Thank God Rowan broke the tension by recalling everyone’s attention to basic manners. Introductions. Her hands fluttered about her neck as if her breaths were too shallow. He could sympathize.
River moved behind Raven’s back as the youngest Byrne moved toward his family. She tried to smile. Failed.
“Hugh, Bran, Patrick. How... nice to see you. Please, let me take your coats and introduce Josephine’s... umm... security.”
Bran thought he heard Rowan swallow an Oh God before she plowed on.
“Honey Bunny, this is Hugh O’Faolain and his sons, Bran and Patrick. Gentlemen, this is Honey... Bunny.”
Jo was grinning ear to ear now. Ahh... Honey was blushing red to the roots of his blonde hair. Everyone froze after the introduction.
Bran didn’t care about any of that. He wanted introductions over with so he could speak to Raven.
The giant moved one step with his hand raised to shake. “Thomas MacGregor.” Scottish. Very, very Scottish. If the accent were any thicker, they’d need a claymore to cut the syllables apart. Jo gasped behind MacGregor’s back.
“You are an asshole, Honey. An absolute, fucking douche canoe.”
“Such language for a lady, Miss O’Connor.”
Or that’s what Bran thought he said.
She ignored... Honey. “Girls, I’ve got to get to that shop, or I may lose the wallpaper. And I want it more than anything in the world right now. Let me know lunch plans. Honey Bunny’s about to work up an appetite.”
The girls gave their goodbyes. Well, River and Rowan did. Raven was still staring at him. He was still staring at her.
Patrick went over to River and gave her a... side hug... and pushed a $3,000 Burberry wool trench coat into her hands. At her questioning look, he told her she’d been cold last night. Pat was zero help right now.
He looked to his dad to do... anything besides stand there.
He relented. “Good to see you.” Stiff. Bran was starting to panic. “Patrick and I would love a tour.”
“Yeah, we would. You guys killed it with this place. The property is impressive, and the area couldn’t be better. Do you live near here?”
River beamed at Pat’s praise. “We live upstairs.”
“Oh wow, so you guys kind of set this up like Eufaula.”
River’s jaw snapped shut. Rowan flinched.
“Yes, we did. We... have plans to...” Raven stopped and fluttered a hand around like she was at a loss as how to keep going. He understood.
As the four moved around the office, Bran walked up to Raven’s desk and sat across from her.
“I planned so many things to say, but it really boils down to just a few. I’m sorry. I hope someday you can forgive me. I’ve missed you horribly. I love you.”
Bran watched tears slip down her face. He didn’t want her to cry. Damn it.
“I brought you a gift.” Like an oaf, he shoved the crumpled box in front of her.
She grabbed a tissue and blotted her eyes. “You didn’t have to bring me anything.” She touched the ribbon wrapped untidily around the plain brown box and lid combo.
Making things more awkward— at this point he was undoubtedly a contender for the Guinness Book of World Records for Biggest Dumbasses— he added, “I made it. Myself. For you.” Jesus. Please, God.
“Oh,” Raven exhaled. “Should I open it now?”
“Yes.”
The ribbon was green. Raven liked green. He watched as she pulled free the tail of the bow and pulled off the lid. Setting both carefully on her desk. He glanced up for a moment to see that his family and Raven’s had stopped what they were doing to watch. He didn’t care, but he was starting to rethink his gift.
