Page 19 of Taming Irish

Chapter 5

Makena

The momentI open my laptop, it starts ringing with an incoming video call fromQuinn.

“Crap,” I say on asigh.

I’d ignored her last two attempts, and if I don’t answer this one, I don’t doubt she’ll send one of her four overprotective brothers to hop on the next flight to Ireland to make sure I’m allright.

Snuggling into the couch with my steaming cup of herbal tea in hand, I take a deep breath and prepare myself for my cousin’s onslaught ofquestions.

“Finally.” Quinn lets out an exasperated breath as her image pops up on thescreen.

Even in the not-so-flattering light of the distorted iPhone camera, my cousin is gorgeous. Unlike my plain, girl-next-door look, she has a type of exotic beauty without even trying. Long, dark strands of hair have fallen from the messy bun on top of her head, framing her heart shaped face, and hang loose down her slenderneck.

“You look tired,” she says, leaning closer and batting her ridiculously long eye lashes, that just happen to be God-given, atme.

“And you look beautiful, asalways.”

“I have a datetonight.”

“Jefferson,again?”

She makes a face. “God, no. Did you know he’s still living in his parent’sbasement?”

“So are you.” Ilaugh.

“That’s not the point.” She rolls her eyes. “I have every intention of moving out as soon as I can afford a place of myown.”

Which won’t ever happen if she doesn’t learn to control her outrageous spending habits. She’s six years younger than me and I’m pretty sure she already owns more Gucci and Louis Vuitton purses than all the Kardashianscombined.

“Have you met any hot Irishmen yet?” She wiggles her brows, and her image freezes mid-lift, then cracks, and distorts, before resuming thefeed.

“I’ve only been here for a fewdays.”

Her eyes narrow. “Please tell me you’ve at least left thehouse.”

“Of course, I have.” I’d gone for a few walks around the property, and Nora drove me to the grocery store yesterday. But I know that’s not what my cousin is referring to. “How is Colleen doing?” I ask, changing the subject, because my cousin has no limit to nagging me about my non-existent love life. “Is she settling inokay?”

It still feels weird knowing someone else is living in my house, sleeping in mybed.

“She’s almost as much of a recluse as you, but I convinced her to come over for family dinner thisSunday.”

I groan, knowing how overwhelming Savage family dinners can be. “You really think that’s a goodidea?”

I love my cousins, but their overbearing personalities and eccentric antics can be a lot for anyone tohandle.

“I’ll make sure everyonebehaves.”

“When have any of your brotherseverbehaved?”

Quinn laughs. “Hey, I’d take being around my brothers any day than sitting all alone in my pajamas night afternight.”

I glance down at the tattered sweatshirt and sweatpants I’ve been wearing for the past two days and wince. “It’s cold here, and it’s not like I’m going anywhere. I have my books, that’s all Ineed.”

Quinn snorts. “Colleen said there’s a great little pub in town with live music. If you’re lucky, she said sometimes Wild Irish performs there. Did you know they’re from the next townover?”

Am I the only person who’s never heard of thegroup?

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