Ryan’s eyes twinkled and softened. “He loves you, Sinead. I’d bet my life on it. He might not know how to tell you, but he’s had no experience to draw on. His Mum’s illness and the business have been his world for so long, he’s had no time for anyone else. When he told me he took you to meet her, well, it blew me away. He’s never mentioned his Mum’s illness to a woman before, as far as I can tell. He hardly talks to me about it and we’ve been friends for nearly fifteen years.”
A tiny, flickering candle of hope lit up inside her. Gabriel might still care. Maybe things weren’t really over between them. She allowed the pleasure to play across her face, allowed the light to shine and the flames to lick and heat every part of her.
“Thanks Ryan. I appreciate you telling me all this. More than you could know.” She patted the napkin down in her lap, not meeting Ryan’s gaze.
“Gabe’s a good man. Most people have no idea, but I do. He helped me through the hardest time in my life …” Ryan took a deep breath, raw pain twisting his expression. Sinead tipped her chin up to watch him. He continued, as if nothing had happened. “I know you see it too, who he really is. He deserves to be happy and I think you might be the one for him.”
She blinked, hoping her verge-of-teariness wouldn’t tip over into ugly snot crying. “Stop it now, before you make me cry. I love him, so much it scares the bejeezus out of me. I told him I’d wait for him.” Sinead picked up a menu to hide her watery eyes and scanned the house specialties. “I’ll have the Chateaubriand, frites and sauce béarnaise. Sounds fabulous.”
Ryan grinned. “You’re my kind of woman, Sinead. Steak and chips, no messing around. If Gabriel stuffs up I’ll take you out in a heartbeat.”
“You’re all charm, Ryan. But despite yourself, you’re a good friend.” She tipped her head to one side and asked the other question that intrigued her. “What’s happening between you and Charlotte, if you don’t mind my asking?”
Ryan’s face seemed to go blank, then he huffed out a breath. “A fat lot of nothing, but it’s all my own fault. She wanted us to go together to the company cocktail party. As a couple.”
“And …” Sinead prompted him to keep going. It was like pulling teeth, trying to get men to talk about relationships.
“And I kissed her. Really kissed her. In the office. It was completely inappropriate considering she works for me. So then I turned her down.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “I stuffed things up. Now she doesn’t even want to talk to me.”
No wonder Charlotte had seemed upset the night of the cocktail party. Sinead hadn’t had a chance to find out if Charlotte was okay, after all that happened with Padraig.
Ryan was watching her. She met his eyes, which sparkled, but were more serious than usual. “But you like her?”
“Of course I do. She’s amazing. Beautiful and brilliant.”
“So, what are you doing sitting here with me? Go back to London and make it right.”
Ryan nodded, suddenly thoughtful. “Do you think Charlotte could really be interested in a bloke like me?
She smiled. “A big, strapping, handsome bloke like you who cares about his friends and wants to see them happy? Yes, I think Charlotte could be persuaded.”
Ryan grinned and finished his coffee. “Sorry about lunch, but I have to go.” He rose from his seat and extended his hand. “Good luck, Sinead.”
She shook his hand. “Good luck to you too.”
Sinead relaxed into her seat, feeling infinitely better about lunch, men, Bridie, love, basically the whole world. All because of Gabriel.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Mermaid Airlines flight 360, London to Thailand
30,000 feet above Thailand
The plane dipped with mild turbulence and Sinead had to grip the armrests to stop herself from unclicking her seatbelt and dashing to a crew member for a weather update. She breathed out, long and slow. She was only a passenger today.
This flight was nothing like the other Asian stopover in Singapore. The typhoon. The storm that whipped up all the turbulence in her life. It was best not to think about it.
She gazed out the window. The best thing about flying to Thailand was the food. No, the weather. She looked forward to all of it. Once they descended below the light clouds it would be blue skies on the horizon and calm oceans as far as she could see.
