Alannah Read online

  I jumped when he smacked my behind at the bottom of the stairs and glared at him over my shoulder as he left the house with a smirk on his face. When he was gone, I turned my attention to Alec and Keela who were arguing in the sitting room.

  “I’m goin’ to start a gang,” Keela announced. “You’ll see, playboy. And it’ll be a terrifyin’ gang!”

  “You said book club wrong.”

  I found it ironic that Keela’s weapon of choice turned out to be a book as she flung it at Alec’s head at rapid speed. He tried to dodge it, bless him, but it clapped him in the centre of his chest.

  “Harry Potter,” he rasped when he looked at the book’s cover. “Why does it always have to be Harry Potter?”

  I know the answer, I thought merrily. They were the biggest books Keela owned and would do the most damage.

  “I thought ye’ loved Harry Potter,” I commented as I leaned my shoulder against the doorway. “Isn’t that why ye’ became a banshee over that stupid cup?”

  “How dare you call it stupid!” Alec shouted in outrage as he jumped to his feet and spun to face me. “It was perfect, and you broke it because you’re evil.”

  I loved him so much that it wasn’t even funny. He was honestly my favourite person … but he wasn’t allowed to know that.

  I looked at Keela. “Phone me if you go into labour. I’m goin’ over to Branna’s house for a bit to leave ye’ both … to whatever this is.”

  “Sure,” Alec hollered as I left. “Have angry sex in our guest room with my baby brother, then up and leave. Rude ass!”

  My cheeks burned with heat as I left the house and crossed the road to Branna and Ryder’s house. Ryder was backing out of his garden in his work truck with Damien in the passenger side. Three teenage boys wearing my old school’s uniform were walking by just as I stepped onto the path, and one of them looked at me and stopped dead in his tracks, causing his other two friends to slow down.

  “Fuck me,” he said, his eyes wide. “You’re seriously good lookin’.”

  I wished I could have disappeared into thin air.

  My lips parted. “Uh, thank you.”

  “Can I get a selfie with ye’?” he asked. “Our teacher gave us an assignment to pose with someone who we thought was beautiful, and that, missus, is you.”

  I wanted to run away, but I couldn’t.

  “Okay.”

  I was like a fish out of water when this kid, who was taller than me, cosied up to my side, put his arm around my waist, and held his phone out. His friends didn’t seem at all bothered, like their friend stopping a stranger, complimenting them, and then asking for a picture was a regular part of their day.

  “Smile.”

  We both smiled as he took the picture.

  “Seriously good lookin’,” he muttered to himself.

  When he turned to look down at me, he looked over my head first and jumped back.

  “Christ,” the kid yelped. “Ye’ scared the shite outta me, man.”

  Before I could turn around, he said, “Is there a reason you were touching my girl, kid?”

  Oh. Shite.

  I turned to face him. “He is just bein’ nice, Dame.”

  “Yeah, man,” the kid echoed me. “I wasn’t bein’ rude. I just told ‘er how good lookin’ she is.”

  “What’s with the picture bullshit?”

  “It’s a school assignment. We have to—”

  “Try again.”

  The kid’s friends snickered as he froze to the spot.

  “Okay,” he said, nervously. “I have a bet on with a mate at school. We have to see which one of us can get the most pictures with hot women. We get bonus points if they kiss us.”

  I gasped. “Ye’ little fecker.”

  The kid looked at me and grinned. “Sorry, but ye’ are beautiful. That wasn’t a lie.”

  “Get lost,” Damien growled, “before I put my foot up your ass.”

  All three of the teens fled, and I was left staring after them with my lips parted.

  “What just happened?”

  “What just happened was you’re too trusting of people.”

  I turned to Damien and frowned. “He just wanted a picture, and he called me beautiful.”

  “How can you not see when guys lust over you?”

  “Because he was a child who wasn’t lustin’ over me maybe?”

  “I could sense his thoughts with just one glance at him,” Damien said. “He thought you were a hell of a lot more than beautiful.”

  I placed my hands on my hips. “Why did ye’ get out of the truck?”

