Gabe grumbled. “Jennifer’s trying to pin me down. Wants to get engaged.”
“Gabe, you’ve been with the woman for three years, and you’re turning thirty this year. Don’t you want to be with her?”
“With her, yes. Married…I’m not sure. And I definitely don’t like the heat she’s giving me.”
Cali rolled her hand in a gesture for Ireland to wrap it up.
“Look, I’ve gotta go,” Ireland said. “With the wedding timeline pushed up, Cali needs my help. Just get back to me and let me know if you’ll make it. Jake can’t come because he’s out of the country, but Lucas will be there. So if you don’t show, you’ll be letting your siblings and Cali down. No pressure.”
“Now who’s being an ass?”
“Get yourself out here for Cali’s wedding, and figure out what you want with Jennifer. If it’s not a future, cut the poor girl loose. A woman’s ovaries only last so long.”
“Not from you too,” he said.
“You’re a doctor; you know how these things work.”
“Exactly, and I don’t need it repeated to me every day.”
“If Jennifer’s giving you heat, she must be really frustrated with you. Can’t say I blame her.”
“What happened to family loyalty?”
“I’m loyal. I just can’t figure out why all the drama if you love her.”
Gabe was silent. “Just tell Cali I’ll be there.”
“With Jennifer?”
“I don’t know.”
“Okay, well, good luck with that. Let me know if you need any more of my awesome advice.”
“I’ll pass,” he said irritably.
Ireland laughed and ended the call. “He’s coming,” she said to Cali.
“Good,” Cali said. “Now get over here and help me with the invitations. We have a hundred more addresses to write out.”
Ireland moved from the couch to where Cali sat at the dining table. “Why didn’t you have the addresses printed?”
“Because Pinterest says writing them out is the most traditional way.”
“Well, if Pinterest says so…”
Cali frowned. “Don’t give me shit. I’m already stressed.”
“Sorry, my brothers get me all hyped up. I’m here to help. What can I do?”
Cali handed her the first envelope from a stack and grabbed a sheet of paper. “Start with these addresses, please.” Cali glanced over as Ireland sat at the table and picked up a pen. “So you’re bringing Bran as your plus one?” she said.
“Mm-hmm.”
“He’s invited, you know. You don’t need to make him your plus one. Though if he’s your boyfriend, like you said on the phone…”
“Eavesdropping?”
“Absolutely.”
“We’re…in a relationship. He calls me his girlfriend.” The notion of Bran being her boyfriend set Ireland’s stomach fluttering.
Cali set down her pen. “What do you call him?”
“My boyfriend?”
“Are you sure that’s how you feel about him? Because you seemed hesitant.”
Ireland stopped writing and looked at her cousin. “Bran is wonderful. I love that he calls me his girlfriend, and I’m proud to bring him as my date. I just…”
“What?” Cali said.
“Worry, because he’s never had a girlfriend before.”
“He hadn’t found the right woman. Is he loyal to you?”
“Yes.”
“And he’s kind and thinks of you, and makes plans to be together? He makes you feel special?”
“Yes to all of it and more. He’s wonderful. I never knew this side of him, and now that I do, I’m falling hard.”
A huge grin spread across Cali’s face. “I still got it.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I called it. I pushed you in Bran’s direction, and you guys fell in love.”
Were they in love?
“Wait a minute,” Ireland said. “You pushed me in Hunt’s direction, not Bran’s.”
“Did I?” Cali’s expression was pure confidence, as though she’d planned it all along.
Ireland shook her head. “There’s no way you could have known I’d end up with Bran. You were sick, and Hunt was supposed to drive the boat that day.”
Cali stood and stretched out her hand, admiring her manicure. “Like I said, I called it. Maybe I didn’t plan it out to perfection, but I knew he liked you.”
Cali and her matchmaking… “Enough about me and Bran,” Ireland said. “We have a wedding to plan. What else do we need to do? I can’t believe you set the wedding two weeks from now. Will people have enough time to make travel arrangements?”
