by Sofia Tate
Sean nodded. “Sorry, you’re right. But you do have that Irish charm that’s like catnip to them. I’ve seen it up close. Women become moths to a fucking flame when they’re around you. And usually I don’t care, but because it’s Blakely, I’m telling you not to go there.”
“Sean, I just want to get to know her. That’s all. I’d never hurt her.”
“Fine. I’ll tell you this much. I’ve known Blakely just about as long as I’ve known Georgina. She’s whip smart and lives for her career. She’s also very sweet, warm, and compassionate. The thing is, she had a lonely childhood. She doesn’t have any siblings. She keeps to herself. Georgina never told me the specifics about what she went through, so I don’t know the full story—”
“Sean, listen to me—”
He held up his hands to Ronan, palms facing toward him. “But so help me if you mess her up, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
Ronan nodded. “Okay, point taken. I promise I’ll be nice.”
“Good. Now help me get the rest of this crap off the wagon before Georgina starts yelling at me.”
As if on cue, a female voice shouted, “Sean! What’s taking you so damn long? We’re starving over here!”
Sean shook his head and smiled. “God, I love that woman.” He picked up the cooler and began to walk toward his fiancée. “On my way, love.”
Ronan watched in the distance as Gigi held up her lips to Sean for a quick kiss.
It was the first time in his life that he was truly jealous of his best friend and would’ve given anything to know what that kind of love felt like.
Blakely sat on the embankment, watching Sean’s nieces and nephews and their parents swimming and horseplaying in the lake. She had found a quiet spot under a tree to enjoy the last of her iced coffee.
The tall grass behind her began to rustle. She heard him before she saw him.
“Hey.”
She paused a moment before replying. “Hey yourself.”
“Having fun?”
“I’m having fun watching the others have fun.”
“Don’t you think you deserve to have some fun too?”
Blakely looked up into Ronan’s face. “I am having fun.”
Without warning, Ronan began to unbutton his shirt.
Blakely pulled back closer to the tree, growing more nervous by the second. “What are you doing?”
“We’re going swimming.”
“Maybe you are, but I’m not.”
“Are you kidding me? It’s hot as hell out here, and you must be dying in that sweatshirt. You probably have a t-shirt underneath, right? You can just go in that and your shorts.”
She shut her eyes tightly. “I said no.”
Piggy Pierce, Piggy Pierce…
“Come on, Blakely…”
Oh look, boo-hoo, here come her stupid tears…
As Ronan reached down to help up to her feet, she jumped up and shook off his hand as if it were poisonous. She spat in his face with a quiet fury, “What part of ‘No’ don’t you understand?”
For the second time that day, Blakely walked away from Ronan, leaving him standing all alone again.
CHAPTER FIVE
Fitzpatrick’s Bar and Grill sat across the street from Blossom Café. It was the only pub in the surrounding area and a frequent haunt of the Byrne family. Past the long bar with the brass railing sat a pool table, a small stage, and a dance floor, as well as several televisions mounted on the walls and a dart board near the restrooms.
After what happened at the lake, Blakely wasn’t keen on seeing Ronan again, but she had no choice because Gigi and Sean had taken the entire wedding party there for dinner. Along with the bride and groom, Fiona, Lexie, Andy, Josh, Ronan, and Blakely took up two tables in the back of the room. Mercifully, Ronan did not sit next to Blakely at dinner that night. The only exchange of communication they had during the meal was when Ronan had asked Blakely to pass the ketchup for his burger. But she still sensed his eyes on her the entire time.
After they had finished eating, Sean went over to the jukebox, slid a few coins in, and U2’s “All I Want Is You” came over the speakers. He walked back to the table and held his hand out to Gigi, who accepted it and allowed him to lead her out to the dance floor, followed by Andy and Fiona and Josh and Lexie.
Blakely relaxed because Ronan was at the bar, chatting with the bartender. She smiled, watching her best friend dance with the man she was going to marry.
