Becoming the Whiskey Princess
Page 28

“Yes, it’s gonna be gorgeous, for sure,” Lena agrees. “I’m gonna be a crying mess!”
I send her a grin as Mrs. O’Callaghan says, “So will I. I can’t wait though. Declan is so happy with you, Amberlyn. She’s good for him. ”
“He is,” Lena agrees and it warms my heart, but when I look at the ladies, I don’t think they feel the same as my future in-laws. Especially Keeva, which I don’t understand at all.
“Well, let’s hope it lasts a lifetime!” Rhonda cheers, holding up her teacup to me.
“It will, don’t worry,” I inform her with a grin.
“You are very young,” Keeva says. “Only twenty, yes?”
I nod. “Yeah. I’m one of the lucky ones to find her soul mate so young.”
“I couldn’t say it any better myself.”
I turn quickly at the sound of Declan’s voice as he climbs the stairs, a grin on his face that is only for me. He holds himself so regally and handsomely. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he kisses my temple before squeezing my shoulders tightly.
“Ladies, good afternoon,” he says and they all beam at him. Except for Keeva. She is just staring at him. My brow comes up before I look up to see that he is looking at her in a distressed way. What the hell? Looking down at me though, the look goes away and he smiles. “Having fun, mo stór?”
I grin at my nickname from him but then lie, “I am.”
“Grand. I was coming by to see if ya was done. Figured we’d go for a ride.”
“I’d love that,” I say excitedly.
“They don’t go long without each other,” Mrs. O’Callaghan says with a grin.
“Ya can tell they’re very much in love,” Rhonda says and Declan grins.
“She’s it for me. Ready, love?”
“I am,” I say, standing up and cuddling to his side. Looking out at the ladies, I say, “Thank you. I had a wonderful time.”
It’s a lie, but then again, it wasn’t that bad.
“You’ll have to join us every week, so we can get to know ya better,” the lady who sits next to Keeva says. She looks like an older version of her, so I assume she must be her mother. Keeva is still looking completely distraught as she stares up at Declan. I’m not sure what that is about, but I know that coming to another one of these is the last thing I want.
It may have not been that bad, but I still feel like they don’t approve of me. No matter how much I love Declan and he loves me.
But instead of saying no, I say, “Sure, if I have time.”
I wish I could say no, but it just worries me. I feel like they don’t think I am good enough for Declan, or at least that is the way they are looking at me. Maybe I can convince them before the wedding. I don’t know why I want their approval. As pathetic as it is, I find myself wanting it. Don’t ask me the reason; I’m not even sure why.
Looking up at Declan, I smile when he grins down at me and I know why.
For him.
“Is your dress ready for the engagement party?”
I look over at my bride and meet her playful gaze. She is sitting on my sister’s horse, Belle, and looks like a vision. I had Fiona meet me so I could get Amberlyn some jeans and a tee, something she is completely comfortable in. I think I like her more in jeans anyway. She doesn’t hold back when she is in jeans; she is happier, and I like her that way. I know that it isn’t what O’Callaghan women wear, and I’m sure I’ll get an earful from my ma, but in a way, I don’t care.
I won’t dim this girl’s light. Not when the world has been out to dim it at any passing chance.
“Yeah, I think Fiona picked it up with hers.”
“I heard it’s very scandalous,” I tease.
She giggles. “Who told you that?”
“My ma.”
“Yeah,” she says with a shake of her head. “Your mother does not like anything I like.”
I smile. “She probably never will, either.”
“I think she wants me to be like Lena. All proper and pretty and I’m not that girl.”
“I think you are,” I say as our horses trot alongside each other. The sun is bright in the sky, kissing her skin in the most beautiful way. Her hair is down, brushing along her back as she bounces in the seat. Of course, I notice her breasts that are hidden behind the T-shirt she wears, and I want to tear the shirt off, but I feel like we are both waiting until our first night living together. Or maybe we just don’t have the time, and she is too scared to do it anywhere but in a bed. Which really, who am I to ask for anything else? I should probably have candles and soft music playing.
Ha.
She sends me a grin, pulling my gaze away from her breast as she says, “Well, that’s all that matters, I guess.”
“No guessing about it,” I say with a wink, reaching out to take her hand. “Is the dress a surprise?”
She shakes her head, squeezing my hand. “No, it’s glittery and backless.”
I give her a sexy grin. “Scandalous for sure.”
She laughs. “Maybe. But I went with blue because of my wedding dress.”
I perk up in my seat. “It’s blue?”
She nods but looks a little sheepish. “I thought you knew that.”
“Nope.”
“Yeah,” she says, smiling sweetly at me. She lets go of my hand and cups my face, our legs knocking into each other from how close we’ve brought the horses, not that we mind. “It matches your eyes.”
I lean over, kissing her quickly before pulling back to better see her. “I can’t wait to see it.”
“Me either,” she says, sending me a grin I know is just for me. Her grin is so refreshing and honestly makes me day.
As we ride, we discuss the engagement party and how my ma is making a circus out of it all. I want to get the damn thing over. I am tired of waiting to marry this girl. I know I wanted to give her time before, but now, I’m just tired of all the hoopla.
“My ma tried to invite the blogs because she said they weren’t the papers,” I say as I dismount my horse before helping her down.
She laughs as her arms come tightly around my neck. “Why does she want people there other than friends?”
“’Cause it’s all for show, don’t ya know?” I say, shaking my head as she cuddles closer to me.