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I poured myself a generous dram of Scotch and opened a bottle of Pinot Noir. “Come,” I said, handing her a glass. She followed me up a narrow spiral staircase to my private roof terrace. Unrivaled panoramic views of the city surrounded us as its famous landmarks began to glow and twinkle with lights, and the sun dimmed into the horizon. We sat down on the outdoor couch.
“This is spectacular,” she said, pulling the sleeves of her jumper down. “I never would have guessed this was up here.”
“Aye. It was the reason I originally purchased the place.” I pulled a blanket from the back of the couch. “Are you cold?” I asked, covering us.
“A little.”
I clicked on the gas firepit and put my arm around her. She pulled her legs up, settling against my chest.
“I told you I was never close to my father,” I said as I took her hand in mine. This would normally be a taboo topic for me, but I felt the need to explain myself to her.
“Yes.”
“He was a mean man. Angry and bitter. A right bastard. The last time he took his fists to me, I was sixteen. I was already taller than him, and even given that, I never put up a fight until then. I had qualified for the Advanced Highers in school. He wanted me to drop out and find work. I told him no. This was my way into a top university. My way to freedom. Like I said, I used to never fight back when he was in one of his rages, but that day I did. He punched me and told me I was a loser who would never amount to anything, so I hit him back and knocked him out. Two years later, I got into Cambridge on a full scholarship, and I never saw him again until today,” I revealed.
“The man outside the courthouse,” she guessed.
“Aye. It was him. Only now, he doesn’t look scary. He just looks old and pathetic.” I had never spoken about him to anyone in my life.
“I’m sorry, Keir.”
I ran my thumb over the top of her knuckles. “Don’t be. It was just a shock seeing him. Being back in Glasgow reawakened some ghosts I wasn’t ready to have resurrected.” Dark clouds covered the night sky, obscuring the moon.
“Do you think Sir Leonard was behind him being there?” she asked.
“I’m sure of it.” I let go of her hand and rested it on her thigh. “You can’t marry Cormac,” I said, changing the subject.”
“You said that earlier, but I don’t have a choice. Donovan will hurt Patrick. He’s already hurt, Sean.”
“You are very loyal to them,” I said. “Your brothers.”
“I might be mad at Patrick, but I will always love him, and I’ll always be there for him.”
“You really believe in love.” It wasn’t a question. I was just amazed at her convictions.
“Of course I do.”
“It’s a sacred emotion,” I faltered. “One I’ve never felt before.”
“You’ve never loved anyone?” she asked, surprised. “Or had someone love you?”
“No.”
“Do you not think you’re worthy of love,” she interjected. “Is that why you claimed you wanted to feel like you are worthy?”
“Perhaps,” I took a sip of my whiskey. “Being loved or loving someone gives a person meaning. It never really mattered to me until now.”
“What’s different now?” she asked innocently.
I didn’t answer at first, letting the question resonate within me. The air had grown heavy between us. “I met you,” I finally said.
“What do you mean?”
“You are very special, Evie. You make me feel that real love, sacred love is possible.” I shouldn’t have said it, but knowing we only had tonight, I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to be vulnerable for the first time in my life. “I trust you.” I leaned over and kissed her. Dearil, the fucking bastard, had stayed quiet since his last appearance, and I prayed it would stay that way.
Her hand caressed my cheek as she looked into my eyes. “I trust you too.”
Words said so naively. It was just a few weeks ago I, for all practical purposes, kidnapped her and stole her virtue. She had no reason to trust me.
