“Stop that.” I pointed at myself in the mirror. “You wouldn’t say that to your friends, so stop talking to yourself like that. Better yet, stop talking to yourself at all.” I braced against the mirror and fixed my makeup the best I could without a shower and a fresh start.
Everything took too long, but I didn’t dare push my luck. I’d managed not to puke, and I’d rather hold it together through this meeting.
The pounding in my head threatened to rattle my brain out my nostrils.
I paused at the top of the stairs and closed my eyes.
Just get through the meeting.
Then I could retreat to the apartment and pass out until I felt better.
Might take a few years. If only I could hibernate my way through this fresh hell of grief.
I took the steps one at a time, my hand firm on the railing in case a bout of dizziness took me out.
Declan met me at the bottom with a glass and a bottle of aspirin. “Drink all of it. Tastes like piss, but it’ll help.”
“Know that from experience?” I tried to laugh but it hurt too much. “Who am I meeting?”
“Ronan. He’s waiting for you in the back booth. I put him back there so the light wouldn’t hurt you so much.” A slow but somehow sad smile stretched his lips.
My heart fluttered to life. “Thanks, Declan. That was nice of you. This won’t happen again.” Why did I feel the need to tell him that?
Declan shrugged as though he wondered the same thing. “I’ll be at the bar. I’d say shout if you need anything, but not sure you can.”
“You sound so smug.” I grimaced but swallowed the aspirin and the hangover concoction. He was right. I’d never tasted piss, but if I had to guess, it would taste like the awful thing sliding down my throat. I shoved the glass at him and wiped the back of my hand over my mouth. “Damn that’s awful.”
He reached behind him and picked up a cup of coffee. “See if this helps.”
“Oh fuck. I think I might love you.” I yanked the cup from his hands so fast I nearly spilled the hot liquid. The words I’d said didn’t register until I’d made it halfway across the room.
My spine stiffened, but I refused to turn around and see what possible expression he might be wearing.
Instead, I powered forward, putting on my best smile and attitude as I approached the man in the back corner booth.
Soft sunlight cut through the window and washed over his face. What was it with this town and handsome men?
First Declan and Finn, and now Ronan with his gray eyes and chestnut hair.
The sunlight caught on hints of red mixed with the feathering of white at his temples and in the short beard and mustache.
Hubba hubba.
He sat with his shoulders back, legs spread apart, and hands on the tabletop.
No wasted movement.
No bouncing foot or tapping fingers.
He sat like he could stay there all day and not be bothered to move a muscle.
Interesting.
4
RONAN
I’d know the woman walking toward me as Shayla’s daughter even if we met as strangers in a town far away from here.
