Counterfeit Kisses

by Cora York

  Chapter Eighteen

  Keegan

  My family gathered around the kitchen table. Earlier, my two sisters, Erin and Cassidy, along with Cassidy’s three kids and husband, descended on the house in a rush of noise and diaper bags. Tara, the youngest Devlin, who wasn’t interested in spending the evening with any of us, had left earlier to meet her friends at the pub. And Rian, my younger brother, was at a tattoo convention in London.

  Laughter filled the Devlin house, as it always did when everyone got together. But, somehow, I didn’t feel like laughing. I didn’t feel like much of anything.

  I’d read the online gossip columns about Violet’s canceled wedding. My immediate instinct was to call Tessa and make sure she was okay. I imagined her distress, the worry about her future, her finances. But I’d stopped myself. She was no longer my problem. She was on her own. When I got back to New York, I’d contact Barb and thank her for the shout out in the press release. Seemed she wasn’t the old battleax she led people to believe.

  “What’s wrong with you, grumpy arse?” Erin opened a bottle of Smithwicks and slapped it down on the table in front of me. “Someone smack your face with a wet fish?”

  “Would you ever leave your brother alone,” our mother said and picked up Cassidy’s son Connor. She nuzzled her nose against his chubby cheek before rewarding him with a cookie. “The poor fella’s pining after someone.”

  Connor wriggled free and ran away, brandishing the cookie like a winning lottery ticket. “I’m not pining.” I thumbed through Tessa’s Facebook page, being careful not to like any pictures or posts. “I have things on my mind.”

  “Who is she?” Cassidy, the eldest Devlin, asked. She picked up her newborn baby girl and strapped her into a sling. “I thought you swore off women after you and the witch broke up.”

  “It’s not a woman.” I set down my phone and glared at my sister. “Is it any wonder I don’t live here?”

  “Oooh, someone needs a nap,” Cassidy teased. “Bend down there and pick up your toys, baby brother.”

  The more I fought in my corner, the more they would come after me, so I shut my mouth and sipped my beer.

  “We should FaceTime Brody and ask him,” Erin supplied. “I bet he’d tell us. What do you think, Cass?”

  “I think you’re right,” Cassidy said. “Someone grab the laptop, and we’ll see what Brody has to say about all of this self-pity shite. Keegan’s ugly mug had better not ruin Christmas.”

  I could face a boardroom filled with demanding clients and talk them down, but when it came to my family, it was as if I was ten years old again. You needed skin thicker than a rhinoceros to survive in the Devlin family because if they sensed any weakness, they went for the jugular.

  “As if Brody’s going to tell you anything.” I slouched against my chair and stared at the ceiling. Once my sisters set their mind to something, nothing would stop them.

  Erin positioned the laptop at the end of the table, making sure everyone was in camera range and FaceTimed Brody.

  After about five rings, Brody answered. “Can’t chat long. I’m up to my eyes with work.”

  “This’ll only take a few seconds.” Erin gave me a sidelong glance. “What’s wrong with our dear, dear brother? He’s a face on him like a bulldog licking piss off a nettle.”

  “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” An evil smile spread across Brody’s face.

  “Stop your messing.” Cassidy stroked her baby’s head and smiled. “I’m heading home in ten minutes, so hurry up and spill the goss.”

  “Shhh!” Brody leaned into the camera. “He’s been home all week.”

  Disbelief and sharp intakes of breath echoed around the table.

  “Sweet lamb-a Jaysus.” My mother blessed herself and turned towards me. “And you didn’t think to call us?”

  “I’m sure he has his reasons, love.” My dad patted her hand and frowned.

  “Brody,” I said sharply. “Shut it.”

  “Why? Are you going to jump on a plane and blackmail me?”

  My fists curled on my lap. “Brody!”

  Brody’s shit-eating grin filled the screen, and everyone in the kitchen stilled, waiting for him to begin. “Once upon a time, our brother, your son, wanted Devlin Events to plan Violet Hale’s wedding, and when he didn’t get the job, he wanted to know why. He found out some woman swiped the contract from under him. Knucklehead there jumped on a plane, determined to bring this girl to her knees.” Brody waggled his eyebrows. “If you know what I mean.”

