Always My Girl (The Shaughnessy Brothers) Read Online Free PDF Page A

snapped. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m the one who’s upset here! Why aren’t you going out there and yelling at my dad and Martha for making me upset?”
    The laugh came out before she could stop it. “Oh my God. Do you even hear yourself? You’re a grown man, Quinn. This isn’t a big deal. Now take a deep breath and maybe go out back for a few minutes until everyone comes in. And for the love of it, keep your mouth shut for as long as possible.”
    “Why—?”
    Anna held up a hand to silence him as everyone started to file in. She could feel him bristling beside her and finally leaned back and elbowed him in the ribs. His muffled “ oof ” almost made her smile. Before she could do more than blink, everyone was talking and saying hello and she went from person to person hugging and greeting them.
    “I can’t believe you beat us here, bro,” Hugh said as he shook Quinn’s hand. “I thought for sure you’d be one of the last to arrive.”
    Quinn took the good-natured ribbing with a smile. Hopefully Anna was the only one to notice it was forced and that his eyes kept darting over to his father and Martha.
    Deciding to keep things light for a little bit longer, Anna said, “Quinn? Why don’t you take Hugh and Aubrey out back and show them the pool and get them a drink?”
    He eyed her suspiciously. “I’m sure they can—”
    “And see if Zoe needs anything,” she quickly added to cut him off. “You know she’s feeling a little frazzled right now.” Anna gave him a stern glare that warned him not to argue, and breathed a sigh of relief when he just nodded and led his brother and his brother’s wife through the house.
    When she heard the sliding glass doors open and close, she turned to Ian and Martha, who were looking at her oddly. “Okay, here’s the thing,” she began, her heart racing a little at having to have an awkward discussion with the man who had always been like a second father to her. “Quinn is a little freaked out that the two of you are here together.”
    Ian’s brows rose. “Why?”
    “Well…he was expecting you to arrive with Darcy.” And then she looked apologetically at Martha. “And I’m afraid Zoe didn’t know you were coming today. So she’s panicking about where to put you. Room-wise.”
    The older couple looked at one another nervously and then back at Anna and her stomach sank. Oh. My. God . She said a silent prayer she was not going to be forced to stand here and listen to them talk about the new turn in their relationship and how they were hoping to share a room.
    So not the discussion she ever wanted to have.
    “Actually—” Ian began, unable to look Anna in the eye.
    She cut him off before he could go any further. “It’s okay. Really. You were supposed to room with Quinn, but I’m sure Zoe can find another spot for him.”
    “Why was I rooming with Quinn?”
    Anna gave him the short version of Riley’s situation with the bodyguard and how all of the rooms were filled. “I’m sure Quinn can sleep on one of the sofas or the floor somewhere or maybe with Bobby.”
    Ian laughed. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. Those two will probably try to kill each other by the end of the first night.”
    The laugh came automatically, but Anna wasn’t really feeling it. No doubt she was now going to have to be the bearer of this awkward news.
    “Maybe I should find a hotel,” Martha said after a long silence.
    Ian looked at her apologetically. “I hate to see you do that. Why don’t we wait and see how things unfold here?”
    “Tell you what,” Anna said, interrupting them again, “let me go and talk to Zoe and then we’ll deal with Quinn. I’m not sure which room you’re in, so just leave your luggage here and go on out back and grab a drink.”
    “Anna,” Ian said, “I appreciate what you’re doing, but maybe it would be better if I was the one to deal with Quinn.”
    It would have been easy to agree, but she had a feeling things