The Real Deal: A Dublin Nights Novel

by Sahin, Brittney

  He’d been stone-cold silent to me all day, and he’d only come near me because he knew the kids were coming over for dinner and assumed I’d need help preparing the food.

  Adam had stopped by with Cole yesterday, and I was pretty sure we talked Cole off the revenge cliff for now. But Adam was tripping over guilt about ever getting involved with Donovan in the first place and blaming himself for bringing Sebastian into our lives, though we didn’t quite fully understand any of it.

  “I really do think Sebastian has been looking out for us. I don’t think he lied at the club,” I decided to voice my thoughts, even if they were a repeat from this morning, yesterday, and Friday night after Cole stormed the club.

  “The fact you continue to defend him rips me apart.” Sean faced me, his jaw clenching beneath his beard. “He’s a murderer, Holly.” His voice more pleading than angry this time.

  “I know,” I whispered, part of me still dying on the inside at the fact, the other part wanting to absolve his sins. “But maybe I’m not that much different from Sebastian.”

  “Funny,” he grumbled.

  I braced a hand on the marble at my side for support. “Remember Eddie?”

  The blood drained from his face at the mention of my ex.

  “I stole Da’s gun and confronted him. I threatened to kill him if he ever touched another woman again without permission.” My cheeks grew warm at the admission. I could feel the color rising up my neck, too. “I’ve been keeping tabs on him over the years to make sure he hasn’t stepped out of line.”

  He brought a palm to his face, stealing his eyes from view.

  “See? You can’t even look at me.” I turned toward the counter, unable to handle the disappointment.

  Sean caught my arm with a gentle touch. “I know.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I followed you to his house that night,” he confessed. “I was worried you’d do something dangerous. You were as upset as I was.” His lower lip momentarily rolled inward. “I watched through the window, ensuring he didn’t hurt you.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “Because I went in after you left, and I broke his arm.”

  My mouth gaped at his admission. The shocking and unexpected truth settled between us for a solid minute.

  “You think I’m not like Adam, but maybe we are similar, and I just wear a better disguise.”

  “Then how can you—”

  “I’m still nothing like Sebastian,” he interrupted. “And neither are you.”

  The sound of the buzzer for the front door of the building killed any chance at finishing the conversation. I tapped the button on his security system to let them into the flat complex.

  I glanced back on my way to the front door. “We’ll talk about this later.”

  I checked myself in the mirror by the door even though I knew Sebastian wouldn’t be coming.

  I was dressed casually—jeans and a jumper, cranberry-red lip gloss a shade lighter than the jumper. My green eyes appeared darker, most likely due to all the crying I’d done in the last few days.

  Laughing at what could only be the boys knocking at the same time, I swung open the door. The air whooshed free of my lungs at the sight before me.

  Declan and Samuel were in faded denim jeans with matching khaki jackets open to a white pressed shirt. A bouquet of gorgeously arranged flowers were in Declan’s hands, a box of chocolates in Samuel’s, and . . . Sebastian stood behind them with a bottle of Proper Twelve.

  My heart grew heavy in my chest, and memories of our night in Limerick flew to mind.

  “Hi,” I mouthed in disbelief. “You came.”

  “We made him.” Samuel’s slightly crooked teeth showed as his lips spread into a broad smile.

  Declan’s gaze moved behind me, and when I tracked his eyes, I knew Sean must’ve been there, and oh God, this wasn’t going to end well.

  I whirled around to face my brother, holding my hands in the air, prepared to protest, when he cocked his head and said in a deep, cutting voice, “Renaud, we weren’t expecting you.” Sean thanked the boys for the flowers and chocolate. “Want to help out in the kitchen?” he asked them, and I blinked in surprise.

  Samuel sidestepped me to go inside. “Wow, what a place!”

  I couldn’t tear my eyes off Sebastian, bottle clutched between his palms like he didn’t have a damn clue what to do. And that made the two of us. “Give him a break,” Declan whispered into my ear as he passed. “He’s clearly in love with ya.”

