Passion Restored

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  Liz smiled up at him. “That pink and gold planner, right?” God, that was just so like him to get a little girl a daily planner.

  He winked. “Yep, it’s a mid-year so she can’t use it for a couple months, but I also got her stationery and the colored pens I love that write smoothly without smearing. I figured it’s never too early to learn how to organize your day.”

  She snorted, lifting her head so she could kiss his jaw. “You’re a dork.”

  “Your dork,” he replied like he always did.

  “Are you guys gonna keep kissing on the porch, or do you want to come in? You’re welcome to kiss in here, I guess. That way, you don’t get cold.”

  Liz turned at the sound of Rowan’s voice and held back a smile. She hadn’t even heard the door open, but apparently, she’d been so lost in Owen, she hadn’t cared.

  Owen gripped Liz’s chin just then and turned her toward him so he could lay a smacking kiss on her lips. “Okay, kissed her. I guess we can come in because I think a certain niece of mine is in dire need of hugs and kisses.”

  Rowan’s eyes widened, and she giggled before turning on her heel and tearing off in the other direction.

  Owen looked over his shoulder and winked at Liz. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a little girl to catch.” He moved quickly after Rowan, making growling sounds as the little girl giggled away.

  “It’s good to see her laughing like that,” Graham said softly as he held out a hand. “Come in from the porch, Liz, and I’ll take your coat.”

  She handed it to him and frowned. “What do you mean? About the laughing?”

  He hung up her coat before stuffing his hands into the pockets of his dark jeans. “Rowan isn’t technically mine. You know that, right?”

  She nodded. “Owen said she was Blake’s from a previous relationship but you adopted her recently.”

  His eyes shone with pride at that last part, and she knew that every child in this family was loved and cared for by these big, burly men and powerful women. She barely kept herself from putting her hand over her stomach, wondering what her child would be like in this family…if they would be enough if she weren’t.

  “Her birth father’s parents weren’t happy about Blake raising her and tried to take her from us at one point. It’s a big, messy story, but they broke a few laws and scared the shit out of all of us.”

  Liz’s eyes widened as she looked over at Rowan, who was currently being held upside down by Owen as Murphy tickled her into hysterical laughter. “I had no idea.”

  “Most people don’t, and we want to keep it that way. Rowan deserves a normal childhood from here on out, and we’re going to do that for her. But, you’re family now, so you should know. Owen can give you the details later if you want.”

  Family. He thought she was family?

  “Graham…I don’t know where Owen and I are going. Things are still tenuous right now.”

  He gave her a look that spoke volumes. “You’re carrying a Gallagher in there.” He nodded at her stomach. “You two might not be married, and hell, you might decide to make a mistake and call it quits with my brother, but you’ll always be connected to us because of that child. Now, I’m not going to tell you what to do—”

  “Yeah you are,” Liz cut in, her voice low. “But do continue.”

  Graham snorted. “Yeah, you’ll fit in with Blake and Maya for sure. But what I was going to say was, do what you need to do for yourself, I get that. If you don’t love him, then fine. Don’t be in a relationship. Don’t hurt him because you’re trying to be something you’re not. But I don’t think that’s the case here. I think you’re scared. And speaking as someone who almost let the best thing in my life slip through my hands because I was too scared to do something about it, just take some time and think about what you truly want.”

  Liz studied the man who had a larger beard than Owen and a lot more ink and tried to wonder what he was getting at.

  “Do you want me to stay away from Owen? Or get closer? Because I’m not sure exactly which way you want me to go right now.”

  “I want you to be happy. Same as I want for my brother.” Graham shrugged. “But it doesn’t really matter what I want. You two are adults that are going to do what is best for the two of you and the life you’re carrying. I just wanted you to know that if you decide that Owen is a man you could love, you’ll get a whole family in the process. And, if you go the other way, well…we’ll still be connected, so you’re going to have to get used to us.”

  She honestly had no idea what to say. She’d never been in a serious relationship before, and as hard as she’d tried to fight it, she and Owen were definitely serious. They had been even before she found out they were pregnant. If she wanted to keep her head on straight and do right by their child, she needed to figure out what she wanted. Because if she didn’t soon, she was afraid she’d screw up everything, exactly like she’d been trying to avoid for so many years.

  “Everything okay here?” Owen asked as he walked over. He slid his arm around Liz’s waist, pulling her to his side.

  Graham met Liz’s gaze, and she knew she’d have to be the one to speak up. “Everything’s fine,” she said honestly. He hadn’t done anything to her other than say she would be welcomed with open arms if she chose. He’d also asked her not to hurt his little brother, and that was something she was trying to avoid with all of her heart.

  Owen glared at Graham, so she turned in his arms and kissed his neck. “Really, Owen. We’re good. He’s just growly. And I think that’s just how Graham talks.”

  Blake came over at that point and snorted. “You’ve got that right. He can’t help but be a Growly Gus.”

  Graham narrowed his eyes at his wife. “What did I say about calling me that?”

