“Well—” Mrs. O’Callaghan starts, but Mr. O’Callaghan interrupts her.

“No, you’ll be married soon, or good ol’ Micah will be taking over operations at the distillery. I want to travel, son. I am done here; it’s time for me and your ma to leave, enjoy our retirement,” he says, joining his fingers with hers.

I can see the tick in Declan’s jaw and I hate that. This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, and I’m more than a little annoyed with his father. While we really don’t need time, I understand Declan wanting it for me. He’s nervous and I understand that, but I’m not going anywhere.

“So when should we do the engagement party?” I say, lacing my fingers with his, and then I cover our hands with my other one. He glances at me and I smile. He leans to me, his lips close to my ear as he whispers, “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to entertain them.”

When he pulls back, his eyes locked with mine, I can read everything on his face. He is nervous and annoyed, but, above all, he loves me. I never thought I could look into the eyes of someone other than my parents and just know they love me. Getting lost in the blue of his eyes, I know that he is right, but at the same time, why shouldn’t we experience it all? If they are going to give us a lavish engagement party, hell, let’s do it. If she wants to show me off to every tea party, let’s go. I’ll do anything to ensure that Declan knows I am here for him. We have things to discuss, but in the end, I’m his. Completely and fully his. So cupping his face, I say the only thing I am thinking. The only thing I am always thinking.

“I love you.”

I want to tell her no.

I want to tell her she doesn’t have to do any of it. That all she has to do is be with me. Love me. But even I know that all this goes with being an O’Callaghan woman. They go to tea with stuck-up old ladies, they shop for expensive clothes that half the time don’t even look good on them, and they plan parties. I know that this isn’t what Amberlyn’s scene is, and that makes me a bit nervous. How much is she gonna take before it’s too much? I’m going to have to have a talk with my family.

And her.

I really don’t want to upset her though. She is happy for the most part but still in some pain, something I still blame myself for. Not that I would admit it to her. I just don’t know anymore. I am tiptoeing on the line between knowing what is right and not knowing at all. I know I want to marry her, be with her forever, but can I do that and still keep her happy? I want to think I can, trust I can. But I can’t help but realize she isn’t from my world, and I am plucking her from hers and putting her in mine, expecting it to all go well.

Glancing over at her, I see that she is watching me, a little smile on her beautiful lips as she holds my hand with both of hers. She looks gorgeous tonight; the skirt she’s wearing is long, and it almost seems as if she is floating through the halls of my home. I love walking with her like this, but more so, I love seeing her in my home. I can’t wait until the moment that she never leaves. That when I come home, she’s here, waiting for me. We will bring our children here, raise them. I can see it. I can.

“You’re quiet.”

I smile, squeezing her hand as I nod. “Just thinking.”

“About?”

“Us.”

Leaning her head on my shoulder, she says, “Good thing to think about.”

“I think so too,” I say. “I’m sorry if my family offended ya.”

“They didn’t.” She looks up at me and shrugs. “It’s just weird.”

“It’s going to take some getting used to,” I say, but then I pause. Something flickers in her eyes, something almost like resistance. Like she wanted to say something but is holding back. “What?”

She shakes her head, but I push on. “Tell me.”

Meeting my gaze again, she goes, “Fiona says that you guys are going to change me. That I can’t be me and be an O’Callaghan.”

I nod before stopping and turning to her. “I mean, there are expectations of us.”

She watches me for a moment and asks, “What kind of expectations?”

I bite my lip and let out a long breath. “You have to dress the part, go to tea with people you don’t know or like. You have to, shite, I don’t know, Amberlyn. I don’t care about that stuff. All I care about is you. I want you.”

“I want that too,” she says quietly as she looks down, lacing her fingers together. “I’ll admit they make me nervous. I don’t want to change me. I love me, but I also don’t want to live a moment without you.”

“I love you too, and I would never ask you to be something you’re not. My parents might try though; I’m not going to lie. I’ll talk to them, and hopefully, it won’t be that bad.”

She still looks unsure, so I say, “But Amberlyn, things are going to change. You won’t be Amberlyn Reilly anymore. You’ll be Amberlyn O’Callaghan, my wife, and with that, we have to do parties and stupid shite, when really, I’d rather lie in bed with you and never leave. So, this is your out, my love. I tried to get a year so that you could see more of my life and how it works, but I couldn’t. If you’re not ready for it, please, tell me, and I’ll let you go. I want you to be happy. I want you to live the life you deserve.”

With a grin, she steps to me, wrapping her arms around my neck. “I’m not going anywhere. The life I deserve is with you.”

“Ya sure?” I ask ’cause I’m sure that I see differently in her sweet eyes.

“Very. I know you won’t make me do something I don’t want to do.”

“I won’t,” I promise.

“So we’re good. I’ll go with it, but the moment I feel something isn’t right, I’ll say something.”

“Good, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

“So, while we are discussing that, I don’t want to move in here.”

My brows come together as I eye her. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t want to move in with your parents. That’s weird. We are adults. We have to have our own place.”

What?

I see Lena and Micah coming toward us over her shoulder, and I don’t want them to hear us. Taking her hand in mine, I lead her down the hall and up the stairs.