AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We actually had a meeting yesterday, my brothers and I, with a music producer. He’s starting a new label and is interested in recording us … He and another producer are working hand in hand, and they also asked about buying some of my songs … for other artists to record.”
I let pride and pleasure bloom on my face, not wanting to hold back the fact that I really was happy for him, even though my heart felt like it slowly cracking inside.
“That’s wonderful, I’m so happy for you guys.”
“It’s crazy,” Brendan said with a shake of his head, his smile huge. “The timing’s a little off, what with the stuff my brothers have going on now, but it’s an amazing opportunity, so we’re going to do it.”
Not wanting to be rude, but needing him to get to the point so I could go inside and figure out how to forget him, I asked, “You said you were here because?”
Brendan blinked at my question, his smile dimming a bit, then he replied, “Um, well, I wanted to talk about us. About the things that we said, and what we need to do to move forward.”
I ignored the fact that my stupid heart leapt at his words and asked, “So the music stuff, that would all be local?”
Brendan tilted his head, watching me cautiously.
“Well, Brandt, the producer I mentioned, wanted me to go to New York for a while. The producer he’s working with has a studio there … but I told him I wasn’t interested in that. I want to work locally.”
“That’s crazy, Brendan,” I said, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice. “New York would be perfect for you. It’s a chef’s dream, and I’m sure there’d be plenty of restaurants that would hire you in a heartbeat. I can put in a good word.”
“Stop,” he replied, holding his hand up. “What about what I said … About us. I want another shot, Bronagh. I’ve been going crazy these last few weeks without you.”
I swallowed painfully, and steeled myself against the hopeful look on his face.
“We’ve gone over this, and I’m sorry that I confused things by practically attacking you in the closet. That was a shitty thing to do…”
“It happened because we aren’t done, Freckles,” Brendan cut in, reaching out and placing his hand on my leg.
It felt as if his imprint was burning through my pajama pants.
“We are done, Brendan, I’m sorry. I hate that I keep hurting you, but we want different things. We just have to let this go,” I pleaded, hoping that he would leave before I broke down in front of him.
“That’s what I want to talk about, Bronagh. I want what you want … I want you,” he insisted, before going in for the kill. “I’m in love with you.”
I stood abruptly and watched as his hand fell to his side.
“No, Brendan, please … stop. You were pretty clear about what you want and don’t want in your life. You can’t just change your mind in order to get me back. That isn’t fair to either of us, and would kill me later when you realized you regretted your decision now. Just let me go … please.”
I left him there, sitting on my porch, his eyes on me as I swept into my house, closing and locking the door behind me. Then I
slid down the hard wood, my eyes filling with tears as my butt hit the floor.
Chapter Twenty-Nine ~ Brendan
A nicer guy would respect Bronagh’s wishes and leave her alone … Too bad I wasn’t that guy.
I’d bungled my delivery when I’d gone to her house, not saying everything I’d wanted to say, and unintentionally given her another excuse to let me go.
I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.
I needed a grand gesture. To lay it all on the line and let her know exactly how I felt and what I wanted.
It hurt like hell when she’d tossed my words back in my face without looking back, but I was convinced that she was doing it because she thought she was doing it for my benefit.
I was tired of Bronagh letting me go, and this time I wasn’t going to take no for an answer. No, I’d never thought children were a part of my future, but having Bronagh, and then losing her, repeatedly, had taught me that I would do anything she wanted in order to keep her in my life forever. And if the only thing standing in my way was giving her a child. A child that would hopefully have my brothers’ strength and Bronagh’s hair and freckles, then I’d be a fucking idiot not to give that to her.
Brock had laid it all out for me when I’d gone to see him after that morning at Bronagh’s house.
“I get it, brother, I do.” He’d had one hand on my shoulder and the other cradling a sleeping Declan against his chest. “But you have to believe me when I say, that if I died tomorrow, I’d die a happy man.”
