Twist of Fate (The Donovans Book 1)

by Callie Quigg

  He’d read the online gossip columns about Ella’s cancelled wedding. His immediate instinct was to call Quinn and make sure she was okay. He imagined her distress, the worry about her future, her finances. But he’d stopped himself. She wasn’t his problem now. She was on her own. When he got back to New York, he’d contact Lily and thank her for the shout out in the press release. Seemed she wasn’t the old battleax she led people to believe.

  “What’s wrong with you, grumpy arse?” Ashlen opened a bottle of Beamish and sat it in front of Ronan. “Someone smack your face with a wet fish?”

  “Would you ever leave your brother alone?” Their mother picked up Cassidy’s son Connor and nuzzled her nose against his chubby cheek before rewarding him with a cookie. “The poor fella’s pining after someone.”

  Connor wriggled free and ran away brandishing the cookie in his little fingers.

  “I’m not pining.” Ronan thumbed through Quinn’s Facebook page, being careful not to like any pictures or posts. “I have things on my mind.”

  “Who is she?” Cassidy, the eldest Donovan, asked. She picked up her newborn baby girl and strapped her into a sling. “I thought you swore off women after you and the witch broke up.”

  “It’s not a woman.” Ronan sat down his phone and glared at his sister. “Is it any wonder I don’t live here?”

  “Oooh, someone needs a nap,” Cassidy teased. “Bend down there and pick up your toys.”

  The more he fought in his corner, the more they would come after him, so he shut his mouth and sipped his beer.

  “We should FaceTime Caden and ask him,” Ashlen said. “I bet he’d tell us. What do you think, Cassidy?”

  “I think you’re right,” Cassidy replied. “Someone grab the laptop, and we’ll see what Caden has to say about all of this self-pity shite. Ronan’s ugly mug had better not ruin Christmas.”

  Ronan could face a boardroom filled with demanding clients and talk them down, but when it came to his family, it was as if he was ten years old again. You needed skin thicker than a rhinoceros’ to survive in the Donovan family, because if they sensed any weakness, they went for the jugular.

  “As if Caden’s going to tell you anything.” Ronan slouched against his chair and stared at the ceiling. Once his sisters set their mind to something, nothing would stop them.

  Ashlen positioned the laptop at the end of the table, making sure everyone was in camera range, and FaceTimed Caden.

  After about five rings, Caden answered. “Can’t chat long. I’m up to my eyes with work.”

  “This’ll only take a few seconds.” Ashlen gave Ronan a sidelong glance. “What’s wrong with our dear, dear brother? He’s a face on him like a bulldog licking piss off a nettle.”

  “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” An evil smile spread across Caden’s face.

  “Stop your messing.” Cassidy stroked her baby’s head and smiled. “I’m heading home in ten minutes, so hurry up and spill the goss.”

  “Shhh!” Caden leaned into the camera. “He’s been home all week.”

  Disbelief and sharp intakes of breath echoed around the table.

  “Sweet lamb-a Jaysus.” His mother blessed herself and turned to Ronan. “And you didn’t think to call us?”

  “I’m sure he has his reasons, love.” His father patted his mother’s hand and frowned at Ronan.

  “Caden,” Ronan said sharply. “Shut it.”

  “Why, are you going to jump on a plane and blackmail me?”

  Ronan’s fists curled on his lap. “Caden.”

  Caden’s shit eating grin filled the screen, and everyone in the kitchen stilled, waiting for him to begin. “Once upon a time, our brother, your son, wanted Donovan Events to plan Ella Harper’s wedding, and when he didn’t get the job, he wanted to know why. He found out some woman swiped the contract from under him. So knucklehead there jumps on a plane last Sunday night, determined to bring this girl to her knees.” Caden waggled his eyebrows. “If you know what I mean.”

  “You’re filthy.” Ashlen laughed and gave Ronan’s arm a push. “But get on with the story.”

  “If you’d stop interrupting, I would.” From the smile in his brother’s eyes, Ronan knew Caden loved winding him up. Someday soon he’d get him back.