  “Because three teenagers stopped you and one was eye fucking you,” he replied with a raised brow. “You expect me to just let that happen?”

  I laughed. “You’re so … so…”

  “So what?”

  “Protective.”

  Damien relaxed. “Because I love you.”

  “I know. I love ye’ too … but I’m still mad at ye’”

  He leaned down and kissed me. “I’m still mad at you too.”

  When he turned and jogged back towards the truck, Ryder was staring at me, and when he shouted, “Alannah, you’re so beautiful, will you take a picture with me?” I stuck my middle finger up at him in response. He laughed as I continued my journey into the house. Branna, being the super mother that she was, had already settled both twins in their nursery and was tiptoeing down the stairs as I closed the front door behind me.

  “I was goin’ to help ye’ with the babies.”

  “No need.” She smiled. “They’re great sleepers.”

  That they were. I followed Branna into the kitchen and sat down at the table. She flipped the kettle on and placed a baby monitor on the counter so she could keep an eye on her sons. I filled her in on what happened to me out front with the teenagers, and she thought it was the funniest thing since sliced bread.

  “It’s you, me, and a cup of tea.”

  I hummed. “Tea makes everythin’ better.”

  I thanked her as she made me a cup and set it down in front of me.

  “Ye’ve got that right,” she said, exhaling a breath as she plonked down on the chair with her own cup in front of her.

  My lips twitched. “Ye’ seem tired.”

  “I’m fuckin’ knackered.”

  “I was serious earlier when I said I’d babysit the twins. When they’re bigger, I’ll babysit overnight whenever you and Ry want. I love kids. I take Georgie one night a week for Nico and Bee, and I have Jax and Locke tomorrow night for Kane and Aideen.”

  “You’re insane,” Branna said with a shake of her head. “I mean that in the nicest way possible.”

  I giggled. “Thanks, I guess.”

  “I know I said earlier that I’ll cry, and I know that I will when ye’ take them, but me and Ryder need this break you’re givin’ us on Saturday. Our lads are great babies, but we need this alone time together. Havin’ quickies is the best we can do right now. I felt awful for Ry this mornin’. We were havin’ sex, and just as we were gettin’ into it, Jules screamed bloody murder to be fed. I got me rocks off, but Ry didn’t.”

  I cringed. “I’ll take them for the whole day, so ye’ can have sex the entire time with no interruptions.”

  “Thanks.” Branna chuckled. “Ye’ have no idea how much we’re lookin’ forward to stayin’ in bed all day.”

  I could imagine.

  “How long do ye’ have left on your maternity leave?”

  “Three more months,” she answered. “I miss it so much, but when I think of leavin’ the boys, I get so down.”

  “Will ye’ reduce your hours when ye’ go back?”

  “I can’t because we need both incomes now that we have the twins,” she explained. “I’ve done a few shifts over the past few weeks, just to test meself with the boys in the crèche set up for the staff. I honestly don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t bring them to work with me and check on them whenever I want to.”

  “You’re luc
ky,” I said. “Aideen would kill for that, but at least Kane’s job doesn’t require him to actually leave the apartment, so she knows the boys are in good hands with ‘im while she’s not there.”

  Branna nodded in agreement.

  “Tell me to fuck off if I’m oversteppin’ ‘ere,” she began, “but did I notice some tension between you and Damien at Alec and Keela’s?”

  I took a sip of my tea.

  “Branna, ye’ don’t know the half of it.” I sighed, settling into the chair. “Let me tell ye’ about how much that white-haired fucker has irritated me so far today.”

  A half an hour after I entered Branna’s house, Kane showed up with Jax and Locke while Aideen was at work. A half an hour after they showed up, Nico, Bronagh, and Georgie stopped by. When Alec came over, any semblance of peace was completely gone out the door with his big mouth. Luckily, the twins, Nixon and Jules, could sleep through anything, so not even Alec Slater could ruin their nap.

  “Where’s Keela?”

