“Dean, you’re not playing fair,” she moaned as I cupped her breast in my hand and squeezed her nipple.
“When it comes to you, Tyler, I will never play fair. You should know that about me by now.” I brushed my thumb over her nipple again and she trembled.
“Please, Dean. Don’t do this to me. You know my hormones are all over the place at the moment. One more touch and I’ll drag you into the toilet myself. That new sink still hasn’t broken yet.” She raised her eyebrow at me, as if in challenge. I would accept that fucking challenge any day of the week.
I was about to answer when the doorbell rang. I placed my head on her shoulder and groaned. “Oh fuck. I forgot they were coming over.”
Tyler slapped me. “You play nice, Dean. You know they’re still a little sore.”
My eyes widened. “Tyler, it’s been ten fucking years and almost three children later! You think they would have tried to find it in their heart to forgive me by now.” I groaned again. “Give me Pinzano any day, but not this. Please, Tyler.” I took her hand. “I’ll give you anything you ask.”
She looked at me, shaking her head. “Don’t joke about that, Dean. It’s not funny.”
I very nearly pouted. Me? Fucking pouting? I must be getting old and soft. “I’m sorry, Rosey.” I gave her a smile that I knew would get me away with anything. She was a sucker for my smiles.
Her lips curved up and I knew I had her. “Okay, okay, but you go answer the door.” She walked away and her hand slipped from my grip.
I groaned again, but dutifully did as my adoring wife asked of me. I opened the front door and relief immediately washed over me. “Jimmy, thank fuck. I thought you were the wicked witch of the–” Jimmy moved out of the way and my heart sank.
Fuck!
“Mrs. O’Shea, how lovely to see you again.” I think my balls shriveled up and died. One look from her was all it took. It didn’t help that Jimmy had this shit-eating grin on his fucking face. What I wouldn’t give to wipe that off right now.
“I’m sure,” she grunted. “Are you going to let us in?”
As if from nowhere, Derren and a very pregnant Tara appeared. How the fuck did that happen? Did Jimmy purposely hide them all from me? I was going to have words with him later.
I moved out of the way. “Sure, come in.” As soon as I moved, I heard a squealing Isabella running down the stairs.
“Pumpkin!” Derren shouted.
Saved by my ray of sunshine. Hopefully the pressure was off me now. Maybe now would be a good time to hide in the corner somewhere whilst Tyler’s mum thought of the next potion she could stir in her cauldron. I guess now I have another fucking ten years of hard work. Great. Just fucking great.
“Granddaddy!” Isabella shouted.
I saw Derren’s bright smile. He was just as much a sucker for the O’Shea women as I was. I looked over at Clara and saw her scowl.
Well, maybe not all the O’Shea women.
Isabella rushed into his arms just as Jeremy came down the stairs. I gave him a Please, help me look, but all he did was smile and shake his head. Do I not have any allies in my own home?
Just as I thought this, Tyler came up from behind me and laid a gentle hand on my back. I immediately relaxed when I saw her smile. She was beautiful.
“Aha!” Derren exclaimed. “My other pumpkin. How are you, sweetheart?”
Tyler smiled brightly and gave both Derren and Clara a hug. “Fine, thank you. Getting bigger by the day, but fine.” She looked over at Tara. “Tara, look at you.”
Tara shook her head. “Please don’t mention it. I feel like a house. I just want them out of me already. Jimmy failed to mention the part about his grandmother being a twin.” She glared over at him and Jimmy almost cowered. I raised my eyebrow at him as if to say, Yeah, it’s a bitch, isn’t it?
But where would we be without them?
“Have you brought presents?” Isabella asked, excitedly.
“Isabella, don’t be rude. They’ve just got here.” Tyler laughed and Clara shook her head.
“That’s okay.” She bent down to take Isabella’s hand. “Now, why would we be bringing presents today?”
Isabella swayed her hips back and forth, making her little frock sway. She was quite the girlie girl. She wanted all the latest fashion…shoes, dresses, you name it. She was costing me a bloody fortune, but she was worth every cent.
“It’s my birthday!” she cried.
Clara gasped. “No! Is it really?”
Isabella jumped up and down. “It is. It is!”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Derren walk out the door, pick something up, then came back in. “It’s a good thing we brought you these then.” In his hand were about six presents. They were so big, he could hardly fit through the door. It would seem everybody was putty in Isabella’s hands.