Page 45 of Beer & Broomsticks
A knock on the door startled her out of her musings.
She was almost afraid to answer. If it was Ruairí come to beg forgiveness, she didn’t know what she’d do. Tell him to feck off, most likely. But she didn’t want to be angry anymore. Oh, she couldn’t help but be furious; however, there was nothing productive in that type of rage. She’d prefer he stay out of her sight until she had a better handle on the riot of emotions all vying for dominance inside her.
She was no coward, though, and she took a deep breath to call out to whoever was on the other side of the door. Of all the people shedidn’texpect to see, Ronan was the one. His gaze darted to the sword but just as quickly locked on her.
“What do you want, Ronan?” she asked wearily.
“He’s a broken man, Bridget.”
There was no need to define who “he” was. They both knew perfectly well Ronan was talking about Ruairí.
“And how is that my problem?”
“He’d intended to give you the sword all along. He only wanted to take you on a stroll down memory lane so you could recall the better times together. I’ve never known a man to love a woman more than he loves you. You’re more important to him than anyone in his entire world.”
“Then he shouldn’t have lied!” she snapped. She felt the sting of tears she refused to shed. Forced to blink away the moisture, she looked away from him in an effort to compose herself. “’Tis all he does.”
“No. He’s the most honest person I know.”
Lifting her chin in challenge, she said, “Then you should keep better company, shouldn’t ya?”
His mouth tightened and disappointment shone in the depths of his silvery gaze. “He always speaks so highly of you, and yet you don’t have a kind word for him. He’s better off without ya, he is!”
The shock of his angry retort washed her in cold awareness. She had little doubt of the truth ofthatcomment. Ruairí did love her, he just had questionable people skills. And wasn’t that the crux of the matter? Should she overlook his little white lies in favor of fun and laughter, or should she call him on his behavior and try to curtail any future problems?
Future problems.
Was she set on forgiveness then?
She stared hard at Ronan, wondering if he was somehow influencing her mind again. “Are you using your magic on me?”
“I don’t have enough left to penetrate that thick skull of yours,” he said sourly.
Just as she would’ve given him the tongue lashing he deserved, Ruairí filled the doorway behind him. “Ronan, I’d like to talk to Bridget if you’ve a mind to leave us alone for a while.”
His voice was solemn, subdued, but it still held a hint of command, and Ronan was quick to depart.
Bridget opened her mouth to tell him to go to the devil, but he forestalled her with a simple gesture of his hand.
“I’ve things that need saying, then I’ll go.” When she gave a short nod, he continued. “I’ve never lied about the fact I love you, Bridg. Never once. You are my one true heart, and I want no other.”
Biting the inside of her cheek to hold back the venom she was tempted to spew, she glared instead.
“I can see what I’m saying doesn’t mean anything to you anymore, but I’ll finish what I came to say.” After a deep inhale, he said, “I’ve lied to you exactly twice. Once over the trick with Molly Mae, and once over the whereabouts of that feckin’ sword. Both were in an effort to have you do my bidding as I wanted you so badly. The first time to run away with me, and the second to spend time with me. To get to know me again.”
“You succeeded. I’ve gotten to know you can’t be trusted,” she said coldly.
“Aye, you would see it that way. But it’s not true, Bridg. When it mattered, I’ve always been there for you.”
There was no honest retort in reply to his comment. The truth was hehadbeen there for her. “Why did you have to lie?” she asked tearfully. “Why? Why couldn’t ya have just given me the bleedin’ thing and be done with it? I’d have respected you more for it.”
“I didn’t think you’d grant me the time to take you to all the places that would remind you of what we were to each other,” he said simply.
“I don’t want to be reminded.”
His face lost all expression, and he gave a single nod then turned to go.
“Ruairí.”