  “You’re filthy.” Erin laughed and gave my arm a push. “But, get on with the story.”

  “If you’d stop interrupting, I would.” From the smile in my brother’s eyes, I knew he was enjoying every second of winding me up. Someday soon, I’d get him back big time.

  “So anyway,” Brody continued, “he realizes this woman, we’ll call her Tessa because that’s her name, is actually decent at her job, and from what I can tell, our brother fell for her. Oh, and he pretended to be her fiancé. He also told her if she didn’t go along with it, he’d ruin her.”

  “I didn’t fall for her.” I glared at my brother’s smiling face.

  “Then why did you stay holed up in a castle with her? In the same room. Explain that. I have work to do. Chat later.” Brody’s face disappeared, and everyone stared at me expectantly.

  I would kill my brother when I got back to Brooklyn.

  “You blackmailed a girl?” My mother removed her hand from her heart and placed it over her mouth.

  “It wasn’t like that, Ma. You don’t know the whole story.”

  “You’re a dirty dog.” Erin laughed and shut down the laptop.

  “My son, a blackmailer,” my mother said in disbelief. “I’ll never get over this. I won’t.”

  “When everyone calms down, I’ll tell you what really happened. Not that it’s any of your business.”

  “Of course it’s our business—” Cassidy jiggled her now fussing baby “—we’re family.”

  “I thought you were leaving.” I gripped my beer bottle with two hands.

  “Think again, brother dearest. This is much too juicy.”

  Erin sat beside me and patted my hand. “This isn’t like you. What’s going on?”

  I was too embarrassed to meet her eyes. The hurt I’d caused over the past few days would be nothing compared to telling my sister the truth. The real truth. “Shane contacted me, but what I did isn’t his fault, it’s mine.”

  She sucked in a breath, and her eyes turned to stone. “What did he want?”

  Everyone erupted at once, bombarding me with questions and accusations.

  Our father stood and slammed his hand down on the table. “Enough.” A stunned silence settled around the kitchen, and I didn’t miss the sign of the cross my mother made.

  “I’m sorry. I’m ashamed to say he told me something, and I acted on it. I shouldn’t have listened to him. He—”

  She closed her eyes and held up her hand. From the expression on her face, I could see her heart breaking all over again. “No more. I don’t want to hear his name again. As far as I’m concerned, he’s dead.”

  I slowly nodded. Later, when I got the chance, I’d explain as best I could. Try to make her understand my reasons for doing what I’d done. Maybe she’d forgive me.

  I turned toward my family, who had now moved on to their other favorite topic—Brody and would he ever come home.

  I was a dirty dog. Betraying my family, especially Erin, by listening to Shane was indefensible. And as for Tessa, I’d made her feel like a criminal for telling the truth. But it was too late. I’d done what I’d done and said what I’d said.

  Even if I apologized, most likely, she’d want nothing to do with me. I barely wanted anything to do with myself.

  My dad, who sat opposite me, peered from beneath his reading glasses. “What are you going to do to make this right, Son?”

  I blew out an unsteady breath. “Nothing I can do.” />
  “You sure about that?”

  “I’m sure.”

  Shame mauled my insides. What was my real reason for running? Was it because Tessa had told the truth, or was it because of the possibilities being with her offered me? She’d unearthed feelings I’d buried for three years. Made my body, my mind, my heart feel things I’d wanted to forget. For the longest time, I hadn’t been living. I’d been existing, but Tessa had changed that. I shouldn’t feel like this about someone I barely knew. It might not be love, but if I was honest, it wasn’t far off.

  My phone beeped with a message from Barb—a video. I excused myself from the table and went into the living room to watch it.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Tessa

  Why had I insisted on drinking vodka mixed with Red Bull? My palpitating heart raced so fast I feared it would beat right out of my chest and head straight for the ER.