  Blake blinked innocently. “That you love it. Because if you didn’t, I wouldn’t do that thing you like.” She’d whispered that last part since Rowan was in the room, but the little girl was currently wrestling on the floor with Jake and Border. These guys sure loved their niece, and Liz knew that no matter what happened, the child within her would be loved and cared for.

  That meant something.

  Graham was retreating with his wife as Owen pulled her aside to cup her face. “You’re really okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” she said softly. “I’m really okay. He loves you, you know. Like really loves you. They all do. You have no idea how lucky you are.” She swallowed the ball of emotion in her throat, aware they had an audience.

  “Yeah, Lizzie. I know how lucky I am. I have you.”

  “Aww, big brother, I didn’t know you could be so sweet.” Murphy wrapped his arms around Liz and picked her up, forcing a shocked gasp from her lips.

  “Put me down!” she called out with a laugh, but he didn’t listen.

  “I haven’t had a chance to say hello,” the other man pouted.

  “So you’re going to throw me around like a bag of potatoes.”

  “Very gently, of course.” He winked, and she lost it, laughter erupting from her.

  This family kept tying knots around her. It was as if they knew if they didn’t find a way to keep her close, she’d bolt. At least, that’s how she’d been wired in the past. Now, though…now she wasn’t so sure.

  Maybe, just maybe, she could be happy.

  By the time the party ended and Liz and Owen were on their way home, Liz was exhausted and in need of a nap. Owen drove so she could lean her head against the seat and nod off.

  He had one hand on hers with the other on the steering wheel as she dozed. “You feeling okay?” he asked when they were almost to their street.

  She opened her eyes lazily. “Yeah, I am. Thankfully, I don’t get carsick right now though that could happen throughout the first trimester.”

  Owen nodded. “I read that.”

  She grinned. “Already reading up?”

  He smiled widely. “Well, since you’re a nurse, you have a leg up on me, so I thought I’d better catch up.”


  “I don’t know everything about childbirth and pregnancy, you know. We don’t get as many births in the ER as TV tends to suggest.”

  “Then we’ll learn together,” he said simply.

  She let out a breath as she studied him, in awe that he could be so calm right now when she was anything but. “Yeah, we can learn together.” She could take this chance, she thought. Owen was worth it, worth more. She trusted him with everything she had, and because of that, she knew that maybe one day she could trust herself.

  When they pulled into his driveway, his phone buzzed, and he frowned. “Hold on, let me answer that on the cell rather than Bluetooth.”

  She nodded and stayed where she was, content not to have to get out of the vehicle yet.

  “Oh, crap. You doing okay? No, I get it. I’ll be right over to pick you up and get you home. No, don’t bother calling a cab. You’re one of us, man. Yeah. Okay. I’ll be there soon.” Owen hung up and frowned.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Is someone hurt?”

  He shook his head. “One of the new guys from the jobsite got food poisoning and went to the ER. Not the one you used to work at, but the hospital by his house. His family is out of town on a school trip, and he doesn’t have anyone else to pick him up since they just moved here.”

  “And they won’t release him without someone to watch over him.” She nodded. “It must have been a pretty severe case but not enough to warrant admission.”

  “You’d know better than I.” He blew out a breath. “I could call someone else, but I don’t know who could really get out there at this time.”

  “It’s really okay. Take care of him. I’m just going to take a bath before I go to bed anyway. I have to start making plans tomorrow about what I’m going to do job wise, so I want a good night’s sleep.”

  Owen turned in his seat and kissed her softly. “I’m going to miss seeing you in the bath.”

  She grinned. “You can see me tomorrow when I take a bath to relieve all the stress from planning. You might like making lists and charts, and yeah, I do—a little—but this time, it might be too much for one day.”

  “You’ll call if you need me? Tonight or tomorrow?”

  She kissed him hard on the lips. “I will.” The fact that she’d said that so readily without feeling caged told her how far she’d come with him. She was falling for him day by day and knew that soon there would be no turning back.

  And she wasn’t sure if she wanted that option at all anymore, anyway.

  Liz kissed him one more time before heading toward her house, her mind on the things she had to do the next day to find a job. She’d let herself wallow for over a day, and now it was time to make plans for her future. Blended within that was her relationship with Owen, but that didn’t scare her as much as it used to.

  She was just about to head to the bath when her doorbell rang. She frowned, wondering if it was Owen. They hadn’t exchanged keys yet because they were always over at each other’s houses anyway, and if she were honest, she’d kept that boundary up because she was scared.

  But when she opened the door, her stomach fell. Of course, it wasn’t Owen. Because if it had been, then her life would have been going down the path she wanted, the one she’d started to create.

  Now, of course, it was careening off the edge of a cliff as she fought to hold on.

  He didn’t look much different. He was still the man who had walked out of her life all those years ago, away from the woman who hated her so much she’d tried to beat the life out of her countless times. His hair had gone grayer, but not that much. He’d put on a few pounds around his middle, but even that didn’t look all that different. He still had those eyes that never saw her for who she could be, and that same smile that made her skin crawl because he just didn’t care.

