Page 11 of Beer & Broomsticks
“And I’ll be accepting it with gladness in me old abused heart.”
“I don’t have all feckin’ day, O’Connor!” Bridget snapped from the top of the stairs. “Either get your arse movin’ or go back to your own home.”
He laughed as he bound the rest of the way up the stairs. “Your bellow is my command,mo ghrá.”
Carrick’s snort carried to him.
At least someone appreciated his humor.
When he reached the top landing, he noticed the twinkle of amusement in Bridget’s eyes, too. She simply shook her head and turned away, but not before he caught the twitch of her lips. One of the best things about her was her ability to laugh at herself. Perhaps it was why he hadn’t expected her to react as badly as she had over the Mollie Mae situation. He’d figured she’d put ol’ Mol in her place, snatch him by the ear, and claim him as her own. However, his fool move wasted a large portion of their lives. With a sigh and a shake of his head, he followed her down the hallway.
The room she showed him was tastefully done. One he’d seen when he shamelessly stalked her on the internet and learned the layout of the inn. At the time, he’d firmly believed it was to protect her should the need arise, but the truth was, he had been looking for any scrap of knowledge, any insight on her life that made him feel as if he could belong.
“You’re lookin’ thoughtful of a sudden.”
He glanced her way, registering her deep frown. “I was thinking about you if I’m to be honest.”
Her features smoothed and gave nothing away as she waited for him to continue.
“During our conversation yesterday, you said you’d forgiven me, Bridg, but have you?”
“I’d like to think I have.” She shrugged and turned her attention to the garden outside the window. “At the time, it was a knife to my chest. Now? Sure, and I’ve never paused to reexamine how I feel about you.” The mossy-green eyes she turned to him were full of sadness, and Ruairí’s heart flipped in his chest. “I couldn’t spare you anything but a passing thought.”
“And I’ve only ever thought of you,” he said hoarsely. “Mornin’, noon, and night. From the moment I woke to the time I placed my head on the pillow, my mind was consumed with you,mo ghrá.And in every dream, you came to me, a smile on your lovely mouth and adoration in your eyes. Just like when we were kids. Those dreams gave me hope, they did.”
Tears shimmered in her hauntingly beautiful eyes. “Oh, Ruairí, you bloody fool.” She compressed her lips and shook her head, and he wanted nothing more than to pull her close to comfort her. But he knew she’d reject him, as certain as the rain would fall at some point during the day.
“I’m sorry for breaking your heart, Bridget. But you should know, I broke my own that day, too. One bad decision designed to spark your fire, and I sentenced us both to hell.”
“I’ve replayed that day a thousand times,” she confessed. “I should’ve reacted differently.”
His heart rate picked up. “What are you sayin’?”
“I don’t know. For someone who’s never short on words, I can’t seem to find the ones I need to tell you what’s in my heart.”
“Do you love me? Tell me you do, and I’ll spend the rest of my days making you glad you did.”
“I don’t know that either.”
He got a sense she wasn’t being honest with herself, and the disappointment was crushing. Shifting, he threw his bag on the bed. “I’m sure ya have guests to see to.”
He sensed her movement a second before she touched his back. “I’m sorry I can’t give you the answer you want. But I can tell you I’m over the hurt of the past. My problem is trust, Ruairí. You have to admit your timing is suspect, yeah?”
He spun and stared down at her, uncertain what she could possibly mean. “Suspect? In what way is my showing up to protect you suspect?”
“Is that what you’re truly here for? Not to prevent the loss of your part of the O’Malley magic?”
Reeling back, he could only gape at her. A wave of anger crashed over him, and he did his damnedest to hold his temper in check when what he really wanted to do was verbally flay her alive. How dare she question his commitment after all these years! He’d stepped in to help keep her pub running without so much as a fecking thank you from her.
She had the presence of mind to look wary and take a step back.
“I need a bit, or I’m likely to say things I’ll be regrettin’,” he stated coldly.
“Ruairí—”
“It’s best you go about your day, Bridget.”
She dropped her gaze and turned to leave.
