“Don’t worry,” I said, as I brushed my teeth while we stood in the bathroom together . “They’ll love you. They already do because I do.”
Kate adjusted her dress, a pretty black lace sheath with no sleeves. It hugged her curves very nicely, but had a high neck and was just to her knee so it wasn’t too revealing. Still, with her hair up and makeup on, she lo
oked like a million dollars.
“You, Ms. Bennet, are gorgeous,” I said and pulled her into my arms.
“Am I overdressed? Is this appropriate?” she asked when I bent down to kiss her.
“Not at all,” I said, although I was dressed in jeans and a button down shirt. I enjoyed how good she looked and felt proud of her. She was young, beautiful, intelligent, talented… and she was mine.
“What will the other women be wearing?” she asked and squirmed around in my arms so she could check herself out in the mirror once more.
“Clothes,” I said, grinning at her.
She caught my eye in the mirror and frowned. “You’re no help. I mean, how dressy do they usually get? Should I put on jeans instead?”
“Not at all,” I said and came up behind her, my arms on her hips, pulling her back against me. “You look perfect the way you are. I’ll look at you all night and feel proud. In fact, I’ll find it hard to wait to get you home so we can fuck.”
She smiled and bent forward to check her eyes. “It’s very sly of you to suggest that. Now I’ll be thinking about it all night.”
“Then my work here is done,” I said and ran my hands down her back to her buttocks, which I squeezed.
She pushed her ass back against me and I smiled.
We drove to O’Riley’s and I parked the car, opened Kate's door and helped her out of the car. In the East Village, O’Riley’s was located in the middle of the block, on the first floor of an old red brick building on 3rd Avenue. It was the perfect Irish Pub, with dark woods, a huge bar that spanned half the length of the building in the back of the pub, while the dining room was in the front.
“I’m nervous,” Kate said as we walked down the block to the pub.
I took her hand, squeezing it to encourage her. “Don’t be,” I said and led her to the back alley so we could use the rear door. “Just be yourself. Have a drink and loosen up. They’re really a very nice family. They talk so much that you’ll probably sit and listen to them argue and debate. At least, that’s what I always did when I went for Sunday dinner.”
I heard her take in a deep breath when we reached the alley entrance.
I stopped her and turned her to face me. “You’ll do fine,” I said and ran my hands over her hair, cupping her face. I bent down and kissed her warmly. “I’ll stay with you the entire time.”
She smiled and we went inside.
I led her through the prep area and popped my head in Mrs. O’Riley’s office, half expecting to find her there, but she must have been in the private dining room. We arrived at the bar and Colin was there, pouring drinks for the last tables. The restaurant was never open for dinner on Sunday, although the pub was open and people could order appetizers and finger food. Mrs. O always believed that you should spend Sunday dinner with your family, not working or with strangers.
The kitchen staff who didn’t have families of their own worked preparing the dinner, which was usually some kind of roast with all the trimmings, then joined the O’Rileys for the meal.
“Hey, Drake,” Colin said as he finished pouring a drink. He turned to Kate. “You must be Kate. Pleased to meet you,” he said and leaned across the bar, extending his hand. “My God, we’ve all been dying to meet the woman who finally captured Drake’s heart.” He grinned widely. They shook hands I could see the color in her cheeks even in the low light of the bar.
He let go of Kate’s hand and then returned to the drinks. “Just doing last call in the bar.”
Then Sarah came over and stood beside us. She put a hand over her mouth. “Oh my God, mom said you might come. Are you Kate?”
Kate nodded and smiled.
“Oh, my God, you’re Kate,” she said and waved to Colin. “Hey, Colin – she’s here. It’s Kate!”
Colin laughed. “We’ve already met,” he said and waved us over. “Come and sit at the bar.”
“I’m Sarah,” she said. “Colin and Ken are my brothers. We’ve heard so much about you. I’ll go get mom. She’ll want to meet you.”
Sarah left us and we turned to Colin, who was busy mopping up the bar with a cloth. “Can I get you guys something?”
I turned to Kate. “How about a toast of some Anisovaya? Colin keeps a bottle in the refrigerator for me.”