by Jan Moran
Shane had called him and told him he wanted to do something special and meaningful as a surprise. He knew Finley Green was Lizzie’s favorite group, but he’d never told her he knew Niall. Shane didn’t wave his friendship with Niall like a banner, like some people did. He was a good man, so Niall was happy to oblige.
Niall could tell Lizzie was moved. That stirred his soul, and made him feel good about what he had to contribute to the world. He was glad he’d agreed to sing, just for the appreciation in a young bride’s smile.
He caught a glimpse of a willowy woman standing next to Lizzie. She wore a soft green dress that draped her superb figure and set off her flaming red hair. He peered closer. There was something familiar about the shape of her head, the elegant length of her neck, the long legs that seemed to go on forever. He felt drawn to her and leaned to one side to get a look at her face. Nearly slipping from his chair, he bobbled his acoustic guitar and gripped the neck to keep it from crashing from his lap onto the stone floor.
Composing himself, he sat back, utterly astonished at the coincidence. There was no doubt about it. It’s Fianna. A warm sensation gathered in his chest.
She must be a friend, or relative, to Lizzie. He saw the resemblance in the angle of their cheekbones, the arch of their eyebrows, and the curve of their lips, although Lizzie was a fair blond. Family, probably sisters. What were the chances he’d see her here?
Niall clutched his guitar and scooted his chair so he could see past a floral arrangement that had blocked his view of her. As he did, her luminous mismatched eyes flicked toward him, drawn by his movement. With one slow smile from her, his exterior walls crashed down, just like the first time they’d met.
He felt compelled to know this woman better. That was all he wanted, just a chance, and it was all he could reasonably expect. From having been married, he knew it took time to know a woman to the depths of her soul, and vice versa.
Fianna was watching Shane and Lizzie. Niall suppressed a smile. She had no idea she’d inspired the love song he’d just sang.
He’d only met her once, but he had used his imagination, conjuring the woman of his dreams. As he sat here now, seeing her again in person, he wondered if any part of his fantasy was true. And yet, he detected nearly palpable waves of emotion flowing from her.
Niall shook his head to clear the velvety fog that clouded his mind with soft persuasion. At heart, he was a poet. Fianna was a real woman, not a mirage, not a spirit.
After the ceremony, Shane and Lizzie walked down the aisle amidst greetings and well wishes. Following them, Fianna slid her hand onto the arm of Shane’s handsome best man. Niall watched, his heart yearning for her. He was feeling too much, too soon, but he knew that. He had to check his feelings.
Niall waited to the side while the wedding party posed for photos. After they had departed, several guests and family members made their way to the front to compliment him on his song.
“I’ve never heard that song,” one woman said. “It was so touching. Did you write it for them?”
“I finished it just in time for their wedding.” Kaitlin waved at him, and Niall motioned to her to join him. “Excuse me, my sister is here.”
Kaitlin cut through the crowd surrounding him. “That was amazing,” she said, giving him a hug. “Your best one yet, I think.”
Niall beamed. “I’m glad you liked it.”
She leaned toward him and whispered into his ear. “Can you believe Fianna Fitzgerald was the maid of honor?”
“I had no idea she’d be here. Or in Ireland, for that matter.”
Kaitlin nudged him with her elbow. “Fancy that. Feel like cake?”
They followed the guests from the church, and the woman who’d complimented him on his song gave them a ride to the O’Donnell House.
As soon as Niall stepped inside the marquee, the large white tent that had been erected on the back lawn, he started looking for Fianna, though he tried not to be too obvious about it. After the receiving line was finished and Shane and Lizzie mingled with the guests, Niall tapped Shane on the shoulder. He held two small glasses of Irish whiskey. “To you and Lizzie, may you enjoy every day of your journey together.”
“Thanks, Niall.” Shane took a glass and clinked Niall’s. He sipped the dark amber-colored whiskey. “Sure appreciate your singing to Lizzie. Even if she throws me over some day, she’ll never forget that you sang to her on our wedding day.”
