Lucky Star

by K. L. Shandwick

  “You look gorgeous in a suit,” her voice was breathy, and I heard her approval of my attire in her tone.

  “Yeah, I don’t look half bad,” I agreed, amused. “Maybe I should have worked in an office.”

  “Absolutely not. We’d never have met. Besides, I like the casual Jamie in his muscle-stretched cotton T and his sexy arsed jeans.”

  “And I love my sexy little Daisy, dolled to the nines and being the only man in the room to know what’s beneath that sinfully hot dress.”

  “Don’t start dishing out the charm again, or we’ll never get anywhere today. The uber should be here in less than five minutes. I ordered one when I heard the shower stop,” she informed me. Picking up a little black clutch purse from the bottom of her closet, she grabbed a pair of four inch stiletto heels and headed out the door with them dangling from her fingertips.

  Shaking my head, I chuckled, because she’d been so close to the truth had she stayed in the room with me a moment longer.

  Chapter 8

  When we climbed into the back of the Uber, I took her face between my hands and kissed her deeply. Breaking our kiss, Daisy sighed dreamily, and I chuckled.

  “Merry first Christmas together,” I mumbled softly. Pulling a small gift wrapped box out of the deep pocket of my coat, I held it in front of her. “I got this made for you in a local jewelry workshop back home.”

  “Oh, jeez Jamie, way to make me feel guilty. There I was confessing I hadn’t time to get you anything good, and you’ve only gone and had something made for me. This makes me feel even worse that I failed to take the time to get you anything.”

  Ignoring her, I prompted her back to my gift. “This time you can tell by the box it’s not another ring,” I informed her with a grin. Taking her hand, I noted she wore my token of commitment to her, a ring with diamonds in the shape of a Daisy, and pressed her fingers to my lips.

  “That's alright, there’s always New Year’s Eve if you’re looking for an occasion to propose.”

  Hearing her comment took the wind out of me, and for a moment I thought she’d expected me to propose at Christmas. But then she chuckled, likely at my stunned expression, and came straight back at me.

  “You need to pick your jaw off the floor Mr. Fontaine, I was joking.” She giggled lightly and I only knew my chest had tightened when I felt it relax. “We’re nowhere near ready for something that permanent, given we’re still relatively new. There’s also the distance between us, and all the other complicated stuff that’s in our lives.”

  I subconsciously sighed. “You can joke Ms. O’Donnell, but it's something that has crossed my mind. Not right now, but in our future. We’ll know when the time is right.”

  Pushing the professionally wrapped giftbox at Daisy, she carefully opened the green, clam-hinged box.

  A sharp gasp left her throat and she looked from the box to me. Tears pooled in her eyes and she sniffed them away.

  “Oh, Jamie it’s exquisite,” she replied, having only had the briefest of glimpses at it before she pressed a kiss to my mouth.

  Turning her attention back to her gift, she fingered it delicately, and my heart squeezed at how her attention was more placed at thanking me for it than studying the expensive delicate piece of jewelry I’d commissioned for her.

  “You amaze me. This is so beautiful, and it’s such a personal, thoughtful gift.”

  Carefully, she lifted the velvet mounting that held a substantial gold necklace in place and gazed with delight at the small, gold mounted, shamrock which was around the size of a dime. The pendant itself comprised of four emerald stones and was inlaid with a small half carat diamond at the base of each leaf.

  Handing it to me, she turned, baring her neck for me to fasten it for her.

  “Can you put it on for me?” she asked.

  I unclipped the clasp and did as she’d requested. Turning back to look at me, she held her fingers over the pendant and smiled.

  “I absolutely love it, Jamie,” she gushed again and pressed a kiss to my lips. Pulling back to look at me, her eyes bright and happy, she smiled adoringly. “Do you know the leaves stand for faith, hope, love and the fourth leaves are where the Irish believe they get the luck?”

  “No, but I do know it was luck that brought us together, so I don’t need much convincing about that. I can’t believe I was cursing the snow and St. Patrick’s Day, and it led me straight to you. I like the faith and hope in us. I really want us to go all the way, someday,” I told her honestly.

