January Girl (Wilder Irish Book 1)

by Mari Carr

  Before Lucas could continue the argument, Ailis and Sunnie were there as well, and they’d overheard Lucas’s proclamation. “Oh, Caitlyn, that’s great! We’ll help you pack.”

  “I just said—”

  “Did Lucas tell you the offer for the pub is off the table?” Ailis asked.

  Caitlyn nodded.

  “And about the Collins House?” Sunnie added.

  Again, she nodded.

  Sunnie and Ailis looked at each other and rolled their eyes. “She’s totally moving in with him,” Sunnie said to Ailis, cutting Caitlyn out of the conversation completely.

  “Yep,” Ailis agreed. “We’re going to run upstairs and get started on the packing.”

  “Why do I get the feeling this is less about me and my boyfriend getting back together and more about Ailis wanting her own room?” Caitlyn called out to her cousins’ retreating forms as they dashed upstairs.

  “Boyfriend, huh?” Lucas teased.

  “Shut up.”

  “I’m very happy for both of you,” Mom said, laughing, as she and Dad walked back to the restaurant.

  Lucas cupped the back of her neck, turning her face to his. Their lips were a mere inch apart, and Caitlyn could smell the soft scent of Irish beer on his breath. “Do we have to stick around for everyone’s stamp of approval?”

  She closed her eyes, her body responding to his nearness, the firm grip of his hand on her neck.

  “Please tell me you brought the limo,” she murmured.

  He grinned. “I love you.”

  They stood up, intent on leaving, but there was one last person she needed to talk to first.

  Lucas followed her lead when she swung them by the bar. Tris and Padraig were standing behind the counter, discussing the latest hockey game with Lochlan and Pop Pop.

  “Hey, Pop Pop. Lucas and I are going to head out for a little while.” Her grandfather was well aware of the fact she’d spent most of January living at Lucas’s apartment, but that didn’t mean she was going to blatantly admit to heading out for the night for a hookup.

  Pop Pop looked at her and then at Lucas. “I see that. Looks like true love won this round.”

  Caitlyn bent forward and kissed her grandfather on the cheek. “Always the romantic,” she murmured in his ear.

  “It’s the only way to live, Caitie-bug. I’m glad to see a smile on this pretty face again, my girl. Now go on. Go have some fun with your young man.”

  Lucas shook Pop Pop’s hands and then Tristan’s. Caitlyn suspected she’d missed a couple conversations somewhere, but for now, she was too happy to care.

  She and Lucas walked out and she hugged him when she saw the limo waiting by the curb. The driver hadn’t been there when she got home, or she would have walked in the opposite direction of the pub and holed up in a hotel for the night. No doubt Lucas had foreseen that and told the poor driver to hide the car.

  Once they were ensconced in the back of the limo, Lucas took her in his arms and gave her the kiss she’d dreamed of every night they’d been apart.

  “Want you,” she murmured against his lips.

  “I’m yours. For as long as you’ll have me.”

  “Forever. I’ll have you forever.”

  Lucas reached for the hem of her skirt and lifted it to her waist. “I can’t do this with finesse or patience, Caitlyn.”

  “Don’t want either.” She fumbled with the fastening to his belt and pants.

  He groaned when she reached inside and gripped his hard cock.

  “Straddle my thighs. Ride me, Cait.”

  If she had thought for one second being on top would give her some sort of power, Lucas corrected that misunderstanding in an instant.

  Gripping her hips, he lifted her as she placed the head of his dick at her opening. That was as much control as she had.

  Lucas pulled her down roughly until he was seated to hilt. He took her deep and hard, using those muscular arms of his to drive the speed. All Caitlyn could do was hold on for the ride.

  Her orgasm hit within a matter of minutes, shaking her to the core. She was grateful for the soundproof glass between them and the driver. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she might have screamed.

  When she pulled herself back to the present, her head was resting on Lucas’s shoulder.

  “Ready for more?”

  She only had time to nod once. Then Lucas lifted her slightly, pressing her to her back on the seat. He pounded inside her like a man possessed, and she realized just how hard the past few weeks had been on him.