“Shall we?”
Blakely took a deep breath, turning to see Ronan holding out his hand to her like Sean had to Gigi.
“No, thank you.”
“One dance?”
Blakely shook her head. “I’d prefer to watch, if that’s all right with you.”
“Then I’ll join you, if that would be all right with you.”
She shrugged her shoulders as Ronan sat down across from her.
“Tell me something about yourself.”
Blakely did a double-take. “I’m sorry, but are you interviewing me for a job?”
“No,” he smiled. “What I meant to say was tell me something that nobody else knows, even Gigi.”
She frowned. “Why do you care?”
He reached with his hands across the table and placed his hands over hers. “Because no matter how much you try to put me off, I’ll just keep coming back.”
“Like a gnat.”
“Sorry for trying to be nice,” he replied, pulling back his hands in retreat.
Stop torturing him. The sooner you give him what he wants, the sooner he’ll leave you alone.
Blakely’s eyes softened. “Okay,” she whispered. She sat back for a moment, quiet in thought, then leaned back in, placing her hands flat on the table.
Ronan brought his chair closer to the table. “So I can hear you better over the music,” he offered.
She nodded and cleared her throat. “Being at the lake today reminded me about my favorite memory from my childhood. My maternal grandparents had a vacation house on a lake in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York. I spent the summers with them when I was little.”
Ronan smiled. “What did you like to do the most when you were there?”
“That’s easy,” she said with her face glowing. “Fishing with my grandpa.”
His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Really?”
“Yup,” she nodded. “We used to get up at sunrise. My grandma would make us egg and bacon sandwiches and fill up two thermoses—orange juice for me and coffee for my grandpa. Then we’d walk down to the dock, he’d first put the food and tackle in the boat, then me, then himself, and off we went.”
“How long did you stay out?”
“Until lunch. It didn’t even matter to me if we never caught anything. It was so quiet and peaceful on the water. All you could hear was the water lapping against the sides, the birds, the frogs…”
“Do you remember how to fish?”
“Well, living in Manhattan doesn’t exactly allow for a day of fishing, but yeah, I can still bait a hook.”
“Do you still visit your grandparents?”
Blakely went quiet and looked away before answering. “They’re both dead. My mom eventually sold the house.”
Ronan reached out with his hands, placing them once more over hers, this time caressing them with his thumbs. “I’m so sorry. I can tell how much you loved them. How many summers did you spend with them?”
Blakely spoke barely above a whisper. “About six. Until I was ten…”
Ronan stared at her, waiting for her to say something. Suddenly, he stood up. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
With furrowed eyebrows, she turned and watched as Ronan walked back to the bar, leaning over to speak to the bartender. The rest of the wedding party was still on the dance floor, this time jumping around like lunatics to “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?”
A few minutes later, Ronan returned, carrying a plate with two forks and two napkins. He placed it in front of Bl
akely on the table.
“This is for you,” Ronan declared.
Blakely took a long swallow in her throat. “What is it?”
“The best dessert Fitzpatrick’s has to offer. Sticky toffee pudding.”
“Thank you, but I’m really full from the trout.”
“I’m not taking no for an answer,” he said shaking his head. “I brought two forks for a reason. We’re going to share it, of course. As if I’m going to let you enjoy this all by yourself.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Why did you do this?”
He sat down, staring at Blakely with softened eyes. “To thank you for what you just told me.”
Blakely hesitated, then reached for a fork. “Okay, let’s dig in.”
Ronan’s face lit up like an giddy schoolboy. “Excellent.”
They sat in silence as they ate, savoring the decadent flavors as the toffee, cake and ice cream combined to form one sublime, sinfully rich end to their meal.
Blakely shut her eyes in pure bliss.
She could hear Ronan laugh. “Good, isn’t it?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Hello, Ronan.”
