The oldest brother, Calum, spoke first. “Shh, Bunny. Stop crying. We’re here to celebrate. Come on. Go cut your cake.”
Calum walked Errin over to Pops’s table where Errin’s cake had been placed. Errin blew out her candles and shouted a big thank you to everyone who was within hearing. She cut the cake with the biggest smile he’d ever seen, and Kate helped her pass out the pieces.
Donovan had been introduced to Kate’s brothers months ago when they came from New Jersey after Kayla’s attack. The Walsh brothers had stayed at Kayla’s apartment for several days, and Calum had even stayed for two whole weeks.
At the time, Duncan had to persuade Calum to give him a chance to go for his sister. He’s one broody and overprotective brother, for sure. Calum had called Donovan when he’d heard from Errin about the evening he backed out of kissing Kate at her apartment.
Donovan always prided himself in exuding a calm exterior, but receiving the ass ripping from Calum hadn’t been a walk in the park. Not because he was scared of the big guy—fuck, he could take him on if needed. No, it was because he knew that whatever he’d said to Calum about the issue wouldn’t make a shit of difference to him.
So he decided to be up front and said as much to Calum. He told him he’d been warring with his feelings for his sister for several months, but that he now knew he’d been stupid. He promised him to go all-in for Kate and to never let her down ever again.
When word got out that Kate and he were a couple, he received a text from Calum.
CALUM: Fuck this up and I’ll fuck you up. And you know I know how to do it right…
Being a cop made Calum definitely smart in that area. But Donovan wasn’t worried. He and Kate had been together for almost a month now, and the angst of fucking up their relationship was slowly fading into the background.
Sure, he still checked up on Kate. He still had that nagging voice in the back of his mind when Kate would stay late at school or hang out in Duncan’s Dojo. She’d only been there once previously, but ever since they got together, she started going there again. But as much as Donovan trusted his brothers, there were also a lot of shady MMA types hanging around the dojo. Fuck. Perhaps he was seeing things because he’d never felt uneasy about sending women from the women’s shelter to a defense class at his brother’s gym. And they had a whole lot of baggage and then some.
When Calum walked up to him in the pub, Kayla rushed to intercept her big brother. Donovan grinned at her action. Who did she think she was protecting here? Him or her brother?
Donovan walked over to join them. He wasn’t a pussy. Kayla looked from Calum to Donovan and swallowed. “Umm, Don, I don’t think that—”
Donovan placed a hand on Kayla’s shoulder in reassurance. “It’s okay, Kayla. Calum and I had our talk weeks ago. He knows he has my word that I’m going to look out for your sister. He’s got nothing to worry about.”
Calum reached out his big, calloused hand and they shook hands. It seemed that both men wanted to let the other know just how strong their handshake could be, but he didn’t flinch. He was used to handling alpha males. Fuck, his whole office was filled with alpha males. Not to mention, he’d grown up in the Mills household.
A soft hand grabbed his, and he instantly detected the smell of ripe peaches. Ah, his little Red Riding Hood. He lifted his arm, and she leaned into him. Her arm went around his waist, and she looked up into his eyes with so much trust and—love? Could this be real? Could she be feeling the same way?
He glanced around the bar. Kate’s brothers Evan and Conner were in the back shooting pool with Declan and Dunc. Errin was talking with Cait, Bree, and Maureen. Fianna stood off to the side talking with Pops. He leaned on his walking cane and nodded at Donovan as he felt him looking over at them. Still so perceptive. He was probably butting in on Fianna and Ronan’s nonexistent relationship. Donovan grinned at the thought.
“Ready to go home?” he asked.
They had stayed for another two hours after her brothers arrived, but he wanted to go home with Kate and have his way with her. He knew her brothers were staying for a couple of days before they returned to New Jersey on Saturday night.
“Yes. Let’s go. I promised the guys to come over tomorrow morning.” Kate smiled.
“Where are they staying?” Donovan asked as he moved her across the room with his hand on her lower back.
Calum interrupted Kate when she was about to answer his question. “Kate, I’m gonna crash in your room. I assume you’re staying with Donovan tonight?”
Kind of a bossy motherfucker that brother of hers. Donovan had no problem with Kate staying with him. Hell, if she wanted to move in with him, he would jump at the chance. That way he would have her in his bed every night. He would wake up with that tight, round ass against his dick, with her silky tresses over his pillow, and those sweet little moans when he teased her clit to wake her up. He shook his head as he was reminded that he didn’t appreciate Calum talking over his cupcake.
“Perhaps you should involve Kate a bit more in your plans?” Donovan asked as he quirked a brow.
Calum chuckled knowingly and clapped his back. “Yeah, you’re all right, Donovan. See you tomorrow, sis.” He strolled away, as if that was answer enough.
“He’s a bit….”
“Like you?” Kate gave a coy smile.
“Nah…. Am I? Please tell me if I ever get too much for you.”
She rose on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “I love it when you’re bossy. I can’t wait for you to tell me exactly what you need from me.” She licked his earlobe, and he groaned.
“Let’s go.”