“I told ya I would.”
Our lips met again.
“Gianna Bradley.” My father sounded less than impressed. “Do you think you can entangle yourself and introduce us to this young man.”
“Her husband.” That came from more than one of my female relatives. After I slid down Finn, accompanied by his suppressed groan, I turned to face my family. Several mouths dropped open as they stared at my husband. I laced my fingers with his, squeezing.
My mother looked unconvinced while she eyed Finn. “Husband? You haven’t even been dating.”
Finn kissed the crown of my head. When his eyes met mine, his brow was furrowed. “Ya didn’t tell them anything.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d make it and they wouldn’t believe me if you didn’t.” I turned to face the crowd comprised of my mom, dad, three aunts, their husbands, my sisters and a bunch of cousins and significant others. Everyone was crowded into the wide entry to the front foyer from the living room, with some spilling out into the hallway. “Don’t you all have a Lion’s game to watch?”
“They’re losing,” my Uncle Tony grumbled. He’d probably bet on them in his work pool like he did every year.
“Who’s this young man?” My dad crossed his arms, exercising the fatherly glower he’d never gotten to use on any of my boyfriends in high school since I’d never dated.
“Dad, Mom, everyone who doesn’t have something else to do… This is Finnigan Gray, my husband.”
I swear my mom’s knees buckled slightly. She clutched onto my Aunt Rita.
My brow raised when I glanced at Finn. “We’re very dramatic here. I’d introduce you to everyone but there are too many for a first introduction. Let’s start with… Finn, this is my mom, Sherry Bradley. And this is my dad, Alan Bradley.”
“Awrite. Guid to meet ya.”
I swear every female in the room drew in a gasp then sighed, a few clasping their hands over their hearts. Dramatic. Though I couldn’t blame them. My man was stunning. Add in the accent and I’d better keep a close watch on him.
“What is this? A green card marriage? Gianna Bradley—”
“Dad!”
“Naw, sir. I am an American by birth. Just raised up in Scotland.” Finn squeezed my hand, though whether it was for me or for him, I wasn’t sure. His accent was thicker than usual, telling me his nerves were high.
“You pregnant?”
“Oh my God, Dad. No. We’re in love, and we eloped. It happens without a bunch of reasons other than wanting to be together.” A little guilt pricked at me because there was an extenuating circumstance, one that could still bite me in the ass.
“Well, what are we to think?” My mom seemed to have recovered from her swoon. “You come in with a strange man none of us know about. He might be handsome, but what are we to think?”
When she bookended her pronouncements, I knew she was upset. “You could start with being happy for me. You’ve been on me for years to get married. I got married and you don’t have to pay for a fourth wedding.”
“Oh, I’ll be paying for a wedding,” my father grumbled. “We will see you married in the church. Sherry, call Father Desmond. He’ll do the ceremony tomorrow. We’ll work out a reception later.”
I looked up at Finn. “I’m sorry?”
He grinned. “Hen, I would do anything for ya.” Which with his thick accent at the moment came out as Hen, ah woot do anunthin fer ya.
I hugged his arm and leaned my head against it. Well, I’m sorry for the circus.”
He kissed my crown again and I felt myself fall a little more. I’d be completely in love with him before I knew it.
“Where are your things?” Aunt Rita pushed forward. She was my mom’s older sister and took charge when things got tense. She was a fixer.
“Finn, this is my Aunt Rita.”
“Awrite. Guid to meet ya. My bag is at the hotel. I got a room for Gia and me.”
My dad rumbled under his breath. I turned to him. “It’s not like Finn could share with Mina and me.”
Though my cousin didn’t look as if she’d mind.
“He could sleep on the couch,” my dad huffed.
“You’re not making my husband sleep on the couch.”
“Um, I’m sleeping on the couch,” my Uncle Ben piped up. He was close to my age and more like a cousin than my uncle. In fact, because of that, I’d always just called him Ben.
“Gosh, couch is taken.” I clicked my tongue. Reaching down, I took Finn’s hand again. “Come on, let’s get my bag.”
“No funny business.”
I glanced back at my dad. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Sound carried in this house. Everyone would know exactly what happened if we did anything.
“Tough crowd,” Finn murmured when we were alone.
“They like you—most of them anyway—or you wouldn’t have gotten past the door, much less up to my bedroom. Though…” I looked around. “This stopped being my room years ago. Now it’s just a guest room.”
“Ya don’t mind the hotel?”
“God, no. Trust me we’ll need it. I mean…” My eyes widened when I realized the implication. “We’ll need an escape from the chaos here. Trust me. I love them to death but they can be…well, my family.”
I’d let him see for himself just how nosy and intrusive and opinionated they could be.
“Do I dare kiss ya?” He cupped my cheek with his large hand and I leaned into him. “Or will the cavalry charge in to save ya from my wickedness.”
“I’m glad you’re more relaxed.”
“What?”
“Your accent is evening out. I can tell when you’re nervous…or more emotional than normal.”
“Aye, good to know.”
“And yes. I’d like it if you’d kiss me.”
“Class…” And his mouth settled over mine, just as a loud cheer went up from the living room. Touchdown for all of us.
Chapter Six
~ Finn ~
I fell backward onto the hotel room’s bed, more thankful than even that I’d reserved it. I loved Gia’s family. They were fun and teeming with energy, each trying to top the next until things went too far and everything quieted down. For a second. They were fantastic. And a lot.
“See I told you.” Gia dropped beside me.
I rolled my head to the side and squinted playfully at her. “I recall that ya told me after I’d arrived and survived the initial inquisition. Also, thanks for standing up to your mom about that not seeing the bride before the wedding thing. It was bad enough that I couldn’t see ya the past day and a half.”
Reaching for her, I pulled her closer so we were chest to chest. “I missed ya.”
“I missed you, too.” She sighed lightly. “How is that possible? We’ve only been together since Monday.”
“We’ve been together longer than that. I knew ya would be special to me the moment I first saw ya. And now that I know what it is to hold ya, to kiss ya… Well, I missed ya.”