Irish Luck

Chapter Forty-Nine

I am not built for this fucking shit, ball gowns, heavy jewellery and heels that are impossible to walk in just aren't me. I'm not the polished mafia princess that's destined to look good hanging off some dangerous man's arm like my father wanted me to be.

I'm the comfy clothes, messy hair and my feet up in front of the TV kind of girl. And that's exactly how I like it.

As soon as we got here I got swept up in showering and doing my hair and make up. Which was probably a good thing because it's stopped me thinking about what's to come next too much.

But as I slip on the tight fitting red floor length gown that Hugh had brought here for me it all kind of looms over me especially as I almost don't recognise my own reflection. The girl looking back at me looks almost elegant, which I know I definitely am not.

Especially as I huff and puff as I turn myself in circles trying but failing miserably to zip myself up.

"Need some help?" Cian says from behind me and when I spin round I literally gasp at the sight of him.

Not just because it's this first time I've seen him since he disappeared last night but how unbelievably put together he looks in his tailored suit.

His top not is perfectly in place and not just slung up how it usually is, his beard shaved down and neatly trimmed making him look so much less rugged and like himself. I know I should swoon at the sight of it but he's not my Cian and I don't like it.

"Your beard" I breathe still kind of in disbelief that he's gone and done this.

He rubs his hand over it and gives me a feeble smile. "I know it looks better like this" he says and I can't help but bunch my face up.

"No it doesn't" I blurt out without even thinking and shock flashes across his face straight away as his eyes dart to mine like he can't believe what I just said.

"It doesn't look better, I liked it before" I then say with a shrug because it's the truth.

He chuckles to himself shaking his head and then he moves towards me and twirls his finger signalling me to turn around.

I do so and he comes up behind me and takes over with the zip for me. "You really are one of a kind aren't you" he say lightheartedly.

"I'm sorry for disappearing last night" he then says softly as he glides the zip up and the dress conforms around me.

It fits perfectly contouring to every curve or my figure without drawing too much attention to it. I don't feel frumpy like I thought I would, I almost feel confident but that feeling kind of dissipates as I stare into Cian's eyes in the mirror.

"I didn't mean to upset you Cian, of course I know this is hard for you too. I get it I-" I blurt out all at once but I'm cut off as he scoops my hair from one side of my neck and gently presses a kiss there causing goosebumps to explode over my skin.

"You didn't upset me" he says against my skin and although it sounds truthful I don't quite believe hun.

"I didn't?" I ask completely dumbfounded turning to face him. I tilt my head up and give him a questioning look and ask "So why did you leave without saying anything?"

"I just needed to clear my head" he replies and before I can question him on it his arms circle around me and he pulls me against him. "but I realised that I'd of much rather stayed where you were"

"But you weren't" I point out and attempt to pull back a little but his hold around me is too strong. "You left and went off leaving me to think you were angry or upset with me" I then say deciding not to hold back.

I've kept my distance from Hugh because I've known it's pointless to try and make sense of him but I've spent the majority of my time with the twins and I genuinely thought after his initial avoidance of me that Cian had got past whatever had been holding him back but last night made me realise I was wrong.

But where I keep my distance from Hugh and have given up challenging everything I don't feel like it will work with Cian and I don't want it to be like that with him.

"Finn said you shut him out and wanted to be alone" he says with a shrug before he adds "so I thought it would be best to keep away"

And that angers me because instead of coming to speak to me himself he took Finn's word for it.

"Well you thought wrong" I snap finally pulling myself free.

"You know we're not mind readers right Stas?" He says an air of deflection there which I don't appreciate one bit.

"And nor am I" I reply with a sigh before I admit "we were both in the wrong, we both shut down"

"All forgiven?" He asks reaching out to me even though I didn't exactly put much distance between us.

"No I'm still pissed you shaved" I grumble stepping into his arms again and allowing his warmth to consume me.

A deep rumble of a laugh vibrates through him to me and I tip my head up to press my lips against his but as I do a throat clears.

We both look to see Finn and Blake standing by the door, both of them dressed as exquisitely as Cian.

"Sorry to break you two love birds up but we've got to get going" Blake says with a smile and a wink that sends flutters rushing straight through me.

And well the sight of them all turns them flutters to outright flustered heat because I'm lucky to be with them on a normal day but when they look like this I selfishly don't want anyone else to see them.

"You're drooling" Cian chuckles and jostles me slightly to bring me back into focus.

"How can I not when you all look like that" I say gesturing between them all. "I can't tempt you to change your minds? And we all stay here?" I then say with as much of a sultry smile as I can and I see the beat of contemplation flash across Finn's face.

I gather if I can sway him I can sway the other two too, that is until Hugh comes and ruins it all.

"Sorry pero that's not an option" he says as he comes into the room looking just as delicious as his brothers but where I completely drool over them I just feel a little pang in my chest at the sight of him. Especially with him just calling me feather again which he hasn't done since the opening.

His gaze sweeps up and down the length of me almost hungrily but then it's like his senses come to him suddenly and his eyes snap up to mine.

"Ready?" He asks and my stomach instantly drops.

"Nope at all but yeah" I reply truthfully and Cian slips his hand into mine, squeezing reassuringly.

"Stay with one of us or Ashley at all times and within my line of sight no matter what" Hugh warns and something about his tone tells me he's more concerned about what could go wrong than he's really letting on. "Understand?" He then adds, his gaze pinning mine.

Swallowing hard I nod the real threat of what could happen starting to loom over me now.

"Let's get this over with then" he announces and that's it we all start making a move to whatever lies ahead.