Page 38 of Rory: His to Discipline

Maeve’s heart swelled for a moment, Tess called her Mother! Even if it was in her own language, a mother was a mother in any language. “Tess, lamb, don’t cry. Do you want me to talk to Rory?”

“No, you must not. He will think I ran to his madre at the first time of trouble,” Tess pleaded.

“Well, then wipe your tears, darlin’. Give me a few days to think about it and talk to the girls. I promise you we will figure somethin’ out. You know, dear, you are part of this family. You have been ever since Rory brought you to us. There’s no need to worry. We women have been dealin’ with stubborn, bossy men for a very long time. It will all work out.”

“What will work out?” Bridget asked flying in the back door. “Tess, how are you? Are you ill or did Rory keep you up all night?”

“Bridget!” Maeve scolded. “Don’t you be embarrassin’ Theresa. She has enough on her mind without your teasin’.”

“Sorry, Tess,” Bridget replied. “I was just kidding. Is there a problem? Anything I can do to help?” she asked, pouring a cup of coffee and plopping onto a chair.

“Rory wants Tess to redecorate his house,” Maeve replied.

“So, what’s the problem?” Bridget asked. “Hire a decorator if you don’t want to do it yourself. He can afford it.”

“That’s not the point,” Maeve insisted. “Rory didn’t ask her to do it, or even if she wanted to. He just assumed she would do it all because she’s a woman. Maybe someone needs to be taught a little lesson. ‘Tis a little insultin’, the more I think about it. Like someone assumin’ you’re a good cook, Bridget, just because you’re ….”

“Yeah, and we all know how that works out,” Rory laughed as he walked into the kitchen. “What’s going on? I hope you’re not counting on Bridget to cook for Thanksgiving?” he asked, giving an exaggerated shiver.

“Shut up, Rory,” Bridget shot back. “Ladies, whatever you decide, count me in,” she stated smugly as she put her cup in the sink. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Tess, you ready to go home? Looking forward to what?”

“Oh, the Christmas Bazaar,” Maeve lied smoothly, her fingers crossed behind her back. “We girls are plannin’ to get together and make some crafts.”

Tess blanched as Maeve lied so coolly. She was almost as pale as Maeve, when her husband came up behind her and wrapped his hand around her crossed fingers.

“What’s goin’ on here?” Sean asked, his voice booming.

“Oh, nothin’, Tess and I were just discussin’ what we want to make for the church bazaar, isn’t that right, dear?”

“Yes, we were,” Tess affirmed, not quite making eye contact. “We were just leaving anyway. I will talk to you soon, Maeve,” she continued as she hugged Rory’s mother.

“Night Ma, Da,” Rory said as he steered Tess out the back door, his hand on her back as he guided her.

“Ma was acting a little strange tonight don’t you think?” he asked Tess.

“No. I did not notice anything,” Tess replied. “Maybe she is worried about the bazaar?”

“Yeah, that’s probably it,” Rory conceded before he pulled Tess to him and captured her lips in a scorching kiss. “You go first, babe, and I’ll follow you,” he moaned into her mouth. “I can’t wait to get you home,” he told her as she settled in the seat. Reaching in to buckle her seatbelt, he let his hands brush her thighs.

“I can do it myself,” Tess admonished. “I am not a baby you know.”

“Wrong. You’re my baby and I intend to take very good care of you. Now get on home,” he winked and told her with a growl, “before you get your sassy little ass paddled.”

Tess grinned, stuck out her tongue and locked her doors quickly. Rory laughed as he got in his vehicle to follow her.

* * *

Sean wrapped his thick arm around his wife’s waist from behind, his deep voice rumbling in her ear. “I sense mischief, Mrs. O’Malley. You wouldn’t be plannin’ any now, would you?”

“Never, you know I always try to stay out of trouble. Don’t you be givin’ it another thought, Mr. O’Malley.”

“Tryin’ and doin’ are two very different things,” Sean laughed as he released his wife. “See that trouble doesn’t find you, missy.”

Maeve huffed and set about straightening up her kitchen. What Sean didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

* * *