Not long now.
Haven finished washing a batch of glasses while Liam chatted with a couple of the patrons sitting at the end of the bar. He’d been magnificent tonight. No surprise there, of course. They’d fallen into an easy rhythm behind the bar, moving in perfect sync as they took care of the crowd.
Haven and her little pub were having the best night, and then she heard his voice.
“Haven! Haven, honey. Round of pints down here, love!”
Out of the corner of her eye, Haven saw Liam straighten slowly, his height making it easy for him to locate the loudmouth because Craig was sitting at a table just beyond her end of the bar.
“I’ve got this,” she told Liam as she walked around the edge of the bar. She didn’t bother pouring the pints. Craig and his buddies wouldn’t be staying, and they were close to closing time anyway.
“What are you doing here?” Haven demanded.
Craig frowned, his shoulders swaying a wee bit. “Where’s the beers?”
“You’re not staying.”
Craig flopped his arms around her waist in a drunken hug. “Aw, come on, honey. You aren’t still mad at me, are you?”
“You used me to try to manipulate my dad, so yes! I am still mad. And I’m going to stay mad until the day I die.” Haven tried to get out of his grasp, but Craig had a surprisingly tight hold on her. “You aren’t welcome here. You all need to leave.”
Liam’s rumbling voice came from behind her. “You’re going to want to take your hands off her, my man.”
Craig burped and focused his attention on Liam. “Who the fuck are you?”
“I’m hers.” Liam jutted his chin toward Haven.
Haven stared at him, trying to make sense of his words. Did he mean that? Could he possibly want to have a relationship with her?
No assumptions, Haven. Be patient.
She had to get these guys out of the bar. Haven clapped her hands, still trying to get out of Craig’s hold. “All right. That’s it, boys. Closing time,” she called.
Craig continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “What do you mean you’re hers? Like her new bartender or something? Haven, honey, you didn’t tell me you hired a new guy.”
“That’s because it’s none of your fucking business what I do, Craig. Now, let me go.” Haven slapped her palm against Craig’s forehead and pushed. Hard.
“Ow. Come on, honey.” Craig reached, but his hand never even made it close to her because Liam’s hand shot out and caught Craig around the wrist.
“I do believe I warned you about the touching,” Liam said, his voice deceptively calm. Haven recognized the glint in his stare.
“So, this is Craig?” Liam asked, deliberately dropping Craig’s hand into his own lap.
“Aye.”
“Not much to look at, is he?” Haven couldn’t stop the giggle that burst from her lips. Liam addressed the table. “Listen up, men. It’s time for you all to go. And we’d appreciate it if in the future you’d do your drinking elsewhere.”
Craig wobbled to his feet. “I’ll come in this pub any goddamn time I want.” He jabbed a finger a wee bit close to Haven’s face, making her flinch. “And you can’t stop me.”
“All, right.” Liam moved fast. He twisted Craig’s arm behind his back and casually walked him toward the front door. Chairs scooted, and his friends jumped up to follow.
Haven watched Liam’s lips move, but she couldn’t tell what he was saying. Liam released Craig’s arm and stood watching as the group of men walked away.
Twenty minutes later, the door was locked, and Haven was sitting with Liam at the bar, an open bottle of whiskey and two shot glasses between them.
He poured them both a shot. “How did Craig use you to manipulate your dad?”
Haven swallowed the shot and put the glass back on the bar. She went around to the sink and brought back a large glass of water for Liam to drink between shots.
He seemed surprised by the gesture. “Thank you, baby.”
It was a small thing, but it thrilled her to know she took care of him in some way. That she knew what he needed. She resumed her seat. “Craig told my dad that, if I cared about the pub, I wouldn’t have run away right before our busiest night of the year. Total shite, of course, but then Craig tried to convince my dad to sell the pub to him.”
“Rory didn’t consider the offer, did he? I didn’t think he’d ever sell this place.”
