Page 58 of Taming Irish

Chapter 16

Shane

Iprobably should have warnedher about the lion’s den I’m taking her to, but I doubt she’d have agreed to come with me if she knew I was bringing her to a familydinner.

It’s probably a jerk move, especially since, in a way, I’m using her to get my mom off my back about her friend’s daughter. If it was up to my mother, she’d be more than happy to arrange a marriage for me, even if it meant making me the unhappiest bastard inIreland.

“Shit,” I mutter, pulling into the driveway that leads up to Emer and Aiden’s largehouse.

Both Cillian and Owen’s cars are parked outfront.

The entire band is here, which means their wives are aswell.

Makena frowns at me. “Where arewe?”

I wince as I say, “My sister’shouse.”

“Your sister?” She twists her lips into an incredibly sexypout.

“Ye’ll love her. I promise. She’s a bit of a pain in the ass, and can’t cook to save her life, but she’ll make ye feel right athome.”

Makena just stares at me, her mouth parted, eyes wide. “You saiddinner.”

“With a fewfriends.”

“With yourfamily.”

I sigh, realizing how awkward the entire thing seems. Trying to impress a woman by introducing her to my mother isn’t usually one of my signature moves. Hell, I can’t remember a time I’d actually dated a woman long enough to introduce them to myfamily.

But that’s not what thisis.

We’re notdating.

Justfriends.

That’s what we agreedon.

Friends with a few indulgentbenefits.

“Ye can meet the rest of the band. Looks like the whole crew ishere.”

She keeps frowning. “They’ll think…What if they recognizeme?”

“Ye need to stop caring so much what other peoplethink.”

Her arms cross over her chest. “Easy to say when the world lovesyou.”

I hear the insecurity in her words. I told her the truth when I said I hadn’t Googled her, but I already knew enough about her jackass of an ex, so I could guess at the things the media would say about her. Because she was right, when the world loved you, they hated everyone whodidn’t.

Taking her hand, I give it a small squeeze. “If ye stay in that hole ye’re living in, ye’re going to miss out on yerlife.”

“You sound likeQuinn.”

“She’s a smart lady.” Iwink.

“Who constantly gets intotrouble.”

“And I bet she’s enjoying every minute ofit.”