  “So anyway,” Caden continued, “he realizes this woman, we’ll call her Quinn because that’s her name, is actually decent at her job, and from what I can tell, Ro fell for her big time. Oh, and he pretended to be her fiancé. He also told her if she didn’t go along with it, he’d ruin her.”

  “I didn’t fall for her.” Ronan glared at his brother’s smiling face.

  “Then why did you stay holed up in a castle with her? In the same room. Explain that. I have work to do. Chat later.” Caden’s face disappeared, and everyone stared at Ronan expectantly.

  He would kill his brother when he got back to Brooklyn.

  “You blackmailed a girl?” His mother removed her hand from her heart and placed it over her mouth.

  “It wasn’t like that, Ma. You don’t know the whole story.”

  “You’re a dirty dog.” Ashlen laughed and shut down the laptop.

  “My son, a blackmailer,” his mother said. “I’ll never get over this. I won’t.”

  “When everyone calms down, I’ll tell you what really happened. Not that it’s any of your business.”

  “Of course it’s our business—” Cassidy jiggled her now fussing baby “—we’re family.”

  “I thought you were leaving.” Ronan gripped his beer bottle with two hands.

  “Think again, brother dearest. This is much too juicy.”

  Ashlen sat beside him and patted his hand. “This isn’t like you, Ro. What’s going on?”

  He gazed into her trusting face. The hurt he’d caused over the past few days would be nothing compared to telling his sister the truth. The real truth. “Brady contacted me, but what I did isn’t his fault, it’s mine.”

  She sucked in a breath. “What did he want?”

  Everyone erupted at once, bombarding him with questions and accusations.

  Their father stood, slammed his hand down on the table and yelled, “Enough.” A stunned silence settled around the table and Ronan didn’t miss the sign of the cross his mother made.

  “I’m sorry, Ash. I’m ashamed to say he told me something and I acted on it. I shouldn’t have listened to him. He—”

  She closed her eyes and shook her head. “No more. I don’t want to hear his name again. As far as I’m concerned, he’s dead.”

  Ronan nodded slowly. Later, when he got the chance, he’d explain as best he could. Try to make her understand his reasons for being an idiot. Maybe she’d forgive him.

  He took a swig of beer and turned to his family, who had now moved on to their other favorite topic—Caden and would he ever come home. Ronan was a dirty dog. Betraying his family by listening to Brady was indefensible. And as for Quinn, he’d made her feel like a criminal for telling the truth. But it was too late. He’d done what he’d done and said what he’d said, and at the time he meant it. Even if he apologized, most likely she’d want nothing to do with him. He barely wanted anything to do with himself.

  His father, who sat opposite him, peered from beneath his reading glasses. “What are you going to do to make this right, Son?”

  Ronan blew out an unsteady breath. “Nothing I can do.”

  “You sure about that?”

  “I’m sure.”

  Shame mauled his insides. What was his real reason for running? Was it because Quinn had told the truth, or was it because of the possibilities being with her offered? She’d unearthed feelings he’d buried for three years. Made his body, his mind, his heart feel things he wanted to forget. For years he hadn’t been living. He’d been existing, but Quinn had changed that. He shouldn’t feel like this about someone he hardly knew. It might not be love, but if he was honest, it wasn�
�t far off.

  Ronan’s phone beeped with a message—a video. He excused himself from the table and went into the living room to watch it.

  Chapter Eleven

  Why had Quinn insisted on drinking vodka mixed with an energy drink? Her palpitating heart raced so fast she feared it would beat right out of her chest and head straight for the ER.

  “Ugh!” Slimy fur lined her mouth and throat. She felt around the nightstand for a bottle of water. None. She’d have to stick her head under the faucet and glug a gallon of water to rehydrate her shriveling insides.

  Images of the previous evening strobed through her mind. Not particularly flattering images. Karaoke. A pitiful attempt at Irish dancing. Declaring her love for Ronan.

  What?

  She sat up too fast, and it took a second for her spinning head to catch up with her sluggish body.

  Think. Who’d you say it to?