  “What are you doing here?” she snapped. “How did you find out where I live?”

  “Is that any way to greet your father?” the man who’d never bothered to raise her asked.

  “Go away, old man. You walked away easily enough before. Just do it again.” Her palms went clammy, and her stomach revolted.

  “Now, Elizabeth. Please, listen to me. I’m here to make amends.”

  “You’re about twenty years too late. Now get off my property before I call the cops.”

  “You wouldn’t do that.” Alarm crossed his features, and she didn’t feel a damn thing about it.

  “Yeah, I would. I’d call the cops like you should have done twenty years ago. Now get the fuck out of my life. You were just as bad as her, you know. You may not have hit me, but you let her do it. And I don’t want an abuser in my life.”

  “I am not like her.”

  “Look in the mirror and see the neglectful abuser you are. I’m not the same little girl I once was who looked up to you and thought you could save me. You’re nothing. Now go away.”

  And with that, she slammed the door in his face, her hands shaking. He’d brought everything back up again; everything that could destroy her soul, her life, her future. Bile filled her throat, and she pressed a hand to her stomach, over the life growing inside.

  She couldn’t become her mother.

  She couldn’t.

  And she couldn’t become her father…or allow Owen to be that man either.

  She closed her eyes and sank to the floor, her body shaking. She had no idea what she was going to do, but she couldn’t think about it now. Tomorrow. Tomorrow she’d find Owen and tell him what had happened. And the fact that she’d even thought of going to Owen for this told her one thing.

  She was in love with him.

  Now she just had to figure out what to do about it.

  ****

  “Thanks, officer,” Owen said into the phone. “Just let me know if you need anything else.” He ended the call and stared blankly down at his hands. He couldn’t quite believe what the officer had just told him, but the weight being lifted off his chest should have been enough.

  “You okay?” Murphy asked as he walked into the office. “You’re pale, man.”

  “That was the officer on my case. Apparently, they found the truck that hit me.” And had basically left him for dead.

  Murphy’s eyes widened. “No shit?”

  “No shit. Apparently, it was one of the drunk guys from the bar. The ones who were with Tessa. The ones I basically told to go screw themselves. He claims it was an accident because he was drunk driving and not because he was out to get me, but still. What the fuck, man?”

  Murphy shook his head. “I hope he goes away for a long time for that. He could have killed you. Damn near did.”

  “I don’t know what’s going to happen or if there’s even going to be a trial. I guess the police will let me know. But I suppose it’s good that we know now, right? I mean, at least he’s off the streets.”

  “I’d rather him have gotten off the streets before this if I’m honest.”

  “Well, that’s true.” Owen sank back into his chair and rubbed a hand over his face. “It’s been an interesting couple of months.”

  “I’ll say,” Murphy added. “Well, I’d say let’s go get a drink tonight to celebrate, but that seems off, considering.”

  Owen snorted. “Yeah. Maybe a pizza or something. But not tonight since I promised Liz I’d help her with her plans.”

  Murphy saluted as he picked up the notebook he must have come into the office for. “And another one bites the dust.”

  Owen shrugged. “I’m really okay with that.”

  His brother smiled. “I’m glad, man. Seriously. I know I joke about how everyone is pairing off, but I’m happy about it.”

  “Are you going to settle down soon, then?” Owen asked.

  “I have to live a little first, you know?” There was a seriousness in Murphy’s eyes that hit Owen straight in the heart, but he didn’t comment on it. It wasn’t the time, and his brother wouldn’t have wanted to hear it anyway. Instead, he nodded before watching Murphy walk out of the office, lea
ving Owen to his thoughts.

  He’d been working his ass off filling the schedule after they’d lost that client. It still grated on him that the one thing he’d done by himself had failed, but his brothers had told him over and over again it wasn’t his fault. Either way, though, Owen would make sure they filled the timeline and completed the best jobs they could.

  The door opened once again, and he looked up, his brow lifting as Clive Roland stepped through the doorway.

  “Owen, good. I found you.”

  Owen blinked before sitting back in his chair, not bothering to get up. He had no idea why this man was here after going with another company and doing it in poor fashion, and he had a bad feeling about why Roland was here now.

  “What can I do for you, Clive?”

  The older man rubbed his hands together and looked around Owen’s office. He was onsite today, so they were in a trailer on the lot rather than his larger office in the building the Gallaghers owned. It wasn’t much to look at since they didn’t meet clients here, and from the way Clive shifted, the other man wasn’t too impressed.

  Too damn bad.

  Owen had done all he could to sway the man, and the board had gone with cheaper labor in the end. Not his problem.

  “Well, you see, the Roland Group is in a bit of a bind and could use your help.”

  Owen nodded, gesturing for the man to continue. He wasn’t surprised that they were in a bind, but he didn’t know why this man was here now, asking for help.

  “The company we hired is going back on a few promises that weren’t laid out in the contract, and the city board isn’t happy with the changes that are coming. They’re actually really not happy. Plus, it looks like these guys are under investigation now for cutting corners on a previous project, and well…needless to say, the Group needs your help.”