“I didn’t think so, either, but I think the fact that I left Ireland without telling him worked in Craig’s favor. Dad was worried that I wasn’t happy here.”
“Is that why you came back so suddenly?”
“Aye. Dad called the morning after you went to Boston and told me he was considering the offer. The only thing I could do was come home to make sure that didn’t happen.” Haven ran her hand over the bar. “This place is in my blood. I grew up here. I met you here,” she said softly, her cheeks heating.
Liam leaned in. “Come here,” he whispered.
Haven met his lips in a gentle kiss. He tasted like sweet bourbon and promises. Too soon, he pulled back and filled their shot glasses again. They clinked glasses and took the shots.
“What happened in Boston,” she asked, savoring the burn as it traveled behind her sternum.
Liam filled her in as they slowly worked their way through a bottle of bourbon and his glass of water.
Finally, her patience was rewarded.
“I’m not the best communicator, Haven,” he started. “I know I’m not, and I’m going to do better. Try harder. Whatever I need to do to be the man you deserve.”
Haven’s heartbeat like she had a jackrabbit in her chest. “Liam…?”
“No more secrets, Haven. You have my word.” Liam poured them both another shot. She left hers on the bar as he held his up in silent toast. “I’m out of the Navy.”
Haven wanted to act surprised, but he’d said it himself. No more secrets. “I know.”
Liam sputtered a laugh. “How did you…” Realization dawned in his gaze. “Those fuckers. Which one?”
“Does it matter? They seem like the all for one kind of guys.”
“Yeah, you’re right. And it doesn’t matter. Why didn’t you say anything?”
Haven took her shot and slapped her hand over the top when he raised the bottle again. He nodded and capped the bottle, setting it aside.
“I don’t know, honestly. I was hurt that you didn’t share something so important with me, but it was still your choice whether you wanted me to know.”
Liam gathered her hands in his. “I’m sorry you found out from someone other than me. I’m sorry you had to carry the burden alone. I swear to God, Haven. I never meant to hurt you.”
“I don’t know why you left the Navy,” she offered, needing him to know there was still something that he could give her.
Liam stared at their joined hands for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was raw and quiet. “Do you remember when I went to mow my friend’s yard that Sunday?” He glanced up for her answer, and Haven nodded. “Her name is Andi Westall. She has a ten-year-old son named Jeremy. Her husband Ozzie was one of my best friends. He was also my teammate.”
Oh God. Was. Haven swallowed hard, hoping the bourbon didn’t decide to come back up. “W-what happened to him?”
“We lost him last year. Killed in action.” Liam’s gaze glassed over, and he dropped back to their joined hands. “The danger is always real when we go into the field, but Ozzie’s death brought it home for me in a way nothing else could. Andi is a tough woman, but damn, she was broken for a long time. Jeremy, too. The guys and I, we looked out for them, you know. I mowed her lawn because Ozzie wasn’t there to do it. It’s the code we live by.”
The same code she’d been witness to at Presley’s nursery that day.
“It wasn’t long after Ozzie’s death that I decided to get out. I wanted to tell you about it, Haven. You were the only person outside the team who I even considered talking to abou
t it. I picked up the phone a few times. But there was so much loss and grief surrounding the decision, I didn’t know how to unpack it. I didn’t know how to share it with you. I couldn’t stand the thought of getting it wrong and disappointing you, or worse, having the decision make me a lesser man in your eyes.”
Haven slid off the barstool and tugged Liam’s hands, encouraging him to follow her.
“Where are we going?”
“Upstairs.” She needed to hold him, and the barstools weren’t big enough for the both of them.
Haven led him into the office and closed the door behind them. “Sit,” she demanded, pointing to the couch. Liam sat, his sad smirk made her heart hurt.
Haven crawled onto his lap. She cupped his face, forcing him to look at her. “Thank you for sharing that with me.” She kissed his lips. “You need to know you can tell me anything. You don’t have to worry about your words or getting anything wrong or right. You just have to be honest. That’s all I’ll ever ask of you. You give me that, and I promise there’s nothing you can do to disappoint me or change my opinion of who you are as a man. I know who you are.” She did. She knew his soul. “You’re the man I love.”