  There were too many whirling black holes from the previous evening, and she couldn’t remember. An image of her holding a microphone in one hand and an overfilled glass in the other zapped her brain. Kill me now. She’d told everyone. Then she’d told anyone who’d listen that Ronan was her soul mate. Phone? Where was her phone? She searched the bed and nightstand. It wasn’t there.

  She slumped onto her pillows with a frustrated groan, which made her dislodged brain rattle around her skull. Thank God Ronan hadn’t been there to witness her emotional outpouring. Him seeing her like that would’ve been way, way worse. Quinn rolled out of bed, staggered toward the bathroom, and guzzled cold water from the faucet. Nothing had ever tasted better. And now that she’d rehydrated, the growling creature in her belly was about to gouge its way out Alien-style and make its own food.

  Peace had settled downstairs, and the only evidence of last night’s festivities was the karaoke machine taunting her from the reception desk.

  She glanced at the grandfather clock tick-tocking in the foyer. It was still early, and she hoped to enjoy a few moments of silence before the madness began.

  Brendan’s elderly mother and father were coming, along with his old rugby team and their spouses. None of Lily’s family could make it, but she’d assured Quinn that in the spring, all of her family would come along with Ella, and together they’d launch the castle with the glitziest wedding Ireland had ever seen.

  A flash of hugging Lily jolted Quinn’s memory. Recollections of spewing her guts about her ex-business partner, and the reasons she’d lied sprang to mind. She may even have hinted about Ronan’s skilled fingers and tongue.

  Shit on a stick.

  Had she really declared her feelings for him in front of people she didn’t know? Maybe everyone had been as drunk as she had been and wouldn’t remember her revelations. Another image flashed through her mind. A vision of her murdering “I Will Always Love You,” the Dolly Parton version, complete with a Southern twang.

  Oh. Jesus. No.

  In the kitchen, with a calming cup of chamomile and lavender tea in one hand, she gathered the breakfast provisions, and while lighting the stove, she spotted her phone sitting on the fireplace.

  Sucking down a breath, she grabbed it and checked Facebook for humiliating pictures. Closing one eye, she pulled up her profile page. Thankfully, there was just one selfie of her and Lily with their heads pressed together, smiling. Next, she made sure there were no drunken texts to anyone, especially to Ronan. There weren’t. Maybe the night wasn’t riddled with as many embarrassing moments as her mind made her believe.

  After eating her fill and somewhat settling her hangover, Quinn went to check on the final wedding preparations. The snow had begun to melt, but there was still more than enough to give the grounds a mystical feel.

  Towering Christmas trees decorated in gold, silver, and red filled every space in the castle, creating a magical atmosphere. She envisioned the weddings and galas that would take place in the future and the love and laughter that would seep into the stones.

  Giddy excitement replaced the nervousness that had consumed her for most of the week. She hugged her arms around her waist, loving that she, in her own messed up and muddled way, had made it happen. Because of her not so little white lie, two people had found each other, and a castle neglected and left to ruin would soon return to life.

  Perhaps in time she’d find someone, someone who could make her body quiver from one look, whose laugh could make her body flood with heat with one touch, whose lips could make her melt with one kiss.

  Enough wallowing. It’s done. It’s over. It’s history. Time to wake up the bride and make this wedding day happen.

  The wedding was due to begin at one sharp. At twelve, time had come for Quinn to get dressed. She rolled on her nude lace-topped stockings and shimmied on her berry red dress. The borrowed, shoulderless gown fitted perfectly, accentuating the swell of her breasts and flare of her hips, and when she walked, it rippled behind her like water. She slid her feet into a pair of Manolo Blahniks and extended one of her legs, admiring the metallic red crystals covering her feet—Lily was right, they were to die for. If Lily was queen for a day, then Quinn was a princess. And the diamond tiara she popped on top of her loose curls did nothing to shatter that illusion. The one thing missing was her prince charming.

  When she was dressed, Quinn went to Lily’s room, where a photographer snapped a gazillion pictures of Quinn and the dress designer helping Lily into her gown. After they had zipped up the velvet bodice, Lily took a step back and gazed at herself in the mirror. Quinn watched her new friend’s reflection, and for an instant, she saw Lily’s face glow in awe at the vision staring back, but Lily soon replaced it with a wry smile.

