Page 33 of A Wager with the Matchmaker (A Shanahan Match #3)

33

“You don’t have to be carrying me up the stairs,” Alannah whispered against Kiernan’s neck. “I can walk, you know.”

She loved the feel of his arms underneath her and the solidness of his chest against her. She loved burrowing her nose near his jaw and breathing in the remains of his woodsy aftershave. She loved that her fingers were entwined in the longer strands of his hair at his collar.

She absolutely didn’t want him to put her down. But since he’d carried her over the threshold after Winston opened the door for them a few minutes ago, he hadn’t put her down. His arms had to be getting sore.

After a short wedding ceremony on the front veranda at Oakland, she and Kiernan had climbed into the carriage and gone to the Douglases’ for Shelia and Liam’s party. The rest of the Shanahan family had followed in another carriage.

The priest hadn’t been in a hurry and had taken up the offer of a meal while he waited for a return ride back into the city.

Upon arriving at the party, Alannah couldn’t deny how afraid and intimidated she’d been as Kiernan had led her around and introduced her as his wife. Most of the guests had been kind, at least to her face. But she’d seen them whispering and casting slanted looks her way and knew they were talking about Kiernan and her and their hasty marriage.

All throughout the party, however, Kiernan had stayed by her side, held her hand, tugged her to his side, and stolen kisses whenever he could, mostly to her cheek and forehead, assuring her that she was more important than anything or anyone.

As much as she’d wanted to avoid Shelia and Liam, Kiernan had seemed to take delight in approaching the newly engaged couple, showing them the ring, and making a point of saying how he had no regrets in how things had turned out.

When Shelia’s eyes widened at his statement, Alannah was fairly certain the young woman knew that Kiernan was referring to that day when she’d come to Oakland and said: “I hope you don ’t regret not choosing me.”

In fact, Kiernan had kissed Alannah in front of Liam and Shelia, then wished the young couple well, saying, “I hope you find as much love and happiness as we have . ” After that, Kiernan led her away from the party, telling her he’d had enough and was ready to leave.

With the priest in their carriage for the ride back into the city, Kiernan had been on his best behavior and had done nothing but hold her hand. Once in a while when the priest wasn’t looking, Kiernan had stroked a thumb over her palm, fanning the banked heat inside her each time he did.

By the time they’d reached the Cathedral and said good-bye to the priest, heat had been flowing through her veins, so when Kiernan had leaned in and kissed her, she’d been more than ready. They’d kissed the few blocks from the Cathedral to the house. It hadn’t been long enough, and she hadn’t been ready to stop.

But Kiernan had picked her up and carried her inside, and now she didn’t want him to feel obligated to carry her all the way to Torin’s room.

“Please, Kiernan,” she whispered, even as she brushed a kiss on his jaw.

“No.” The word came out as a growl as he reached the top of the stairs.

She could feel his muscles flex against her lips. And oh saints above, she loved it. “What will Torin think when I show up in your arms like this?”

“I don’t care.” Kiernan’s voice was rumbly and did strange things to her stomach.

How was this even possible that Kiernan was her husband? She had to be dreaming, and any moment she’d wake up and find herself without him.

She tightened her arms around his neck.

The motion brought him to a halt in the center of the hallway. “What’s wrong?”

She breathed him in again and ran her fingers through his hair. “I’m afraid this isn’t real.”

He pulled back so that she could see into his dark blue eyes. The intensity within them made her tremble. “You’re mine now, Alannah.” His tone was low and raw. “And I’ll never leave you.”

“I know you won’t leave me.” Her whisper came out with a little embarrassment. “And I don’t ever want to be apart from you. If I could have my way, I’d spend my every waking and sleeping hour with you.”

“Now you know why I don’t want to put you down.” His thick lashes fell to halfway, but not before she saw the fire in his eyes and knew he was feeling the same way she was.

She smiled. “But you have to put me down for a few minutes. I don’t want to surprise Torin too terribly.”

“He’ll be happy.”

