Emerald Myst

by Aliyah Burke

  “Inside please. I’ve heard about the new improved Emerald Myst and am looking forward to seeing it for myself.”

  He went by her as she waved him in, smelling of pomade for his slicked back golden-brown hair.

  “Heard about it? From who? Where?”

  He slid into a chair across from her. She gestured to the coffee.

  “Help yourself.”

  “When a black woman comes to Ireland to take over a run-down bar and increases the patronage, word spreads.”

  She leaned back in her chair. “That so? And why is that? Because a woman shouldn’t be able to do that? Or is it the color of my skin?”

  “No, it’s because of who your father was.”

  “What about who he was?” She tightened her hold on the mug while he fixed his own drink.

  “I have no wish to speak ill of the departed.”

  “Obviously you do for you brought him up. But fine, let’s not talk about him. Why don’t you tell me what this proposition you have for me is.”

  She had to give herself credit. The woman she’d been in Pittsburgh wouldn’t have been strong enough for this. She had been far to content to remain in the background and allow others to take credit for her work. Not now. She poured blood, sweat, and tears into this place. She and Finn deserved the credit.

  “I’d like to buy your bar.”

  It’s not for sale. She blinked and reached for the file he handed her from his black case. “Why are you interested in my bar?”

  “You’ve done amazingly well. We think with the right monetary backing it can be even better.”

  “Yet you come to me with solely an offer to buy, not for the monetary backing. From that I will deduce you believe that you can run it better than a black woman from Pittsburgh. Brings me back to the is it because I’m a woman? Or a black woman? American? Perhaps a bit of all three?”

  He flared his nose but didn’t answer, merely sipped his coffee. She opened the file and stared at his name on the business card in there.

  “Let me take a look at your proposal Mr. Whitten and I will be in touch with you in a few days.”

  “Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.” He finished his coffee and stuck out his hand.

  She didn’t get to her feet but shook his hand. “I’m sure you will. Safe travels, Mr. Whitten.”

  Once he exited the building, she took to her feet and went to the door, leaning there as he got in his SUV and drove away. She made short work of cleaning up, finished her own drink as she perused the proposal he’d left with her.

  He’s offering a lot of money. I wouldn’t think this was worth such a price for sale. Wonder if the extra is supposed to be an incentive for me to take the deal.

  She needed to think about this. Ignoring the rain, she made her way to the river and the bridge over it. Walking to the side, she sat, dangling her legs over. After a while a few of the village boys joined her, fishing. She didn’t mind, just sat with them while they enjoyed their day.

  “See you boys later,” she said about two hours later.

  Moving through town, she stopped at Kells. Shrugging out of her jacket once inside, she hung it up and looked around. People watched her but there was more reservation in those gazes than she’d seen in months.

  She took her typical seat and waited for Honora. The woman came and set her coffee down without a word and turned to walk away.

  “Did I do something wrong? Honora?”

  The young waitress faced her, face full of disappointment. “Why would you ask that?”

  “The fact I’m getting the cold shoulder from you and everyone else in here. What did I do wrong?”

  “We thought you were one of us, thought you liked us.”

  “Okay, I do like you and I’m thrilled to be considered one of you. What brought this on? Is it because I slept with Finn?”

  Her eyes bugged wide. “You slept with Finn?” Her screech sent that bit of information to the entire place and it fell silent once more as they all focused on her and Honora.

  Why do I embarrass myself like this? “So that wasn’t it. Can you tell me what I did?”

  Honora sat across from her. “You’re selling Emerald Myst.”

  A scowl slapped over her features. “No, I’m not. Who said I was selling?”

  “Finn said you met with Alexander Whitten.”

  Her eyebrows jacked up to her hairline. “He did, did he?”

  “If you’re not selling why would you meet with him?”

  “First, Mr. Whitten called me and asked me to meet him. I had no idea who he was. He gave me his proposition and said he hoped to hear from me. Was it an offer to purchase Emerald Myst? Yes. Am I taking it? No. I had about two seconds when I saw the amount he offered where I thought about it, but then I did some more thinking, while I was sitting out on the bridge with Tommy and Jamie as they fished. And I came to the conclusion that if that man thinks it’s worth that, I must be on the right track. I don’t want to give some people I don’t know money when I can make it larger and better myself, bringing in revenue for the village and the people here instead of a huge building somewhere else.”

  Honora squealed again and dashed around the table to hug her. “I’m so happy. And I want to know all about you and Finn but I have to get your food first.”

  In the time to get the food out there, everyone had come up to her telling her how glad they were she wasn’t selling. It made her feel wonderful, expect when she thought about Finn and how he immediately assumed she was going to sell just because an offer was put before her. Not much different than him wanting me because he was under the impression Donnie wanted to date me.

  That was a pain that cut deep and long. And one she would take care of after she ate.

  Finn wasn’t at the bar when she got back and she wasn’t sure where he would be. Picking up her phone, she dialed him and it went to voicemail.

  Without leaving a message, she went back downstairs once she’d packed a bag. McSweeny was there.