Niall slapped him on the back. “Happy to do it, and thanks for the chauffeur service.”
Shane laughed. “Everyone thought I’d skipped out on the bride.”
“Speaking of your bride, I know her maid of honor.”
“Do you now? Fianna is her older sister. She’s a fashion designer.”
“I met her in Malibu a few weeks ago. My sister Kaitlin modeled in her runway show, so I went along.” He saw Fianna across the room and tried to catch her eye.
“She’s a great girl. In fact, my cousin Doyle just asked her to marry him. That’s him over there, walking toward Fianna.”
Niall stared as disappointment surged through his veins. It was Shane’s best man. He figured the two families must be close. The cozy picture unfolded for him, and he felt like an interloper. The world seemed to dim, as if the color had drained out of it. He talked with Shane a little longer, until other guests interrupted them.
He had to find Kaitlin. There was no reason for him to stay any longer. He turned to leave.
“Hello, Niall.”
Niall caught his breath, dazzled by Fianna’s appearance. She was even more enchanting than he’d recalled. Her eyes sparkled, her lips were full and moist, and her lightly freckled skin glowed with life. She was simply radiant.
And engaged.
“Fianna, what a surprise.” He tried to conceal his shock. Engaged.
She touched his arm, sending a quiver through him. “You sounded wonderful. That song you sang… you were humming it the night we met.”
He couldn’t help himself; he reached out to touch a strand of her hair, and lifted it from her ravishing face. Her glossy, burnished hair seemed to glow in his fingers. “That’s the night it came to me,” he said softly.
As a blaze of color rose in Fianna’s cheeks, she lowered her eyes. “It was a beautiful song, like nothing I’ve ever heard before.”
I wrote it for you, he wanted to say, but he bit back the words, too devastated to utter them. He couldn’t have her, but couldn’t leave her, either. His pain was palpable. Kaitlin. Where was she? He had to get away. But where were his manners? Fianna was staring at him. He cleared his throat. “Shane tells me congratulations are in order.”
Fianna tilted her head. “Congratulations for what?”
He nodded toward Doyle. “Your engagement,” he choked out. Where was Kaitlin?
“My what?” Her eyes widened and she followed his gaze. “Oh no, not Doyle. We are not engaged. Who told you that?”
Niall sucked fresh oxygen into his lungs and the world regained its brilliance. “The groom. He said Doyle proposed to you.”
“Indeed he did, in a cocktail bar with fifty of his closest friends around.” Fianna shook her head. “But that didn’t change my answer. It was still no, and it’s not likely to change. Besides, he has another girl chasing him.” She caught Shane’s eye and glared at him, but the groom was having such a good time he didn’t notice.
Niall felt like bursting into song. Instead, he decided to stay longer. A server passed by with a tray of drinks.
“Champagne, or Irish whiskey?”
Fianna lifted a flute, and Niall did the same. The day had definitely turned into a cause for celebration. He raised his glass to her. “To the woman who saved my life.”
She clinked his glass. “And to the man who saved mine.”
Fianna rested her forearms on the table, drinking coffee and stealing glances at Niall. She was seated with her family at a large table under the marquee, and she’d felt the heat of his gaze throughout dinner.<
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“We have an announcement to make.” Shane stood and clinked his champagne flute with a spoon, and Lizzie stood beside him at the table.
Fianna helped quiet the other family members.
Shane and Lizzie clasped hands. “We want you all to know that our plans have changed. Instead of living here, we’ve decided to go to university to continue our studies. We’ll be moving soon.”
Fianna was seated between Davina and her mother. She gripped Mary Margaret’s hand, worried about how she might react to the news.
Lizzie cleared her throat. “Shane is going to medical school, and I’ll study for my master’s degree. We’ve decided to dedicate our lives to helping the underprivileged in the poorest parts of the world.”
“That means going overseas,” Shane added. “India, China, Africa… places like that.”
A hush spread around the table. Fianna felt her mother’s hand tighten in hers.
Shane’s father spoke up first. “Son, let’s speak about this,” he said with a sharp edge in his voice. “There are better ways to provide for your wife.”
