by Magan Vernon
And hopefully I made the right choice.
Chapter Twenty
Jack
Instead of burying my sorrows and trying not to face Grace at the office, I decided it was better to drown myself in work.
That and I was out of whiskey, so I had to leave the house at some point.
Monday morning, I was greeted by Fallon, sitting in her old seat, smiling.
“Morning, Jack. Thought you might have the flu like Grace.”
I froze. Just hearing her name sent my stomach bottoming out.
She couldn’t bear to face me, either. I thought the sassy girl would march in and tell me what’s what.
The woman who had let her guard down when she was in my arms was now afraid to even see me.
“I’m fine. Make sure all of my calls go directly to my office.” I barked, before slamming my door behind me.
I hung my suit coat up on the hook then sat down in my desk chair. While my computer booted up, I reached into my bottom drawer, where I knew I always had a bottle of whiskey on hand for guests, and late nights.
When I grabbed for one of my rocks glasses, my fingertips ran along the seam of a hidden drawer, one I’d almost forgotten about.
When I first moved into this office, when Da got sick, I found his whiskey bottle easily. But this hidden drawer wasn’t something I had expected.
Like a glutton for punishment, I opened the small drawer, pulled out the black velvet box, and opened the clasp. Inside was an emerald and diamond ring, set in a gold band with Celtic knots molded into the metal.
It was my grandmam’s, and when Mam passed, Da must have stored it here.
I stared at the jewelry and thought of what I’d just lost.
I’d never fallen so hard and fast for anyone.
“Brother. Good to see you’re in early as usual,” Connor said.
I didn’t hear him come in until it was too late, and I couldn’t hide the ring box.
His eyes widened as he approached my desk, slowly circling until he was looking down at me. “Is that what I think it is? You’re ready to propose?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m nowhere close to proposing to anyone. This was Grandmam’s ring and then Mam’s. I found it a while ago in Da’s drawer and almost forgot about it until I was looking for some whiskey.”
“What?” he asked, shaking his head as he leaned against my desk, crossing his arms over his chest.
I thought maybe Sean had spoken to him, but if he did, Connor wasn’t letting on.
I closed the ring box, putting it back in the drawer before I pulled out the bottle and two glasses. “This probably needs a drink for me to explain.”
“That bad that we should be drinking at eight in the morning?” he asked as I poured each of our glasses.
I quickly summed up tea at Grace’s grandparents and how it ended with her talking about a job in London and her grandmum. Once I finished, I stared at our full glasses, the liquid no longer looking enticing.
“That’s some bullshite,” he replied.
“You’re telling me.”
“So what are you going to do about it?” He asked, drumming his fingers on the desk.
I frowned. “What do you mean, ‘what am I going to do’? I really cared for the girl, and when all that came out, she didn’t deny it. She didn’t look pleased, though. Maybe I’m not meant for any of this marriage stuff. I should just find a woman to partner with so we can get the company then divorce her with a settlement. That’s all I’m meant for.”
“You know we’re not all destined to be alone like Da,” Connor said, resting his hands on his lap.
I didn’t respond and leaned back in my chair. So he was right about drinking at eight a.m., though that was the only thing that I thought could dull the pain in my head. To get me not to think about the one who got away.
“Da always talked about how important family was to him, even though he sent us off to boarding school and he never married anyone else,” Connor said. “I think he put that clause in because he wanted us to be happy. To be better than him. I think he wanted to give us that push to find love for real.”
I smirked. “Don’t go rubbing you and Fallon in my face now.”
He shook his head. “I’m just saying that when I first met Fallon, I didn’t think she was going to be my forever love. It wasn’t until it was almost too late that I realized I couldn’t be without her. After her ex showed up at our wedding, I almost did. But I couldn’t let her go. Do the same, Brother.”
“You think that I should just ignore what happened? Tell her I do have feelings for her? That I want to see if this works out and if it doesn’t, well, then screw the company?” I raised an eyebrow.
He nodded, standing up from my desk. “We all do crazy things or say stupid stuff in the moment. What matters is our actions after the fact.”
“You’re saying I should show up at her flat and grovel? Tell her all of this?” I barked.
He shrugged, already heading for the door. “That’s for you to figure out. Not me. But I can say, I know you’ve been in love with the girl since you saved her and Sean’s asses from being arrested when they were teens.”
I shook my head, the thought of that even preposterous. We had hated each other. “Are you mad?”
He laughed. “No, I think for the first time, in a long time, I’m finally seeing things. If it were any other girl Sean was calling you about to come to the rescue, you would have told him to feck off. But you didn’t because it was Grace.”
“That was years ago. I didn’t know my head from my arse back then,” I muttered, trying not to think on Connor’s words.
It was true. I remember being in the middle of a date with a fairly nice bird. But I immediately jumped in to help Sean and Grace. I told myself it was because he was my brother and she his friend. But Connor’s words made sense.
Bloody hell.
Had I really always had these feelings for her? My heart raced at the thought.
