Alec took my emotional state as a good sign and put his arms around me and cuddled me to him. He thought I was overwhelmed by his profession of love, and I was, but what he didn't realise was that I was close to breaking down and revealing what was really wrong with me.
“Cry baby,” he murmured to me.
I lightly chuckled and pulled back. “I'm fine, it's just the stress of movin' that has me so teary.”
Alec nodded his head and kissed my forehead. “Let's go get a start on boxing and speed this day up. What do you say?”
I forced a smile. “I say lead the way.”
We went out into our sitting room and leaned against the wall and watched everyone. Kane and Aideen were arguing, big shock there—not. Nico and Bronagh were kissing, another big shock—not. And then there was Branna and Ryder who were on their phones, which wasn't a shock either because lately they favoured their phones rather than each other’s company, which I thought was sad.
“What are you both givin' out about now?” I asked Aideen.
She huffed. “He,” she glared at Kane, “said us girls will be useless at packin' and I'm fightin' against it.”
I looked to Kane. “That's a bold statement.”
“But a true one,” he replied.
Alec and his brothers snorted.
I looked over my shoulder to Alec. “What are you laugin' at?”
“Kane,” he replied.
I frowned. “You... agree with him?”
“Say no,” Nico whispered.
I rolled my eyes at his Man Bible advice.
Alec snorted and ignored his brother. “Yeah, I agree with Kane. You four will be no help and you know it.”
The audacity!
“We can bloody be of help and we will be!” I snapped.
“No,” Alec laughed. “You won't.”
I growled, “Do you wanna bet?”
“Yes,” Alec grinned mischievously. “I do.”
“I didn't mean a real bet,” I said, nervously.
Alec smirked. “I did.”
I scoffed. “Really? You do remember what happened the last time we made a bet, don't you?”
Alec chuckled and moved away from me. “Yeah, I won said bet. I got balls deep in your sweetness if I remember correctly.”
Alec's brothers fist bumped him, which caused me to shake my head. Why did men feel the need to congratulate each other about shagging another person?
I rolled my eyes. “And what happened after that?”
Alec frowned. “Hell.”
“Exactly. Bad things happen to us when bets are involved.”
Alec waved me off. “We aren't betting your pus—”
I put my fists up indicating we would thrown down if he said that word.
Alec stopped speaking mid-word to smile at my actions.
“Your private parts aren't the grand prize this time around.” He winked. “I was thinking more along the lines of your culinary skills. How does this sound? If me and my brothers load up our side of the truck first then I win and you cook dinner for a month at our new house.”
I was hesitant.
I enjoyed cooking but only because Alec and myself took turns when it came to the kitchen, so I wasn't sure if accepting the bet was the right thing to do.
Was it worth the risk?
I looked over my shoulder when I felt a sharp poke on my backside.
“We got this,” Branna murmured.
I turned around and folded my arms over my chest as I scanned my teammates if I accepted the bet. All three of them were short, I was the tallest at five foot eight inches and even that was nothing on the brothers' height.
I sighed. “They are bigger and stronger than us, even Kane, and he isn't at full health.”
Bronagh snorted then motioned for me to move closer with her index finger.
When I did she whispered, “Please, strength and body mass have nothin' to do with it when they are distracted. Dominic is slow as hell when it comes to cleanin' when I'm in the room—he can't keep his eyes, or hands, off me arse. I can pack perfectly fine while he will be slowed down. I'll render him useless to Alec.”
Aideen snapped her fingers. “Oh my God, I've an idea.”
Angels began to sing from the Heavens at Aideen's declaration.
“There's a first time for everythin'.” I shrugged.
Aideen shoved me and it made me, and the girls laugh.
“Go on then Watson, enlighten me with your plan.”
Aideen smirked. “Accept the bet, then we use our bodies to make sure the only hard time that will be had is in the lads’ boxer shorts.”
That... that actually had promise.
“I love it,” Branna beamed and bumped fists with Aideen.
I raised my eyebrow and smiled. “I never thought I'd say this, but good thinkin'.”
Aideen bumped fists with me. “I'm much more than a pretty face with big tits, Sherlock.”
I snorted then with a grin on my face as I turned back to Alec and his brothers, and found them eyeing our group suspiciously.
“I accept your bet, but I want a different prize if I win.”
Nico stepped forward and nudged his brother. “Don't agree to anything she says.”
“What? Why?” Alec asked, warily.
“Look at them,” Nico said and flicked his eyes over each girl. “They're up to something, I can feel it in my bones.”
Alec narrowed his eyes and looked at each of us. “He's right, you four are up to something.”
I feigned innocence and batted my eyelashes. “I have no idea what you're talkin' about.”
“Your pretty green eyes don't fool us, Keela,” Ryder glared. “We're Slaters, we see right through female bullshit.”
“Ha!” Bronagh and Branna said in unison then burst into giggles.
Ryder nervously swallowed, and looked unsure of himself. “Well... most of the time we do.”
Kane reassuringly patted his eldest brother on the shoulder and trained his eyes on his forbidden fruit. “Don't you associate yourself with whatever those three have planned, Aideen.”
“I wouldn't dream of it, Germinator.”
Ha!
Kane snapped his fingers at Aideen. “My bullshit meter is off the charts, Collins.”
Aideen didn't reply and Kane looked lost at her lack of retaliation.
“Why aren't you cussing at me or telling me off?” he asked warily.
Aideen yawned. “Because I'm puttin' me energy into helpin' Keela win this bet. I can argue with you later.”
“Is that a promise?” Kane asked, grinning.
Aideen smirked. “We'll see.”