“I emailed everyone a week ago to let them know the date and that formal invitations would arrive soon.” Cali stopped writing and looked up. “I couldn’t wait any longer. The indecision was driving me crazy.”
“I know, I witnessed it,” Ireland said, and laughed. Cali glared. “Seriously, though, I think you’re making the right move to have it at Jaeg’s parents’ place. From everything you’ve said, it sounds like an idyllic setting.”
Cali sighed. “It is. And the Langs hired a wedding planner to help me pick out seating arrangements and food and basically everything I’ll need. I’m supposed to meet with the planner tomorrow. I just have to find a wedding dress.”
“That should be fun.”
“Do you want to come? You can try on maid of honor gowns.”
Ireland’s eyes widened. “I’m your maid of honor?”
Cali smiled. “Will you be? Gen’s a bridesmaid too.”
Ireland stood and hugged her cousin, who was still sitting. “I’d love to. You’re the sister I never had, and boy did I need one with all my brothers around. If it weren’t for you, I’d have murdered them long ago.”
“I’m glad I kept you out of jail. But I don’t know why you guys fight. I love your brothers.”
“That’s because you never had to live with them.”
“True. What do you think about going shopping in a couple of days? Gen’s taking time off work at the university to join me. Did I tell you she’s doing postdoctoral work now?”
“No, but that’s amazing. Good for her. And yes, I’ll make sure I’m available. I’ll take the day off work if I need to.”
“Excellent!” Cali looked across the table at all the envelopes still left to do. “Let’s find the wine yokes. This is going to take a while. We’ll need the sustenance.”
“If we drink, the addresses are going to start to slant. I can’t promise a steady hand with a direct tap to wine.”
“Pinterest said they needed to be handwritten, not perfection. And I need a glass after the two hundred other addresses I’ve written.” Cali flexed her fingers. “I think I’m getting carpal tunnel.”
“Holy crap, how many people did you invite?”
“Three hundred. But like you said, it’s last minute, and not everyone will make it.”
“I hope Jaeg’s parents are prepared for the crowd.”
“Are you kidding? I had to talk them down from four hundred guests. They wanted to invite the entire Austrian contingent. We settled on aunts, uncles, and first cousins.”
Cali stood and rummaged around in a kitchen drawer. She pulled out her bedazzled wine yoke and handed Ireland a bright blue one. Wine yokes were a kitchen staple in Cali’s house.
She opened a bottle of red wine and poured two glasses. “Let the writing and drinking begin!”
Oh boy.
Chapter 25
“Guess what arrived?” Bran said into his phone on his way to the parking lot. He passed the golf shop and lifted his head in greeting to Wes standing outside with Harlow in his arms. He swung in close and planted a kiss on Harlow’s chubby cheek then kept on walking.
“Hey!” Wes shouted. “Where’s the fire?”
Bran held up a hand without looking back. He had no time to talk to his brother, though he would have liked to spend time
with Harlow. He’d make up for it with a visit to his niece later. Right now, he had important things to do with his girlfriend.
“Which pieces?” Ireland asked, her tone somewhat distracted. He could hear her fingers raining down on a keyboard in the background.
Ireland had been working late the last few nights as she and her boss planned the new project in Las Vegas. She was also helping Cali with the wedding, which was quickly approaching. So basically, Bran got to visit her in bed. He wasn’t complaining, but he enjoyed spending quality time with his girlfriend outside of the bedroom too. Though, right now, all he could think about was making love to her, so good luck with that.
“The dining set,” he said. “You know what that means?”
“We get to eat food at a table?”
Bran chuckled. “So little imagination? I’m on my way home. Join me and I’ll show you what I have in mind.”
The typing in the background stopped abruptly. “I was going to get a few more things done…”
“You sound undecided. I’ve got food from Prime and chocolate lava cake in my hands.”