“Haven,” Liam groaned. “I wanted to say it first.”
She collapsed against him, her heart light and happy. “You could say it now.”
“I love you, Haven. I think I’ve always loved you.”
She snuggled against his chest. “What happens now?”
“Well, it’s our twentieth anniversary, so we could get naked and celebrate.”
“That sounds like a perfect plan. Should we go back to your place?”
“I, um…” His cheeks flushed.
Haven laughed. He was priceless. “Do you mean you travelled all the way to Ireland without a plan?” She mocked his stern tone. “We are definitely going to have a conversation about travel safety later. Please tell me you didn’t come all this way and didn’t book a room?”
His hand connected with her backside. Haven gasped as her body warmed for him
“Oh, didn’t I tell you?” he asked. “I’m staying with you.”
Haven laughed and held him tight. “Damn right, you are.”
As they walked hand-in-hand toward her cottage, Haven realized she hadn’t needed to take time off to find the man of her dreams.
She’d had him all along.
Epilogue
Five months later
“All right, ladies. The moment of truth. Are we ready?”
Neala jumped and danced on her hind legs, her gorgeous copper coat shimmering in the Irish sun. Neala’s momma, Molly, sat tall and proud by Liam’s side.
He ran a hand over Molly’s sweet head and adjusted the bow around her neck.
He’d been planning this day for months. In truth, he’d set the ball in motion before he’d left the US five months ago. He’d made arrangements with Angela to get Irish Setter Molly and her pup—the baby girl Haven had snuggled against her cheek all those months ago at the charity event—to Boston, where his parents had graciously accepted temporary guardianship for him. Once the first leg of Molly and Neala’s journey was complete, and they were settled in Boston, Liam had begun the lengthy process of relocating them to Ireland.
He’d worked tirelessly to make the transition as seamless and stress-free as possible for the dogs. He’d left behind a handful of old T-shirts to get them used to his scent. He’d called daily to get them used to his voice. He’d even managed weekly video training sessions, with the help of his father, to grow the bond between them. The effort paid off, because the dogs had greeted him like an old friend when he’d finally picked them up.
The pups were the first part of the plan. The second was the land on which they stood. Five lush Irish acres, perfect for the home he wanted to build for Haven. For the family he hoped to have with her one day.
“I’m going to get things set up, so you girls can play for a while.” He held up a finger, looking at Molly first, and then directing a stern stare at Neala. “Do not get dirty. Do not run off. Got it?” Tails swished and tongues lagged, making Liam laugh. “All right, then. Go christen your soon-to-be new yard.”
At the word go the girls took off at a dead sprint. He watched the happy pups for a minute to make sure they didn’t get too far, but he trusted their training.
Liam went to the car to grab the rest of the supplies. He walked to the designated spot and spread out the blanket. The view from where he stood was the best the property had to offer. The location was their future living room, if Haven agreed.
He set the picnic basket on the corner of the blanket and went to his knees. He unpacked lunch, compliments of Haven’s mom, and a small bottle of Irish Whiskey with two glasses, compliments of her dad.
Haven’s parents had been thrilled when Liam told them what he wanted to do and had wholeheartedly supported his decision.
Liam heard a car in the distance. Nerves attacked his stomach for the first time since Haven had given him a chance all those months ago. He whistled, sharp and loud, and the girls came running. He called them onto the blanket, gave them the commands to sit and stay, and then he doublechecked their collars.
There was nothing left for him to do but wait.
Haven parked next to Liam’s car. She got out and glanced around, wondering why he’d wanted her to meet him out in the country. She had to admit, it was a beautiful spot. Not far from Killarney National Park, the scenic area alone made the drive worthwhile.
Hands on her hips, Haven circled, looking for Liam. She spotted him a wee bit off in the distance, so she headed in his direction.