  “Didn’t we do that last night… or was I with someone else?” she mocked, taking the seriousness out of my statement. It was a ‘Daisy thing’ to say to lighten a serious topic.

  “Gosh, Jamie you’ve turned into the most romantic man I’ve ever met.”

  “I’ve never seen myself as a romantic. I think it’s you that’s dragging the Romeo out in me.”

  She chuckled and fished her cell out of her bag. Making a quick call, she confirmed her family were en route. After she was done, I called Catrina to tell her Daisy’s parents were on their way.

  Thankfully, there was little traffic on the road, so we arrived in Ballsbridge with a minute to spare before her parents got there.

  “Da,” my girl gushed as we stood in the foyer when they came in moments after us. Leaving me, she ran toward the tall, strong looking man, who appeared around forty at most. From the tight hug she gave him, it had looked as if she hadn’t seen him in years. A wave of guilt shot through me because I’d spent a few months with her and I hadn’t been introduced.

  When she stepped back, my eyes were met with his piercing blue, scrutinizing gaze. I was shocked again by how young he looked. Dressed impeccably in a dark blue suit, contrasting powder blue shirt and a crimson tie, he was a striking looking man with a mop of thick dark hair which framed a healthy tan face.

  “This would be the lanky Yank that’s after your heart then, Daisy?” Her dad asked, sounding amused in a surprisingly soft tone for a man so large in stature.

  Although his comment had sounded light, it was in stark contrast to the suspicious gaze he gave me. Drilling eyes bored into mine before they raked me over from head to foot. I should have been unnerved, but I wasn’t because something in his stance told me he approved. I stood, breathing steady until Daisy intervened.

  “Don’t be an arse, Da,” she told him, smacking him playfully on the arm.

  Love shone from her father’s eyes as he flashed her a toothy grin and swept her into another hug. When he released her from his grasp, he pulled her protectively into his side. Their interaction made it clear they had a mutual love and respect for one another. My heart swelled to see it, and for the first time in a long time, I felt the loss of my father again. It had been over fifteen years since he’d passed, and I’d been so wrapped up in life, I had seldom taken the time to touch on that feeling.

  “Jamie this is my Da, Dermot, and my wonderful weeM a, Roslin that my ignorant Da hasn’t gotten around to introducing to you yet.”

  It was only after Daisy mentioned her mom, that I realized I’d been so focused on Dermot, that I hadn’t paid attention to anyone else. I turned and looked at three women who, on appearance, all looked like sisters.

  The beauty gene was consistent among the four women and there could have been no mistaking their relation to Daisy. However, as Roslin stood beside her daughters she could easily have passed for their elder sister.

  Daisy’s mother appeared even younger than their father. At five feet, her petite height, slighter build, and chic style made her look almost as breath-taking as her daughters. Without bias, Daisy, the eldest, was my favorite looking of all of them.

  Before I could speak, the manager came out and ushered us into the private dining hall.

  “Are those really your parents?” I whispered as we walk down the hallway, toward the room we were being taken to eat lunch.

  “No Jamie, they’re actors I paid to stand in for my folks,” she teased.

  “It
astounds me that your parents have a twenty-five-year-old daughter,” I admitted.

  “Yeah, but that’s what happens when you have sex at seventeen, marry at eighteen, and have a kid a couple of months later. At the time, Ma brought scandal into her family by being a pregnant teenager. Although everyone said they were ruining their lives and they would never last, twenty-six years later, my parents are still proving them wrong.”

  I made a swift calculation. “That’s insane, your mom is only five years older than Catrina.” Once we’d entered the room, and the manager had left us to seat ourselves, I turned to face Daisy’s parents again.

  “Pleased to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. O’ Donnell,” I said, flashing my warmest, friendly smile.

  “It’s been a long time coming,” her father replied sternly, taking my hand and shaking it so firmly, I made a mental note never to cross him.

  “Daisy has told us so much about you,” Roslin chimed in, glaring toward Dermot for having a dig at me for not meeting them before.

  “These are my sisters, Jamie.” Daisy offered, swiftly moving the introductions on, and I looked toward Poppy and Bluebell.