Fianna’s mother and father exchanged a look. Her father said, “Is this what you two really want to do?”
Lizzie’s eyes glowed with happiness, and Shane hugged her to his. “Yes, it is,” they said together.
“Then you have our blessing,” Mary Margaret said, her voice quiet and steady. “I think you’re both well suited to that type of work, but you’ll be terribly missed here.”
Fianna hugged her mother, relieved that Lizzie’s secret was out now. It might not be what any of them would have chosen, but her parents respected the decision Lizzie and Shane had made.
The questions began to fly, and Fianna shot a grin at Lizzie. Shane’s parents were still shocked and Fianna was sure the discussion would continue, but Lizzie and Shane had set the course of their lives and made their intentions known. Fianna was happy for them. Earlier, Lizzie had pulled her aside and told her how excited she was about their new path. Most important, they had come to the decision together.
After the wedding dinner, the band began playing and Niall appeared by her side. “Care to dance? I don’t often have the chance.”
“I’d love to,” Fianna said. She took his hand and quickly fell into rhythm with him. She thought she’d never danced with a man who had such finesse on the dance floor. His rhythm was impeccable, as if he felt the music in his bones, and she supposed he did. He swept her around the floor, and she felt herself blossom in his close embrace.
The night wore on, and they danced until the moon rose in the sky.
Though the band had left, the Fitzgerald and O’Donnell families and friends gathered at the large round tables under the tent, laughing and drinking and telling stories.
Fianna and Niall joined Lizzie and Shane at the table. She watched Niall and Shane bantering together, chuckling like old friends do.
Niall told the story of how he’d met Shane in Dublin at a pub when Shane was cutting classes at the university, and Niall was hiding from other members of the band. The two became fast friends before Niall let on what he did.
Shane cut in. “We’d known each other a month before he took his sunglasses off. I was beginning to think he had some sort of condition, or he was interminably vain.”
Niall gave Shane a punch in the arm, and Shane slapped him on the back.
Doyle blurted out, “Why didn’t you tell us about your famous friend, Shane?”
“I did, but you all laughed it off and accused me of telling tall tales.”
Niall laughed. “Your loss, Doyle.” He winked at Fianna.
Fianna saw Doyle scowl, and felt the heat of his eyes on her. He’d been acting strange all day. He’d been overly attentive and had asked if she’d reconsidered his proposal. She moved closer to Niall.
Niall draped his arm easily across her shoulders. “More champagne?” he asked.
“I’ve definitely had enough.” The wedding party was winding down.
Lizzie and Shane retired to a nearby country hotel, one of the most romantic in Ireland, to spend their wedding night. Niall had called a car service to take him and Kaitlin back to Howth, and Fianna had planned to stay with Davina in the little girl’s room.
As they were leaving, Kaitlin spoke up. “You should see what Niall has done with the castle, Fianna. It’s amazing.”
Niall slipped his hand into Fianna’s. “I’d like to show it to you sometime.”
“Hmm, I’d like that, too.” His hand was warm and sure in hers, and the memory of their night in Malibu came rushing back.
The front door was open and the O’Donnell family was saying good-bye to the last of their guests. When Fianna, Niall, and Kaitlin stepped outside, Fianna glanced around. She vaguely remembered telling her family to leave without her. “Could you give me a ride home?”
Before Niall could answer, Doyle sidled up beside her. “You can stay here tonight, Fianna. I have a guest room for you.” He bent close to her ear and slid his hand up her bare arm. “Or you can share my room.”
The smell of whiskey was strong on his breath, and his hooded eyes bore into hers. Fianna took a step back. “No thank you, Doyle.”
Niall said, “The car service is here. We’d be happy to take you home.”
Doyle put his arm around Fianna and turned her away from Niall. “Stay with me, Fianna. You know how I feel about you.” He pulled a slim jewelry box from his jacket pocket. “Please take the ring.” He wavered on his feet.
Fianna pushed away from him. “Doyle, I’ve said no, and I mean it.”
