Kiss Me, O'Malley, The O'Malleys, Book Six

Sean:
Ever since I met her, I knew Maeve was going to be my wife someday.
Aye, she’s trouble, there’s no doubt about it,
Strutting around town, endangering her reputation.
Before I left for university, I warned her:
You’re going to be mine, so don’t go getting into any mischief!
 
Maeve:  
I’ve been in love with Sean for as long as I can remember
But why does he have to be so damn bossy and opinionated?
Aye, I might have done a few foolish things after he left, but
There was no permanent damage.
And the way he forced my hand was downright underhanded…
When I marry him – if I marry him –
I’m going to teach him a thing or two about how to treat women!

Excerpt:
Two hours later, Sean and her father came out of the study, her father obviously having trouble walking straight.
“I’ve given your hand in marriage to young Sean here,” he announced heartily.
“What?” she and her mother demanded in unison.
“Did I mumble?”
“Well, aye, actually you did,” Maeve replied, her hands on her hips.
“I said I’ve given my permission for Sean O’Malley to marry you,” he informed them with a huge grin as he staggered to his chair.
“How much whiskey did you have to pour down his throat to get him to agree to that?” she demanded, looking at Sean.
“When a man gifts another man with a bottle of whiskey, tis not his place to tell him how to drink it,” Sean answered with a grin.
Maeve rolled her eyes and sank to her knees before her father, taking his hands in hers.
“Da, I can’t marry him,” she said earnestly.
“Canna or wilna?” he asked, slipping heavily into the brogue as he always did when drinking.
“Both.”
“You’d shame me in front of the entire town?” he demanded. “What’s wrong with O’Malley anyway? He seems a fine young lad with a good head on his shoulders.”
“He’s too bossy and arrogant,” Maeve insisted, glaring at Sean who stood leaning against the door casing, grinning.
“Ach, so is your mother and I married her,” her father cried, waving off her objections.
Maeve sighed and put her head down, waiting for the outburst. It wasn’t long coming and after her Ma had given her Da quite a large piece of her mind, she stormed from the room.
“I should have taken a stick to her years ago,” her father said sadly.
“It’s never too late,” Sean offered helpfully.
“Shut up, O’Malley,” Maeve said under her breath. “Don’t encourage him when he’s in this condition. She’s likely to clock him a good one. Come on, Da. Let Sean help you up to bed and then he and I will hash everythin’ out.”
“You won’t shame me, not after I’ve given me word?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“I won’t shame you, Da. Now go up to bed and don’t worry about a thin’.”
“Aye, you’re a good daughter,” he said, trying to rise and falling back into his chair, “even if you are a sassy lass. I have no doubt Sean here will know what to do about that.
“Come on, lad, help me up. Maybe I can fall asleep before her Ma decides she’s speakin’ to me again. Now that t’would be a blessin’,” he sighed, patting Maeve’s cheek.
Sean easily pulled him to his feet and helped him upstairs to his room. Maeve sat back down on the couch, indicating Sean should have a seat too when he returned. A few minutes later, her Ma stormed through the room and stomped upstairs.
“Is that the end of it?” he asked.
“For tonight. She won’t speak to him for several days, and she’ll walk around the house with a wounded air performin’ her ‘wifely duties’, all but one. Then he’ll get sick of it and go out and buy her a gift.”
“What kind of gift?”
“Oh a piece of jewelry she’s been covetin’ or a pretty nightgown. He’ll beg her forgiveness, and she’ll grant it, until the next time.”
“How often does this happen?” Sean asked curiously. His own Da would put a stop to the silent treatment in an entirely different, and in Sean’s mind, a more appropriate way.
“Three or four times a year, usually when he’s had a few too many with another bloke who makes him feel less manly. Then he spouts and sputters about how a man should be in charge of his own home, king of his castle and other nonsense. He can never quite pull it off, but he does try.”
“Maeve, did you mean what you said about not shamin’ your da?”
“Aye.”
“So you’ll marry me?”
“Unless I can figure a way out of it without embarrassin’ Da,” she informed him. “Give me a legitimate reason to break it off and you’re gone, O’Malley. Can I show you out?”
Rising, he let her lead him to the door and open it.
“Good night, darlin’,” he said, taking her hand and kissing it. “I’ll be by tomorrow night to pick you up and we’ll go to a movie or somethin’.”
“Tomorrow night I have choir practice,” she drawled, pulling her hand away.
“Then I’ll pick you up after practice. It will be a good time for us to give the Father the news.”
“Suit yourself,” she said, trying to close the door.
“One more thing,” he drawled with a smile. “The ‘pulling it off’ thing you mentioned, a man bein’ the boss of his own home?”
“Aye?”
“I can and will pull it off,” he assured her.
“I see, well good luck with that, O’Malley,” she smiled, planting her hand in the middle of his chest and backing him up.
Before he could reply, his nose was mere inches from the door knocker.

Kiss Me, O'Malley is live. I hope you'll enjoy it. 
The other books in the series have been updated with new covers, excerpts and book numbers so readers won't be confused.  I'd like to thank Blushing Books for all the work they've put into reviving this series.  Book One of The O'Malleys, Changing Her Mind, will now be free and Little White Lies, The O'Malleys, Book Two is at a reduced price.
*The Not-So-Lucky Bridget O'Malley is now part one of The Perfectly Naughty Bride.

Visit my page, The O'Malleys, for a look at the new covers up close.  Of course, if you click any of the covers they will take you directly to Amazon.

Thank kids, you've been kind, patient and supportive.  It means the world to me.
Hugs,
Stevie

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