by Jill Snow
His hands didn’t move from her waist even as her whole body screamed for his touch. He was a wonderful kisser, her toes curling as he moved to kiss her whole face. She wondered what it would be like to throw caution to the winds and take him into her room.
She pushed back a little and he broke the kiss, as breathless as she was.
“I love you, Zoe Clark. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“You won’t. I promised your dad I was going fishing with him.”
“My da? I’ll murder him for taking up your time.”
She knew by his expression he was joking. That was good, they were nice people.
She kissed him lightly on the cheek before walking into her hotel alone.
She lay on her empty bed wishing she could trust her feelings. He was everything she wanted, kind, honorable, funny and sexy. In her dreams she let her imagination run wild about what it would be like if they could be together all the time: she loving him, and he loving her. He said he loved her. But he was an actor. How could she know he meant what he said?
Chapter 66
In Declan’s old bedroom, Dominic was snoring in the other bed. His mam had insisted the child sleep over as he fell asleep soon after coming back from sightseeing with Caitlin.
Declan lay on his bed, tossing and turning. It had been the hardest thing in the world to walk away from Zoe. But he had to respect her wishes. She was way too important to him to lose her over one night. Both his parents liked her and were looking forward to getting to know her.
Zoe sat on the side of the canal with the fishing rod but nothing seemed to be attracted to her line. Declan’s dad was quiet. He seemed absorbed in his fishing.
“Penny for them?” he asked after a while.
“Sorry, what was that?”
“I was wondering what you were thinking about. Would it be my son by any chance?”
Zoe’s cheeks flamed. Her eyes darted around but there was no escape.
“You don’t have to talk to me, Zoe but I am happy to listen if you do.”
Zoe smiled at the kindly man. He reminded her of her dad making her feel lonely. She wished he was here to meet Declan and to deal with Jim and…to give her a cuddle.
“I would like to but I feel a bit silly.”
“Never feel like that for expressing your opinions. I love my wife but she can be difficult to be around at times. She just wants Declan to be happy. I am sorry if you feel she is pressurizing you.”
“She isn’t, you both have been very welcoming but I just can’t help wondering how you can be so open to someone who has nothing.”
“Who would that be?” Dave said smiling at her, a look of compassion in his eyes. “Zoe, don’t underestimate yourself. We, the Malone clan, were once a pretty average Irish family. The boys have been successful beyond anyone’s dreams but it has come at a cost. Sure they are financially secure but sometimes it can be difficult living with their fame.”
“Do you mean the constant attention?”
“Yes. I know you haven’t met our youngest son, Adam yet but he and Declan are particularly close. Adam went through some difficult things recently and the press went to town on the converage. It was extremely difficult for Pat to read some of the things they said about her baby.”
“Difficult for you as well, I imagine.”
“You aren’t wrong, Zoe. I wanted to tell the world my son wasn’t like that but between you and me, I wasn’t too sure. Fame and fortune changes people. I mean I know Adam is a great man, all my boys are but they are only human. Having so much money at such a young age can bring it’s own problems.”
“I am so sorry you had to go through all that, Dave.”
“It’s Caitlin I feel most sorry for. She is all over the social media websites like most teenagers, so it was hard for her to read about her brothers. But she learned the hard way that just because something is said online, it doesn’t make it true.”
Zoe sat silently processing what he had said. She had learned a similar lesson.
“You love him, don’t you?”
“I think I do,” she said, finally admitting what had been in her heart for weeks. “I mean we haven’t known each other for very long but…”
“You got that look on your face,” he said, nodding knowingly. “I would say I was worried about your age, but my Patricia was a similar age when we got wed. You have your head on your shoulders. After all you’ve been through you are more mature than most women your age.”
Zoe stayed quiet, not responding to Declan’s father. She wasn’t sure what to say.
“So if that’s not the problem, why are you holding back?”
“Holding back?” she asked.
“I’ve seen the way you look at him. Same way he looks at you. But Declan’s mind is made up. You, well, you seem to still have doubts.”
“He’s a billionaire. Surely you wonder what I can bring to the relationship? I know you haven’t treated me as a gold digger but that’s what the media thinks of me.”
“Who? Those reporters? You don’t let anyone undervalue you Zoe. You bring Declan something he needs. Love, laughter, a sense of belonging. A home. That’s what he needs and wants. None of the rest of it matters. It’s his job.”
“But I’m a mechanic, not some glamor model or actress.”
“Yeah, you are far more useful. How many men can say their daughter-in-law can fix their motor?” Dave smiled, his smile so similar to Declan’s it was uncanny.
“I was in love before. Well I thought I was, it was different to how I feel about Declan. Noah and I were young and we thought we could conquer the world. He was rich and I…. Anyway, his mother disapproved of me and he tried to pay my aunt to adopt Dominic.”
Dave’s eye’s glittered, his expression making her wary. She waited a few seconds for him to say something but he stayed silent.
