’s gone down.

“Today,” Da answers distractedly.

His response is met with silence. We’re all now considering the confrontation that will inevitably take place between Ma and Jaine. The woman she was dead set against joining our family to the extent she had Molly verbally warn her off. The woman who’s Finian’s ma. As my wife, Jaine is also set to fill her shoes as the next Ma Duster.

“So, if your marriage is fake, does that mean there’s a chance for me?”

His question interrupts the silence. We all turn to look at Aidan.

He smirks. “I would be happy to take Jaine as my wife.”

I clench my jaw to stop myself from saying something inappropriate. Is he deliberately trying to wind me the fuck up? Because it’s working.

Then again, why should I care? Jaine’s made her position quite clear, and I wanted to fuck her, not marry her. This way I can get her out of my system while we’re still wed, then when she plays the annulment card, which she inevitably will, she can become Aidan’s headache. At that point, I can fulfill my obligation and marry Molly.

Problem solved.

“Why would anyone want to marry that biker woman?” Molly answers, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

Aidan puts his hands behind his head in what I now know to be his signature pose.

---