Blakely’s eyes snapped open to see a tall, lithe woman standing next to their table. She had brown almond shaped eyes, and straight dark brown hair that looked like silk cascading past her shoulders. Dressed in a white silk halter top, black skinny jeans, black stiletto heels, and a black leather blazer that accentuated her tiny waist, her eyes roamed over Ronan’s body, with her right hand placed on his left shoulder.
Blakely watched as the woman slowly stroked his shoulder back and forth with the pad of her thumb. Ronan shut his eyes in what looked like discomfort. “Camille.”
“How have you been?”
“Fine.”
“I’ve missed you,” she purred. “Got a minute?”
“I’m busy right now.”
The woman’s focus shifted. Blakely watched as the woman’s head moved up and down as if she were giving Blakely a once-over.
She’s assessing the situation.
Then Blakely’s heart started to palpitate.
No, not the situation. She’s assessing me.
Blakely watched as the woman glanced at the plate of dessert sitting between Ronan and Blakely, snickering with a smile as she looked back at Blakely. “My goodness, someone has quite an appetite.”
“We’re sharing it, Camille,” Ronan grunted.
Blakely saw the woman smirk at her. “Right. Of course you are.”
Blakely’s breathing grew rapid. She tilted her head down as she took deep breaths, her fingernails digging into the palms of her hands, doing everything she could not to burst into tears in front of this woman. She couldn’t look at either of them.
Of course she’s amused. Why wouldn’t she be? She’s thinking what the hell is a gorgeous man like Ronan doing with someone who looks like me.
Chills swept over Blakely from head to toe.
Can’t say I blame her. I’d be thinking the same thing.
Her fingernails were now forming half-moons on her palms, Blakely oblivious to their bite into her skin.
Ronan cleared his throat. “Look, Camille, it was nice to see you, but I’d rather get back to my dessert now.”
“Whatever you say, Ronan. I’m staying at the B&B for a week showing properties to some clients. I’ll be around if you get bored.”
After a few seconds, Blakely could hear Ronan sighing. “Thank God she’s gone. Now, where were we?”
“I want to go home.”
“What?”
Still keeping her head down, Blakely whispered again. “I want to go home. Now.”
She could hear Ronan moving the plate aside. “Come on, Blakely. Don’t let her ruin our night. We were having such a good time…”
Without even shooting a glance in Ronan’s direction, Blakely picked up her purse and walked straight toward the door. Once outside, she took in the fresh air, practically gulping it down into her lungs.
She heard the door of the pub open. “Blakely, what happened?”
Thank God it was Gigi, not Ronan. She clasped Blakely’s shoulders in her hands. “Talk to me, sweetie.”
“It’s nothing. Could you just take me back to the ranch?”
“I’ll take her.”
Fuck.
“Thanks, Ronan, but I’ve got it from—”
Ronan’s voice boomed over them. “Get in the truck, Blakely.”
Blakely looked to her left and realized she was standing next to Ronan’s Chevy.
Gigi wrapped an arm around Blakely’s shoulder. “Thank you, Ronan, but—”
“Please,” he said, his voice softened. “Just get in.”
For the first time since Camille interrupted them, Blakely looked into Ronan’s eyes.
How is it that I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but I still feel so safe with him?
Blakely turned back to Gigi, embracing her. “I’ll be fine. Really.”
Gigi pulled back, pausing to stare at her best friend. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow. Let me know if you need anything.”
Both of the women watched as Ronan came over to them and opened the passenger door for Blakely. She got into the truck, and before Ronan pulled away, she turned back and waved to Gigi, who was still standing outside the pub.
Blakely didn’t say one word as Ronan drove them home, but he didn’t mind the silence. This time, he was in control.
No way in hell was I going to let that happen again.
She’d already walked away from him three times, and after she’d run out of Fitzpatrick’s, he was on the verge of exploding. What was it with her and leaving him behind every time something happened?
