“Unfortunately.”
“Do you think you’ll get back together?”
“Listen, Josh. Patrick has his own personal demons. They don’t excuse his behavior with me. I plan on taking a long time to heal and assess my life, what direction I want it to go in, and who I plan on spending it with. It’s only been a few days.”
“It’s good you are taking time. Did he stay in the States?”
“He’s flying in with one of my best friends tomorrow.” At Josh’s raised brows, she added, “Jo wouldn’t have brought him, but her brother happens to be Bran and Patrick’s best friend.”
“Jesus.”
“Right? My sisters won’t allow him near me.” Changing gears, she told Josh she would run by O’Faolain’s place before work in the morning to see his wolf sculpture.
“Text or call me and let me know what you think. I admit to being proud of it. I get why Hugh wanted a wolf since O’Faolain in Irish means wolf.”
River laughed. “Yeah, growing up in Oklahoma, every woman with a pulse, and probably just as many men, ate up any bit of gossip about The Irish Wolves. That’s what they were known as in the Tulsa oil circle.” Geez, she had to stop talking about Patrick’s family.
“Sorry, sometimes my mouth isn’t synced with my brain. You need to pinch me every time I bring up the world’s biggest douche canoe. Pain therapy. It supposedly takes twenty-one days to break a habit. Are you ready to commit to at least that many days being my bestie?”
He laughed, “I’ll do your twenty-one days and raise you an extra ninety.” They both chuckled, shaking hands to seal their new friendship. River’s phone buzzed, the screen reading Rave. Instant panic that her sister was still up.
“I’ve got to take this. It’s Raven.” She answered and told her sister to wait until she walked outside so she could hear.
“Go on out. I’ll pay our tab and meet you.”
“Thank you.” As soon as she reached the street, she asked what was wrong.
Raven laughed, “Jesus, nervous Nancy, nothing’s wrong. Lynx, your guard for the night, reported that you were at a pub. So, on the off chance you’re still with Josh, I was hoping to talk to him about work.”
River knew she was guarded, but since she only caught fleeting glimpses of the men, she forgot about them.
Josh walked up and grabbed her free hand to lead them under an awning beside the main entrance. She smiled as he let her hand drop. It was much warmer out of the wind and sprinkles.
“Why is Bran allowing you to work this late?”
“First, Bran doesn’tallowme anything. Second, my feet are up, and I thought I would tick off some of the list. Third, it’s only ten-thirty. I’m pregnant, not a step away from a nursing care facility.” In the background, River heard Bran say, “Hurry up and come to bed.” That man was obsessed with her sister.
River loved that about him.
“Fine, I’m handing the phone to Josh now.” River held her phone out. Josh’s eyes got wide, but he took it. After a moment, Josh leaned his back against the brick façade.
River went in for her own lean, tuning out the one-sided conversation between Josh and her sister. Patrick would be in Dublin tomorrow night. Regardless of what he did, his fault in it, his utter disregard for her feelings, she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he would seek her out. Leaning her head against the wall, River sighed. A problem that wouldn’t be solved standing outside a Dublin pub.
River knew she wouldn’t be able to resist Patrick if she saw him. She would have to count on her sisters, and now Josh, to keep her on the straight and narrow.
Speaking of her new friend with Patrick-blocking benefits, Josh was saying goodbye to Raven. He handed her phone back. “You look slightly flustered, big guy. Was my sister weird or what?” Honestly, River and Rowan had learned quite quickly that pregnancy hormones were unpredictable.
Slipping his arm through the crook of hers, Josh said, “If you aren’t too tired, let’s share a cab, and I’ll tell you all about your sister’s proposal,” he answered, grinning like a maniac.
13
Patrick should have been asleep. He’d been staring at the ceiling of his hotel room at The Fitzwilliam for hours, having been forced to come here with Jo and MacGregor. Bran had called Patrick as soon as they’d landed to let his brother know that he couldn’t stay at the house they leased and that he’d made him a reservation at a hotel.
It was a blow. Bran said River had planned on moving out of their rental before Pat got to town, but the sisters said if she went, they would follow. “And damn, Patrick, I couldn’t let Raven upend her life like that. She just started maternity leave, and she needs to rest.” He paused, blowing out a deep breath. “Please understand,” he begged. “I’ve been where you are. I know you’re desperate to see her. It just can’t... not yet, Brother.”
Patrick told Bran he understood, and he did, damn it. He did fucking understand! He didn’t deserve to be near her, but God, how he wanted to see her. Bran said he and their dad would talk to him before the meeting MacGregor set up. They were using a small conference room at The Fitzwilliam, again, because he wasn’t allowed in the family home.
Patrick groaned, rubbing his temples and swiping his too-long hair out of his eyes. His bangs came to his nose, and one side needed shaving. Why bother fixing it? The only person he gave a shit to impress refused to see him. He’d asked himself repeatedly; how had his life had gotten this fucked up. But he knewthatanswer better than anyone.
