Page 45 of On The Rocks

Maeve was already heading for the back stairs again. “Give me a minute,” she called out.

I watched her indulgently, marveling at how her excitement was so fucking contagious it even made my grumpy ass face want to crack a smile.

My gaze caught on Donovan, who was elbows to the bar, staring at me with a knowing grin.

“What?” I demanded.

He shook his head, smiling. “Nothing.”

“It’s not a big deal. She should get her bearings and make friends.”

My brother cocked an eyebrow. “You don’t need to explain, asshole. By my reckoning, you should’ve done this shit on day one. What I’m surprised about is how you’re telling everybody you’re married. Thought you’d give it a couple of weeks at least. Even Ma said she wasn’t gonna broadcast it to give you two time to settle in together. Now, Atlas’ll tell Sophie. Bowie’ll tell Layla. And Carbine’ll tell every fucker the women don’t get to in time.”

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. “Hmm. Didn’t really think that one through, did I?”

He grinned, shaking his head slightly. “Jesus Christ, this is gonna be entertaining.”

My head reared back slightly. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

Donovan began to laugh.

“I’m ready!” a sweet voice called out.

I turned to see Maeve rushing back through the bar. She stopped in front of me, tipped her head back, and beamed. “Ican’t wait for a lemon heaven bar. I bet they’re”—she shrugged—“well…heaven.”

A warm feeling meandered its way through my gut. “Before we go, there’s something I need.”

Her eyebrows snapped together. “What?”

My eyes narrowed. “Your goddamned number. You call every fucker except me, and it’s not on. In the future, you tap on my name first. If the subject matter’s out of my remit, i.e., monthly lady cycles, lipstick, or shoes, I’ll tell you who’s next on the list and farm the call out to the next best person of expertise.”

“To be fair,” she relayed. “I think you're safe from lipstick and shoe calls. It’ll be more like funny history GIFs and memes, along with panic attacks about how I made a fool of myself that day.”

I felt my shoulders relax at her banter. “Number,” I barked.

Maeve cocked her head. “Tell you what. Let’s go to the coffee shop and have a chat, and then I’ll decide if you deserve my number or not.”

Donovan snorted a laugh from behind the bar.

My lips set into a line, but underneath, I secretly loved her sarcastic little comeback. Why did I ever think she couldn’t hold her own? My little wifey had more steel and fire inside her than I realized, something I was experiencing firsthand.

And something I didn’t intend to repeat.

Not ever again.

CHAPTER 10

MAEVE

My feet skated over the icy sidewalk like I was a newborn foal finding its legs for the first time, though it wasn’t a surprise when I took Callum’s pace into account. He walked so fast that I had to run along by his side like a five-year-old kid trying to keep up with their mother.

Digging my heels in, I pulled back, bringing us to a halt. “Can you slow down?”

Callum’s steps faltered, and he peered down at me.

“I resembled Bambi on ice there for a second,” I complained. “I was about to end up on my ass.” Tugging my hand away from the crook of his arm, I rounded on him. “What’s going on with you?”

He folded his arms across his chest, his dark blue eyes like laser beams boring into mine. “I want your number.”

---