  “Belle,” the youngest offered, reaching in and giving me a friendly welcoming hug. “Great to finally meet you. When Daisy told us about you, we thought she was winding us up.”

  “Winding you up?”

  “Yeah, you know… what would you say?” she thought tapping her a delicate finger against her lips. “Yanking your chain?” she suggested, wrinkling her nose like she wasn’t sure that was an equivalent phrase to use.

  I chuckled. “Yep, but no she wasn’t,” I replied, smiling and holding my hands out to my sides. “I’m here and I’m delighted to be so.”

  Poppy stood quietly, looking slightly out of her depth. “As she’s Belle and I’m intimately familiar with your sister, Daisy,” I said, immediately cringing for my choice of words, “you must be Poppy?”

  Heat stained her cheeks and I realized that, unlike Daisy and Belle, Poppy was pretty overwhelmed by my presence and felt very shy. It took people’s reactions toward me to remind me at times who I was and what I did for a living. “Lovely to meet you, sweetheart,” I said, carrying on like I hadn’t noticed her tongue tie.

  “Unc,” Ryan called out, entering the dining room and strolling toward me with his hands in his pockets. His eyes took both of Daisy’s sisters in as Nick and Catrina followed him through the door.

  “Whoa,” he said in a low tone of surprise. “Ireland sure has some very pretty women.” Ryan’s eager eyes glittered with mischief as they slid from Daisy to Poppy and finally settled on Bluebell. I witnessed the impact of her on him by how slow his stride became, his body leaning toward her like he was being drawn to her against his will. His eyes were glued to her rack as though he had no will to resist her.

  “Ryan, these are Daisy’s parents,” I offered in a no-nonsense tone, rescuing the situation before he said something inappropriate. “Dermot, Roslin, this is my nephew Ryan and his twin brother, Nick. And this,” I said, holding my arm out for Catrina to walk into, “is my sister, Catrina,” I offered.

  “Ryan, you say?” Dermot asked, “Good Irish name, so that’s a promising start, so don’t go spoiling that by ogling my baby daughters,” he warned. Ryan chuckled nervously as I snickered.

  “I’m Nick,” my other nephew offered, extending his hand, he appeared on his best behavior. He shook Dermot’s hand firmly, maintaining confident eye contact like I had taught him to do. Daisy’s father looked impressed with Nick’s polite and friendly introduction, but I knew Nick better than most and I already knew he was saving Poppy until last. The fact he hadn’t glanced in her direction at all told me everything I’d needed to know. He was hot for her. Fuck.

  Chapter 9

  When the introductions were complete, I glanced around the small private dining room. The staff had definitely made an effort with the decorations. The original marble fireplace was decorated with garland while red and white velvet stockings hung precisely from it. To its left stood a floor to ceiling Christmas tree complete with gift wrapped boxes placed beneath it. In fact, the whole room looked like something straight out of a cheesy festive Hallmark movie.

  Each person’s name was carefully placed around the table with both families mixed to encourage conversation.

  Dermot had his wife on his right and Catrina on his left, Nick next to Belle, myself, Daisy, Ryan and Poppy next to her mother. Before he thought anyone noticed, Nick quickly changed Belle and Poppy’s name places and winked at me when he saw me looking. I only noticed when Daisy flashed him a warning look.

  Everyone took their seats and the wine waiter came over with three bottles of Bollinger Champagne, placing them strategically, one beside Dermot, one beside me and one beside Ryan after checking his ID. We laughed at the look of pride on Ryan’s face because it was his first legal age identification for alcohol ever.

  As the menu was reduced to a few choices, two waiters quickly took our food orders then retreated to the kitchen.

  “Can I just say how alike you ladies are? It’s astounding,” my sister said, making polite conversation.

  “I thought the same when I saw all of you guys together at Thanksgiving,” Daisy replied with a smile.

  “Yeah, the daughter gene from my wife is definitely the dominant one, but then again, can you imagine if they’d all looked like me?” their six feet three dad suggested. We all laughed because he was built like a Sherman tank, and I had to admit that would have been a scary but interesting mix.