  I tried to hide the shock on my face at his words as Sean told the boys, “We’ll be right in.” He urged me into the hall and closed the door, so the three of us were alone.

  “I didn’t want to come,” Sebastian said, his voice flat. “I can go.”

  “But they want you here?” I asked before Sean could say whatever angry words he no doubt had queued up and ready to fire at Sebastian.

  He nodded. “They don’t exactly give up.”

  “You have balls showing up,” Sean said, and Sebastian turned to leave, but then he asked, “Were you really looking out for my family?”

  I looked at my brother in surprise as Sebastian faced us. “Yes, and I’d do it again without hesitation.”

  “Holly wants these kids to have a nice dinner, and they clearly want you here . . . but don’t think for one second—”

  “Sean,” I scolded.

  He shook his head but went back into his flat.

  “My being here is confusing,” Sebastian said when we were alone, “and for that, I’m sorry.”

  “Only for that?” I asked while accepting the bottle.

  “No.” He removed his overcoat and draped it over his arm, revealing a relaxed look. A white cotton button-down, jeans, and brown oxfords. “I’m sorry for much more.”

  “Well.” I bit into my lip for a second. “You know how to cook?”

  “Not really.”

  “Know how to use a knife, at least?” My heart jumped into my throat. He probably knew how to use one very well, didn’t he?

  Reality. Truth. They tried to fight and push for a winning place in my mind, but his seductive brown eyes and the crook of lips into a slight smile shut them down.

  “I think I can manage,” he answered, a slight rasp to his tone.

  “Then let’s go.” I opened the door and motioned him inside. “You can keep your shoes on here.”

  Sean’s place was an open concept design and bare-bones decorated, much to Ma’s dismay. White columns delineated the living room and kitchen on the first floor, which included an office and the guest room where I’d been staying. The second level housed his master suite, a guest room, and a workout area. Declan was already lounging on the couch, and Samuel stood at the breakfast bar, chatting with Sean in the kitchen.

  “I couldn’t decide on what to make, so I kind of got everything.” I entered the kitchen and set the Proper Twelve on the counter. “We’ll be having bacon and cabbage, Irish stew, and smoked salmon. And since I didn’t have time to make my own, I got the best soda bread this side of Dublin.” I’d hit up the Moore Street Market. Vendors lined up along the cobblestone street, offering their local produce and meat, plus a few delicious imported items. It was one of my favorite places to shop on the rare occasions I actually cooked.

  Samuel pressed his palms to the counter and lifted his nose, excitement in his eyes. “So, this is what heaven is like?”

  “Don’t go gettin’ used to it,” Declan called out. “When Ma’s back we’re going home.”

  “No.” Sebastian set his coat on the armchair by the couch and faced him. “She’ll stay at the hotel. I’m not having you go back to that place. She can work there if she wants.”

  Declan stood and faced him. “You’re serious?”

  “I think that’d be best. And maybe you’ll consider going back to school?”

  I looked back and forth between Declan and Sebastian, and Sean observed the exchange as well. He didn’
t know what to make of this side of Sebastian, did he? Maybe him coming to dinner was exactly what was needed to prove to Sean he wasn’t a bad guy. Maybe I needed this night, too.

  “I don’t know about school. The club has its perks.” Declan plopped back onto the brown leather couch and reached for the remote to flip on the telly.

  “You’re going to school next year,” Sebastian said with a father-like tone.

  “Well, I love school,” Samuel chimed in as Sebastian came up next to him and mussed up his hair. “I want to go to New York for uni.” He beamed. “But Declan, nope, he’s in love with Ola. No way will he leave that club.”

  “Ola?” Sebastian folded his arms and turned to the side to observe both boys.

  Samuel eagerly nodded. “That’s what I heard him tell his friend on the mobile last night. And when I met her yesterday she—”

  “Shut up,” Declan said, his voice low but playful. He was on his feet, eyeing his brother with a shake of the head, a plea not to continue.

  “Did you take Samuel to the club yesterday?” Sebastian asked, more so surprise than anger in his tone.