  “I scrub up real nice.”

  “You look beautiful. Stunning.” Quinn struggled to keep the wobbly emotion from her voice. “When Brendan sees you he might faint.”

  “He’d better not. It’s my wedding day, and I have plans if you know what I mean.” Lily laughed loud and dirty.

  “TMI.” Quinn turned to the journalist accompanying the photographer. “Don’t even think about putting that in the write-up.”

  “She can put what she wants. Here’s a quote: ‘I can’t wait to consummate my marriage.’”

  The bemused journalist said goodbye and rushed out of the room, along with the dress designer and photographer.

  “This is it.” Lily snatched up Quinn’s hands. “The moment I’ve been waiting for.” Lily’s eyes shimmered and filled, but her tears didn’t spill.

  “I had no idea. You come across as so—”

  “Cold?” Lily curved a perfect eyebrow and smiled.

  “No, independent. Like you don’t need anyone.”

  “I didn’t. I don’t, or I guess I didn’t think I needed anyone until I met Brendan and found my little Max.”

  “I’m thrilled for you. I’m so happy all of your dreams have come true.”

  Lily waved a hand in front of her face, fanning her eyes. “Now don’t you go trying to make me cry again. There’s plenty of time for dreams to come true for all of us. It’s a magical day, don’t you think?”

  There was a firm knock at the door.

  “Looks like it’s time.” Lily gave a nervous glance at the clock.

  On a long breath, Quinn took Lily’s hand and led her to the door.

  “You can thank me later,” Lily said with a wink.

  “Wha—” Quinn opened the door.

  “Ladies, you both look spectacular,” said an unmistakable lilting brogue.

  Quinn’s heart back flipped, landed awkwardly in her chest cavity, and left her dizzy.

  “Ronan?” Ronan here? Now? How? Why? She needed answers. An explanation. For the best part of two days, he’d ignored her, pretended she didn’t exist, and now here he was like a fabled white knight in shining armor.

  Stubble shadowed his jaw and her nipples tightened with remembered pleasure. He gave a shy smile that turned her insides to
melting chocolate. Trust him to look like he’d stepped out of a Calvin Klein ad. The way her body reacted pissed her off more than Ronan’s reappearance.

  “I needed someone to give me away,” Lily said unapologetically.

  “But, but… you asked me to do that…”

  “I changed my mind. A bride’s prerogative.”

  Ronan moved toward Quinn. His gaze traveled over her, heating her skin. “Quinn, I—”

  “No time for that.” Lily curled her arm around Ronan’s. “You two crazy kids can work it out later. Right now my destiny is waiting.”

  Too startled to do anything else, Quinn followed Ronan and Lily down the worn stone steps like a wind-up doll and held onto the creaking banister with a death grip. Walking in four-inch heels was next to impossible without the cooperation of her brain and legs.

  Her heart skipped at his proximity, but anger surged in her belly. She tamped her emotions down for now, but when the ceremony was over and as soon as she could get him alone, she’d demand answers. How dare he show up and send her mind into turmoil again. Well, if he thought she’d forgive and forget…

  Oh, please . If he asked you to drop your underwear right here right now, you would.

  Would not.

  Whatever.

  At the bottom of the aisle, she reached out and gave Lily’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Good luck.”

  “Thanks, sweetie.”

  When a piano version of The Beatles’ “Long and Winding Road” began, Quinn giggled and rolled her eyes at Lily’s warped sense of humor. She clutched her bouquet of winter white roses and marched down the French lace runner, praying she wouldn’t trip and fall flat on her face. She’d embarrassed herself enough over the past few days to last her a lifetime.

  At the top of the aisle, she stood to the left of a dapper and tuxedoed Brendan and Max.

  The band struck up “She Moved Through the Fair.” The haunting music chased goose bumps all over her skin. Lily placed her hand on Ronan’s forearm and floated toward her future husband, and Quinn’s heart filled to bursting. If anyone needed proof that love at first sight, or in their case love at first snipe, could happen, then Brendan and Lily were it.