Becoming the Whiskey Princess
Page 32

“Jesus, Kane, ya all right, lad?” my uncle asks, and Kane coughs in between laughing.
“Yes, sir. Goodness,” Kane sputters as he wipes his face and shakes his head. “You’re evil, ya know,” he mutters at Fiona before kissing her cheek.
“That she is,” I say, and I feel bad since my aunt and uncle have no clue what is going on. Declan is still snickering but trying to hide it as he holds his cup up over his mouth. I am burning with embarrassment, but I can’t say I don’t expect it from her. It’s classic Fiona. She lives to embarrass me.
“I don’t know what is going on, but how’s everything coming for the wedding?” my aunt asks.
I smile as I sit straighter, ignoring the laughter of my cousin, her boyfriend, and mine. “It’s going great. It’s going to be very nice.”
“Still going through with it, then?” my uncle teases, and I nod as Declan grins.
“Yes,” I say as Declan’s fingers lace with mine. “Very much so.”
“Good to hear,” he says, and I believe that he is genuine when he says it. Grinning at him, I lean into Declan and let out a contented sigh as the conversation is brought to a new topic. Whiskey. I always enjoy listening to Declan talk about his business. He is very passionate about it, and it’s easy to tell that he knows everything there is to know about it. I’m very impressed when Kane starts talking, though. Like Declan, he is very savvy in the business and keeps up like a pro. While my aunt, cousin, and I only eat and pipe in when we can, my uncle is up to speed with them, and I think that surprises Declan.
“You’re retired, yes?” Declan asks, his eyes trained on my uncle.
“I am. Been for a couple years,” he answers, a playful grin on his face. “Was glad to go.”
“I didn’t know you were retired,” I say before Declan can go on. “I thought the B&B has always been your job.”
Looking over at me, my uncle shakes his head. “No love, this was my ma and da’s, but I got into the whiskey business with Jameson Whiskey and worked for a very long time. I was finally able to work at home, which was good since my da had long passed and my ma was heading that way.” Taking ahold of my aunt’s hand, he smiles. “Shelia ran this without me for a while, raising Fiona in my absence. Then I decided it was time for me to be home all the time and quit, but we say I retired since I did so many years. Best decision, I think, but I do miss the business.”
“And we love having you home,” my aunt says, and I can see that Fiona agrees. I do too; I couldn’t imagine him not being here all the time.
“Ya know, Mr. Maclaster, I’d love to pick yer brain sometime when you have time,” Declan says, his eyes still trained on my uncle. “My whiskey just went into beta testing.”
“Fair play, congratulations,” he says, nodding his head to Declan. My chest burns with pride as Declan grins sheepishly. “What’s it like?”
Grinning at Declan, I listen as he explains each flavor in his whiskey, the slow burn, and the splendor of it.
“I’ve had it. It’s good,” I add, and Declan grins at me as my uncle nods.
“You’ll need to bring me a bottle.”
“I’ll do that tomorrow.”
“Grand, but yeah, after dinner we’ll break out my favorite bottle and we’ll talk the legs off a donkey, yeah?”
“Grand,” Declan says, and I can tell he’s excited. I’m just glad they’re getting along. I want my uncle and aunt to like Declan since I plan to spend the rest of my life with him.
Glancing over at me, he smiles as he reaches for his mug, taking a pull of his beer as Fiona says, “Great, so we’ll clean while you three drink. Seems fair.”
My uncle grins as he tips his drink to her. “Training ya for wifehood.”
When my aunt’s hand comes hard into his chest, I’m sure he regrets that comment. If he didn’t, he sure does when the next sentence leaves her lips. “Oh yeah? Let me say this, you go and get piss drunk, but by the morning, that kitchen will be clean.”
My uncle’s face turn a bit red, but his grin doesn’t give anything away as he nods. “Yes, love.” Leaning over, he kisses her and then glances at Declan and Kane. “And that, my lads, is how it is being a husband.”
That has everyone laughing as we continue to enjoy our dinner. My aunt’s cooking will be one of the biggest things I’ll miss once I leave. Surely though, I’ll have time to come for dinner when I please. If it comes down to home cooking with my aunt or tea with his mom, I’ll have no problem choosing. If she’ll even have me. I’m not sure how it will go once I tell her I’m moving out. I feel like she knows it will happen, but she is hoping that it will be after the wedding, like Fiona had hoped. I really don’t want to leave, but then again, I do. It’s bittersweet. I’d rather not leave them, but the thought of coming home to Declan every single night and waking up to him every morning sounds almost a magical as Disney World.
Once cake is brought out for dessert, I nibble on my piece as Kane and my uncle go back on the subject of the compressor in the beer chest. Declan’s fingers dance along my wrist, and when I glance back at him, he is grinning at me. Leaning forward, his lips go to my ear as he whispers, “You are so beautiful.”
My mouth pulls at the side as I lean into him, his lips still pressing to my ear. I love him so much.
“When are you going to tell them?” he whispers again and I close my eyes.
“Ugh, get a room,” Fiona groans, and Declan’s laughter tickles my ear as he pulls back. “Or a field,” she notes, sending Kane into a fit of laughter as Declan chokes on the swig he has just taken.
“I’m gonna kill you,” I threaten, and she laughs along with Kane as my aunt and uncle look at us like we have all lost our minds.
“What is going on?” my aunt asks, and I shake my head.
“Nothing,” I answer before Fiona can. “She’s lost it.”
“Oh, I’m not the one losing anything, but you sure have,” she teases some more, and now Declan is laughing and I feel like I’m gonna catch fire with my embarrassment. Leaning into Fiona, Kane almost falls out of his seat as his body shakes with laughter. I glare over at Declan, and his laughter turns to coughing as he reaches for his water, looking away.