It’d been two long weeks since she’d last spoken to Gabriel. A couple of days after her unexpected lunch in Paris with Ryan, Gabriel had contacted her, leaving a voicemail message so sad it nearly broke her heart. His Mum had another infection, she was being treated with yet more antibiotics. He needed to tell her how his Mum was doing, he said. Nothing about his feelings, how he was holding up. But she’d read between the lines. He’d called her, needing to talk to someone. That had to be a good sign.
She’d called him back and endured a painful, stilted conversation. She told him she loved him and missed him. He said nothing, but she’d heard him sigh into the silence. God, how she’d wanted to wrap him in her arms.
It had been three days since he’d last texted, not that she was counting. Her phone was deathly silent and it was a bit strange, nothing more to it. She hadn’t responded to his messages anyway. The ball was in his court. She was setting some boundaries and some firm ground rules. She was proud of herself, really. Even if her rules didn’t always work out the way she planned.
If he wanted her, he would have to make the next move. He’d have to lay his feelings on the line. She couldn’t be the only one to put her heart out there, ready to be stomped on, all red and squishy, bleeding under his feet.
But she had an overactive imagination. There would be no stomping and no squishing.
After her short trip to Paris, she’d had a hectic schedule of flights from London to Sydney, thankfully avoiding Gabriel’s hometown of Melbourne, then more European flights. Between each short trip she’d headed back to her lonely flat in London.
Oddly enough, the highlight of being in London had been hanging out with Bridie. Her little sister had been excited to share her news about her impending move to Melbourne to train as a graphic designer. When Sinead quizzed Bridie about exactly how this opportunity came about, Bridie clammed up. But she had asked if Sinead had talked to Gabriel lately, with a bright and hopeful tone of voice.
So maybe Sinead did have reason to hope. She crossed her fingers.
Time to focus on the here and now. The plane started its descent and she closed her eyes, smooshing her hair against the headrest. Soon she’d be relaxing on her first real holiday in a year.
Thailand, here I come.
She tried to summon some enthusiasm for yet another solo trip. Sure, it might be lonely. But maybe she’d meet some fellow travellers to chat to, or play bingo at the resort. She could go snorkelling and stare at the tropical fish. Or go fishing. They were all perfectly good activities for a single woman. It would be nice. Relaxing. There were stunning beaches and delicious food waiting for her. C is for … coconut crab.
If only she could have convinced Gabriel to be braver with his heart. He could have been here with her now, sitting beside her where he belonged. But she couldn’t convince him to love her unless he believed it with his whole being, unless he knew it to be true. Gabriel needed to decide what sort of a life he really wanted, and whether he had a place for her in his future. But he had to stay by his mother’s side.
Sinead wanted him by her side for always but he had to choose for himself. He was being a blind idiot, so she’d wait him out. If only every second didn’t drag on forever without him.
She should take up fishing. It might teach her patience.
Sinead emerged from the customs barrier into the solid Bangkok heat, fresh as a daisy. Hardly. The heat was only mildly softened by the air-conditioning and ceiling fans in the arrivals hall.
She dragged her suitcase behind her, unsticking her T-shirt from her back, and scanned the line of waiting tour guides and shuttle bus drivers. There should have
been someone from her resort meeting her. Navigating around a bunch of rowdy Aussie girls painted orange in their fake tanner and their shorts and sandals, she came to a standstill.
Through the throng of travellers she spotted someone holding a placard with her name: Ms Kennealy. She gravitated towards it. Then she started in surprise, slapping her hand over her mouth, as the placard was flipped over to reveal a second slogan: Irish princess.
The man holding the card slowly lowered his arms and revealed his beautiful face.
She ran so fast her heart tripped over along with her legs and a zap of bright electric joy buzzed through her body. Sinead pushed past confused passengers, anyone standing in her way was liable to get a swift elbow to the ribs.
She had to get to him, her Gabriel.
Then she was right in front of him. She reached up to touch his face and he engulfed her in a breath-stealing embrace. Suddenly she was kissing him, revelling in the hot touch of his lips against hers, the taste of him like peppermint, coffee and home.
