He eyed me curiously as he sat. “I always have time fer a friend.” He watched me as if testing his words to see if that term still applied.

“Good.” I smiled slightly, trying to reassure him, but I felt like it was more of a grimace. My heartbeat sped up, and I suddenly felt warm. I fanned my face.

“Are ye alright, lass? Ye look flushed.”

The waitress came out and set all my entrees on the table in front of me. Matt’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline.

“I’m fine. Just a little lightheaded. Low blood sugar and all that.” I grabbed a turkey sandwich and took a big bite.

“I see.” He chuckled. “I like a woman who knows how to eat.”

“Then you’re gonna love me.” I dug into my soup.

He leaned back and folded his arms, watching me in awe as I shoved a heaping spoonful of macaroni and cheese into my mouth next.

“Sorry,” I managed to get out. “Hungry.”

“By all means eat first. We can talk after. I wouldn’t want yer food to get cold.” He watched me, waiting patiently as I worked my way through all three entrees plus dessert. No need for a doggie bag for me. “I’ve been having some stomach issues lately, so when I finally feel good, I take advantage of it and eat my fill.”

“Nothing wrong with that.” His eyes softened. “I have to say I’m glad to see ye again. I know ye said we could be friends, but I haven’t seen ye around town at all over the past two weeks. I thought maybe ye’d changed yer mind.”

“No, I still want to be friends.” I wiped my mouth with a napkin. “I, um, just had some thinking to do.”

“I’m sure yer still grieving yer grandmother’s passing. That has to be difficult.” His voice filled with sympathy. “I’m here if ye need to talk, lass.”

My heart warmed. “I appreciate that.” Then my jaw hardened. “I’m also dealing with my ex-husband. He found out my grandmother left everything to me, so now he’s threatening to sue me for more alimony.”

Matt’s deep dimples disappeared as his smile slipped. “He sounds like a real piece of work.”

“You have no idea. And there’s also my parents and sister who insist on hanging around town until I hear them out.” I knew they lived close, but I’d never seen them around as much as I had lately.

He studied me with his penetrating blue eyes. “I take it ye don’t want to do that.”

“I don’t know what I want.” I shook my head, forcing my mixed emotions down so they wouldn’t consume me.

“That’s fair.” He nodded. “Having family come back into yer life is a big change. I know family isn’t always easy, but they are still yer flesh and blood. Maybe just keep an open mind, lass. Hear what they have to say. What can it hurt?”

Plenty, I thought.

I’d been hurt enough by my family for one lifetime, thank you very much. I wasn’t ready to deal with any of them. “I don’t do well with change.” I took a deep breath. “My life has changed in a lot of ways since my fortieth birthday.”

“It sounds it.” He shrugged. “Change doesn’t have to be bad; ye know. It can be a good thing, too.”

“I, um, I’m glad to hear you say that because I am not the only one who’s life is about to change.”

His brow puckered. “What do ye mean?”

“You said that family means a lot to you, right?” I watched his expression go from confused to beaming.

“Absolutely. Family is everything.”

“Right. And one day you want a family of your own, correct?” I bit my bottom lip, keeping my eyes locked onto his.

His expression grew guarded. Suspicious. “Yes, but ye made it clear that ye didn’t want marriage or a family. Did ye meet someone else?”

I was already shaking my head. “No, it’s nothing like that.”

“Then what could have changed that has to do with me?”

I couldn’t take it anymore, so I blurted, “I’m pregnant.”

He blinked and sat there for a full stunned minute. “Are ye saying I’m going to be a father?”

I nodded slowly, relieved he didn’t question if he was the father. Because that would imply that I slept around. I might be a modern woman, but I still only slept with one man at a time.

I cleared my throat. “Yes.”

He rubbed his jaw. “From our one night in the Pub?”

I nodded again. “There’s more.”

“More? What more could there possibly be?”

“We’re having twins.”

His jaw fell open and the rag slung over his shoulder fell to the table. He gaped at me and scrubbed a hand over his smooth-shaven jaw. “Are ye sure?”

“Dr. Joy confirmed it just this morning.” I still couldn’t believe I was responsible for growing one human being, let alone two. Then I had to raise them and try not to make a train wreck of their lives. “I’m eight weeks now.”

“Twins….” he breathed the words out, sounding more in awe this time rather than in shock. He slapped a hand down on the table and grabbed the rag then slung it back over his massive shoulder. “Well, that settles it, then.”

This time I frowned as an uneasy feeling filled me. “Settles what?”

“We’re getting married.” He gave me a wide-toothed grin.

“E-Excuse me?” I sputtered.

“Ye heard me, lass. I’ll call me mum and make all the arrangements. Ye won’t have to do a thing.” His accent thickened with his excitement.

“But you said they won’t accept me,” I managed to get out, as my own level of shock set in. This conversation had taken a turn I wasn’t prepared for.

“I was just mad at ye because ye used me over a stupid bet, when I really liked ye. Besides, ye said ye didn’t want marriage or children, and I did, so what was the point of starting something? Me mammy will be thrilled to be a grandmammy.” He beamed. “As thrilled as I am to be a daddy.”

I threw up my hands. “You’ve lost your mind, Matthew McGinnis.”

He hoisted a shoulder. “Can’t a fella do the right thing?”

I was already shaking my head. “Give me some credit. I would never get married just because I’m pregnant.”