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Probably because he knows that as long as he’s happy then I’m happy. It’s always been that way with us. We’ve been a team for so long. Us against the world.
I suppose our world just got a little bigger. I’m not upset about it. It’s clear Roisin is good for him and, by the way she’s glowing, I’d say the same is true for her.
“Are you going to make me an aunt any time soon?”
Declan smirks and shrugs one shoulder. “Maybe.”
“Anyway,” Roisin’s cheeks are pink as she blushes, “are you excited to be home for the break?”
“Yes,” I try and keep my voice even, but Declan’s eyes lift to mine in the rearview mirror as if he heard something in one word that I don’t really want him to hear. At least not yet. “As much as the sun in California was nice, I can’t imagine the holidays anywhere but in Boston. Seeing Christmas decorations and lights while people aren’t even wearing light jackets is kind of surreal.”
“I bet,” Roisin giggles. “I grew up in Boston, so I completely get it. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I’d like to travel a little, but then I want to come home.”
“You’re not moving anywhere,” Declan growls, his tone possessive and final.
“Oh my,” I chastise him, “don’t get bent out of shape. She just said she wouldn’t move somewhere else.” I roll my eyes and Declan shoots me a look through the mirror, but I just shrug. “I’m going to need to do some Christmas shopping. Can we make a day of it, Roisin?”
“That sounds like fun,” she agrees instantly.
I sit back in my seat for the rest of the drive, chatting with my brother and someone who already feels like a sister. I’ve never had one before, obviously, but it’s nice. If this is all life has to offer me because I know who my heart and soul belong to, I’ll be okay.
Now, I just need to find the right time to tell Declan I’m not going back to California next semester. Yeah, piece of cake…or, since it’s Christmastime, fruit cake.
CHAPTER 4
CONOR
I’ve been pacing my living room for a while. It’s as if time doesn’t have any true meaning now that I know Saoirse is back in Boston. Her plane’s landed and I’m sure Declan was there to pick her up along with Roisin.
I wonder how they’re going to get along. Saoirse has always been protective of Declan, and the opposite is true as well. Which you’d expect considering he was more than her big brother growing up. Still, Saoirse has never had to share her brother’s affection and attention.
Saoirse might be an adult now, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be smooth sailing to introduce the new woman in Declan’s life to her.
Hell, I’m not even fully sure how I feel about how everything went down with Roisin. Once Declan had me look into her and the truth of her family came to light, I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Not only did her presence put the business in jeopardy, but my best friend’s safety and his heart were in danger as well.
Not that I should be thinking about how to protect his damn heart, but still. I wasn’t looking forward to the prospect of working for the man if Roisin was a snake in the grass and he was fooled.
Once she came clean and the truth of how she was put in the position she was in was out in the open, I can admit I softened toward her. Would it have been better if she was upfront about everything right from the start? Maybe, but would anyone have listened to her? If Declan wasn’t instantly enamored with the woman, would the whole thing have looked different?
If it weren’t for Roisin, Declan would have killed her father, brother, and that asshole Cillian Murphy when everything came out and they had the balls to show up at a false buy. All in the name of Northern Irish independence.
It’s one thing to have a passion and an opinion, it’s another to scheme and try to take down the most powerful man in the city because of it. Doesn’t sound like a smart move to me.
The only reason those men are alive is because Declan loves his woman. Now, they’ve been warned and if they step out of line again, I have zero doubt they’ll find out how ruthless Declan can be.
It’s the only time in the ten years since I started working for Declan that I saw him show any type of mercy. I don’t even know if it was mercy or not. Really, I think he didn’t want to have to look Roisin in the eye and tell her that her father and brother were dead.
Even though they were bastards and treated her like shit, Roisin is a kind woman and probably would be devastated at the news. She’s not cold hearted, even if she might understand that the rules don’t always apply in our world.
I don’t know if I would have made the same decision, but it wasn’t up to me. I followed Declan’s lead because that is where my loyalty lies.
I hope no one thinks that sparing those men has made Declan soft, especially when it comes to Roisin. They would be sorely mistaken and quickly find out my boss is still just as ruthless as ever. He just happens to want to protect his woman any way he can.
I’m still shocked Declan found a woman at all. I thought for sure he would be single forever. It’s the same fate I resigned myself to before Saoirse pulled up stakes and traveled across the country. Having my heart feel like it’s a million miles away and, somehow, still beating in my chest, is not a feeling I’d wish on my worst enemy.
I was worried about how a woman would be protected considering the business we do. If Declan is sure he can protect Roisin, why can’t I do the same for Saoirse? Why can’t I have the kind of love he’s opened himself up to?
I know Saoirse is the one for me. I’ve known it for a long damn time.
