No, she was priceless, he thought.
They shared a dish of homemade lasagna and had cannoli for dessert. Everyone who came into the restaurant noticed their attire and tried hard not to stare. After a while, the conversation became more interesting than their clothes, and he forgot how they were dressed. But, when they paid the bill and stood, he took in her tacky getup and lost it all over again.
They laughed to a point of tears and when they made it back to Erin’s house, their clothes didn’t make it to her bedroom. Hideous pants and faux-fur littered the hall. But he made her wear the boots and that little lace fascinator for fun.
Erin was turning out to be the greatest, unexpected surprise to his life. He loved how unpredictable she could be and how strong she was.
Only a woman of great confidence could have done what she did tonight. So many people cared what others thought, and changed to please strangers more than themselves. But not Erin. Erin did whatever the hell she felt like doing, and he absolutely loved that about her because he tried to live his life the same way.
CHAPTER 16
Giovanni opened the door to the pub, nudging Erin inside. But the moment she saw all his cousins filling the tables, she pivoted, ducking under his arm and shooting back into the cold.
“Come on, Erin.”
“I can’t. They hate me.”
“They don’t know you.”
“They know they don’t like me. Let’s go somewhere else.”
“You promised you’d come to O’Malley’s with me. I want to hang out with my family.”
Her stomach churned. “Then stay. I can go home. I was going to clean out that cabinet in the garage and I need to go through the paint samples. The carpet guy is coming in a few days and—"
He cut off her words, sealing his mouth over hers with a hard kiss. Her breasts smashed against his chest as he hugged her to him, giving her no room to escape. When he pulled away, her head was spinning.
“Are you done now?”
“No,” she whined. It wasn’t fair when he used his body to confuse her. “Please don’t make me go in there.”
He kissed her forehead. “Come on. Hold my hand. We got this.”
He laced his fingers with hers and pulled open the door. “Rivers And Roads” played from the jukebox, and the air smelled of fresh cut wood.
O’Malley’s looked completely different since the girls bought it. There was a huge addition getting added to the back, but the front had also been transformed.
Raw wood tabletops and rope-hung chandeliers gave the bar a fresh feel. Candles added an amber glow, and mason jars stuffed with baby’s breath and yellow daisies dotted hidden corners.
“Hey, guys. Anyone sitting here?” Giovanni said by way of introduction and several of his cousins smiled until they noticed Erin by his side.
Erin shrank into his arm, hiding like a little kid, behind the bulk of his coat.
“What the hell are you doing?” Kelly asked, a look of confusion on his face.
Giovanni ignored him and pulled out a chair for her. “You guys remember Erin, right?”
Several confused faces stared at them.
Luke snickered into his beer. “You know Finn’s on his way?”
Her mortification grew. Giovanni practically stuffed her into the chair and sat by her side. His hand tightened around hers as if he sensed she might bolt.
Sue appeared with a drink order.
“Can we get two rum and cokes, Sue?”
Sue did a double take. “Uh, sure. Coming right up. Anyone else?”
“I think we could all use a round of shots.”
“I’ll bring the bottle.” Sue tucked her tray under her arm, skirting the table, but not before Erin caught her shooting a meaningful look at Sheilagh that made Erin shrink deeper into her chair.
“So, what’s new?” Giovanni asked, and she cringed at his blatant refusal to acknowledge how terribly awkward this was.
A cool breeze cut through the bar and everyone’s heads turned toward the door. Several of the guys chuckled and smiled into their fists. Erin’s eyes widened as a heavy hand landed on her shoulder and squeezed.
Spine stiff, she turned to find Finn behind her, wearing a big grin. “Hey, good to see you two out.” He leaned over and shook Giovanni’s hand. “Mind if we sit here?”
Without waiting for an answer, he pulled out the chair beside Erin and Mallory was suddenly next to her.
“Hey, Erin.” Finn’s wife smiled as if they were gal-pals from way back. “Ooh, I love your earrings.” She touched the topaz clasps hanging from Erin’s ears. “Blue looks so good with your hair.”
Erin blinked. “Thanks?”
Giovanni’s hand moved to Erin’s thigh and massaged gently. Finn took a seat to Mallory’s right and everyone else stared. Sue returned with their drinks, several shot glasses, and a bottle of Tully.
“How do you know when a cannibal’s had enough?” Giovanni asked no one in particular, reaching for his rum and coke. “They throw up their arms.”