  “Going somewhere, lass?”

  “Back to America. Excuse me.” She loved the old coot but if people were going to jump to conclusions and were going to think about her as scum, she may as well let them until she got back.

  Thankfully Donnie was there to take her to the bus so she could head to the airport.

  Chapter 9

  “What did you do to her?”

  Finn looked up from his plate of food at his mother’s table to see McSweeny stomping over to her.

  “What did I do to who?”

  “That sweet lass of yours.”

  “Nothing.” Except I fucked her all hours of the night and early morning.

  “Really? I hear all over the village the two of you slept together and now she’s heading back to the States.”

  He dropped his fork. “What? She’s going where?”

  “Your boy is daft,” he said to Finn’s mother. “Notice how he ignores the sleeping together bit?”

  “I’m beginning to think that as well.”

  “Guess she got her money and is running home.”

  “That’s the other rumor I’m hearing. And you’re wrong. She didn’t suss this man out, he approached her and she agreed to meet him as she didn’t know who he was. Honora said she wasn’t selling.”

  “How would she know?”

  “Because unlike some hardheaded Irishman I have before me here, she asked Emmie if she was or not. She didn’t assume.”

  The pain of betrayal he felt when he overheard them talking about selling the bar had cut him more than he’d believed possible. Sure it was hers and he couldn’t stop her if selling was what she wished to do, but he hoped the place meant more than that to her. That he’d meant more than that to her. However, he’d jumped to a conclusion when he’d heard those words and left, not bothering to clarify or ask her directly. Then he ignored her call.

  “How is she getting out of the village?”

  “Donnie took her.”

  �
�I’m going to kill him,” he growled, shoving back from the table. “I need your truck McSweeny.”

  His grandfather tossed him the keys and Finn snatched them out of the air.

  “Don’t wreck it.”

  He didn’t answer, for he had to get moving. Running flat out for the old truck, he cranked the engine the moment he got into the seat. Shoving it into gear, he spun out of the driveway, gravel and rocks flying up from the tires.

  He knew the nearest station that would get her to the bus if she didn’t wait in Dunphy to catch it, and if Donnie took her, then she wasn’t here. Asking the truck for every bit of speed he could get from it, he tore off down the narrow road.

  At the station, he saw Donnie’s car and blocked him in. The man got out.

  “What is your problem, Finn?”

  “Where is she?”

  “Emmie?”

  “Yes!”

  “Alright, alright. Christ, what’s wrong with you? She’s already on the bus, it left about ten minutes ago.”

  “Fuck.” He climbed back in the truck, only to kick the door back open and march to Donnie. “Hands off her Donnie. Emmie is my woman.”

  The man chuckled but it fell short when Finn leveled a glare at him.

  “Shit, you mean that don’t you?”

  “I do. Be her friend, fine, but anything else, get the slightest hope for that out of your head.”

  Donnie held up his hands and backed away. “I’m not about to piss you off, Finn. Learned that lesson in school.”

  One final glare and he was back in the truck, chasing down a bus. He caught up to it a few towns and villages later. Whipping around it, he gave them enough space to stop and parked the truck in the middle of the road, perpendicular. Tires squealing, the bus shuddered to a stop and he was at the door the second it opened.

  “You are out of your mind, son,” the driver yelled at him. “Get that out of the road.”

  “Not until I say what I have came to say to a passenger on this bus. Emmie! Emmie where are you?”

  “For Christ’s sake, Finn. What did you do? Are you insane?”

  He leapt to the top of the steps and relief slammed him when he saw her standing staring up at him. She had gripped the seat before her.

  “You can’t leave.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Yes I can. And I am. Why does it matter? You believe the worst of me anyway.”

  “I did, I jumped to that conclusion that you were selling Emerald Myst. I’m sorry for that. I should have known you would not sell that place. Your home. Your past, present, and your future.”

  He moved down the aisle toward her. The devastation in her gaze tore him apart.

  “You don’t know anything. And I’m going home.”

  “To what? You’ve been here for four months. What are you going back there for? The ex-boyfriend who cheated on you? The job where the boss made passes at you and you let others take credit for your work?”

  Her chin wobbled and he continued toward her.

  “You have friends and family here.”

  “I have people who don’t like me and don’t believe I can run a bar. Or shouldn’t. I can do that in the States just fine.”

  “But you are running a bar, you’re putting Dunphy on the map. You discover new talent by letting up and coming musicians play at the bar. We’re getting the kitchen up and running to be able to expand and turn it into a full restaurant if that’s what you want. These are all your visions.” He took a deep breath. “They are happening because you are implementing them.”

  “And it will still run if I’m in the States.”

  “By who? Who’s going to run it if you’re not there?”

  “You. Isn’t that what you wanted? The place to yourself. You even called it your bar when I first met you.”

  “I won’t run it if you’re not there, Emmie.”

  “Why not?”

  He swallowed, aware of every eye in there on him. It didn’t matter. One thing did and that one thing only. Her. Emerald Donaghue. His Emmie. “Because I’ll follow you to America.”