I groaned, leaning my head back against the chair. Now I knew things were more fecked up than I had originally thought.
“Call me if you need a ride to her flat or to have Fallon order flowers,” Connor said before he shut the door, leaving me in an ominous silence.
A new email notification pinged on my computer. At least work could keep my mind busy while I figured this out.
Opening up the app, my fingers froze over the keys as I read the words on the screen. The ones that would be ingrained in my memory forever.
Jack,
You’re either at work or probably still in bed with my cousin. Yes, I did see her outside, leaning over your car when I was going after you. I wanted to tell you that, yes, Mum did suggest all of that, but I never thought of any of it. I told her she was nuts for even thinking it.
I think I kept pushing you away because I didn’t want you to think I was only with you for the company. The more I pushed, the harder I fell. And I did fall hard for you. I don’t blame you for being angry, but it did hurt that you would think I would do anything to cause you harm.
I think it’s best for us to end this working relationship.
I took the job back in London, so I’ve booked a flight to Heathrow. I’ll be out of the flat and your life soon.
Though I’m gone, know that I did care about you, Jack. Whether you believe me or not I’ll miss you, and I’ll always treasure the time we had together.
Grace
If my chest wasn’t already aching, now it shattered into a million pieces.
I was an arse. There was no way she would have done what her grandmum had said. I should have known that.
Feck.
What the hell was I supposed to do now?
I couldn’t just show up at the airport with flowers and beg for forgiveness.
I looked again at the velvet box.
All of this started, I thought, when I approached the girl in the red dress at the gala.
But now I knew better.
This was the girl I was always supposed to be with. The one who made me a better man like Da wanted us to be when he made out that will. I just never saw it before. Until her.
But she was gone and all I had left was whiskey, memories, and a still looming deadline.
Worst of all, I missed her and that damn dog so much.
I had to fix this.
As if Fallon knew, she knocked on the door before opening it without an answer.
“Jack?” she asked tentatively.
“Whatever Connor told you to do, don’t do it,” I grumbled.
She laughed, walking the few steps to my desk. “Then it’s a good thing I don’t listen to him.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“I have a feeling by the heated discussion in here that Grace doesn’t have the flu.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fallon, I love you, but I don’t exactly want relationship advice from anyone right now.”
She plopped a white envelope on my desk and I stared from the paper back to her. “Then it’s a good thing I’m not giving it.”
“What is this?”
“I have access to your emails still, too. You know what you need to do and if you’re going to open that envelope and do it, that’s on you. I’m not giving you advice, I’m giving you the tools you need to go for what you want.”
I picked up the envelope, though it was light, the weight of it felt as heavy as my heart.
“You’re as mad as my brother,” I said, shaking my head with a whisper, pins and needles pricking my skin.
“Yeah, we may be. But we also know when we’re right.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Grace
I’d never quit a job before. There was probably some sort of protocol and HR would have a lot of questions about my email to Jack.
But I didn’t care.
It was what I had to say. The only way I could do that was with the written word.
I’d never been good at expressing my emotions. I could have blamed that on my cold upbringing, but the truth of the matter was, I was good at shutting people out. It was what I did.
Jack was the first person to ever make me want more.
But now I couldn’t face him. Not after what I’d done.
As I was leaving the flat, I saw a small stand that was selling Magic Stars. I had to bite my lip to hold back my emotion.
I made my way to the waiting cab, forcing my stupid feelings down.
Several minutes later we arrived at the airport. After checking in, I found the first bar I could.
The bartender peered at me, cleaning a wineglass. “What’ll be, ma’am?”
I looked at the array of bottles behind him, but one clearly caught my eye. And, like a glutton for punishment, I pointed at the bright green bottle.
“Some of the Murphy’s whiskey, please,” I said, setting Jane Pawsten and her crate at my feet before hopping on the barstool.
“Straight up? Or in a cocktail?” he asked.
I glanced at the laminated menu on the counter. There were millions of different cocktail recipes, and I knew nothing about whiskey, even after my time with Murphy’s.
“Just on the rocks, please,” I said, putting down the menu and trying to focus on anything but my thoughts of Jack.
He nodded. “Coming right up.”
Pulling my phone out of my purse, I refreshed my emails. I’d sent the letter to him this morning, but I still hadn’t heard anything. I guess this was my sign that going back to London was what I was supposed to do.
I’m pretty sure my broken heart sighed a little.
Jane Pawsten stirred in her case before she started barking loudly, causing the other patrons to stare and grimace.
“Janey,” I hissed, looking down at the now moving case. At this rate she would be across the terminal, still in the cage.
I hopped off the stool and opened the little door, with every intention of holding her and calming her down, or at least trying to. But instead of grabbing her, as soon as the zipper was undone, she pounced out of the bag and bolted away from the bar.
“Janey,” I yelled, following her with my eyes as she landed right in the arms of a well-dressed man with a dimpled smile, crouching down in front of her.
My breath caught in my throat as I slowly approached them.
