Behind the bar stood a tall display cabinet with engraved wooden columns and intricately designed architraves, its shelves filled with beer mugs, shot glasses and wine and champagne flutes. This tavern looked so similar to the one at home where she and Dad ate every Sunday. They usually ordered her mother’s favorite meal, bangers and mash. She’d miss this Sunday’s meal, only two days away. A wave of sadness washed through her.
“You’ve gone quiet all of a sudden.” Iain stroked the inside of her palm with his thumb as they wandered across the room toward Daniel and his brothers seated at a large round table, their legs kicked out in front of them and beer mugs in hand.
“I’m reminiscing. Every Sunday Dad and I eat out at the local pub. There aren’t many Sundays we miss. Only those when work calls us away. Dad started the tradition with Mum before she passed.”
“How did that happen, her passing? If you don’t mind me asking?”
“You can ask me anything you like, and she had cancer. She discovered a lump in her breast during the early stages of her pregnancy with me. They operated but she wouldn’t allow the doctors to treat her any further than that, not while she was expecting. Unfortunately, the cancer spread quickly. She was so sick toward the end and the doctor delivered me as soon as he could. She passed just a week after I was born.” Tears welled in her eyes. “She gave up her life so I could have mine.”
“She loved you, right from the very beginning.” He cupped her cheek, stroked his fingers back and forth.
“That’s why I can’t lose my father. His heart was broken when she passed and all he wished for was to join her in her death. He would have taken his own life if not for me and the fact my mother had made him promise to give me all the love he held inside him, to raise me as she would have.” She snuggled deeper into his touch.
“You’ll never lose him, and of that I give you my absolute word.”
“Thank you.” She’d hold onto his word, knew to the depths of her soul he spoke the truth.
He led her around the table and pulled out a chair for her next to Daniel.
“You’re crying.” Daniel eyed her then scowled at Iain. “Do I need to hurt someone?”
“I was telling Iain about my mother and how she passed.”
“Ah, I see.” Daniel tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, as affectionate with her as he always was. Growing up together, tussling as young cubs and later in life, relying on each other as partners, had forged a bond between them no one could break.
“Hands off my woman.” Iain leaned forward, his gaze as hard as shards of ice on Daniel.
“No, no, no.” She gripped Iain’s leather-clad thigh and rubbed. “You two aren’t allowed to fight because of me. There’s no taming an alpha male’s bear, but I’m certainly going to try.”
“Here’s our waitress,” Daniel intervened.
Fabulous. Perfect timing. She smiled at the blond-haired woman in her impeccably pressed black pants and tartan-collared white shirt as she set a platter of breads and dips on the table. The woman dipped her head then weaved back around the tables and through the swing door into the kitchen.
Daniel nudged a glass of lemon and lime bitters toward her. “I ordered this for you earlier, and a medium steak and salad along with a side order of fries.”
“Extra ketchup?”
“Of course.”
“Wonderful. Thanks.” She swirled the ice around the frosty glass with the red straw then sipped her drink as Iain frowned at it. She eyed her beverage. “Is there something wrong with my drink?”
“He knows what to order you.” He took a swig from his beer.
“Oh.” Territorial bear. “Your brothers know what to order you, right?”
“They’re my brothers.”
“Same goes for Daniel. He’s my brother, but I’ll tell you what, you can ask me any question you like and I’ll answer it. You have free reign. Go for it.”
“Tell me your first childhood memory.” He leaned forward, elbows on the table, interest gleaming in his eyes.
“Ah, except for that one. Next question.”
“You said free reign, and I don’t care for any secrets between us.”
“Or between us as well.” Finlay smeared a slice of warm crusty bread with garlic butter then leaned back in his chair. “As brothers, we’re closer than most. It’s essential we get to know you as well as Daniel clearly does.”
“You are all so frustrating.” It appeared she wouldn’t get out of this one. After blowing out a long breath, she nodded. “All right, my first childhood memory involves nudity. Mine and Daniel’s.”
“Damn it.” Iain gritted his teeth and snarled. “I should just lop off his head right now.”
“You could have lied, little sister.” Daniel chewed a slice of bread, every muscle tense as he kept one eye on Iain. “If I return to Emma missing a crucial appendage, you’ll have her to answer to.”