  “Ugh!” Slimy fur lined my mouth and throat. I felt around the nightstand for a bottle of water. None. I’d have to stick my head under the faucet and glug a gallon of water to rehydrate my shriveling insides.

  Images of the previous evening strobed through my mind. Not particularly flattering images. Karaoke. A pitiful attempt at Irish dancing. Declaring my love for Keegan.

  What?

  I sat up too fast, and it took a second for my spinning head to catch up with my sluggish body.

  Think. Who’d you say it to?

  There were too many whirling black holes from the previous evening, and I couldn’t remember. An image of me holding a microphone in one hand and an overfilled glass in the other zapped my brain. Kill me now. I’d told everyone. Then I’d told anyone who’d listen that Keegan was my soul mate. Phone? Where was my phone? I searched the bed and nightstand. It wasn’t there.

  I slumped onto my pillows with a frustrated groan, which made my seemingly dislodged brain rattle around my skull. Thank God Keegan hadn’t been there to witness my emotional outpouring. Him seeing me like that would’ve made things way worse.

  I rolled out of bed, staggered toward the bathroom, and guzzled cold water from the faucet. Nothing had ever tasted better. Now that I’d rehydrated, the growling creature in my belly was about to gouge its way out Alien-style and go make its own food.

  Peace had settled downstairs, and the only evidence of last night’s festivities was the karaoke machine taunting me from a table by the fireplace.

  I glanced at the grandfather clock tick-tocking in the foyer. It was still early, and I hoped to enjoy a few moments of silence before the madness began.

  Brendan’s elderly mother and father were coming, along with his old rugby team and their spouses. None of Barb’s family could make it, but she’d assured me that in the spring, all of her family would come, including Violet, and together they’d launch the castle with the glitziest wedding Ireland had ever seen.

  A flash of hugging Barb jolted my memory. Recollections of spewing my guts about Shane, and the reasons I’d lied sprang to mind. I may even have hinted about Keegan’s skilled fingers and tongue.

  Shit on a stick.

  Had I really declared my feelings for him in front of people I didn’t know? Maybe everyone had been as drunk as I had been and wouldn’t remember my confessions. Another image flashed through my mind. A vision of me murdering I Will Always Love You, the Dolly Parton version, complete with a Southern twang.

  Oh. Jesus. No.

  Once in the kitchen, with a calming cup of chamomile and lavender tea in one hand, I gathered stuff for a cooked breakfast, and while lighting the stove, I spotted my phone sitting on the fireplace.

  Sucking down a breath, I grabbed it and checked Facebook for humiliating pictures. Closing one eye, I pulled up my profile page. Thankfully, there was just one selfie of Barb and me with our heads pressed together, smiling. Same thing on Instagram. Next, I made sure there were no drunken texts to anyone, especially to Keegan. There weren’t. Maybe the night wasn’t riddled with as many embarrassing moments as my mind made me believe.

  After eating my fill and settling my hangover, I went to check on the final wedding preparations. The snow had begun to melt, but there was still more than enough to give the grounds a mystical Christmassy feel.

  Towering pine trees decorated in gold, silver, and red filled every space in the castle, creating a magical atmosphere. I envisioned the weddings and galas that would take place in the future and the love and laughter that would seep into the stones.

  Giddy excitement replaced the nervousness that had consumed me for most of the week. I hugged my arms around my waist, loving that I, in my own messed up and muddled way, had made it happen. Because of my not so little white lie, two people had found each other, and a castle once neglected and left to ruin would soon return to life.

  Perhaps in time, I’d find someone who could make my body quiver from one look, whose laughter could make my body flood with heat with one touch, whose lips could make me melt with one kiss.

  Enough wallowing. It’s done. It’s over. It’s history. Time to wake up the bride and make this wedding day happen.

  The wedding was due to begin in an hour. I’d been running around like a headless chicken all morning, so now I had to rush to get ready.