  “Harder,” she urged him. “I’m yours, Lucas. God. I’m yours. Take me.”

  He reached for her hair, pulling it until her scalp stung, as he lifted her face to his. “I’m never letting you go again.”

  “Thought. Never. Was a. Dangerous. Word,” she gasped, as he continued to thrust inside. She’d be sore tomorrow. She didn’t care.

  “Never,” he repeated, more forcefully than before. She had hurt him when she left. For weeks, she’d thought of nothing but her broken heart. Caitlyn had never considered Lucas’s suffering as well.

  “Never,” she promised. “Never leaving.”

  He stroked her clit and her back arched as she came again, and this time, Lucas was with her. He came inside her, filling her. She had missed this. Missed him.

  For several minutes, they fought to catch their breath. Lucas remained on top of her, inside her.

  “Babies. I want babies with you.”

  She grinned. “It’s a marathon, Lucas. Not a sprint. We haven’t been back together an hour and you’ve already moved me in and demanded babies.”

  He didn’t bother to look chagrined. “This would all be a lot easier if you’d just say yes.”

  “I’m sure it would be. For you.”

  “Cait.” He purposely deepened his voice.

  “Oh, you silly man. Did you really think that would work?”

  He shrugged. “It works in bed.”

  “That’s right. In bed.”

  “Will you consider moving in with me? And having my baby?”

  She lifted her head and kissed him on the cheek. “Wow. Those were actual requests, not demands. Progress, Mr. Whiting.”

  “While we’re on the subject of names, how do you feel about Mrs. Whiting?”

  Caitlyn sighed exaggeratedly. “So much for slowing down.”

  “I can go slow,” Lucas said as he lifted his hips, then pushed back inside her very, very slowly.

  “I’d be impressed with the pace if I weren’t so overwhelmed by how freaking fast that recovery was.”

  Lucas laughed. “Cait?”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Shut up.”

  They laughed. And then they moaned. And then they lay together in the aftermath and dreamed about the future.

  Epilogue

  Caitlyn curled her feet beneath her as she relaxed in the oversized chair in Pop Pop’s sitting room. He’d moved into his own small living space in Riley’s house on his eightieth birthday. The move had been precipitated by a tumble he’d taken while getting out of the bathtub. He’d lain on the cold tile floor for nearly two hours, unable to rise or call for help before Sean, who had stopped by for a visit, found him.

  The episode had been upsetting enough—to him and his children—that they’d finally convinced him to move in with Riley. Killian, Sean and Justin had built an addition on Aaron and Riley’s home, creating the perfect living space for Pop Pop. In addition to his bedroom and bathroom, he had a small sitting room that he referred to as his man cave. One wall was covered with a big flat-screen TV, and his well-worn, much-loved recliner sat right in front of it. There was also a comfy loveseat and the chair Caitlyn had claimed.

  However, Caitlyn’s favorite part of Pop Pop’s man cave wasn’t his collection of rare Pilsner glasses or his sports pennants. It was his wall of family pictures. Each member of the Collins clan was represented with one photo each. Pop Pop took great care in selecting his favorites, and when he fo
und a photo he liked better, the old was swapped out for the new. As such, the wall was always changing, always offering something new to look at.

  The only photo that never changed was the one in the very center of the wall, and it was Caitlyn’s absolute favorite. It was a black-and-white picture of Pop Pop and Grandma Sunday when they were dating and still living in Ireland. They were sitting together on an old stone walltogether. Pop Pop looked very dashing in a suit and tie—he’d told her once they’d been at his cousin’s wedding—and Sunday was absolutely beautiful in her simple dress, a string of pearls around her neck. What always captured Caitlyn’s attention, and held it, was the way Pop Pop and Grandma were looking at each other with complete and utterly unmasked love. It was as if they were the only two people on the planet.

  Summer was approaching, and though they’d only been dating six months, Lucas was already dropping hints about marriage.

  Okay, not necessarily hints. In fact, neon signs proclaiming his intentions wouldn’t have been as obvious as he was. He’d asked her ring finger size and managed to drag her into three jewelry stores to inquire about what sort of rings she liked. She kept telling him it was too soon to start talking about marriage and weddings, but the fact was she couldn’t quite convince herself that was true.

