Page 42 of Irish Betrayal

“I’ll be coming with you and your Auntie.” Ulf’s lips didn’t so much as twitch.

With that mic drop, the asshole stomped out of his office, presumably to pack.

eighteen

ROWAN BYRNE O’FAOLAIN

For the first time in almost two years, Rowan felt, if not vitality, at least the beginning of a spark. She would never wish for her grandson, Daniel, to struggle in love…

But to be needed—oh, Lord—to lend a hand instead of grasping for one. Daniel’s offer of “dinner” had come at the perfect time. She freely admitted that she was jealous of her sisters going off for a vacation with their loving husbands—romantic dinners, laughter, cuddling under a blanket, stargazing, the quiet calm when words aren’t exchanged or needed, morning sex, any sex.

God, she missed the closeness of Hugh covering her body, the give and take of sensual pleasure. Romance novels had become her guilty pleasure, but they would never, could never replace a man’s heat.

Still, she was thrilled to have a real excuse to do something. Her life had become so calculated, her days planned within a quarter of an hour. She’d never realized, as selfish as it may sound, that she was stuck because her only offers of adventure came from her happily married sisters.

It wasn’t fair. Hugh’s death wasn’t fair.

But now she had accepted an invitation for a solo adventure, with her nephew, yes, but still, it counted. It counted, and it thrilled her.

Katy was ecstatic that Rowan was visiting. The short notice was brushed away with a rush of laughter and planning.

Her old friend wished for her and Daniel to stay in the main house with her and her husband, William. Rowan could eat dinner in the main house, have tea, or a cocktail and chat, but sleep?

No.

Not in the home that used to be hers, her home and Hugh’s. Rowan asked if Daniel might stay in his parent’s old home with the beautiful gardens—if Rowan was aware that Blair was currently in residence there, she would never admit to it.

Rowan would stay in River and Patrick’s old home. Katy’s children and grandchildren used the properties when they visited, but no one was currently staying.

Despite going back to Muskogee, specifically to the very house where Rowan had gotten to know and fall in love with Hugh O’Faolain, she felt in her heart that it was a final dance of sorts. The “The End” to her and Hugh’s story.

Their love started there.

Maybe she could say goodbye there too.

Before packing, she knew she couldn’t put off calling her sisters another moment, since they would be leaving that evening themselves. She called them on a conference call.

“Hey, Row,” River answered, adjusting her laptop screen to show herself sitting on an overly filled suitcase.

“Rowan,” Raven said, her smiling face glowing from her end, an extremely organized suitcase on the bed next to her.

“You know you aren’t big enough to squish that case closed, right?” Rowan asked River.

“Pfft,” River flicked her fingers toward the screen. “That’s what that sexy, naked man currently manscaping in the bathroom is for.”

“River, Christ!” Patrick could be heard shouting from the ensuite. Thankfully, River didn’t swivel her tablet in his direction. It wouldn’t be the first time.

“Tell me you changed your mind, Row, and you’re coming with us,” Raven clasped her hands below her smiling lips in prayer.

Rowan took a deep breath. “No, but I am going somewhere.”

“Oh,” they both said in unison.

“Your son, Raven, invited me to go to Tulsa, Muskogee actually, to visit Katy and William.”

Two sets of widened, unblinking eyes met her announcement. To fill the silence, Rowan added, “I’m excited to see Katy, of course, but I’m sure you’re both aware that Blair is living a few days a week on the property as well.”

It said something that both sisters, especially Raven, ignored the reference to the woman who had left Daniel heartbroken without a word.