“Damn you…” She let out a long sigh. “How many lava cakes?”
“One for each of us. And homemade whipped cream.”
“I’ll be there in fifteen.”
He grinned. “Is dessert all I’m good for? What about my handsome face and charming disposition? Don’t you want to spend time with your man?”
She lowered her voice. “I’ve spent every night at your place this week. And it’s not because I’m getting good sleep.” He heard the smile in her voice. “Your handsome face and charming disposition are too potent.”
“Are you complaining?”
“No. But one of these days, we’re going to sleep for fourteen hours straight. And I mean sleep, not the other things we’ve been doing in bed.”
“That’s an interesting concept. I’ll consider it. Did you bring an overnight bag to work?”
She hesitated. “Maybe.”
He took that as a yes. “I like a woman who’s prepared. See you in a few.”
Ireland knocked on Bran’s front door, her shoulders stiff from sitting at her desk all day.
Bran opened the door and greeted her with a grin, his hair damp on the ends from a recent shower. The scent of clean, soapy man wafted out in waves, and he wore a fitted T-shirt and jeans that hung low on his hips, his feet bared.
And there went the belly flutters. Yep, no sleep tonight. Whatever. The man was irresistible, and she wanted to lick him.
Bran’s smile widened and he winked.
Okay, so she was tired and her ogling wasn’t so stealthy.
“Let me get that for you,” he said, and grabbed her bag.
Ireland entered the house that was looking fuller by the week, with the addition of a couch and the dining set Bran had mentioned over the phone. His dining area was just to the left of the living room, with a window overlooking the forest and backyard. Where they’d had hot, hot sex.
Her face heated—damned redheaded trait. Gave her away every time.
And then she noticed other scents besides her sexy boyfriend. Bran had set out dinner on the new table. “The furniture looks great, but the food… I forgot to eat lunch, and the food looks and smells like heaven.”
Bran set her bag at the foot of the stairs and walked up behind her, pushing her hair aside and kissing the back of her neck.
She shivered beneath his touch. “Don’t start that,” she said. “I’m serious, I’m about to pass out from starvation.”
“Can’t have that.” He gestured for her to have a seat at the table. “Everything’s ready for you.”
Why did she think he was referring to more than food? Because he was naughty, that was why, and his eyes glinted with mischief. Which didn’t bother her one bit.
Bran entered the kitchen. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Vodka,” she said.
He arched an eyebrow. “Rough day?”
Ireland picked up a knife and fork then paused. She wanted to grab the slab of steak on her plate and jam it in her mouth. But manners.
“Go ahead and start,” he said. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“You have no idea,” she said, answering his initial question and cutting into the juicy meat. “One of the reasons I forgot lunch was because I spent another lunch break bridesmaid dress shopping with Cali and Gen. You’d think Cali would obsess over her wedding gown, but no, she has to go aggro over the bridesmaid dresses. Plum or silver blue? Long or short?”
“What color did she settle on?” He placed a short tumbler of vodka in front of her.
“A long, asymmetrical V-neck in a rosy latte color.” She took a bite of the steak, her eyes closing in ecstasy. The room went silent and she blinked.
Bran stared at her mouth. “First of all, when you moan like that with your eyes closed, it gives me ideas, and you said you wanted to eat first. Second, I have no idea what any of that means. Are you designing a house or picking out a dress?”
“Picking out a dress. And don’t worry. You don’t need to know what any of that means. Just as long as you tell me I look good when the time comes. You’ll be my date for Cali’s wedding, won’t you?”
He sat beside her, a bottle of Blue Moon in his hand. He leaned over and kissed her lips. “I’d love to be your date.”
She swallowed her food and grinned. She was the luckiest girl on the planet. Busy or not, sleep or no sleep, it was all good, because she was happier than she’d ever been in her life.
