Page 5 of Almost Priest

“What do you think?”

Seeing no need to lie, Sam smiled and admitted, “I love her.”

He beamed and Sam was certain he was about to kiss her, but the front door opened and someone yelled, “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph has the prodigal son returned?”

Braydon pulled back and groaned as he stood from his seat when a young man with rakishly spiked hair and sharp crystal blue eyes came into the kitchen.

“Kelly,” he greeted as he embraced his younger brother in a backslapping hug.

Ah, so this is the loner.

“It’s good to have you home, my brother.”

“Good to be home.”

They broke apart and Kelly turned to Sam. He leered at her with faintly sinister amusement while she tried not to bristle under his scrutiny.

Whoa. That expression should be photographed and put in the dictionary under the word smolder.

“Well, hello, pretty lady. I see you’ve come with the wrong brother, but I’d be glad to remedy that for ya and make sure you come again.”

Braydon shoved his brother out of the way. “Kelly, this is mygirlfriend,Samantha.”

“Braydon, don’t interrupt me when I’m speaking with the lassies. How long are you here for, beautiful?”

Sam wasn’t sure if Kelly realized he was pissing his brother off, but she didn’t really want to get in the middle.

“Three weeks.”

He made an expression that Sam could only describe as disappointment.

“That, love, is a shame. Three weeks with this lot and you’ll be crazy as a loon by the time you head home. I can’t be exposing myself to anymore crazies.” He leaned in a theatrically whispered, “You see, they all know I’m the McCullough with the biggest cock and, the crazies, well, they don’t like to share.”

This time when Braydon shoved his brother Kelly actually stumbled and landed in a kitchen chair. “Shut up, moron. She’s not one of your trollops.”

Kelly laughed. “Oh, now Bray, it isn’t kind to call your friends’ mothers trollops.”

“I don’t even want to know what friends you’re referring to, but I hope they kick your ass when they find out you're diddling their mums. You’re disgusting. Samantha, I’m going to get our bags. Kelly, try not to repulse or corrupt her within the next three minutes.”

“Oh, come on now, Bray. I’m not you. Give me a little credit. I cannot corrupt a beautiful woman in three minutes. With stamina like mine I’ll ask for at least an hour.”

Braydon rolled his eyes heavenward in clear frustration. Truthfully though, Sam was having a hard time not laughing. As Braydon walked toward the door he turned and said, “You know what, Kelly?”

“What, big brother?”

“Take that big cock you’re so proud of and go fuck yourself.”

With that he stomped out of the house.

Kelly turned back toward Sam and was smiling at her as if they shared a secret. She finally gave into her smile and said, “You’re mean.”

He laughed. “Not mean, smart. You’ll see. Everyone around here kisses Bray’s arse. I make sure he doesn’t get ahead of himself and grow too cocky.”

“Ha! And you’re not cocky?”

He gave her a wicked half smile and said, “Samantha, love, I thought I already made it clear, out of all the McCullough men, I’m the cockiest.”

Braydon walked in and dropped the bags onto the wood floor. “You ready to head up to bed, Samantha?”

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