  She pulled back slightly. Some of the women sighed at his words while some of the men nodded.

  Her lips pinched before smoothing out. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

  “What about love does?”

  Emmie shook her head. “Don’t say that.”

  He stopped before her and tipped her chin up to see her eyes. “Don’t say what? The truth? That I’ve felt this way for months and what we shared last night I don’t want to lose. You go to America, I’ll come with you. I want you, Emerald Donaghue. Whether we’re here in Ireland or somewhere else. It’s you that makes my heart continue to beat.”

  “Honey, I’ll take him up on it if you don’t.” The woman’s words got several agreements from others.

  Tears glistened in her eyes.

  “I’m scared.”

  He longed to pull her close and take all that fear from her. “Of what? You moved across the world for an inheritance you knew nothing about. You embarked on a new business adventure. How can loving me scare you?”

  “I don’t want to lose you.”

  His thumb skimmed along her cheek. “What do you think heading to America is? Getting closer?”

  “Protecting my heart.”

  Finn cupped her face. “Emmie, I’m already there in your heart. Believe me, you’re already in mine. There is no more protection. We’ve already climbed on that ride, baby. Now we hold on and face the adventures together.”

  She nibbled on her lower lip and he kissed her. Unable to wait any longer so he took her mouth in his.

  It took a moment for the cheering passengers to penetrate the haze surrounding him. Ever so slowly, he drew back until he could once again see her eyes.

  “I love you, Emmie. Stay with me.”

  She smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she did so. “I think you’re staying with me.”

  His smile mirrored hers. “That works too. Come on, come home with me. I’m sure these people need to get on with their day. However, as I interrupted everything, if you are ever back through Dunphy. Stop by Emerald Myst, the drinks are on me.”

  The cacophonous cheers nearly deafened him. Emmie jumped on him, legs around his waist and kissed him once more.

  “Do you have any luggage?”

  “Nope. Just my carryon right there.”

  He turned and carried her off the bus, her bag in his left hand, sending one more apology to the driver.

  “Then let’s go home.”

  Epilogue

  Two Years Later

  “Are you excited?”

  Emmie looked over her shoulder and smiled at the stunning woman who was striding in her direction. With a squeal, she hurried over to meet her partway.

  “Affrica! I can’t believe you made it.” She hugged her. “I thought you couldn’t be here.”

  “Wasn’t sure we would get here in time but thankfully, my brother-in-law has a jet that we used.”

  “Doesn’t your husband have one too?”

  “Yes, but he’s off with his mother and couldn’t make it.”

  “Not true, baby. I’m here.”

  She waited as Affrica welcomed her husband, Reeve. From around the corner strode a group of couples that took her breath way.

  Holy shit.

  Affrica smiled at her and moved back to her side. Reeve kissed her cheek in welcome before moving to meet the others walking toward them.

  “Impressive aren’t they.”

  “Yes,” she said. The men were handsome as hell and the women, stunning.

  “My brother-in-law and his best friends. They wanted to hear this group too. So we all came.”

  Her husband, Finn, walked up and kissed her, pressed a short one on Affrica’s cheek and shook hands with Reeve before the rest of the introductions began. Her head spun at the number of people who’d turned out for this event.

  Black Raven had hit harder and better than anyone could have hop
ed. After Affrica’s article on them went live, they were an “overnight sensation” and had been signed with a massive label. After being on a world tour, they’d returned to Ireland.

  Fans had been wanting a show with them but they would only do it here, in Dunphy where they gave her and Affrica the credit for helping them be discovered. So this was their thank you, the bar was packed and everyone was working hard to keep everyone’s drinks up.

  The military men whom Affrica went by The Megalodon Team were fun as were their wives. Finn was swapping stories with them and making more friends.

  The crowd roared as the band arrived and took the stage. Calum had grown up a lot over the past two years and he had quite the female following. He stepped forward to the mike and cleared his throat.

  “None of this would have been possible without the belief of two women in our lives. We can’t thank them enough for believing in five guys from a small village in Ireland when no one else would. Emmie Brannon and Affrica Leighton. Would you two please come up here?”

  Arm in arm they listened. The crowd roared. As she turned with her friend and accepted hugs from the young men, tears burned the corners of her eyes. She was so proud of them and what they’d accomplished. Her too, the bar was a rousing success and she knew this was only going to make it a bigger one.

  They were contemplating turning the upstairs to another level for the pub. She hadn’t figured out where she would live though so it was just in the planning stages.

  After giving a short speech, she hurried off the stage and right back to Finn’s waiting embrace. He brushed a kiss along the shell of her ear.

  “I love you, Emmie. And I’m so fucking proud of all you’ve done.”

  Tipping her face up for a kiss that he didn’t deny her, she smiled as she thought about everything. The risk, the change, the reward. All of it had been worth it.

  * * *

  The End

  * * *

  If you’re interested in Affrica she has a story all her own and it is called, Raw Exposure. Her story is connected to my Megalodon Team series, as her brother is one of the SEALs on the team as is the hero’s brother.