He had behaved like a perfect gentleman, totally blowing off that viper Camille so he could return to enjoying Blakely’s company. It just didn’t make sense to him.
But damn it all. I’m going to find out. Maybe not tonight, but I will eventually.
Once they reached the ranch, Ronan got out on the driver’s side quickly and moved to open Blakely’s door for her. She slipped out of her seat, her purse slung over her shoulder, tightly clasped in her right hand.
She didn’t say a word to him. She didn’t even protest that she could make it back to her cabin by herself, which is what he had expected her to do. He let her walk ahead of him, trailing her by a few feet.
When they arrived at her cabin, Blakely slowly walked up the stairs and searched for her key in her purse. Ronan was ready to rush up the stairs to help her, but just as he took one step forward, it appeared in her hand.
As she turned the key in the lock, Ronan stepped in closer to make sure she’d be able to hear him. “Good night, Blakely.”
She froze in the doorframe, and just when he thought she wasn’t going to look back at him, Blakely shifted, giving Ronan full view of her face in the glare of the porch light. And what he saw broke his heart. Her eyes were sunken, her face pale, her beautiful lips turned down in sadness. She stepped into the cabin and shut the door behind her.
Ronan closed his eyes for a second, then after opening them again, walked back down the hill with a confident gait, more determined than ever that he wasn’t going to give up on Blakely. He knew deep down that underneath all that doubt and sadness was an incredible, amazing woman who just needed to know that she was worth fighting for.
CHAPTER SIX
Bright rays of morning sun burst through Blakely’s window the next morning. Still in bed, she threw her quilt over her face. The weather was too cheery. She wanted dark clouds and thunderstorms to match her mood. Thankfully, the only event on the agenda for the day was the bachelorette bonfire that night. She’d call the dining hall and ask if she could have her meals delivered to her cabin, if it wouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience. She couldn’t handle seeing Ronan, at least not for the next twenty-four hours.
After she took a shower, she put on her pajamas and pulled back her hair with a headband to apply a facial ma
sk. Once she spread the clay over her face, Blakely went over to her cellphone and switched her regular ear buds for the ones with the mic to call Clea, her assistant, back in her Manhattan office. She got the cabin’s coffeemaker started so she could have something to drink during her call.
As she fired up her laptop, someone pounded on the door.
“Blakely, it’s me.”
When she saw her best friend, Gigi giggled. “Wow. Good morning. You’re quite the sight.”
“Don’t start with me, Gi. I had a bad night. Remember? You were there.”
Gigi stepped inside. “Yeah, about that.”
Blakely shut the door, turning around to face her best friend. “I can’t talk now. I have to call Clea in five minutes.”
“Then give me two.”
Blakely pointed to the living room. Once the two women sat down on the sofa, Gigi cleared her throat and looked straight into Blakely’s eyes. “Ronan likes you.”
“Forgive me, I think I misheard you because haven’t had my coffee yet. What did you say?”
“Sean told me he asked about you. Come on, it’s so obvious. He’s always staring at you. All that cowboy machismo is just a façade. Ronan is a very good man. He’s kind and decent. I think you should give him a chance.”
Blakely laughed. “I don’t think you’ve had your coffee yet either.”
Gigi clasped Blakely’s hands in hers. “Don’t be scared.”
“What would I possibly have to be scared of?”
“You know what I’m talking about. Just this once, don’t let the past keep you from something that could be so amazing.”
Blakely snatched her hands away. “You need to go now.”
“Come on, don’t be mad at me,” she frowned.
Blakely shook her head. “I’m not mad. I just need to call Clea.”
Gigi paused, waiting for Blakely to say something else. After a prolonged silence, she nodded and rose from the sofa. “Okay,” she said resignedly. “I’ll see you later. We’ll talk.”
Blakely watched as Gigi walked out the door. She took a deep breath and exhaled.
Could what Gigi said actually be true? God knows she’d never lie to me.