Bran started eating the food on his plate, and they chatted about their days. It occurred to Ireland that this was the real deal. She’d been in relationships before, but she was a couple with Bran. He supported her and she supported him. And when their bodies came together…fireworks.
Ireland cleared her throat. She’d just polished off the chocolate volcano cake and was feeling warm and satisfied, which had her thinking about other things… “So,” she said, running her fingers over the new table. “You like the table?”
Bran’s gaze tracked her fingers as he took a swig of beer, having polished off his own food long before her, even though he’d started eating after her. “You did a great job picking it out.”
She rested her head on her hand. “I only helped.”
Bran drummed his fingers on the table, his gaze set on her mouth. “Looks aren’t the true determinant of a quality piece of furniture.”
“They’re not?” she said, smiling.
“Maybe we should stress-test it. You know, for durability.”
She slid her finger across her bottom lip, as though considering the suggestion. “We wouldn’t want something flimsy.”
Bran sucked in a breath and stood abruptly. He started moving items from the table to the kitchen island. Before Ireland could help, he had the dishes off and was sweeping napkins onto the floor.
He sauntered toward her. “Now, where were we?” he said, and pulled her up and into his arms. “Oh right, stress-testing the new furniture.”
Bran slid his hands down the back of her legs and picked her up, gently setting her on the table. “So far so good.” He pressed his hands onto the table beside her hips, as though gauging it for strength.
Ireland laughed. “It’s brand new. What if we break it?”
He looked at her in all seriousness. “I can’t own a wimpy table. It will ruin my masculine mystique.”
Ireland bent over and laughed, and Bran was smiling too…while taking off her top one button at a time.
“You have no blinds. Anyone can see inside,” she said.
“Who?” he murmured over the curve of her breast, exposed now that he’d gotten her top halfway unbuttoned. “There’s nothing out there but trees and bears.”
“Bears?”
“Mm-hmm,” he said, unbuttoning the rest of her top and discarding it. He curved his hands around her breasts.
Ireland leaned back, and Bran stepped between her legs, pressing h
is body flush with hers. “So the bears were watching us have sex in the back of your truck?” she said on a high squeak as he wrapped his mouth around her nipple through her bra.
“Probably cheering us on,” he murmured against her delicate flesh, setting off mini sparks between her legs.
Impatient with the clothing barrier, Ireland reached behind to unhook her bra, but Bran beat her to it, flicking it off with one hand.
“How do you know those tricks? You’re not a player.”
“Nope, I’m a lover.” He wrapped his hands around her bared breasts and licked and loved them with his mouth.
Ireland gave up the fight and slumped the rest of the way onto the table. She sensed the zipper give on her black dress pants and Bran’s hands sliding them, along with her panties, down her legs.
He slid her ass to the edge of the table and pushed her knees up.
Ireland glanced down—to see the sexiest image of all time. Bran’s head was between her legs, and he licked his lips, staring right at the center of her. And then his mouth was on her and she was writhing.
“More skills…you’re not…supposed to be so good at,” she said in spurts between panting.
He kissed the crease between her leg and the center of her. “I could do this all day.”
Her eyes rolled into the back of her head. “Don’t let me stop you.”
But it didn’t take him all day, because within another minute, his magic tongue and fingers had her reaching her peak and crying out.
Ireland slowly came down from an explosive orgasm and gave him a lazy grin. Then she frowned. “Why are you still dressed?”
“Because you were too busy enjoying my loving ways to care.”
“True. And I thank you for that. But now I need you naked.”
“Your wish is my command.” He reached behind his neck and pulled his T-shirt over his head, dropping it on the floor and giving Ireland a spectacular view of broad, muscular shoulders, toned pecs, and a defined six-pack.
She wanted him inside her. Like, now.
He flicked the top button on his jeans and slid them down his legs, watching her the entire time. He wore no underwear.
Ireland’s mouth went dry. “Commando today?”
Seducing Bran Page 15