  Declan rubbed at his forehead as if pushing away a headache. “He followed me there when you wouldn’t hang out with him. Too busy sulking in your suite.” He lifted his head, and there was a smile in his eyes, a threat to back off.

  Out of the corner of my eye, Sean stilled for a brief moment, most likely digesting Declan’s words, same as me. “And Ola, who is she?” I asked.

  Declan smiled. Yup, teenage love, for sure. He’d fallen hard and fast. I knew a thing or two about that. “She’s Polish. Blonde. Funny and smart. Wants to be a nurse but I’ve heard her singing in the back while stocking the liquor, and damn that woman has a voice.”

  “Oh, I think we met her, and I can see why you like her.” I prepped the bacon as Sebastian cleared his throat and pivoted my direction.

  “Don’t go to the club again. It’s not a place for a kid.” He slapped a hand to Samuel’s shoulder and squeezed. “And Ola’s too old for you.” He casually tossed the words over his shoulder, and Declan rolled his eyes, then faced the telly.

  “Want to help?” I asked Sebastian as he eyed the food on the counter.

  “Sure.”

  “Wash up first,” I ordered.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He winked, but it was meant for Samuel, and the kid’s broad smile showed he was eating it up.

  Sean continued prepping the salmon, observing the scene discreetly while doing his best to maintain distance and not engage with Sebastian.

  Declan flipped on the music channel on the telly and turned up the volume. He stood and began bopping his head, mouthing the lyrics. I’d expected a sour mood after being told not to pursue his new love interest, but he appeared unshakeable.

  “Who is this singing?” I asked as Sebastian pushed up his sleeves and began to wash his hands next to me.

  “Rag’n’Bone Man,” Declan answered.

  Sebastian dried his hands and went back to the other side of the island, snagging a chopping board and knife on his way. I’d prepared the veggies for the stew to be diced, and he started in on the job.

  I couldn’t rip my eyes off his strong forearms to save my life. The muscles tightening with every move of the knife, the veins prominent. Each cut and slice was done with precision. The man did know his way around a knife.

  My eyes dragged from the knife to Sebastian’s chest and up to his tan throat. Finally to his mouth.

  His lips were in a flat line, his eyes dedicated to the work in front of him.

  “So, what makes you want to go to New York for school?” I needed to fill the silence before it became too damn awkward.

  Samuel sat on the stool and rested his cheeks in his palms, elbows on the counter. “I want to be a writer. I think New York would be great for that.”

  “He’s got the poor part down of being a writer.” Declan lowered the music and joined us, standing off to the side of his brother, eyeing the food like he’d never seen so much in his life. “Writers don’t make much money, kid.”

  “I don’t care about that.” Samuel’s blue eyes moved his way. “And do you think wannabe singers do?”

  “There’s nothing ‘wannabe’ about me, bro.” Declan glimpsed me, a touch of red at the base of his throat. Was he embarrassed? He had more sides to him than I realized.

  I leaned over the counter a little. “How about you write the songs and your brother sings them?”

  “He needs to experience life more before he can write music.” Declan snatched a raw carrot and took a bite.

  I was pretty sure they’d both already experienced more than their fair share.

  “You ever been to New York?” Samuel asked, choosing to ignore his brother’s jab.

  I turned on the double ovens and came back to the counter. “Our cousins, Cole and Bree, live in New York. One of them is even an actress.”

  “Oh, can I see her?” he asked, and Sebastian looked up at the mention of Cole’s name.

  Sean also froze, his hand hovering above the faucet handle.

  We can do this. We can survive the night. I cleaned my hands and grabbed my mobile. “Here.” I showed him some saved images I had of her.

  Sebastian went back to cutting. Sean went back to being quiet and fixing the salmon. And I watched with a smile as Samuel swiped through the photos.

  “She’s pretty!” His eyes bulged when he flipped to the next image. “Is-is that Iron Man next to her?” He almost dropped my mobile from excitement. “I can’t believe it.”

  “She’s pretty lucky.” Maybe Bree would even audition for Harrison’s film. Well, if he still wanted to work with us.

  Samuel handed me back my phone. “Maybe we can take a trip there?”