  “At home,” he answered as he fell into the chair next to me. “I saw the kids arrive and wanted to come over and play with them, but she wants me to play with her, and I refuse to. I’m too scared my cock head will hit my kid’s head if I have sex with her.”

  “Alec!” I screeched. “Too much information!”

  Nico laughed, Kane’s lips twitched, and the sisters giggled.

  “You’re so fucking cute.” Alec snickered. “You have loud, angry sex with Damien in my guest bedroom, but I can’t say cock head without you—”

  I dived on him, grabbed his earlobes with my fingers, and pulled on them until he was a hollering mess.

  “Mercy,” he yelled. “Mercy, woman!”

  I released his ears and slid back onto my chair, ignoring the cries of laughter from around us.

  “Now,” I said as I straightened my dress. “Keep it PG.”

  “You’re a violent little midget!” Alec hissed as he rapidly rubbed his ears.

  I glared at him. “Remember that the next time you want to air me business in public.”

  “It’s my guest bedroom I need to air. The smell of sex is—”

  Alec cut himself off when I jumped at him again; only this time, he had the good sense to cover his ears. The eejit forgot to guard his nipples, though, and I made him pay dearly for that error in judgment. I latched onto them and tweaked them both so hard I knew I’d probably leave bruises. Alec roared, and the kids screamed back at him, thinking he was playing a game. Nico was laughing so hard he had to sit down on the floor, and Kane looked like he had tears in his eyes from laughter. I couldn’t see the sisters, but I heard their wheezing as they laughed.

  “Mercy!”

  When I let go of Alec this time, he covered his nipples with his hands, bent forward until his forehead touched the table and groaned in pain.

  “I think they’re bleeding!” He croaked. “Oh, merciful God, I think you twisted them right off.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “You’re like a hobbit on steroids!” he continued. “I never knew you possessed such strength. Christ.”

  I began to worry about him then as he did look to be in a lot of pain.

  “Let me see—”

  “You have done enough damage,” he cut me off before he looked at his brothers. “Lotion. I need lotion for my nipples.”

  Nico slapped his hand against his thigh, Kane covered his eyes with his palms as his shoulders shook, and Bronagh and Branna were all but crying with laughter. I stood, placed my hands on my hips, and stared at Alec.

  “Let me see.”

  With a scowl, he got to his feet, pulled up his top, and my eyes paused on his abs instead of his nipples. Alec was insanely attractive, but I was not attracted to him. I loved him like a brother, but there was no denying that the man had a body and face that would cause both sexes to stop and stare.

  “I’m telling Damien that you checked me out,” Alec warned. “Look at you, practically drooling.”

  My lips twitched as I stepped closer and peered at his nipples.

  “They’re still attached.”

  “They’re throbbing,” he grunted. “And not in a good way.”

  I lifted my hands and flattened my palms against his nipples, and he hissed.

  “If you ever need another job,” he said to me, “you should consider applying to Helga’s house of pain.”

  I smiled as I dropped my hands and stared up at him.

  “Ye’ll be fine, you big baby.”

  “The only way I’ll forgive you is if I get to twist your nipples, too.”

  Nico spluttered with laughter. “Damien will murder you.”

  Alec grinned. “Worth it.”

  “Ye’ll never see me nipples.”

  “They’re probably weird looking nipples anyway, so maybe I’m better off.”

  When all the excitement and laughter died down, Branna and Bronagh decided to do laps around the back garden in hopes to kick-start Bronagh’s labour. Jax and Georgie went with them while I went into the sitting room with the lads and Locke. He clung to me like a spider monkey, and it amused his father.

  “My boys adore you.”

  “I know,” I said proudly. “I don’t blame them, though. I’m pretty amazin’.”

  The lads snorted.

  “Ye’ should go over to Keela,” I said to Alec. “She’s probably gonna try to clean the ceilin’ or somethin’ if you aren’t there to watch ‘er.”

  “But she said I could come over here.”

  “Sayin’ it and meanin’ it are two different things.”

  Nico bobbed his head in agreement. “I’ve already covered this in chapter one. Consult your book if you forgot.”