Niall hooked his hand through Doyle’s arm. “The lady is coming with us.”
Doyle’s face grew red and he tried to jerk away, but Niall stood several inches taller and had the muscular advantage. Doyle reared back to throw a punch.
Niall caught his arm in mid-air. “You can’t be serious.” He let him go.
Doyle stumbled back against the red brick wall by the entryway. “You don’t know who you’re messing with.”
“Keep your distance from her.” Niall walked away. He encircled Fianna’s waist protectively with his arm and started for the sleek black car parked nearby. A driver opened the rear door for them.
Kaitlin fell in step beside them. “We have plenty of room at the castle. Why don’t you come back with us tonight, Fianna? We have a guest suite with a giant bed and whirlpool tub. You’d love it.”
Niall held up a hand and laughed. “I swear I didn’t put my sister up to this.”
“Let me think… Tiny twin bed in my niece’s bedroom, or a sumptuous suite?” Fianna lifted her shoulder and peered up at him through her lashes. “Well, do I have an invitation or not?”
“Of course you do,” Niall said, kissing her forehead. “I’d love to know you’re sleeping under the same roof. And as before, anything you need I’m sure Kaitlin has.”
Kaitlin giggled and winked at her. “Actually, I think anything you need my brother has.”
Fianna sat next to Niall at a round oak table in the spacious, renovated family kitchen. She and Kaitlin had kicked off their shoes, and Fianna had gathered her silk maid of honor’s dress around her legs, her manicured toes dangling on a chair. Hand-painted tiles, sparkling Irish crystal, and bright marine colors in hues of blue and green created a comfortable, welcoming ambiance.
Kaitlin howled with laughter. “Tell Fianna about the time you were all stuck at immigration and sang to the entire waiting line.”
Niall was telling hilarious stories about his group during their first tour of America, and she and Kaitlin were laughing at the antics of four young Irish boys who’d become an overnight success with their first rock ‘n roll hit.
Fianna hadn’t realized he’d been such a star. Is such a star, she corrected herself, remembering the photos she’d seen. She’d been vaguely aware of Finley Green music, although she hadn’t listened to pop and rock much. But she’d never really been aware of him. If she had been, she might have seen him
as a star, rather than the real man under the façade of stardom.
Not that Niall has a façade, she thought. Unlike Doyle. She shook her head. Why did that pop into her mind? Ever since she’d turned down his proposal, his behavior had bordered on threatening. She would definitely keep her distance. She pulled her attention back to Niall and Kaitlin.
“We were four crazy young lads,” Niall said, chuckling. “We were young and brash, and thought we could get away with anything. For the most part, we did.”
“Please tell me you didn’t trash hotel rooms or destroy musical instruments,” Fianna said, wrinkling her nose.
“Nothing like that, happy to report. Our mams and dads would’ve had a fit. We were awfully young when we started. A couple of us were only seventeen.” Niall’s eyes danced as he recounted another funny story.
“When you were growing up, who was your musical idol?” Fianna rested her chin in her hand, enjoying the melodic timbre of his voice. His laughter lit his face, crinkling his eyes and relaxing his forehead.
“We grew up listening to U2 and the Beatles with our parents,” Niall said. “There were a lot of others, like Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Train. The early Beatles songs were easy for us to play when we were just learning how to play our instruments. And Bono was a big vocal influence. He reaches deep into his soul for his voice.”
As Niall spoke, he circled his fingers on Fianna’s arm, and warmth spread through her body. His charisma was undeniable. She couldn’t remember ever having felt such attraction to a man so quickly. That feeling was intriguing, but for someone as independent as she’d had to be, it was also a little frightening.
Niall stood up. “How about a bottle of Bordeaux? I have some good vintages in the cellar.”
“You should definitely see the cellar, Fianna.” Kaitlin’s eyes widened. “If you like wine, it’s like going to Disneyland.”
“It’s one of my favorite parts of the castle,” Niall said. “You can see some of the original walls of the castle down there.” He offered his hand to Fianna.
