His mind spun back to the few minutes of being with her in the hallway before he lost consciousness again. What had her da said?
“As soon as you’re married,” Mr. Shanahan continued, “you’ll understand the need to focus on your husband and home.”
Zaira released an audible sigh. “That’s why I want to wait.”
“When is the priest coming?” Mr. Shanahan asked impatiently.
“Any moment,” Kiernan answered.
“He should be here by now.”
“We also need to wait for Bellamy to awaken.”
He tried to stir to let them know he was gaining consciousness, but he couldn’t get his eyelids to lift or his lips to open. He suspected the doctor might have given him more pain medicine for the ride to the Shanahan mansion, and that now he was too weak and tired to participate in the conversation.
“Da, Kiernan.” Zaira spoke again, the boldness still in her tone. “It doesn’t matter if the priest comes or not. I’m not marrying Bellamy.”
“You have no choice.” Mr. Shanahan’s statement was curt.
She was silent for several long heartbeats. “Our relationship is only pretend.”
“Pretend?”
“Aye, ask Kiernan. He knows that Bellamy and I agreed be together for a short while to help each other out, and that we never intended to go through with the marriage.”
A strange protest welled up inside Bellamy. She was right. Even last night, he’d pushed her away after their kiss when she’d been questioning what their relationship meant. He hadn’t wanted to explore what might develop between them, hadn’t given a future with her any consideration.
Oh aye, his family had a terrible history with relationships.And he’d always been scared of repeating the same mistakes. But in attempting to avoid the mistakes and searching for a perfect match, was he making things even worse?
No man or woman was ever perfect. He wouldn’t be a good matchmaker if he didn’t acknowledge that fact.
Zaira’s accusation pressed at his consciousness.“Maybe a perfectmatch has to do with how well a couple displayshumility and perseverance and the willingness to forgive.”
Was she right? If a husband and wife were so busy looking for perfection from one another, would they overlook the need for humility, perseverance, and a willingness to forgive? Those attributes that would really make a difference in having a happy and lasting marriage?
“What’s all this about a pretend relationship?” Mr. Shanahan asked.
Kiernan cleared his throat. “It was a way to protect Zaira after her first kiss with Bellamy.”
“And?”
“I assumed once they were together, they would soon realize they’re already in love with each other.”
“We’re not in love.” Zaira’s response was quick and angry. “We don’t even like each other.”
Kiernan snorted. “Everyone could see at the eating-the-gander party that you’re both crazy about each other.”
“We drive each other crazy, but that’s all.”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Kiernan continued. “After you spent last night together, there will be no breaking off your relationship now.”
“Oh aye, I’ll be breaking it off.” Zaira’s chair bumped against the bedside table as she rose.
Bellamy blinked, finally opening his eyes to morningsunshine pouring in through an open window. She was facing her da and brother, who were both standing just inside the door of a room that was definitely Zaira’s. With white furniture and yellow everywhere, it was feminine and bright and whimsical, just like Zaira.
Kiernan was scowling at her. “You’ll marry him, and that’s all there is to it.”
Her back stiffened. “Bellamy will never agree to it either.”