  “You both look so young. Are you really their mom?” Ryan asked, glancing first at Roslin and then toward his brother. Something innate told me they were both thinking MILF. Both boys had told me once they didn’t see age as a barrier if they were attracted to someone. It changed the slant on the whole conversation Ryan had been having, because Nick had once confessed to a tryst in a school storeroom with a thirty-year-old teacher a year before.

  As the waiters arrived with the first course, the Champagne in our glasses had been depleted and we men replenished everyone’s drinks. The round table had felt perfect, ensuring no one was left out of the conversation.

  Daisy slid her hand into mine under the table after finishing her starter dish and smiled warmly at me. Despite being in the company of her parents, I couldn’t resist her, and I leaned in and stole a swift kiss.

  Immediately her father cleared his throat, as I had noted this, I squeezed Daisy’s hand in an ‘I got you’ gesture. I gave him a smile that said I was perfectly entitled to take what was mine. When his face stayed stoic and his stare intensified, I broke the moment with a personal question.

  “That’s a smart looking suit, Dermot. Was it tailor made here in Dublin?”

  “That it is, and it was,” he said, proudly tugging at a lapel. “Long lasting material too, it’s my wedding suit.”

  His reply knocked me for six. “Wow, really? I mean it still looks like new.”

  “No, it is not my wedding suit, it’s new. This my suit for Daisy’s Wedding.”

  Even I heard the audible gulp I took and wondered where the conversation was been leading.

  “Oh, I didn't know she was planning on getting married,” I replied, amused by his ingenious testing of my commitment to his daughter.

  “Oh, have I put my foot in it Daisy? Have you not asked Jamie yet? I just thought when I saw you and your ma pouring over that bridal magazine the other day, the wedding was on.”

  “Da, stop it,” Daisy admonished, her cheeks pink, mortified by her dad’s uncomfortable joke at her expense. It’s wind ups like yours that cause wars. I don’t find them very funny.”

  “No war on this end, baby,” I mumbled, cool as ice. “Although I think your father is jumping the gun because we may decide to elope and then he’ll be left with an expensive suit and no function to air it for.”

  Dermot chuckled. “You’ll do,” he replied. “As Daisy’s Da, it’s my job to scope out the fodder and test
any man’s commitment.”

  “So, I passed the test?” I asked, lifting the champagne glass and draining its contents again, wishing it was whiskey. I wouldn’t have minded had you asked me directly what my intentions are. I’m in love with your beautiful daughter and despite my job, the cultural and logistical differences between us, I’ll do whatever it takes to make this work.”

  “What’s with the name, Barney?” he asked, and I realized Daisy must have used that, referencing me at some point.

  I shrugged. “It was Daisy’s idea to give me an alias. Being in the music business, it’s hard to get privacy wherever I go. While I’m here in Dublin we use Barney at the pub to keep interest in me to a minimum… and to give Daisy a bit of protection.”

  “Protection, why would she need protection?”

  “Has Daisy told you who I am?” I asked. As soon as my question was out, I felt I’d sounded conceited, and that hadn’t been my intention at all.

  “Yeah you were her Canadian penfriend, but now you’re her boyfriend,” he stated.

  I chuckled. “That’s our cover story. I’m a musician, with a following. I’m actually quite famous, although not so much here in Ireland.”

  Dermot laughed and slapped his hand on the table. The rest of his family joined in laughing. “Jamie, I know exactly who you are. Roslin has got all your albums. If Daisy wasn't your girlfriend, I’d bet Roslin here would be all over you. She once told me you’d be her hall pass.”

  “Ha! Awkward,” both Ryan and Nick said together. If ever there was a moment, I’d felt lost for words, it was at that moment.

  “Dermot!” Roslin exclaimed and I felt my hand tighten on Daisy’s. I’d never felt so uncomfortable in any single situation before.

  “Ha ha, I’m only fucking with you. That Irish guy from that Shameless movie, you know the one where he has a threesome and he looks like he’s going to pop a vein… I can never remember his name,” Dermot rambled on, clicking his fingers at Roslin to provide him with it.