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"Right, then, boyo," he addressed O’Connell "I’irl for a dance"

I looked at my husband in horror As likeable as Killian seemed, O’Connell knew that I didn’t often dance So, to have to do it with a man I didn’t know, in front of a room full of people, made et the chance to intervene before I was pulled onto the dance floor I needn’t have worried about being able to dance because , and my dance with Killian, had finished, I was pulled away to dance with one man after another By the time I made it back to my husband, I was exhausted and had probably danced with every man in the roorinned, as he handed me a pint of beer

It wasn’t thedress, but I was

gasping O’Connell pulled me to his side and kissed the top ofwith otheryou twitchy?" I teased

"Baby, you didn’t see the look on their faces when they had you in their aret that look around you" I reached up to ently kissed his lips

"Only yours, O’Connell," I reassured him

"Then how about a dance with your husband?" he asked, and I nodded with a s us alone Our song rang out through the speakers, and holding ently in his, O’Connell pulled h ere coe hand across the bare skin ofmy automatic arousal

"Do you kno hard it is for ht now?" he askedto undo those tiny little buttons one by one and kiss my way down that beautiful back as I peel off your dress" he whispered

"O’Connell, stop it," I squirht I hadn’t seen him since the day before yesterday, and it felt like forever since we’d htest attraction to any man, and noas completely addicted to sex with O’Connell I wasn’t sure there would ever cohtest whisper of his voice in my ear wouldn’t make me want to jump him

"There’s only an hour or two left," I whined "Can’t we skip out now?"

O’Connell chuckled as he replied "You’ve never been to an Irish wedding, have you, love?"

I shookwith this

"One night," he replied, "then I get you for the rest of ainst his chest and breathed in the so to sleep with forever

I REALISED WHAT HE MEANT when the taxi arrived for us at six a been able to get a real band, but the disco went on until two aured the party would break up You could iine how shocked I hen a few of the older people whipped out their instru I’d never heard any of their songs, but the roo out in chorus and the more drink that flowed, the louder oura brief intermission in the early hours, Kieran decided to make his besta knife dangerously against his pint glass Whether it was the alcohol or being around their family, I didn’t know, but all of the boys’ accents seeentlemen, my name is Kieran Doherty, and I’m Cormac’s best friend We’ve known each other pretty much our entire lives, so when the first two people said no, you could iine how honoured I was to be his third choice for best eous Em, our lovely bride, looks She truly deserves soent so we’re really pleased for Con that heIt’s not always been easy for Con being the s, and witty friend, so the fact that you’ve et a real woman to pick you over me is a massive achievement, and we’re all very proud of you If Em wises up in a few ot the certificate, so she can’t back out What that does mean for you, lucky ladies, is that I’m still on the market, and if you’d like to sub auditions for the next Mrs Doherty all night"

Kieran stopped talking as the roo at Kieran’s jokes and laughing with the crowd

"Seriously, though," Kieran chuckled "I can say, hand on heart, that I never thought Con would ever settle down, but when he met Em, she absolutely knocked him for six Even before Danny warned him, on pain of death, to stay away from her, it was too late One look at Con and anyone could see that he was so far gone for our little sunshine; it was love for life E into the life of everyone you touch You are good and gentle, caring and kind, and the fact that you don’t see any of these things in yourself ht who love you like a sister and a daughter and as long as you have all of us, you will never want for anything I look at you both together and I see hope Hope that one day, we all h to fall in love with soe you, but whoand happy life together, but if it doesn’t work out, Eentlerass you walk on May blue be the skies that love you May pure be the joys that surround you May true be the hearts that love you To the bride and grooroom!" the room toasted

O’Connell stood up to embrace Kieran, and they said a feords to each other quietly Kieran and O’Connell were closer than brothers, and tonight that bond couldn’t have been clearer As Kieran sat down, Danny stood Boots were sto out across the room until, eventually, he waved everyone down