“As you can see, it didn’t work out between Noah and myself. He said it was too much to take on a child as well as a relationship. At least that is what he should have said, only he let his mother do the talking for him.”
“If it were appropriate, I would hug you close Zoe. I am sorry you had to deal with people like that. I think your father would be extremely proud of the young woman you are and how well you look after your brother.”
Zoe swallowed hard to remove the lump in her throat.
“Look love, as far as me and the missus are concerned you make our lad happy. You are good together and we would be honored if you became part of the Malone family. Dominic too, he is a fantastic child and it’s obvious there is already a strong bond between him and Declan. You love our son and he loves you. That’s all that matters. Now, how about we go home and get something hot to eat? I am famished out here.”
Zoe stared at him. She wanted to say thank you or something more appropriate but she was lost for words. He took her hand in his and squeezed it.
“Why don’t you stop sitting there and get packed up. My stomach thinks my throat has been cut. The missus best have my breakfast ready.”
Zoe smiled and impulsively gave the older man a hug.
“Me too, thank you Dave.”
Chapter 67
The next morning, Declan wandered outside to find his da sitting on a chair reading his paper. He’d done this as long as Declan could remember.
“Ah you got ants in your pants? I remember those days too before your ma agreed to marry me.”
“I don't think we’re there yet, Da.”
“You can fool yourself as much as you want lad but I’ve seen the way you look at her. And her at you.”
“No Da, you got it wrong. I mean, I love her, but she isn’t sure about me.”
“I think she is lad. It might be your lifestyle she isn’t sure about. Have to be a strong woman to deal with that type of garbage day in day out.”
“What?” Declan’s stomach roiled. He knew he wouldn’t like what his da had seen.
His da pointed to the newspaper. Heart sinking, he saw t
he picture of Susie. Instinctively he knew she had been spreading lies.
“She seems under the impression you were about to buy her a ring as well.”
“Honestly da I haven’t even kissed her. She’s worse than Nora Haggarty. Every night is a different guy and yet she manages to come across like little miss innocent.”
“Yeah well, in this piece she comes across like a betrayed woman. That isn't going to win you any female fans.”
“Darn it anyway. What am I going to do?”
“Ignore it. But you better check that Zoe hasn’t seen it. She might not want to stay around if she has.”
He called to the hotel to pick up Zoe later that morning. He didn’t have to ask if she had seen the papers. He could tell from her face. They drove to the Phoenix Park in silence. It was the biggest, greenest area in Dublin and they would have total privacy. They parked the car and he took her to the playground his parents had taken him to when he was a kid. There was a lake and beyond that the wild deer in the park roamed in freedom.
“This park is twice the size of Central Park in New York. The biggest in Europe, it is hard to imagine somewhere this peaceful in such a busy city isn’t it?”
She didn’t say a word. He knew he should address the coverage in the paper but for some reason his brain couldn’t find the words.
“Most people think the park is named after the mythical bird but it isn’t. The Gaelic name meant clear water but since it sounded like Phoenix to the English speaking world, that’s what it got called. They hold everything in this park from horse racing to concerts to family event days. The President of Ireland lives in a large house and the American Embassy is within the park too.”
Zoe glanced at him.
“Too much of a history lesson?” he joked, hoping to make her smile. She just looked away.
They took a seat beside the lake, their only audience being the ducks.
“I guess you saw the papers this morning?”
Zoe nodded.
“I’m sorry. You know it is all lies. None of what Susie said is true, at least the bits about me and her and you know…” his voice trailed off.
“I know Declan, but it doesn’t make it easier to read. But I also know that it is part of your life. You cannot be an actor in Hollywood without the constant attention.”
“I can stop.”
“What?” She stared at him, her face losing all color.
“I am serious. Zoe, I love you and I want you in my life. If that means giving up acting, that is what I will do.”
“You can’t. You love it.”
“I do but I love you more. Thanks to Conor and his investment advice, I never need to work again. You, me and Dominic can enjoy a nice lifestyle. We can live anywhere you want. Go back to Cloudy Bay if that would make you happy.”
She moved from the bench to the water’s edge running her hand through the water, watching the ripple effect.
He followed her and knelt beside her. Taking her hand, he said, “Zoe, I’m sick of it. The gossiping, the sniping, the backlash, the tattle telling. None of it is real. Actors get paid more than a whole country, and for what? To play a role on a screen. How can that be more valuable than a surgeon who has the skills to save lives? Or a firefighter who rushes into a fire to save a stranger?”
He stopped talking and waited for her to say something, but she was staring at the water as if it was the most interesting things on the planet.
“It’s a mad world and none of it makes sense apart from me and you. I love you. Everything about you from your fiery independent nature to your heart. You have such a big heart, you are so protective of your family, your brother, aunt everyone. I want you, Zoe. The rest of it doesn’t matter. I’ll stop acting if that’s what you want.”
“How could I ask you to do that? It’s what you live and breath. All you ever wanted to do. That’s what you told me.”