When he turned and saw her, Haven’s heart jumped into her throat. He raised a hand and waved, but Haven’s gaze was glued to the animals sitting next to him.
Could it be?
Haven broke into a run. Liam held his palm out to the dogs then jogged toward her. Excitement bubbled in her throat, and when she got close enough, she launched herself at him, laughing. “What did you do?”
Liam caught her and swung her around, chuckling along with her. “Why don’t you come find out?”
He set her on her feet and laced his fingers with hers, which was the only reason she didn’t tear off toward the dogs waiting patiently on a picnic blanket. Haven was impressed that the dogs didn’t seem interested in the plates of food scattered about.
Liam swept his arm toward the bigger dog of the two. “I believe you remember Miss Molly. And that beautiful young lady next to her is her daughter Neala.”
Molly? Tears sprang into her eyes as she looked back and forth between the man and the dogs. “What? When? How?”
“There’ll be plenty of time for questions later. Come on, ladies.” Liam made a clicking noise with his mouth. “Come say hi.”
Both dogs reared back and ran for them, circling and sniffing. Haven held her palm out, letting both dogs get her scent before she sank to her knees. Neala was the first to officially greet her.
“Aren’t you a beautiful girl?” Haven asked. Neala wagged her tail and nudged Haven with her nose. Haven rubbed up the bridge from cold, wet nose to the soft spot between her gorgeous brown eyes. When Haven dropped a kiss on the top of Neala’s head, she noticed a roll of paper tied to her collar.
“What’s this?” She tugged the paper loose and glanced up at Liam. “Liam, what is going on?”
Liam shrugged. “Why don’t you read the note?”
Suspicious, Haven unrolled the piece of paper and read the words there, written in Liam’s neat print.
We would be so proud to have you as our Mam.
Haven crunched the paper in her fist. “Are you serious? They’re ours? Both of them?”
Liam gave her a sharp nod. “Aren’t you going to greet Molly?”
“Oh! Of course.” Haven patted her thighs. “Come here, brave momma. Do you remember me?” Molly didn’t hesitate. She came close and rested her chin on Haven’s shoulder. Haven’s heart melted as she stroked her hand down Molly’
s back. On the second pass, Haven’s hand snagged on another note fastened to Molly’s collar.
“Oh look,” Haven said, smiling to herself. “Another note.”
Will you marry our Da?
The words Liam had written made her heart thunder in her chest. Haven’s gaze darted, searching for Liam. She found him resting on one knee on the picnic blanket, a small box sitting on his open palm.
Haven went to her knees in front of him. She cupped his cheeks, her mind racing. “Liam, are you sure?” They hadn’t even talked about marriage.
Liam tossed his head back and laughed. Then he wrapped his arms around her. “Oh, pix, I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. I love you, Haven. I think I’ve loved you the moment you asked me to play darts all those years ago. I couldn’t let go then, and I won’t let go now. Not ever.” He leaned down, his breath warm against her lips. “Say you’ll be mine, baby. Marry me.”
“Yes.” Haven laughed. “Of course, the answer is yes, because I love you, too, Liam. I think I’ve loved you since that very same moment. You’re my best friend, my lover, my everything. I would be honored to be your wife.”
Liam opened the box, and inside was an elegant wedding band, etched with an intricate Celtic design. He slid it on her finger and kissed her, hard and fast. Haven jolted, expecting him to linger, but when he pulled away, she realized they had an audience.
Liam produced a ball from somewhere and tossed it. Both dogs tore off after it.
Liam sat down on the blanket. He pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. With a contented sigh, Haven sank against him. Just as she’d thought life couldn’t get any better, her husband-to-be had surprised her yet again.
“What do you think of this land?” he asked.
“It’s beautiful. And the drive out was relaxin’.”
“What would you think about building a house here?”
Haven jerked around to face him. “Could we?”
He nodded. “We could. We can. The land is ours.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Call it a wedding present.”
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