With a heavy sigh, I opened the door and was instantly hit with the mouth-watering aroma of Tom’s red wine gravy. There was just something about his food that always smelled like home, and I felt a little less heartsick as I stepped inside.

Ronan lifted his hand when he saw me come in, waving me over, and I began shrugging out of my jacket as I slid into the booth on the other side of them.

“Hey you two! God, I’m starving,” I said as I settled into the seat. “I’ve been chasing after that new Australian singer all day, trying to get pictures for the blog. You know the one who sings that song they keep playing on repeat everywhere? Plus I had a shift at the animal shelter this morning and they just rescued ten puppies, none of which wanted a bath.”

“Hi Lucy,” said Annie, biting her lip, for some reason not commenting on what I’d just said.

“Luce,” Ronan nodded in greeting. I glanced between the two of them, getting the sense that something was up. Annie’s mouth twitched, like she wanted to smile but was trying to hold it in.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my tone suspicious. When I moved my foot under the table it met with something bulky; I ducked my head to see a suitcase had been shoved under there. I looked back to Ronan and Annie. “What’s with the suitcase? Don’t tell me you two are going home early! I feel like you just got here.”

Ronan lifted a shoulder and took a swig of the water sitting in front of him. “Nah, we’re still here until next week.”

Annie giggled in barely restrained glee as she pinched Ronan on the arm. He cast her an indulgent look and shook his head with a sigh. “You’re such a little romantic.”

“Okay, will one of you tell me what’s going on before we all die of hunger,” I complained. As I said it, something caught my eye on the other side of the restaurant. The door leading to the men’s bathroom opened up, a man stepping out.

I stood abruptly, my hip banging off the table in my haste, but I was too emotional right then to feel any pain. Tears pricked at my eyes as I began moving through the room, dodging wait staff and other customers just to get to him.

Sean’s eyes found mine and they warmed instantly as he held his arms out. I ran the last few feet, throwing myself into his embrace. He caught me, pulling me tight to him as I buried my face in his chest, inhaling his scent.

“What are you doing here? I thought I wasn’t going to see you for another two weeks,” I asked when I finally found my voice.

Sean’s warm hands massaged the base of my spine as he smiled down at me, smiled at me like I was the center of his entire universe.

“I wanted to surprise you,” he murmured, dipping down to steal a kiss.

I clutched his cheeks and began planting kisses all over his face like an affection-starved lunatic. I couldn’t believe he was actually here, that I was actually feeling his heat and his body against mine.

“I missed you so much,” I said, almost on the verge of tears. “Seriously, I’m not sure how much longer I can keep doing this.”

He stared at me, his expression turning serious for a moment. “I know, darling, I know. Let’s go join your brother and Annie. We’re blocking everybody’s way.”

I pulled back, suddenly aware that there were several people trying to get by where we stood between two tables. “Right. Yes. Sorry,” I said, shooting an apologetic look their way.

Sean slid his big fingers through mine and led me over to the booth. My heart sang in my chest, all of my insides alight with exhilaration and relief. He was here now. I didn’t have to miss him anymore. At least until he had to leave again.

No. I refused to think of that. I just wanted to enjoy him while I could, for however long it might last.

“Christ Cassidy, I’ve seen pile ups on the motorway make less of a disruption than you. I think you need to cut down on those steroids,” said Ronan.

Over the years, my brother and Sean had fallen into a grudging sort of friendship. They’d both accepted the presence of one another in their lives, and honestly, I thought they might even secretly enjoy each other’s company. Still, they’d never let themselves admit it out loud. They also couldn’t carry out a conversation without at least five insults being thrown back and forth.

The male ego was a strange breed.

“Don’t hate me for what I was born with. It’s okay to be hobbit sized, Fitzpatrick. Nobody’s judging you,” said Sean, a big grin on his face.

“I’m normal sized,” Ronan retorted. “You’re the one whose biceps block out the sun.”

“Exactly, my biceps are phenomenal. Thank you for pointing that out.”

“It wasn’t a compliment, dickface,” Ronan bit back with a smile.

“Dickface at the dinner table, really Ronan? I see you have more work to do on your manners.” Sean tutted.

I rolled my eyes at them both and tucked myself under Sean’s arm, snuggling close and looking across the table to smile at Annie. We both grinned, used to their banter by now.

“Oh my God, would you two just shut up and kiss already? This is getting ridiculous,” Annie teased and I laughed loudly. They both instantly quieted their bickering. My sister-in-law was an evil genius sometimes. Ronan frowned and Sean’s face formed a grimace. I snuggled closer to my boyfriend and pressed a kiss to the underside of his jaw.

“I’m so happy you’re here,” I whispered.

***

“Can we talk about the picture you sent on Tuesday?” Sean growled when we arrived home from dinner, i.e. to Annie’s apartment. As soon as I closed the door to my bedroom he was on me, hands in my hair, mouth on my neck, nipping, biting, licking.