Page 59 of Until Ireland

I nodded.

“Told you we weren’t playing fast and loose. You’re my soul. I love you, and if you wouldn’t fight me tooth and nail, I’d have my rings sitting on your left hand and my baby in your belly,” he murmured, nuzzling my neck.

I blinked once, twice, and then a finally a third time as his words finally settled into my brain.Holy guacamole, Mackinley Redman loved me. He wanted to marry me and have babies with me. If he still didn’t have me backed up against the door, I’d have done an Irish jig. We’d only been together for a little while, yet I felt like I’d been waiting several lifetimes for him to declare his feelings for me.

Kind of sucked we were proclaiming our love to each other during a disagreement. I was still taking his statement and holding onto it like they was the most precious stones in the world. Because to me…they were.

“You got anything to say?” he demanded, pulling me from my thoughts.

The anger on his features had eased somewhat. A tightness around his lips remained there, and I wanted to stand on my toes and kiss it away. I didn’t, because, duh, we were arguing here. Kissing and hopefully other things wouldn’t come until later, when we got back to Mack’s ranch house and my Judas of a brother wasn’t on the side of the door, most likely listening.

“I’m sorry for worrying you?” slipped through my lips before I could stop it, and I had to bite my cheek to stop the smile I could feel threatening to form on my lips.

Mack growled deep in his throat. He’d done it a couple of times, mostly around me and when I was frustrating him. I found it cute, but I didn’t tell him that. Less than twenty seconds ago I wanted to rip his head off, but now I was as giddy as a schoolgirl.

“That’s not what I want to hear, cupcake, and you know it.” His big body pushed into me more, and I wasn’t sure how that was even possible, since he’d been pretty close before. My eyes widened when I felt Mack’s impressive length pushing into my belly. “You are the most aggravating—”

I cupped his cheek. “I love you too, Mack.”

“Fucking finally,” he muttered before his lips touched mine. Our breath combined, and he gave me the softest, sweetest kiss I’d ever experienced in my life. I took notice of every touch, every moan against my lips as he deepened it, always wanting to remember the moment we declared our love to each other.

Long minutes later, he broke the kiss, leaving me panting and needy.

“I’m still pissed as fuck at you, cupcake. Promise me, right here and right now, you’ll never do anything so foolish ever again. I’d never be able to breathe if something happened to you, baby. You’re my Boom.”

I frowned at the mention of being hisBoom. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard of it, just the first instance Mack had referenced our relationship to it. To my knowledge, it was mostly associated with the large Mayson family. When I asked December at Mack’s party, she’d given me a shy smile and explained the phenome associated with her family and finding their true love at first glance.

At the time it sounded silly. Looking back, I knew it was what I’d experienced with Mack when we met at the shop. It also explained the ‘tude I’d given him that day, which thankfully hadn’t scared him away. I hadn’t understood the feelings rushing through my mind and body, and I took it out on him.

Now I did.

I sighed before stating, “I promise to never do something so half-baked again, Mack.” I held up my right hand, pressing my thumb and pinky together while leaving my three middle fingers extended. "Scout’s honor.” I put my hand down after his nod and reached up to kiss his cheek and whispered in his ear. “I’d be lost without you too. I feel you in my heart and soul, Mack.”

The cocky bastard just smirked at me. “We need to call Cobi, get him the pictures. Then—” He quirked a brow at me and pledged, “we’re going to go home, and I’m going to paddle your ass for lying to me today.”

How was it possible my mind screamed ‘no fucking way,’ but my body hummed in anticipation of him spanking me? I shifted, hating the wetness in my panties. Mack gave me a dark, sexy look.

“Go get your shit.” He stepped back, and I immediately missed the security and warmth of his big body.

“It’s out front with Hunter, since I didn’t get a chance to grab it before I was so rudely dragged into the office.” I planned to say more because, well, that was how I rolled. I didn’t though, not with the dark look on Mack’s face. “I’ll just pick it up on our way out.”

Mack reached around me, opened the door, and led me out with his hand on the small of my back. It was no big surprise to find Landon standing beside Hunter behind the counter. Both of them were trying to act all innocent, but I wasn’t fooled. I knew they had heard everything when Landon handed my bag.

I narrowed my eyes and glared at them as Mack took it from my older brother’s hand and ushered me out of the office.

Assholes.

As we passed by the window, my brothers smirked at me in amusement. I flipped them the bird as Mack led me to his waiting car. I’d get Hunter back for his bullshit sooner rather than later.

Chapter Twelve

Mack

The ideathat Ireland would pop off to the warehouse alone infuriated me. I couldn’t even coherently explain why it bothered me so much besides the fact she could have been hurt or worse, killed. However, it went deeper than that. Ireland could have ruined any case Cobi built. Running into that building without a warrant to take pictures might not equal probable cause for the police to go back in. Her photographs might not be admissible in a court of law for trial or even useful in obtaining a warrant to do a proper search of the property.

On the other hand, there was a chance to get back into the auction and bid on one of the classics sitting in the garage waiting to be sold. I glanced over at Ireland who had an obstinate look on her face as we headed to the ranch house. She hadn’t said much to me, and to be honest, I hadn’t expected her to. Not only had I berated her for being so thoughtless to put herself at risk, but in the next breath, I told her I loved her.

Sure, I understood why she went to the warehouse. She had something to prove. She didn’t want to be the victim anymore, and fuck if I didn’t want the same for her. Her execution though, was lacking. She claimed she hadn’t been seen, but she also went in broad daylight. At least we’d gone under the cover of darkness and knew exactly what we were doing. So, I understood before we went any further, I was going to have to tell Cobi what Ireland did.

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