  Alec leaned his head back against the sofa.

  “I can’t deal with none of your Man Bible preaching today, Dominic. Keela said it was cool to come over here, so I’m staying.”

  Nico looked out the sitting room window and froze.

  “Bro.”

  “No,” Alec said. “I’m staying here.”

  “Shut the fuck up and look over at your house.”

  To appease him, Alec turned and looked over his shoulder but instantly froze as well. Curiosity got the better of me, so I leaned forward and looked out the window, too. I tensed when I saw a figure standing in the sitting room window of Alec and Keela’s house staring over at the house.

  I widened my eyes. “Is that Keela?”

  “If it’s not,” Alec murmured, “I need to call Ed and Lorraine Warren to exorcise my damn house.”

  “If ye’ manage to get hold of Ed on the phone, get the number for the ghostbusters next ‘cause he’s been dead for years.”

  Alec didn’t look away from Keela, who was still staring over at us.

  “Since you find this so funny, Lana, why don’t you go over and see if she is okay?”

  “Why?” I grinned at the back of his head. “Are you too scared?”

  “Fucking terrified,” he answered.

  I laughed, Nico grinned, and Kane shook his head as he took Locke from me.

  “These are the rantings of a madman,” I said to Nico. “Right?”

  “You can just say Alec. It’s another term for madman.”

  I bumped fists with him and chuckled.

  “I’m fucking delighted that you’re both finding this funny, but I swear to God that Keela just made the sign of the cross and pointed over at me. What the fuck does that mean?”

  “Maybe it means she’s plannin’ on you meetin’ God sooner than you think,” I teased.

  “That does it!” Alec announced suddenly and loudly. “I’m not leaving this damn house. Alannah, go over and make sure Keela is okay. And Nico?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Lock the door behind her.”

  I laughed harder than I had in a long time, and I practically skipped out of the house and across the road. When I entered Alec and Keela’s, I walked into the sitting room and said to Keela, “Ye’ have Alec terrified th
at you’re possessed.”

  “I knew I’d scare ‘im by just standin’ ‘ere.”

  “Come with me.” I chuckled. “Alec thinks the house needs to be exorcised.”

  With a laugh, Keela and I left her house and made our way over to Branna’s.

  “All is well,” I announced. “She just wanted to freak the man-child out.”

  “I resent that,” Alec said, drawing a grin from me as he focused on Keela. “Why did you say I could come over here if you didn’t really want me to?”

  Keela shrugged. “I wanted to see if ye’ could figure it out yourself.”

  “Clearly, I can’t.”

  “I just find it interestin’ how—”

  “Retreat.”

  Keela stopped speaking to listen to Nico mutter to Alec.

  “What?”

  “It’s a trap.”

  Alec looked confused. “How?”

  “She doesn’t find anything interesting; it’s a trap. She’s closing in on your fuckup.”

  “But you said it’s only when she says, ‘I find it funny,’ that it’s a trap.”

  “Funny. Interesting. Either word is lethal.”

  Alec groaned. “I can’t keep up with all these stupid rules.” He looked at Keela. “I’m so sorry for leaving when you didn’t want me to. I won’t do it again, just please don’t make me spend the next eight hours wondering how I can make it up to you while you ignore me. Please. I can’t deal with it.”

  He sounded like he was going to have a nervous breakdown.

  “Honey, stop.” Keela frowned. “It’s okay.”

  I blinked.

  “Son of a bitch,” said Nico. “You just cheated the system.”

  “What?” Alec asked.

  “You broke down like a bitch … but it worked. She’s not mad at you no more.” Nico shook his head. “Bro, new chapter to The Man Bible.”

  That fecking Man Bible.

  Alec ignored his brother and focused on Keela.

  “I lust you,” he practically growled at her.

  Keela grinned. “I lust ye’, too.”

  I looked back and forth between them.

  “What the hell was that about?”

  Keela laughed. “When he is hot for me, his new thing is to tell me he lusts me.”

  I looked at Alec, who was still watching Keela with hungry eyes.