He kissed her right back like he meant it, giving her everything, saying so much without words.
Living in the moment, she melted into him and the whole world drifted away. And she knew. This was it, her real-life Love Actually moment.
Yay, yay, yay!
“How did you find me here?” she asked. When she pulled away, she hung onto his shirt so he wouldn’t disappear.
“Truth? I called your mother. We had a long chat and she was very helpful when I told her I’m in love with you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “The sneaky old woman. She never said a word. Wait, what did you say?” Sinead pulled further back to examine Gabriel’s cheeky but smouldering hot expression.
“I’m in love with you. I love you, Irish, so damned much. I missed you like I was missing a limb when I told you to leave. I’ve been an idiot, about so many things.” His head tipped down so their foreheads touched. “I went to the doctor and finally had those tests … scans and blood tests and memory tests. I’m fine, Sinead. They don’t think I’ll get sick like Mum. I need you to understand. And I needed to tell you I love you. I never believed I’d love anyone, or they’d love me back.” Gabriel dipped his head and brushed his lips against hers.
She sighed in pure bliss. Even as her heart danced in one direction to hear he was healthy, she still wanted to smack him from the other direction for pushing her away, and for nearly breaking her heart.
“You’re the only one for me. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, inside and out. You’ve shown me what I’ve been missing and I want it all with you. A real life, love, a partner, laughter and so much more. I want to belong to you. I’m yours, Sinead. You’re everything to me and I’m not letting you get away ever again.”
Her heart leapt, knowing it was true. He was hers. She held a finger to his lips, stopping the babble of words out of his mouth, although she loved to hear them.
She grinned like the lovesick fool she was. “Shh, Gabriel. I knew I loved you the second day we were together and you called me your naughty little trolley dolly.” Touching his face, running her fingers over his stubble-dusted jaw, she hardly believed he was really there.
He’d come to find her, to tell her he loved her. She was getting woozy and she didn’t think the heat was to blame.
Gabriel shifted and whispered against her throat. “You like it when I talk dirty, huh? So you’re prepared, I’ve been working on some new material for tonight.”
“Are you coming with me on holiday?” Hope welled up inside her again. They could be together properly, a real couple in love, building a future.
Gabriel pulled away and shot her a smile that made her mouth go dry. “Yeah, on holiday, and forever, if you’ll have me.”
Her heart went pitter-patter-thump and her thighs tingled in anticipation of the dirty-talking, amongst other things. “I’ll have you all right. Every which way ’till Sunday and then some.”
“That’s my girl.”
It was true. She was absolutely his. So she kissed the bejeezus out of him.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Lonely Beach, Koh Chang, Thailand
The bliss was almost too much to take. Sinead lay on her stomach on a teak sun lounger facing the ocean, watching the waves lap at the perfect white sandy beach. She stretched out and arched her back like a cat, enjoying the slight release of tension in her muscles and the sunshine warming her skin. She could have purred with contentment.
Gabriel sat on the edge of the lounge beside her, massaging her back with coconut oil. The fragrance wafted through the air and added to the moment, a perfect holiday snapshot in real life. She was so relaxed, she was practically boneless.
Gabriel had picked up some moves from the Thai masseuse at the resort over the past two weeks and he seemed dedicated to looking after her, doing whatever would give her pleasure. She sighed as he untied the strings at the back of her skimpy white bikini and continued to roll and press her skin with his strong hands.
She sighed deeper. Almost a groan. “Mmm, lovely.”
“Lovely like you.”
Gabriel kissed the spot he loved, right below her ear. The same spot that drove her crazy with desire when he teased her just so. He knew it too. Sinead shivered in spite of the sun beating down on them.
She properly groaned, squeezing her thighs together. “Don’t do that to me here on the beach. We might get carried away.” But she made no effort to stop him.
He kissed her ear lobe, making her squirm. “I don’t think anyone around here would mind.”
