I glanced around. All of the groceries were put away and the sun had set.

I sat up. “How long was I out?”

He glanced at his watch. “About an hour.”

I gaped at him. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

He shrugged. “Ye obviously needed the sleep.”

“You didn’t have to put my groceries away.” I was decidedly uncomfortable that he had watched me sleep. It made me feel vulnerable. I folded the blanket and draped it back over the couch.

“Ye had perishable items. Besides, I didn’t mind.” He stared at me as he paused a beat. “That’s what friends do.”

“Well, thank you, but I imagine you have to get back to the pub, don’t you?” I stood and went into the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea.

He followed me and sat at my table. “Aidan has it covered. It’s good for him to be on his own for a bit. Besides, Finn is singing tonight, so he’ll let me know if I’m needed.”

“Care for something to drink?” I felt the need to ask after all he had done.

“Tea is good.”

I raised a brow. “Really?”

“I love a good cup of tea.”

“All I have is caffeine-free herbal tea. I hope that’s okay.”

“Do you have any honey?”

I blinked and then carefully said, “I do, but just normal honey.”

“Is there any other kind?” He laughed.

This was my opening. “Funny you should ask.” I handed him the steaming cup and a jar of honey. “Aidan was in the health food section when I ran into him. He said you asked him to pick up clover honey. You must really like clovers.”

He arched a brow and just stared at me. “Clovers are very healthy.”

“Don’t forget rare and special.” I pursed my lips.

“Well, the four-leaf ones, yes,” he said flatly.

“The kind that would make for a great tattoo…if you were into that sort of thing, of course.”

“So, I’ve heard.” He sipped his tea, which was growing colder by the minute, while studying me over the rim of the cup.

“Aidan said clovers are a big deal to your family.”

“Did he now?” Matt set his cup down.

“Aidan said his mother wouldn’t approve of him getting any tattoos. Just so you know, I won’t approve of our kids getting any tattoos either, especially if they are boys?” I didn’t mind tattoos at all, but he didn’t need to know that. I wanted to make sure he wouldn’t recruit our children into the Children of the Clover cult. If he was a member, that is.

The jury was still out.

“Don’t ye think it’s a little early to worry about our children getting a tattoo? Why don’t we let them be born before we add that to the list of things to stress out about.”

“Do you have any tattoos?” I tried to ask as casually as I could.

“I know what yer trying to do, but fer the life of me I can’t figure out why.” He stood. “I told ye before that I wasn’t going to verify the foolish legend one way or the other.”

“I wasn’t asking about that.” I laughed and waved off his suspicions. “I just meant tattoos in general. Did your mother forbid you from getting any, like Aidan’s did?”

“Aidan is still a lad.” He locked eyes with mine. “I am not. I have the utmost respect for me ma, but she doesn’t have a say in what I do.”

That knocked the wind out of my sails. “Like having twins out of wedlock with a divorced, forty-year-old woman.” My shoulders drooped and I set my cup in the sink, wondering if I would ever have his parents’ approval.

“I didn’t say that.” His tone was gentle.

“You didn’t deny it either,” I responded quietly.

“I have to get going. Lock the door behind me, lass.” He walked out the door, and I followed him, locking my apartment up tight. This is what I wanted. My independence. Being on my own. Navigating life by myself….

Then why did I feel so alone?

Chapter Eleven

Over the past two weeks, I hadn’t seen or heard from Bud. I was hopeful this meant he was finally going to stay out of my life, but I was afraid to get my hopes up too much. I knew him too well. He was like a toddler. If he was quiet, then he was up to no good.

I just needed to figure out what that meant.

In the meantime, Matt had hardly left my side. It was like he anticipated my every need before I even knew I needed it. The few times that he was gone, he was either working at the pub or being strangely secretive about some mysterious outings. I asked him about it, but he simply said it was a surprise.

I hated surprises.

So, I stood outside of my apartment waiting for him to pick me up. It was mid-August, and I was fourteen weeks pregnant and hot as the dickens. A heatwave was passing through Mayflower, and I was not a fan.

I glanced at my watch. It was still morning. I’d already had breakfast, but my stomach was rumbling again. These babies were always hungry, but what did I expect, given who their father was?

Matt pulled up next to the curb in a massive pickup truck. Before I could even touch the door handle, he hopped out and jogged around the hood to open the door.

“You’re late.” I leveled a stare at him.

It must be nature’s way to prepare a woman for motherhood by making her have to go to the bathroom all night long. Being sleep deprived, hungry, and hot all at the same time was making me cranky as a mama bear, and I didn’t even have any cubs yet.

“Aye, lass, but when ye see what’s inside, ye’ll forgive me.” He held out his hand and I slid mine into his as I stepped onto the foot running board. My sandal had barely touched the step when he gave my bottom a boost with his other hand.

I let out a little yelp, and he boomed a big hearty laugh of delight then closed the door with a resounding thud. The man was like a grizzly bear. He ran around the hood once more and slid into the driver’s side with ease then held up a bag for me.

“What’s that?” I eyed him curiously.