Page 29 of Paddy

You could tell the house by the stacks of parked cars outside. After expertly parking his car beside the lot, he beeped his horn several times, as the front door opened and three handsome men stepped out.

Having spent most my time with him, call me close minded, but I figured he’d belong to a family of blonds. Two redheads and a dark-haired man just as tall, bearded and handsome stalked out, but only one of them were quick to have words with Paddy.

“There you go, scaring my kids with your fucking horn.” The freckled redhead pointed aggressively in the direction of Paddy.

“Shut up and help me bring this shite inside and make sure you put out two more chairs. I brought a few guests,” Paddy yelled, as I hopped out the car to be met with his dark-haired brother.

“And a fit one this one is. Why have I never met you?” He asked, kissing the back of my hand.

“This is Pretty Washington. The job I've been telling you guys about,” Paddy confirmed.

“Thisis the job?” His brother aggressively pointed in my direction. “I may have to go into bodyguard work. Sweet mother of Mary!” he overemphasized, licking his lips. Clearly flirting ran at his family.

“Bellamy!” Elijah squealed, as he hopped out of the car, giving the man a hug that the man returned.

“So,you'rethe one I should talk to about my son getting a black eye?” I playfully brought my hands to my hips.

“Scout’s honor,” Bellamy laughed and held up his hands in defense. “Didn't know it’d get Paddy in trouble. Next time I’ll only let the kid go rounds if I ring you and get permission first,” he said, as he took the casserole dish Paddy handed him, and Paddy proceeded to give a light introductions.

“Dumbo over here is my little brother Cilly.” Which I assume he called him Dumbo in reference to his non-pinned back ears.

“Fuck you Paddy,” he shot back, as Paddy laughed to himself and Cillian ducked inside with a dish.

“Bellamy, you got to watch this one. Slicker than a bar of soap,” Paddy jested.

“Hey, watch it. You ain't too old,” Bellamy joked, as his tongue hung out in a taunting manner.

“Pretty, meet my brother Tadhg.” It was the most formal introduction, so he was likely the one he held in the highest regard. This brother was a giant. Long red hair that he wore combed back, and a thick, bushy beard that matched.

Normally, I didn't like beards that long, but on his brother, it looked authoritative. I wouldn't be surprised if he was the one they all answered to.

“Nice to meet you,” Tadhg spoke stoically, taking a dish as Paddy leaned in and assured me.

“He's normally like that. Don't take it personal,” Paddy whispered.

As he guided me inside, I couldn’t hide my shock seeing his little brother’s wife. The whole ride here, had the man forgotten to mention she was Black!

“Paddy!” A petite, dark skinned Colored woman with tightly wound curls, surprised him with a hug, as his eyes widened and Paddy leaned out and reached for her stomach.

“Jesus Christ, how many you gonna put in there? How long you been hiding this?” Referring to her carefully hidden baby bump.

“Only a few weeks. We lost the last one, and we didn't want to announce it until we were sure,” she beamed.

“So, you did this on purpose?” He joked. “Where the fuck is he?”

“Careful about the swearing,” she warned, as Paddy gathered his youngest brother in a headlock, forcing them to tumble on the floor as Cillian fought back.

“Congratulations, you little rascal, but youcouldafford to pull out every once in a while.”

“All right, enough,” Bellamy intervened, pulling them apart. “Remember, Paddy's got guests over.

Awkwardly, all the eyes in the room seem to settle on me. A white woman with hair as dark as Bellamy's, but eyes as bright as Paddy's other brothers approached, wearing a devilish smile that I had never seen on a woman.

“Órfhlaith. I'm Paddy's sister.” Very direct and to the point. She reached for my hand to shake. In a less intimate environment, I would’ve been drawn to her masculine style, but what drew me in were how eerie her eyes were. They bore right into you, like she was staring into your soul.

“Oh my, I feel like I'm seeing things,” Cillian’s wife exclaimed, finally getting a good look at me. “But you look like in that entertainer, Pretty Washington.”

Not that I didn't expect to anyone to bring attention to my background, I just hadn’t wanted my celebrity to rob the dinner of its normal night.