“Oh aye, I think he will.”

“Then he’ll have to deal with me holding you.”

She couldn’t contain her laugh of delight as Kiernan finished crossing the distance and entered Torin’s room without even a knock.

As he stepped inside with her in his arms, she flushed a wee bit knowing Torin would take one look at them and realize something was different ... except that Torin wasn’t in his bed. The covers were tossed back and rumpled, several pillows on the floor, and a blanket dangling off the side of the bed.

Her heart pinched with sudden worry. “Torin?” she called as she pushed against Kiernan to lower her to the ground.

The passion now forgotten, she landed on her feet and then flew to the bed, pulling back even more covers, bending and looking underneath, and then scanning the rest of the room. But he wasn’t anywhere.

All that remained of his presence was the machine that he and Donahue had been working on earlier in the day. And there was a note attached to it.

With her heart thudding harder, she crossed to the contraption and picked up the folded piece of paper. “Do you think Shaw found him?”

Kiernan had tossed open the closet door and was shoving aside clothing. “I pray to God no.”

She flipped open the paper to find Torin’s handwriting and a few simple sentences: Alannah, thank you for marrying Kiernan. I ’ve left in peace, knowing you’re happy. This invention is your dowry. The brick dryer will help Kiernan increase production of his bricks so that soon he’ll be the biggest and best brickmaker in the country.

Torin had obviously heard about the wedding plan—likely from Winston. Now he was gone, no longer needing to worry about her.

Her heart ached for her older brother. She hadn’t wanted to lose him, but in some ways, her marriage to Kiernan had set him free to live his own life without having to take care of her any longer.

She handed the letter to Kiernan and let him read it. As he finished, his eyes widened with wonder, and he crouched and began to examine the brick dryer.

She bent beside him. Although she didn’t know anything about the machine or bricks or how to dry them, she guessed that Torin’s invention might possibly revolutionize the brickmaking industry. “What do you think?”

“It’s nothing short of amazing.” Kiernan’s voice contained awe.

“Does this mean you don’t need to sell the glass factory anymore?”

Kiernan ran a hand across the top of the complex contraption. “I don’t know.”

“Torin seems to think this will make you pretty successful.”

“Maybe I’ve changed my definition of success.” Kiernan smiled at her softly. He’d told her about the conversation he’d had with his da, how his da had said he was proud of him even after all the losses. What mattered most wasn’t what he accomplished but the kind of man he was becoming.

She was proud of Kiernan too.

He hesitated. “Liam told me earlier today that the city council is still planning to require bricks for the rebuilding of St. Louis.”

“So ’tis possible the need for bricks will resume. When it does, the demand will be incredibly high, and you’ll be ready to meet the demand.”

Kiernan didn’t respond but instead examined the machine for another long moment. When he straightened, that familiar determination she loved was back in his eyes. “Torin never stopped believing in the brickyard. Liam hasn’t. You haven’t. I guess I shouldn’t either.”

She smiled. “I always knew you were a smart man.”

“Do you know what else I am?” He reached for her, wrapped his arms behind her, and drew her against him.

“What else?” She peered up at him, loving the feel of his body, the beat of his heart against hers, and the solidness of his presence.

“I am also the luckiest man.” He bent and rested his forehead against hers. “Because I have you.”

“Luck has nothing to do with it,” she whispered. “It has everything to do with my wager with the matchmaker.”

“ Your wager?” A grin quirked up the corners of Kiernan’s lips. “What if it was my wager with the matchmaker that brought us together?”

She laughed lightly. “He made one with you too?”

“The wagers got us both exactly where he wanted us.”

“Oh aye.” Bellamy had somehow managed to bring them together against all odds. How had he done it?

Kiernan’s grin cocked higher on one side. “And now, I’ve got you exactly where I want you.”

“Is that so?” She nuzzled in closer. “Since you have me as your captive, whatever will you do with me?”

He swept down, captured her lips, and showed her what he intended to do all night and forever.