  I rolled on my nude lace-topped stockings and shimmied on my berry red dress. The borrowed, shoulderless gown fitted perfectly, accentuating the swell of my boobs and flare of my hips, and when I walked, it rippled behind me like water.

  I slid my feet into a pair of Manolo Blahniks and extended one of my legs, admiring the metallic red crystals covering my feet. Barb was right; they were to die for.

  If Barb was queen for a day, then I was a princess. And the diamond tiara I popped on top of my loose curls did nothing to shatter that illusion. The one thing missing was my prince charming.

  When I was dressed and ready, I went to the bride’s room, where a photographer snapped a gazillion pictures of the dress designer and me helping Barb into her gown.

  After we zipped up the velvet bodice, Barb stepped back and gazed at herself in the mirror. I watched my new friend’s reflection, and for an instant, I saw her face glow in awe at the vision staring back, but she soon replaced it with a wry smile.

  “I scrub up real nice.”

  “You look beautiful. Stunning.” I struggled to keep the wobbly emotion from my voice. “When Brendan sees you, he might faint.”

  “He’d better not. It’s my wedding day, and I have plans if you know what I mean.” Barb laughed loud and dirty.

  “TMI.” I turned to the journalist accompanying the photographer. “Don’t even think about putting that in the write-up.”

  “She can put what she wants. Here’s a quote: ‘I can’t wait to consummate my marriage.’”

  The bemused journalist said goodbye and rushed out of the room, along with the dress designer and photographer.

  “This is it.” Barb snatched up my hands. “The moment I’ve been waiting for.” Her eyes shimmered and filled, but her tears didn’t spill.

  “I had no idea. You come across as so—”

  “Cold?” Barb curved a perfect eyebrow and smiled.

  “No, independent. Like you don’t need anyone.”

  “I didn’t. I don’t, or I guess I didn’t think I needed anyone until I met Brendan and found my little Max.”

  “I’m thrilled for you. I’m so happy all of your dreams have come true.”

  Barb waved a hand in front of her face, fanning her eyes. “Don’t you go trying to make me cry. There’s plenty of time for dreams to come true for all of us. It’s a magical day, don’t you think?”

  There was a firm knock at the door.

  “Looks like it’s time.” Barb gave a nervous glance at the clock.

  On a long breath, I took her hand and led her to the door.

  “You can thank me later,” Barb said with a wink.

  “Wha—” I opened the door.

  “Ladies, you both look spectacular,” said an unmistakable l
ilting brogue.

  My heart backflipped, landed awkwardly in my chest cavity, and left me dizzy.

  “Keegan?” Keegan here? Now? How? Why? I needed answers. An explanation. For the best part of two days, he’d ignored me, pretended I didn’t exist, and now here he was like a fabled white knight in shining armor.

  Stubble shadowed his jaw, and my nipples tightened with remembered pleasure. He gave a shy smile that turned my insides to melting chocolate. Trust him to look like he’d stepped out of a Calvin Klein ad. The way my body reacted pissed me off more than Keegan’s reappearance.

  “I needed someone to give me away,” Barb said unapologetically.

  “But, but… you asked me to do that…”

  “I changed my mind. A bride’s prerogative.”

  Keegan moved toward me. His gaze traveled over me, heating my skin. “Tessa, I—”

  “No time for that.” Barb curled her arm around Keegan’s. “You two crazy kids can work it out later. Right now, my destiny is waiting.”

  Too startled to do anything else, I followed Keegan and Barb down the worn stone steps like a wind-up doll and held onto the creaking banister with a death grip.

  Walking in four-inch heels was next to impossible without the cooperation of my brain and legs.

  My heart skipped at his proximity, but anger surged in my belly. I tamped my emotions down for now, but when the ceremony was over, and as soon as I could get him alone, I’d demand answers. How dare he show up and send my mind into turmoil again. Well, if he thought I’d forgive and forget…

  Oh, please. If he asked you to drop your panties right here right now, you would.

  Would not.

  Whatever.

  At the bottom of the aisle, I reached out and gave Barb’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Good luck.”