  “Here we go,” Pop Pop said when he walked back into the room. He’d invited her over this afternoon, proclaiming he had a surprise for her.

  She sat up straighter as he walked toward her. She reached out to take the frame in his hand.

  “Oh,” she said when she saw the photo showcased behind the glass.

  She hadn’t seen the photo before, but she knew exactly where it had been taken. Two months earlier, they had opened the Collins House. There’d been a small celebration the day the first residents moved in. She and Lucas, along with several members of her family, had helped Moose move into his new—old—place. They’d given him the same apartment, but the look on his face when he’d seen all the improvements had been exciting.

  Then she’d caught sight of her Pop Pop and Moose wiping tears from their eyes, and she’d been hard-pressed not to shed a few tears of her own. Lucas had seen her reaction, and he’d stepped behind her, wrapping his arm around her to nuzzle her cheek affectionately. Bubbles had called out her name and snapped the photo.

  She was looking at the camera, but Lucas…

  Lucas was looking at her the same way Pop Pop had looked at Sunday all those years ago at a wedding in Ireland.

  Pop Pop took the picture from her hands. “It’s going on the wall.”

  “Lucas wants to marry me.” She hadn’t meant to blurt that out. She hadn’t told anyone about it, still foolishly resisting the idea.

  Pop Pop didn’t show the slightest glimmer of surprise. “Of course he does. The man is crazy about you. So when’s the wedding?”

  “Pop Pop. Don’t you think it’s a bit soon in the relationship to start talking about marriage?”

  He took her old picture off the wall, one in a series her aunt Natalie had taken in her studio for Caitlyn when she needed a professional photo done. Caitlyn had selected a more serious photo for work purposes. Pop Pop had, of course, opted for the one that had been an accident. Natalie had told her a funny story about Ewan, and Caitlyn had laughed. Natalie and Pop Pop had proclaimed that photo of her cracking up the best of the batch.

  “Do you love Lucas?”

  “You know I do.”

  “And he feels the same? He’s good to you?”

  She grinned, knowing perfectly well where he was going. “You know he does.”

  “Then marry him.”

  “That’s it? Just marry him? I have to admit I’m sort of disappointed. Where’s my story about you and Grandma? My wise words?”

  Pop Pop chuckled, placing the photo of her and Lucas on the wall. “After all these years, I’d think you would be sick of my stories and old-man adages.”

  “Never,” Caitlyn said with utter sincerity.

  “Come here, Caitlyn.”

  She stood and crossed the room to him.

  Pop Pop pointed to the photo of her and Lucas. “Do you know what I see when I look at that picture?”

  Caitlyn studied the photo. “Love?”

  “Yes, definitely. But more than that, I see my beautiful, lively, sensitive granddaughter. I see the brave Cathleen, who saved all the poor Irish from the devil.”

  Caitlyn laughed. “I forgot about Cathleen.”

  Pop Pop shook his head. “No, you didn’t. She’s been living in your subconscious since you were four years old. I’ve seen it. Watched as you’ve taken on countless cases that seemed impossible. Cases you went on to win because of your fearlessness as well as your endless supply of caring. You fight for the underdog.”

  “What does that have to do with me marrying Lucas?”

  “Och. That should be obvious. You went to battle with the devil to save the Irish.”

  Caitlyn tilted her head. “Are you saying Lucas is the devil?”

  “Isn’t that what you believed? When he was trying to buy the pub, trying to sabotage us in order to steal it?”

  Caitlyn reared back. “You knew about that?”

  “I raised my kids to be honest. Because of that, they are terrible liars. Plus, I’m a nosy old man with too much time on his hands. I eavesdropped on that first meeting Lucas had with your mom, Ewan and Tris. Knew about the whole thing from the start.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “Because I knew they wouldn’t sell the pub. That place isn’t just a business. It’s our home.”

  “You’re not clearing anything up for me, Pop Pop. In fact, I think I’m more confused.”

