Beatrice came into the pub and kissed the bartender who’d taken our order on the cheek. Apparently, they knew each other.
We left a few minutes later. This time Cian turned the radio on. The volume was low, and between the soothing music, a full stomach, and feet that were aching from walking, I fell asleep. I woke up when Cian lifted me out of the car. I stared at his face while he carried me inside.
God, he was beautiful.
I expected him to leave me at my door, but he took me to a different room and set me on my feet. The room was dark, but as he gradually turned the lights up, I blinked.
“No way,” I whispered.
He’d set me down in the library of the castle. It was like something out of a dream. It even had one of those ladders that rolled. I wanted to make it slide along the floor like they did in the movies.
It even smelled like a well-used library—crisp paper and dust.
I went to a lower shelf and ran my fingers along the rows of spines. I wondered if there were any romance books, and if so, if this was where Fiona found her stash? Or could I add the ones I bought to the shelves? Every library needed a little romance.
“This is…beautiful,” I said, turning to Cian.
It was the first time I’d ever seen him look…pleased. His face was relaxed and his eyes softer.
“I love this room.” I grinned. “Can it be mine?”
He nodded and my grin turned into a smile. He pointed to a long desk. It seemed like the scholarly kind with lamps for ambiance. A box was on it. I opened it and my eyes started to burn.
It was all my woodworking tools, sketches, and figurines from home. I lifted the last one I’d done, Beauty, from the box and turned it over in my hands. “I was working on these before I left. I still have the Beast to do… I was still trying toseehim before I carved him.”
Cian came to stand behind me. I could feel the warmth of his body. And I had to resist the urge to rest my head against his chest. It felt so natural to be with him, talking or not. The silence wasn’t awkward, and when I did talk, he made me feel like I said the most interesting things.
I turned and looked up at him.
I had a pretty good idea of what the beast would look like then.
He came to life in my life before he did in my head.
Cian Cillian O’Callaghan.
“Thank you,” I whispered, “for this.” I lifted the figurine.
If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t need anyone to bring them to me, but if it also wasn’t for him, I’d be married to Dermot, and who knows what I would’ve been allowed to take from home?
He lifted my chin, and my eyes found his. I held my breath, anticipating his lips on mine, but he only nodded before he left me alone.
Chapter9
Cian
She’d been movin’ in front of the window and away from it all mornin’. When she moved away from my view, Beatrice was always behind her. Beatrice and Fiona were doin’ weddin’ things with her.
She’d be my bride in a week—a June weddin’.
Keenan was anxious about spendin’ so much time in Ireland and not Boston. Payin’ attention to it now, time seemed to run there, where it crawled here. I was soakin’ up every season and minute with Maeve. And since Beatrice said this should be special for her, that was the only reason I was bein’ so patient when it came to a date.
I wanted her as my wife.
The thought satisfied a cravin’ inside of me that I had no fuckin’ clue existed until she lit the flame of life inside of me again, though she felt like a storm when she blew into my life. It was like she’d brought a fire with her, strong enough to light a candle. Even though mine still flickered—my desire to live had always been measured by revenge—each breath with her was makin’ it stronger.
She was only a few steps away, but if I couldn’t see her, it made me feel unsure—about the entire fuckin’ world. She was solid ground, though on the inside, she rocked me to my core.
Maeve appeared in front of the window. I could tell from the look on her face she was ready to be outside. She told me people exhausted her.
