I watched as Ronan, eyes dancing, shook my mother’s hand. “Nice to meet you as well. And yes, he is stubborn.”
Over the years, I’d occasionally introduced the guys I’d dated to my mother, but it never went beyond a hello. Which, I now realized, made sense, as I barely knew them outside of the bedroom. DJ had never met her nor mentioned wanting to. I guessed I made it easy for him by seeming content with whatever he was willing to give.
My mother tucked her hand into Ronan’s arm. “I’m glad you see it my way.”
“I’m not saying that. Gabriel is great at what he does, and I know he loves it. That’s the most important thing—to love what you do.” Ronan walked her over to the couch. “Please sit down. Would you like a glass of wine?”
“Thank you, yes.” Her gaze swept over the large charcuterie board Ronan had ordered. “This is beautiful. I hope you didn’t go to any trouble just for me. I’m happy to sit and talk and get to know each other.”
When he’d told me he’d ordered this special for my mother, I was shocked by his thoughtfulness, and he’d pushed me up against the wall and kissed me until my head spun.
“Get used to it. I’ve discovered I like spoiling you.”
“Which, as my mother always said, is best done over food. A universal language.” He handed my mom a glass of Malbec, which I’d mentioned was her favorite wine.
She tasted it and sighed happily. “Your mother was a smart woman.” Her hand covered her mouth. “Oh, Ronan. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay.” Shadows chased away the light in his eyes. “She was smart. And kind and beautiful.”
Hating to see him in pain, I tried to change the subject. “How was your train ride?”
“Hey, Gabriel? It’s okay. I don’t mind talking about her.” He squeezed my arm, and my mother watched us and smiled into her glass.
There was still so much about Ronan I didn’t yet know, though we spent almost all our waking moments together. I might recognize the heat of his lips and the rasp of his skin on mine now, but so much of what went on inside his head remained a mystery to me.
And I loved solving mysteries.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to make you unhappy.”
With a smile reserved for me, Ronan held my gaze. “You haven’t.”
My mother set her wineglass on the table. “Well, I have a confession. When Gabriel told me who he was working for, I wasn’t happy. I thought you were one of those people who got too rich, too fast. It bothered me that you took advantage of your sister and her husband.”
I winced. My mother was never one for mincing words.
But in our weeks together I’d learned that Ronan didn’t retreat when confronted, and I appreciated that he didn’t get angry, instead opening up to my mother, who was always willing to listen.
“Before my accident, I might’ve agreed with you. But when I was locked up, all I could think of was coming home and starting fresh. Obviously, that didn’t happen. I discovered that the people I always thought would be there for me were nowhere to be found. Maybe I was naïve to believe in forgive and forget. I guess I didn’t anticipate that far ahead. And I’ve made peace with that now, although it took me time and a kick in the head to see it. Working with those sick kids in the hospital made me see that my troubles aren’t such a big deal after all.”
It was a hard road he’d traveled, but I believed Ronan had finally accepted that he and his sister would never have the relationship he’d hoped for. Or maybe any at all. I might’ve never met her, but she seemed no different than my father, someone who didn’t appreciate what she had—a brother who’d made sacrifices for her his whole life, helping her out of innumerable scrapes.
“You deserve much better than what you’ve been given.”
“I don’t know,” he mulled, rolling the wineglass between his palms. “I think I’m doing pretty damn well right now. I’ve never been more satisfied.”
I gulped my Malbec, but it wasn’t the richness of the ruby wine that warmed my insides. Ronan and I hadn’t talked about the future, but for me it had gone beyond simply sex. It was my damned insecurity that kept me from asking how he felt because deep down I was afraid to hear it was nothing more than physical for him.
“Are you and Gabriel a couple?”
Obviously, my mother had no qualms about asking, and I choked on my wine. “Mom.” I grabbed a napkin and wiped my face. “I can’t believe this.”
Ronan snickered and kicked my foot. “I think it’s cute. And so are you. Look how red you are.”
“Shut up,” I muttered. “Mom, that goes beyond the scope of an initial meeting. Usually it’s,Hi, nice to meet you, tell me something about yourself.”
Unperturbed, my mother chose a slice of salami and set it on her plate. “We’ve already moved past that. And I have eyes, you know.”
“Ain’t that the truth.” Shaking my head, I finished my wine, wishing for a bottle to myself, while next to me, Ronan was cackling uncontrollably. “I’m glad you think it’s funny.”