  “And what, leave Ma behind?” Declan snapped, and Samuel flinched.

  Sebastian set his knife down as if not sure how to handle the situation. That’d make two of us. Adam had a lot more experience with kids than me, and I didn’t want to say the wrong thing.

  “She may never come back.” Samuel dropped his palms to the counter and slouched.

  “She will.” Sean’s words had my focus winging his way in surprise, and all the knots in my stomach seemed to loosen.

  Sebastian looked his way too, and Sean’s eyes went straight for him. Sebastian tipped his head ever so slightly as if in thanks, and I remained glued in place like a bloody idiot, terrified I was imagining what almost felt like a truce of sorts.

  “Tell me about her,” Sean said after placing the salmon in the oven, and he brought his hands to the counter to observe the boys.

  Declan scratched at the stubble on his jaw as if torn between wanting to talk and maybe run away.

  “She’s wicked pretty,” Samuel said with a laugh.

  “‘Wicked’?” Sean smiled.

  “He’s been watching a lot of American movies while at the hotel, and he’s picking up their slang,” Declan explained. “We didn’t exactly have a telly where we lived before.”

  Samuel jerked a thumb Sebastian’s way. “He even teared up while we watched the movie Marley & Me.”

  Marley & Me? Oh, I remembered that film. I ugly cried about the dog.

  But wow, I had no clue he’d been spending time with the boys. Well, other than the night they played rugby.

  “I didn’t cry.” Sebastian slid the cutting board across the counter, all the veggies now prepped.

  I bit into my lip, drawing up a visual of Sebastian and Samuel on the couch watching a movie. Would Sebastian have slung his arm around his shoulder? Had there been popcorn and candy?

  “Anyway, Ma is an artist. She paints.” Samuel looked down at his hands. “She used to paint.”

  “You got any games here?” Declan asked out of the blue, and he was clearly coming in for the save to prevent his brother from growing depressed about the absence of his mother.

  “Dinner has to cook for a bit,” Sean began, “how about we play Twenty-Five?”

>   “Sure,” Declan answered. “Where are the cards?”

  Sean pointed to the coffee table in front of the couch. “In the drawer over there.”

  Declan wrapped an arm around Samuel and guided him out of the kitchen.

  I poured the veggies into the pot on the stove. “I’m finished here for now. I’ll join you all while I keep an eye on the food.” I glimpsed the boys sitting at the table between the living room and kitchen area as Declan shuffled the cards.

  Sean nodded and walked past me, then paused and looked at Sebastian. “You coming?”

  His brows drew together. “Uh, yeah.”

  Was that an olive branch? Was I hallucinating?

  But after thirty minutes of playing cards, and Samuel managing to drag three hilarious stories out of Sebastian, I realized this night was real.

  And the ice around Sean’s heart toward Sebastian began to thaw even more over dinner as well.

  “Do you make it a habit of helping people like this?” Sean asked when the three of us adults were alone in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner while Declan and Samuel selected a movie to watch.

  Sean folded his arms and pressed his back to the counter, his focus on Sebastian.

  My heart jumped. Hell, it took a giant-size leap as hope latched on to me that I was pulling Sean to my side, to believing Sebastian wasn’t a bad man.

  “I do what I can to help people. Don’t you?” Sebastian asked, keeping his voice low so the boys wouldn’t hear.

  Sean looked my way, hesitation or maybe confusion in his eyes, then left the kitchen without another word. And what could he say? Everything he thought he knew about the man had probably gone out the window tonight, seeing how Sebastian had acted with the kids.

  “Hey,” I said softly and moved in closer to him. “You okay?”

  Sebastian dragged his gaze from the floor to my eyes. “Thank you for giving the boys this night. They needed it. It may not seem like a big thing, but trust me, it is.”

  And he knew firsthand what it was like to be those boys, so yeah, I could imagine he was speaking from experience. “They’re good kids. I never thought I’d be happy to be almost mugged,” I pretty much whispered, “but I am, or they wouldn’t be here. They wouldn’t have you in their corner.”