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“Did she say that?”
“Yup, in so many words.”
I closed my eyes and braced myself on my hands.
“I fell hard and fast, man. Things were going great and the sudden way it ended hit me hard. I didn’t expect it. I get where she’s coming from though, I just wished things weren’t the way they are.” I brought my eyes to his. “I love her.”
“Why?” he asked, causing me to scowl.
“What the fuck kind of question is that?”
“A valid one,” he replied, sounding like an ass. “Why do you love her? What’s so special about her?”
“You’re pissing me off…”
“Just answer the question.”
“Shit, Brady, she’s amazing. She’s a fabulous chef, business owner, teacher … She had an asshole for a husband and when she realized it, was strong enough to leave him. She’s funny, beautiful, and doesn’t take any shit from me.” I thought about everything I’d been feeling over the last few days, and the lyrics I’d been laying down. “She makes me feel like a man. I want to take care of her, feed her, worship her … She makes me into someone I’ve always wanted to be, but didn’t think I had in me.”
Brady nodded, taking a few moments to process what he wanted to say before speaking.
“That’s a great answer, and, brother, I want that for you … Are you sure you’re making the right decision? I’ve always thought you’d be a great dad. Watching you with everyone’s kids, starting with Cal’s, and now with Dec. You’re a natural. Kids love you and you seem to get a kick out of them. You have an ease with them that I’ll never have. I have to say, I’m shocked to hear you say you don’t want them … Are you sure?”
“Look,” I started, tired of this conversation already. “What happened with Mom and Dad, then Brock … I don’t want to do that to a kid. I like kids, don’t get me wrong, it just feels selfish to bring them into this world, and it’s never something I wanted.”
“Maybe it’s time for you to re-evaluate that.”
I stared at him briefly, then turned back to the pages before me and began playing the song that was bugging me. When I got to the part about her walking away witho
ut a trace, Brady interrupted.
“Sounds great, man, maybe you should write about how you had the ability to keep her, but chose to let her walk.”
I looked over my shoulder as Brady walked out as quietly as he’d entered, then turned back, the wheels in my head spinning with his new take on the song.
He’d just unlocked the piece I was looking for.
Chapter Twenty ~ Bronagh
Whenever I felt down, or out of sorts, being in the kitchen always helped to relieve my funk. I love the sounds, smells, and tastes that come from working with food, and it’s the one thing that was always sure to bring me peace when I was upset.
That’s why I’d been spending as much time in Callaghan’s as possible since I’d broken things off with Brendan. My girls had been a great diversion for a bit, but after seeing Brendan in class during the day, and getting the cold shoulder, I’d needed to fill my hours doing something meaningful.
“Cornish Pasty, Bangers and Mash, and two orders of hot wings for table seven,” one of my servers called out as he pushed the ticket up into the metal holder.
I was busy completing the order, working side by side with two of my long-employed chefs, when the hostess came back and made a beeline for me, stopping when she was close enough to whisper in my ear.
“There’s a man here to see you.”
I pulled back and turned my head so I could see her when I asked, “What man? Did he ask for me specifically?”
“Yes,” she whispered. I wasn’t sure why it was such a big secret, but my stomach dropped when she said, “He’s tall, with dark skin and dark hair … really dreamy eyes, and a old Whiskey Heat T-shirt.”
I took a gulp and tried to steady my suddenly racing heart.
“Can you finish this up?” I asked my sous chef, then gave the hostess a small smile. “Thanks, Heather, I’ll be right out.”
What is he doing here?
