"It fits," he smiled up at me.
I pulled my hand closer to my face and looked at the ring. It was pretty and vintage looking. It was a large round diamond set in silver or platinum, I wasn’t sure, and it looked like knots on each side of the diamond.
"Did I mention that we’re Irish?" He watched me look at the ring.
I put my hand down.
"No," I answered shortly, mainly because I was embarrassed for getting caught checking out the ring that I didn’t want in the first place.
He grabbed my hand and lifted the ringed finger between us.
"The diamonds are set in a platinum setting. See right here?" He was pointing to small knots on the sides.
I nodded.
"Those are Celtic Trinity knots." He put my hand down. "There will be a few Irish or Gaelic portions to the wedding." I just nodded. "Your opinion matters you know?"
"It’s okay, it really isn’t my thing." I forced a small smile, sitting there quietly until I couldn’t take it any longer. "Okay, time to talk everything out."
He looked up to me and smiled.
"Like?"
"Wedding is when? Clearly we have to live with each other, etc…I think you need to tell me all the details as well as about your family." I turned sideways in my seat, ready to listen and discuss.
"Wedding is in a month, after the wedding we will move into my grand…erm, my, our mansion," he smiled at his self-corrections. "As you read, we have to live in the same home for the four years and sleep in the same bed at least a few times a week."
"Okay…family?"
"Uh…obviously my parents are not alive. I grew up with my Aunt Viola and Uncle Liam, as well as with Maggie." He took a deep breath. "You’ve met James, he is my cousin. His wedding is in a week." He paused and smirked. "Will you go with me?"
My eyes widened. "Um I…uh…"
"It will be a way for you to meet my family and family friends that won’t be at our wedding." He raised an eyebrow at me.
"Ugh…do I have to?" I whined.
He laughed. "That’s a yes."
"I didn’t say—"
"You’re my fiancée, you have to go with me," he turned his gaze on me. Never before has anyone unleashed a gaze on me the way that Aidan was right now. I couldn’t even form a word. It was like he had put me in a trance.
When he smirked, I shook myself out of the trance.
"Not fair," I groaned. He just laughed.
"It will be a good way for you to meet people," he shrugged.
"James’ father also works for the company. Uncle Henry and Aunt Anne live about twenty minutes from the house we will be living in." He rubbed the back of his head. "Uh…my aunt and uncle will come off a little harsh, just to warn you. They treat everyone that way."
"Great," I groaned sarcastically. "Can’t wait," I rolled my eyes.
"Be prepared for Viola to bombard you with questions as soon as she gets her hands on you. She is sweet but very persistent," he laughed.
"Wow, I’m getting more excited the closer we get, thanks Walsh." I couldn’t help it, now that I had the middle name, I was using it.
I watched his face cringe.
"I don’t like to be called Walsh," he sounded disgusted.
"Well I happen to like calling you that, Walsh." I laughed and he scowled at me. "Fine, fine…I won’t call you Walsh." I rolled my eyes.
"Thank you," he smiled like a little kid. "So, what else do you want to know?"
"Honestly, I just want to sleep at this point. My brain is exhausted and I need as much sleep as I can get before I go back to work." I rolled over but felt tension fill the space between us.
"You aren’t going back to work at that place are you?" he sounded surprised.
I rolled back over.
"Why wouldn’t I?" I creased my forehead.
"Because you don’t need to, we are engaged and when we are married you are going back to school, not work,"
"Just because we are ‘so called’ engaged doesn’t mean that you get to dictate my life to me! I agreed to work a schedule when I get back and I’m going to." I said firmly.
"You don’t need to work," he argued.
"We aren’t married yet, Aidan and even when we are, you don’t give me orders!"
"So, what! I already have my accounts set up for you to access them," he spewed out.
"You did what?" I exclaimed.
"You will be my wife. You have access to my credit cards, bank accounts…"
"Are you kidding me?" I looked at him in astonishment.
"No, why would I be?"
"You are already insisting that I get this large sum of money, so why do I need..?" he cut me off.
"While we are married you will use my accounts, you will get that money when we…separate." He looked at me like I was the idiot.
"I don’t….I don’t want your money, Aidan!" I buried my head in my hands.
"I know you don’t, but you’re going to use it, regardless." I could hear the smirk in his tone. "So, now you don’t have to go back to the bar." He sounded so proud of himself.
I sat up straight and turned my eyes on him.