Emily snickered. "Well, well, well. Looks like I'm on the backseat, then."

She pulled the door open and got into the back.

Brendan quietly sidled up to Deirdre and wrapped his arm around her. She sniped a glance at him. "What? You think I'm being too forceful, don't you?"

"Oh, no. Not at all." He smiled. "On the contrary, I love how possessive you are. The angrier you are and the more you push, the more you must care."

Deirdre's cheeks burned despite herself, but she checked herself and got to calm down. "You say that now, but it's not going to last. Once the novelty of me being 'possessive' wears off, you're just going to think I'm irritating."

Brendan's breath hitched a little. He took up her hand and pressed the back of her hand against his lips. "That day will never come, Dee. Never. If it does, then may I be struck by lightning, catch fire, incinerate to—"

Deirdre covered his mouth. "Enough already. Get into the car."

Brendan's eyes quivered, his face soft with care. She w