It was probably true, no one would care about semi-indecent frolicking on the beach. Lonely Beach was a hippy hangout for travellers from around the globe, where all levels of nakedness and combinations of dreadlocks, bikinis and tie-dyed clothing were perfectly acceptable.
It was such a slow, chilled-out way of life, compared to their normal hectic pace jetting around the world. Exactly what they both needed. Some time away from the everyday, to get to know each other and discover how wonderful they could be together.
“I was thinking about our talk last night,” Gabriel paused. His hands stilled on her shoulders. “I don’t want you to go back to London. I want you to come and live with me in Melbourne.”
Sinead sat suddenly, wanting to see his face. At the last second, she grabbed hold of her bikini top and protected her modesty – what little she had left. His gaze flicked down to her barely covered breasts and that filthy look heated his eyes. Again. She didn’t mind. In fact, her blood boiled and bubbled as she pictured what they’d get up to back inside their luxury hut further along the beach.
“Do you mean it? About living together in Melbourne?” It was what she wanted too, but she’d hesitated to suggest anything permanent yet.
He nodded, trailing his fingertips down her arms. “Yes, Melbourne, or somewhere not too far away. I need to stay close to Mum and the head office. Somewhere I could surf, like the Great Ocean Road. Bridie’s going to be living in Melbourne. And I got you some admissions information for a business degree at my old university, with a major in travel and tourism. It’d be perfect for you. I love you more than anything, Sinead. I need you with me.”
Good Lord, he was wonderful. He’d planned all that to make her happy. She studied his pinched forehead and the tight line of his jaw. He looked nervous about her response. The little ridge appeared between his eyebrows. He was adorable.
“We could … I do love it there. If I haven’t already said it enough, thank you so much for everything you’ve done for my sister. The business degree sounds amazing too. You’re so sweet, organising it for me.” She paused for a beat. Now wasn’t the time for half-measures. “Or, and this is just another option, mind you, we could get married here first and then find a house on the coast.”
She almost laughed at the stunned expression on Gabriel’s face. He’d completely blanked, as if his brain was still trying to catch up with what his ears had told him.
One corner of hi
s gorgeous mouth tipped upwards. “Did you propose to me? What is it with you always making the first move?” He pretended to be annoyed, but his eyes held bright summer sunshine which burst across his entire face.
She leaned closer, her gaze dropping to his full lower lip. “I guess I did propose. Someone has to tell you what to do in this love game, Gabriel, because honestly, you have no clue.”
“Is that right? I haven’t given you an answer yet, so don’t tease me too much.”
“Tease you? I’ve barely even started.”
She’d tease him all right.
Sinead backed away, raising herself from the sun lounger, then turned towards the sea. With her back to him, she dropped her bikini top and ran across the sand, into the waves. When she was waist-deep in the water, she turned and waved at him. Her bare breasts bounced with the movement. She was being provocative, but didn’t care about anyone else. Her eyes were only fixed on him.
She giggled as Gabriel got up and broke into a sprint, racing across the sand and splashing through the waves to meet her.
Then he stood in front of her, panting, his tanned and muscular chest bare, wearing only wet board shorts. A vision of manly perfection.
Sinead could’ve quite happily stood and stared at him for the rest of her life. But she’d rather hold him close and have Gabriel wrap his strong arms around her, for always.
“Yes,” he said.
“Yes?” Sinead’s voice held a question, not only about today, but about forever.
“I will. I do.”
She squealed as he pulled her into him, and stole her ability to think with a mind-blowing, knee-shaking kiss. He lifted her and splashed water all around in shimmering, diamond-like droplets. Then he crushed her body against him, leaving no room for doubt. She would always be his and he would always be hers.
He would always love and protect her. He was her home. No matter where in the world they ended up, they would end up together.
Sinead had been lucky enough to find a little slice of heaven on earth in Gabriel’s arms and in his heart. She wouldn’t give him up, but would always hold tight to him. The man she loved. The man who would soon be her husband. She bit his lip.
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