  “Don’t you see? Not only did you save the Irish, my wee Cathleen, you saved the devil too. And now you aren’t alone in your battles. Now you have a true and worthy partner, one who would walk through flames for you. Think of all the good the two of you can do together. Marry the lad and go save the world.”

  She looked at the picture of her and Lucas. Then she turned her attention to the one of Pop Pop and Sunday.

  She’d always envied that love. Now, she felt it. Every single day she woke up next to Lucas. She was finished fighting, finished denying herself the happy ending she’d always dreamed up. She was claiming her devil once and for all.

  “I love you, Pop Pop.”

  “And I love you, Caitie-bug.”

  Other books in the Wild Irish series

  Come Monday

  Wild Irish, Book One

  Monday’s child is fair of face…

  After the death of her mother years prior, Keira Collins willingly put aside her dreams to become a surrogate parent to her six younger brothers and sisters. At twenty-seven, she’s finally pursuing a college degree. Between classes, working at the family pub and still tending to siblings, she’s no time for romance. So why is she spending all her rare free time fantasizing about hot Professor Wallace bending her over his desk?

  Will Wallace recognizes Keira’s unfulfilled desires, her habit of hiding her beauty, her obsessive need for control in every aspect of her life. But Will has needs of his own—and they run far darker than Keira’s. As he initiates her into his lifestyle, offering sweet punishments and sweeter rewards, Will’s sexual authority slowly strips away some of her precious control. The one thing Keira’s not ready to relinquish…

  Ruby Tuesday

  Wild Irish, Book Two

  Tuesday’s child is full of grace…

  Sky Mitchell is hiding out in Baltimore, seeking peace and solitude while he struggles with a career decision. Lead singer of popular rock group The Universe, he’s thinking of going it alone. Wandering into an Irish pub, he’s ecstatic to discover the breakout single for his solo album—but the songwriter doesn’t want to sell. He challenges the woman to a contest. Not only does he win the song, but also a songwriting partner to complete the rest of the album.

  Teagan Collins is sure of her talent but she’s neve
r aspired to fame and fortune. She’s content singing folk tunes in her family’s pub. Working on an album with Sky tests her patience…and her libido. The hot rocker plays her body like a fine instrument, their desire deepening with each song they write. But someone doesn’t want Sky to go solo, and will stop at nothing to sabotage the couple’s efforts. Undaunted, Sky wants Teagan to join him onstage at his farewell concert to sing her original, “Maybe Tomorrow”…

  If they make it through today.

  Waiting for Wednesday

  Wild Irish, Book Three

  Wednesday’s Child is full of woe…

  Tristan Collins knows Lane Bryce is strictly hands off. She’s smart, funny, kind…and married. But he still looks forward to her once-a-week visits to the family pub where he tends bar. When she fails to arrive one Wednesday, Tris is concerned. When he learns she’s in the hospital, brutally beaten after attempting to leave her unhappy marriage, he’s enraged. Tris vows to protect her, but he doesn’t get the chance. Lane checks out of the hospital and disappears without a trace.

  A year later, newly divorced Lane is back, and enjoying her independence too much to embark on a relationship. Tris intends to prove she can have freedom and love, and he’s not above using seduction to do it. The more she resists, the more he sets her body ablaze with pleasure the likes of which she’s never known.

  After a lifetime of disappointment, trust doesn’t come easily for Lane. But when her ex-husband reenters her life, threatening her independence, her happiness, she could discover too late that Tristan is the one man worthy of not only her trust, but also her love.

  Sweet Thursday

  Wild Irish, Book Four

  Thursday’s child has far to go…

  In high school, Lily was too shy to do anything about her feelings for her best friends, Justin and Killian. Now she’s ready to put to rest her regrets with a proposal that might shock even her oversexed friends—the three of them, together, one night, multiple positions.

  K and J are more than a little surprised to see Lily at their ten-year reunion. The plain Jane they remember is now a stunning woman—who wants to have sex with both of them. Who are they to deny her? Even if Killian suspects they might be treading on dangerous emotional territory. The night stretches into the weekend and, as K suspected, none of them want it to end. But he and Lily know people live in pairs, not trios, and they call a halt now, before it’s too late.