Becoming the Whiskey Princess by Toni Aleo Page B

maybe.”
    Pinching my brow, I say, “No, you disinvite her. I don’t care how that makes ya look with the O’Malleys. I don’t want Keeva at my engagement party.”
    She lets out a breath, and when I look up, she nods. “Fine.”
    “Thank you. I got work to do, Ma, anything else?”
    She sets me with a look. “Yes, when is Amberlyn moving in?”
    “After the engagement party.”
    She nods. “And when is she quitting the bar?”
    I make a face because I haven’t thought about that at all. “I don’t know? Probably after we marry.”
    She again doesn’t like my answer. “Hm. Well, people are saying we have no money and that she has to work to help you get by.”
    Kane and I let out loud hoots of laughter. “Ma, if we were poor, would we be throwing these lavish parties? Be real. I am done with these fucking papers and people talking shite,” I say, and then I throw my arms up. Looking up at her, I point at her before saying, “New rule. No one from the media is allowed at any more of my parties.”
    “Attaboy! Fair play,” Kane exclaims in agreement.
    “Declan, be real. And don’t encourage him, Kane.”
    Kane smiles up at my ma and says, “But it’s true. They are all causing so much drama. It isn’t about anyone but Declan and Amberlyn, yeah?”
    “Yes, that is true, but still, they are needed so that we make the papers.”
    Slamming my hands down, I say, “I don’t want to be in the papers, Ma! I’m done. No more. I am about to be the head of this estate, and that’s my decision.”
    She eyes me and then shakes her head. “I’ll be speaking with your father about this.”
    I nod. “Be my guest. Would you like me to come too?”
    She glares, and I may have crossed the line there. “I don’t care that you are about to marry or even that you’re in your twenties, but I’ll take ya over my knee and wear your arse out. You watch your tone with me, Declan.”
    My face reddens as Kane chuckles, that is until she says, “Same goes for ya too, Kane.”
    Meeting her gaze, I nod. “Yeah, Ma, sorry. But I’m so irritated with it all.”
    Her eyes soften a bit as she smiles. “Yeah, I know. It will all be over soon, and you’ll start a new adventure with that sweet girl at your side.”
    A smile comes over my face as I nod. “I can’t wait.”
    We share a smile, and I hope that my eyes tell her I’m not joking around. I’m done with it all. I have the power to stop it, and I’m going to. Instead of parading for the damn media and hoping to make a show like my family does, I want to stay private. Like Kane said, nothing matters but Amberlyn and me. That’s it.
    “I’ll see ya at dinner. Bye, Kane.”
    “Yeah, have a good day, Ma,” I say as she heads out the door.
    “Bye, Mrs. O’Callaghan,” Kane says as the door shuts.
    Letting out a breath, Kane laughs. “Well, it’s always so much fun with your ma.”
    I chuckle. “Sure is. She’s mental, I swear.”
    “Indeed,” he agrees as he leans back, kicking his feet up on my desk. A comfortable silence falls upon us as he plays on his phone and I work. Being the boss of the malting room has its perks. Kane is able to sit in here and hang with me most of the day. But when he works, he works; that’s why I don’t mind it all. I like it. It’s good to bounce ideas off him, and he is always there for a good laugh.
    As I click through emails, out of the corner of my eye, I can see him grin as he texts wildly on his phone. Must be talkin’ with Fiona. Taking a pull of my water, I clear my throat and ask, “How’s things with Fiona?”
    He looks over at me and shrugs. “Good. She’s moving in.”
    One brow goes up. “Oh yeah?”
    He nods, letting his phone fall to his lap. “Yeah, she was leaving shite all the damn time, and then she brought up yous two getting married. And I was like, whoa, not ready for that, but how about you move in? And she agreed.”
    I smile. “Don’t act like ya don’t want it. I know you do.”
    He