Read Online The Mystery of the Claddagh Rings by Kallie Lane - Free Book Online
Authors: Kallie Lane
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continued good health now she knew he’d abused her daughter. Of course, she might have to stand in line to do any damage.
He glanced up and saw his mother coming toward him, looking elegant in moss-green silk. She’d never looked happier, moving through the room and greeting other guests. He took her aside and told her he was close to clearing his father’s name. “Take your time, Ryan. Enjoy your life with Fin. That’s what’s important. If it’s meant to be, the rest will fall into place.”
He swept her out on the dance floor, admiring her moves as they danced to an old rock ’n’ roll number. The song ended and he walked her back to her table, noticing Judge Miller place a proprietary arm along the back of her chair once she was seated. Who knew, maybe his marriage to Fin had sparked a little romance for his mom. God knew she deserved it.
Saying his goodbyes, he looked around for Fin. Ryan frowned. Where was she? She’d been on the dance floor just moments ago. He searched the crowd again. Still no Fin. Okay, something was going on. His gaze settled on a cluster of women off to one side of the room, Fin at their center. Ah, that explained it—the bouquet toss. And Ronnie was the big winner, shrieking with delight.
He touched Fin’s elbow. She turned, taking his hand and grinning. “The men are waiting for you to toss the garter.”
“They’ll be waiting until the cows come home, sunshine, because it’s not happening.”
Yeah, he refused to do the garter thing, slipping it off her leg and pitching it into a bunch of single guys. No freaking way. First off, he would have to strip her naked at the first feel of her leg in his hands. And second? Nothing worn on her delectable body would ever be handled by another man. That’s the way it was. Take it or leave it.
He grabbed Fin around the waist, growling in her ear. “It’s time to go.”
“Yes it is.” She kissed him on the lips. “Just let me see my friends off first.”
Tears were shed and promises made for upcoming visits. He bundled Fin into his coat to keep her warm as her girlfriends piled into a limo. Nantucket Memorial Airport was just a few kilometres down the road. The girls would fly from there to make their connecting flights for Hawaii, Texas, New York and Alaska. Fin waved until the town car disappeared from view.
He unlocked the door to the guesthouse, carried her across the threshold, and set her down. Someone had been busy. A fire glowed in the hearth. Champagne chilled in a silver bucket and rose petals adorned the bed. Fin laughed. “I think we’ve been visited by cupid.”
“Your mother?” he asked.
“Or maybe yours.” She came into his arms, laying her head against his shoulder. “Could we pop the cork and enjoy a drink in the hot tub? I love watching the stars.”
“I love watching you.” His lips met hers and she opened for him, taking the kiss deeper. He was about to undress her when he heard a car drive up. He peered out the window and opened the door. “Hold that thought, sunshine.”
Thomas crossed to the doorway, a frown riding his brow. He nodded to both of them. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”
“What’s going on?” Fin pulled him inside, sitting him down by the fire. “Tell us what’s happened.”
“It’s Poppy.” Undoing his overcoat, Thomas accepted the glass of scotch she handed him. “I made an error in judgment by keeping her out of the loop about the rings.”
Ryan’s gut tightened. This couldn’t be good. “What are you talking about?”
“I overheard her talking to your mother.” Thomas sighed, shaking his head. “It seems she put little parting gifts into the maid of honor’s and bridesmaids’ luggage.”
“Well, what are they?” Fin looked perplexed. “Knowing Poppy, it could be anything from jewellery to offering them one of her timeshares for a holiday.”
“Why don’t you check for yourself, Fin?” Thomas tipped his glass, downing the
He glanced up and saw his mother coming toward him, looking elegant in moss-green silk. She’d never looked happier, moving through the room and greeting other guests. He took her aside and told her he was close to clearing his father’s name. “Take your time, Ryan. Enjoy your life with Fin. That’s what’s important. If it’s meant to be, the rest will fall into place.”
He swept her out on the dance floor, admiring her moves as they danced to an old rock ’n’ roll number. The song ended and he walked her back to her table, noticing Judge Miller place a proprietary arm along the back of her chair once she was seated. Who knew, maybe his marriage to Fin had sparked a little romance for his mom. God knew she deserved it.
Saying his goodbyes, he looked around for Fin. Ryan frowned. Where was she? She’d been on the dance floor just moments ago. He searched the crowd again. Still no Fin. Okay, something was going on. His gaze settled on a cluster of women off to one side of the room, Fin at their center. Ah, that explained it—the bouquet toss. And Ronnie was the big winner, shrieking with delight.
He touched Fin’s elbow. She turned, taking his hand and grinning. “The men are waiting for you to toss the garter.”
“They’ll be waiting until the cows come home, sunshine, because it’s not happening.”
Yeah, he refused to do the garter thing, slipping it off her leg and pitching it into a bunch of single guys. No freaking way. First off, he would have to strip her naked at the first feel of her leg in his hands. And second? Nothing worn on her delectable body would ever be handled by another man. That’s the way it was. Take it or leave it.
He grabbed Fin around the waist, growling in her ear. “It’s time to go.”
“Yes it is.” She kissed him on the lips. “Just let me see my friends off first.”
Tears were shed and promises made for upcoming visits. He bundled Fin into his coat to keep her warm as her girlfriends piled into a limo. Nantucket Memorial Airport was just a few kilometres down the road. The girls would fly from there to make their connecting flights for Hawaii, Texas, New York and Alaska. Fin waved until the town car disappeared from view.
He unlocked the door to the guesthouse, carried her across the threshold, and set her down. Someone had been busy. A fire glowed in the hearth. Champagne chilled in a silver bucket and rose petals adorned the bed. Fin laughed. “I think we’ve been visited by cupid.”
“Your mother?” he asked.
“Or maybe yours.” She came into his arms, laying her head against his shoulder. “Could we pop the cork and enjoy a drink in the hot tub? I love watching the stars.”
“I love watching you.” His lips met hers and she opened for him, taking the kiss deeper. He was about to undress her when he heard a car drive up. He peered out the window and opened the door. “Hold that thought, sunshine.”
Thomas crossed to the doorway, a frown riding his brow. He nodded to both of them. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”
“What’s going on?” Fin pulled him inside, sitting him down by the fire. “Tell us what’s happened.”
“It’s Poppy.” Undoing his overcoat, Thomas accepted the glass of scotch she handed him. “I made an error in judgment by keeping her out of the loop about the rings.”
Ryan’s gut tightened. This couldn’t be good. “What are you talking about?”
“I overheard her talking to your mother.” Thomas sighed, shaking his head. “It seems she put little parting gifts into the maid of honor’s and bridesmaids’ luggage.”
“Well, what are they?” Fin looked perplexed. “Knowing Poppy, it could be anything from jewellery to offering them one of her timeshares for a holiday.”
“Why don’t you check for yourself, Fin?” Thomas tipped his glass, downing the
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