“Yes it was but now it doesn’t matter. I want something else now. I want us. You, me and our family. Dominic too. I will do anything to prove that to you.”
“I, us—it just won’t work. They’ll tear us apart. I couldn’t bear it if you hated me.”
“That will never happen. I love you. You, Zoe. Nobody else.”
“But if you don’t play the game you won’t get the roles you want. You would be bored in a week if you weren’t acting.”
“I want you Zoe, but even if you say no, I won’t go back to that circus. I have proved myself as an actor. I don’t need to do the million dollar films. I want to do other stuff. I’d love that project Stephen is working on. But failing that, there are lots of Irish directors working on Irish films. I can do that. Maybe my past history will help them out a little too.”
“You’re serious?”
“Deadly. You’ve opened my eyes to the world I was living in. I think I saw the falseness for a long time but I was too scared to leave, to be seen as a has-been. You showed me that didn’t matter. All that matters in this world is being happy. Living life the way you want to. For some that is staying single. For others it is the whole make believe world that is Hollywood. But for me, I want what my ma and da have. What your parents had. I want someone to share my life with. And not just anyone. I want you.”
She stared at him for a few seconds, making his heart race harder and his stomach turn into knots. Tempted to say something, he had to bite his tongue. It was her turn to talk.
“Oh Declan. I love you so much it terrifies me. I don’t ever want to lose you.”
Had he heard her properly? She had finally admitted she loved him. He wanted to jump into the lake and run and scream like a little kid. Instead he helped her to stand and drew her close. He pushed a stray hair away from her cheek before cupping her face gently in his hands.
“You won’t. I promise.”
He kissed her, throwing everything he felt into the kiss, willing her to believe he meant every word. She reacted hesitantly at first but then he felt it. She was telling him with her lips and her body, she loved him too.
“Zoe Clark will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “Now shush and kiss me again.”
It was only right for him to do as she asked.
Epilogue
One Year Later
“Eww, do you guys have to kiss all the time? I thought that wore off.” Dominic frowned at them.
“Evening to you too, Dom. Where are you off to?” Dec asked, loosening his arms around Zoe but not letting her go completely.
“Basketball. We’ve got a game tonight. You know, the one you promised to go to?” Dominic rolled his eyes.
“Oh yeah, listen man I don’t think I should.”
“Typical!”
Zoe hid a grin, her baby brother had a huge temper when things didn’t go his way.
“Don’t be like that Dom, the baby could come any minute. You wouldn’t want Zoe to be on her own, would you?”
Zoe knew Dominic’s answer. When it came to basketball and anything else, the game would win. Not that he didn’t care, he did. But he was a typical eleven-year-old who just happened to live in a mansion in Hollywood. Given what had happened over the last year, he was adjusting just fine.
“You go,” Zoe said. “Maria and your mom are here. They can take care of me. Kathy is on her way, too. How many people do they think I need watching this birth?”
“They just want to celebrate with us, babe,” Declan said in his soothing tone, one he had to use more often as her pregnancy went on and on.
“Just go. I need a few minutes with my hormones.”
“Yeah, Grandma Patricia said if you got into a paper bag alone, you could still have a fight,” Dom said.
Declan glanced at Zoe and then burst out laughing. “Little man you shouldn’t be telling your sister that. She will hate my ma.”
“No, she’s right. I am really cranky. I don’t know how you put up with me.”
“Easy. I love you.” Declan bent to kiss her goodbye and then turned to he
r brother. “Right Dominic, lead the way. You have to win though.”
She watched them leave. He did love her, she knew that. She’d wound up the garage and put all her remaining money in a college fund for Dominic. Declan and his family had persuaded her that her father would have been proud to have a doctor in the family. Though she wondered how he’d feel about a professional ball player.
Zoe lay back against the sofa, trying to get comfortable. Her bump was big enough to produce a whole basketball team. When was this baby going to come out? But then she wasn’t keen on the actual mechanics of it arriving, so maybe she could wait a few more days. She decided to go for a swim. It would help ease the pain in her back.
She had changed and got into the water when her mother-in-law came out.
“You think you should be swimming?” Patricia asked.
“You think you should be telling my little brother I could fight with myself?” Zoe shot back.
“Oh yeah, sorry about that. But I was speaking from experience. I did have six you know.”
Zoe couldn’t be mad at her mother-in-law for long. The woman had become more than a mom to her since her wedding. She had become a dear friend.
“Are you having pains yet?”
“No, but my back is aching. I thought a swim would be good for it,” Zoe said.
“I guess it won’t do any harm. It will help you cool off, too. I can’t believe how hot it is. “
“So different from Ireland, isn’t it? We should have had the baby over there but I didn’t want to be away from Declan. Not with the premiere of The Irish Rebel coming up.
“He’s nervous over that one, isn’t he? Worse than I ever seen him before,” Patricia said.
“He says it’s the first role he’s believed in for a long—ouch! That hurt.”