I would never admit defeat!

I shook my head. "No, I'll be fine."

Alec snorted. "Just hold onto me."

The problem was going to be letting go of him.

Alec and myself entered the ballroom where dinner was served earlier and I instantly spotted my family at the bar.

"Typical," I muttered.

"What's typical?" Alec asked as I gripped his arm and steered us towards the bar.

"That is where me family always end up at functions."

Alec laughed. "You're all Irish, I expect nothing less."

I rolled my eyes but said nothing.

"Keela!"

I plastered a smile across my face when Everly's plastic face came into view.

"Stay next to me, Everly will talk the ears off you about herself otherwise."

Alec said nothing, he only nodded.

"Darlin', you look adorable."

I looked adorable?

Fuck you too, lady.

"Thanks Everly, you look cute."

Everly cast me a cold stare before she flicked her eyes to Alec and smirked.

She actually smirked.

"And who is this handsome devil?"

Here we go.

"This is Alec Slater, me boyfriend. Alec, this is me Auntie Everly."

Evil step auntie.

Everly held her hand out to Alec and he took it in his and brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

What the fuck was that about?

"Everly," he murmured. "Nice to meet you."

"And you Mr. Slater," she said keeping eye contact with him - she never once blinked.

Alec lowered her hand then released it. "Please, call me Alec."

Everly smiled. "Alec."

I stared between Alec and Everly and felt like they knew something I didn't.

"Can I get you both a drink?" Everly asked us, snapping out of her staring competition with Alec.

I removed my hands from Alec's arm with a pull.

I was suddenly mad at him and I had no idea why.

"No, I'm can get me own but you can get Alec one. He might enjoy that."

I walked forward then to the bar and got the bartender's attention.

"Vodka and coke, please."

I felt a hand on my lower back and then a breath by my ear a few moments later.

"What was that?"

I turned to Alec who was very close to me.

"You tell me."

Alec frowned. "I don't understand."

I did, it just hit me.

"You flirted with me auntie, right in front of me."

Alec blinked then laughed.

His laughing pissed me off.

"Go fuck yourself!" I growled and turned my back to him.

Where the hell was my drink?

Alec was still laughing when he slid his arms around my waist and leaned his head down to rest his chin on my shoulder.

"I was being polite, I wasn't flirting."

Whatever.

"You kissed her hand and looked at her like your adored her or somethin'."

Alec was silent for a moment then his kissed my cheek. "I adore you, no one else."

I snorted. "Yeah right."

Alec pressed his groin into my behind and I hissed.

I was tender and the bastard knew that.

"I adore you kitten, trust me on that."

I didn't reply, but I did perk up when the bartender suddenly appeared in front of me. I happily took the drink and ordered another one - it was an open bar after all.

"Keela," Alec murmured.

I turned to him and looked up. "Yes."

"Don't get drunk out of spite, if you're annoyed at me let's talk it out."

I laughed. "It's very big headed of you to think I would get drunk just because you annoyed me."

Alec grinned down at me. "You annoyed yourself by thinking I flirted with your aunt when I didn't."

Dickhead.

"I may not be an expert like you when it comes to sex, but I know flirtin' when I see it."

Alec sighed. "We've only been here five minutes and you're already arguing with me."

"Because you're bein' a dickhead."

"I didn't do anything."

"Keep tellin' yourself that buddy."

"Okay fine, I'm sorry for whatever I did to upset you."

I narrowed my eyes. "So you admit you did somethin'?"

"Keela! What do you want from me? I say one thing and you get pissed. I try to fix it and you get even more pissed. You're so damn confusing - you should come with a fucking instruction manual!" Alec bellowed.

I snorted. "At what point in time would you ever read an instruction manual?"

He looked like he wanted to strangle me. He took a deep breath and looked away from me then up to the ceiling.

"God, give me strength."

I turned my head and made a move to walk off but Alec wouldn't let me.

"Where are you going?"

"To congratulate the groom." Alec's eyes narrowed and his face turned to stone.

Why did I say that?

"Keela do not threaten me, it will not work out in your favour. Do you understand me?"

I looked down.

What I said was a dickhead move and I knew it.

"Say you understand or things will get bad between us fast."

Shite.

"I understand."

"Good, I'm not a fucking tool. Don't ever try and make me jealous with another guy because it will only hurt you in the end."

What the fuck did that mean?

"How would it hurt me?"

Alec looked me dead in the end. "Because I don't stick around for bullshit like that to be thrown in my face."

"Got it," I mumbled.

Alec lowered his head to mine and kissed my lips. "Stop this. We had an amazing day today, please don't ruin it by arguing."

I looked up and nodded my head.

He was right.

Alec smiled and kissed my lips once more.

We both turned as my Uncle Brandon came over to us, Everly next to him.

"I told you she was here."

My uncle smiled. "I wasn't sure you would come back down."

I shrugged. "I wasn't goin' to, but Alec convinced me."

"Did he now?"

Things got a little tense then as my uncle and Alec stared at one another.