"Lorcan—”
"I’m a married man. I have been clear with you. I have been clear with everybody in this establishment." My voice doesn't rise. It never has to.
Her cheeks go red. "It was a joke.”
"It wasn't funny." I glance down the bar. Maeve is dead still, eyes down, hands flat on the bar top. "I made vows in front of a priest, and I meant every word. I don't cheat, I don't flirt, and I don't let any other women put a hand on me in front of my wife or behind her back. If that's a problem for you, Susie can make the schedule work without you."
"No. No, it's not a problem." Her chin's wobbling now. "Sorry."
"Then we're done here. Get back to work."
I watch her head back to the floor to take drink orders, and when I turn back to search for my wife, she’s gone.
Sully nods his head toward the back door.
When I step out into the cool evening air, Maeve is leaning against the brick wall, staring up at the emerging stars.
She seems wary, as if she’s bracing herself.
I stand next to her and lean back against the building.
"So," Maeve says, her voice brittle. “You and Brianna?—”
“Are not a thing."
Fucking Brianna.
"Maeve, I've had a life. I'm not going to pretend otherwise, and you'd know I was lying if I did.”
I turn to face her fully now, because this matters, and I want her looking into my eyes when I say it.
“When I stood at that altar and made my vows to you and to God, I meant them. My name's been on a lot of ugly things, Maeve, but it's never—not once—been on a broken promise."
I hold her gaze for a long moment.
The crease between her brows is there again. I tap it with a finger.
"Stop that," she says.
"Never."
She shakes her head like she’s exasperated, but she's fighting a smile.
"Come on, Mrs. O'Rourke.” I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head. Let's go home."
Chapter 12
Maeve
Tonight, I'm losing my virginity.
I decided sometime between breakfast and watching Lorcan walk around the pub in his jeans and tight t-shirt, all sexy, muscled man.
I mean, why not? I'm nineteen. I'm married. I have exactly three nights left on this deal, and if, come day four, I walk out of this mansion, I want him to be my first.
So when the kids are down—Oisin asleep before his head hits the pillow, Cara wearing a secret smile because she has a room of her own, and Jamie whose new PlayStation gaming system arrived today. (I know Lorcan’s responsible for that, even though he refuses to admit it.)
I shower, and I stand in front of the bathroom mirror in a fluffy white towel, and I give myself a pep talk.