“Hi, Jane Pawsten, girl, I’ve missed you,” he said, petting behind her ears.
My formerly steady beating heart was now going at warp speed.
I never thought I’d hear his beautiful Irish accent again, but here he was. Jack Murphy was in the airport, petting my dog. Making my heart do things I never ever thought it would do.
He kept his eyes on Jane Pawsten. “I was never a dog person. Never thought I’d want to own one and always told people I didn’t like animals. Then I met you and you changed all of that.”
“You can’t have my dog,” I said, my voice cracking.
He finally looked up, his beautiful blue eyes finding mine. All of the warmth that had left my body when he had left now flooded back. “I don’t want just your dog, mo gra. I want everything that comes with her. Especially you. The woman who is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“What are you doing here? I thought you’d be with Lacey.”
He shook his head. “No, not that the bird didn’t try. I left her standing in front of your grandparents’ house. You are the only woman for me. And it took me too damn long to realize it.” He stood up slowly, holding Janey in his arms. “I don’t want you to take that job in London. I need you both here with me. And not just for the company.”
My hand warmed as he took it in his. “What we both said can’t be changed. I know you don’t want to be married, and I can’t fault you for that. Maybe I’m crazy for being here right now, but I also know I’d be an absolute idiot if I let the first girl to capture my heart go. I can’t lose you, mi stolin. I love you too much.”
Love. That wasn’t a word I’d said to anyone, but now with Jack, I knew that was exactly how I felt.
“I love you, too,” I murmured.
A wide grin spread across his face as he pulled me close, Jane Pawsten not even stirring in his arms. “No more secrets. No more assumptions. Okay?”
He pushed a stray strand of my hair behind my ear and my heart beat faster and slower at the same time. “As long as I can have you again, I don’t want to worry about inheritance clauses or anything else. Just us.”
My cheeks burned, and my mind said that maybe I should wait. But my heart knew better, it always had. “Well, it’s too bad that I just quit my job at a big pub franchise and don’t have a place to stay. Maybe you know someone who can help me?”
If it was possible, the grin widened. My body turned into a complete puddle of goo. “I may know a franchise heir with a house, perfect for a dog, and some office space that could be used to set up a small press.”
I smiled, finally, and leaned into him. “Maybe if you have a salmon ladder back at that place of yours, we can talk.”
He put his arms around my waist and pulled me against his hard body. “As long as you don’t spill a drink on me.”
With that, I did the only thing that was left to do and kissed him. I poured all of my love and happiness into his lips, not caring that we were in the middle of an airport or that Jane Pawsten was barking in his arms.
This all started with a spilled drink and a red dress.
But this was my man.
And this time, I wasn’t letting him go.
Epilogue
Grace
I’d never wanted to get married.
Then Jack Murphy hit on me at a gala, and my life had never been the same.
“We should get married,” I murmured, lying in bed next to him and intertwining our fingers.
His eyes widened and I swallowed hard, the fear of rejection sinking in my gut.
“You’re serious? I thought you never wanted to…”
I sighed, rolling onto my back and pulling the sheet ov
er my chest. “I didn’t. But you need to get married for the company, and I love you. We’re practically living together as it is, why not just make the leap?”
He shook his head and slowly sat up.
My chest tightened and I clenched the sheet in my fists.
Crap. I put my heart out there and now he was going to reject me?
He leaned over the bed, riffling through his trouser pockets before sitting down.
Or I thought he was sitting down until I finally looked over. My breath caught in my throat when I sat up and found him down on one knee, holding a small black box.
“I’ve been carrying this thing around since the day you left for the airport. I knew I’d propose to you. I didn’t know when or how, but of course your stubborn arse tried to do it before I could.”
“Jack…”
He shook his head, opening the box to reveal a sparkling diamond ring inside. “We can argue about this forever and we probably will. But you’re the only woman I want to argue with forever.”
Tears stung my eyes and I wiped them away.
He frowned and stood up slowly before sitting on the bed. His hand went to my cheek, brushing a tear away with the pad of his thumb. “Too much, mo chroí?”
I sniffled. “I’m not crying because I’m sad. I’m truly happy.”
“So is that a yes? You’ll marry me?”
I smiled, taking his hand and kissing his palm. “I believe I asked you first.”
He laughed, grabbing me around the waist and pulling me close. “Did anyone ever tell you you’re a right pain in the arse? But you’re my pain, and yes I’ll marry you if you’ll have me.”
As if she knew she was interrupting a tender moment, Jane Pawsten barked from the floor, jumping so I could see the tops of her little ears.
Jack leaned over and with one hand, scooped up the little furball, putting her on the bed next to us.
I looked over at Jane, scratching behind her ears. “What do you say, Jane Pawsten? Think we should give up this whole ‘never getting married thing’?”
She barked, turning in a small circle before curling on the bed next to us.
“I don’t speak dog, but I’m thinking that’s a yes,” Jack said, one hand on my waist and the other on Jane’s back.
