“You better not have a case file for that, Tig,” Seamus manages through his choking.
Niall is also flanking them, his face inscrutable, apart from his eyes which are burning suns, laser-focused on Mellie’s face.
“You okay, Seamus?” I smirk at him as he manages to gasp in a breath.
“Yeah.” He coughs again. “I was coming over here to see if you were ready to leave,leannán.” His eyes are dancing with mischief. “But I guess I walked in at the wrong part of the conversation.”
So much for girl's night. Mellie only just arrived.
“I’m ready to go.”
Grabbing my purse, I slide off my barstool. Mellie and Fiona stand as well.
“Do you ladies need a lift home?” Seamus turns to them, but Fiona shakes her head, pounding back her vodka.
“I’m on stage in half an hour. Bye, babe.”
She gives me a quick hug, slapping my ass as she saunters off to the dressing room. Ronan’s eyes follow her the entire way, and he drifts over to where Liam is sitting. And then there were four.
“Mellie?” I ask her, but Niall cuts her off before she can answer.
“I’ll give ye a lift, Mellie. Yer place is out of the way for them.”
Mellie nods, avoiding my eye when I try to shoot her a look. Seamus shrugs, placing his hand on the small of my back, guiding me out of the bar, nodding to Paddy and Connor, who join us on our way.
SEAMUS
“Good morning, Niall.”
He blinks in surprise, his mug of coffee frozen halfway to his mouth as he stares, openmouthed at her. I have to bite back a smirk. God, the Reaper caught off-guard is a fucking funny sight.
“Morning,” he finally manages back, his curiosity-filled eyes following Tig the entire time she flits around the kitchen making breakfast.
“Make extra.” I gesture to the eggs as I hand her a mug of coffee. “We have a meeting here this morning.”
Tig nods, whisking up more eggs and putting the bacon and sausages in the pan. The lads trickle in, making noises of appreciation as the smell of bacon hits their noses.
They all blink in surprise as Tig greets them each with a smile and a hello. It would appear she took my words the other week to heart. Good. I want her to feel comfortable with more people than Fiona and Mellie.
Paddy is the last one in, grunting in response to her greeting, his eyes narrowing as I play with her hair and press kisses against her temple.
“Given up the sullen act, have we?” he drawls coldly. I stiffen, but Tig beams at him.
“Seamus didn’t find it sexy when I pouted like a two-year-old,” she informs him teasingly. I have to bury my face into her hair to hide my grin. I think I like playful Tig. She seems more light-hearted when she’s joking around. I want her to feel comfortable enough to joke around. I want her to smile more.
He lets it go as she hands Liam the serving platters to take into the dining room, but as soon as we’re all eating, he glares across the table and starts sniping again.
“Seriously though, why the sudden one-eighty?”
I open my mouth to tell him where to shove it when Tig kicks me in the shin. I hide my grunt of pain by taking a sip of coffee, keeping my mouth shut. This should be interesting. I’m intrigued.
After her initial defiance in bed, I should have realized that my wife is a fierce little thing who wants to fight her own battles. Let’s see how she handles Paddy. I’m happy to let her take the lead, but if he crosses a line, I’m sure as hell stepping in and putting him into his place.
Tig eyes Paddy across the table, her lips pursed like she’s seriously considering the question.
“Apparently, none of you will ever agree to a gangbang if I’m mean to you. Gotta work to get all that Irish in me.”
I’m not the only one who chokes on their coffee, and Paddy looks furious.