Love in Dublin

by Jennifer Gracen

  She extended a hand, and he shook it. “Maggie Spencer. Pleasure to meet you. We have a mutual friend in Dublin, so I wanted to check out your bar. I like it a lot.”

  “Well, thank you. Glad you came by.” He pulled off his red scarf and black wool coat, draping them over his arm. “So who’s our mutual friend?”

  She couldn’t help but stare. The resemblance was strong and undeniable. It made her miss Colin with visceral longing. “God, you look alike.” Had she said that out loud?

  “Who do I look like?” he asked.

  Yup, she’d said it out loud.

  Bracing herself, she gave him her most dazzling smile as she said, “I know your brother. Colin.”

  Sean’s eyes went flat. “I see. Well… I haven’t seen him in years. I wouldn’t know that we look alike. I’ll take your word for it.”

  “You’re both very handsome,” she said. “I know he’s not your favorite. You’re not going to spit in my drink now, are you?”

  Sean laughed. “No, of course not. If you know Colin, you’ve got your own troubles. Don’t need any added ones from me.” He studied her. “Meet any of my other siblings while you were there?”

  “Yes, actually. Your sister, Shannon.”

  “Ah. She’s in between Colin and me. Two of them were always thick as thieves.”

  “They still are,” Maggie affirmed.

  “Good for them.” He leaned a hip against the bar. “You’re American, yes?”

  “Yes.”

  “What were you doing in Dublin, besides hanging out with my siblings?” A grin tugged at the side of his mouth. “If you don’t mind my asking.”

  “I don’t mind at all. I was there on a job assignment. I’m a travel writer.”

  “Ah. Sounds interesting.”

  “It is. I was in Dublin for ten weeks.” Maggie tried not to stare at Sean, but it was hard. She couldn’t get over their likeness. “Colin and I hung out at the same pub. We got to talking. Became friends. When I mentioned I’d be coming to New York and staying in midtown, he told me about your bar.”

  “Did he? That’s… surprising.” Sean motioned to John. “Let me buy you a drink. Anyone who survived spending time with that miserable bastard deserves one.”

  She blinked. “Wow. He wasn’t kidding. You do hate him.”

  Sean gave her an even look. “Hate’s a strong word. I haven’t seen him or talked to him in long enough that I don’t hate him anymore. He doesn’t figure in my life at all. Which is why I’m surprised he’d even mention me to you.”

  “You’re fierce. Intense. Fire set to a low simmer.” She thanked John for the glass of hard cider he set before her. “From what I can see, you and Colin are a lot more alike than you know. You remind me of him.”

  “Bite your tongue,” Sean said. He tapped his glass of whiskey to her glass. “To Dublin.”

  “I’ll drink to that any time.” She sipped and found herself telling him, “I’m thinking of moving there.”

  “To Dublin? Really?” Sean set his glass down. “Why? Your job?”

  “No.” She smiled gently. “Your brother.”

  He went still, eyes fastened to her face. “Christ. Seriously?”

  She nodded. “I’m in love with him. And that’s where he’s rooted. So…”

  “So I wish you a hell of a lot of luck, then.” Sean laughed. “Jesus, this is weird. Does he know you’re here? Did he send you?”

  “Not at all. If anything, he warned me if I came that I shouldn’t mention him to you because you hated him.”

  Sean smirked. “He knows that much.”

  She turned a bit to better face him. “Sean, he’s a good man. One of the best I’ve ever known.”

  He just stared at her.

  “It’s not my business, of course,” she continued. “But for what it’s worth… I think there’s a piece of him that regrets the bad blood between you two. Maybe one day you’ll talk. Maybe you won’t. But I think you should know that.”

  Sean narrowed his eyes on her. “What is this? What are you about?”

  “Nothing sinister, I swear. I’m just here out of curiosity. Me wanting to meet the brother I heard about, since I’m actually in New York.”

  He rubbed at his scruff. “Look, I don’t mean to be rude, if I have been. But I’m sorry to disappoint you. I don’t have any good memories of Colin. He was horrible to me growing up. We clashed all the time. You have no idea.” Perhaps realizing how harsh that sounded, he sipped his drink and said, “But hey. That’s in the past. And if someone as seemingly nice as you are sees something good in him, maybe he’s changed. Some people do.”

  “Did you?” she asked.

  “Did I what?”

  “Change. At all. Since you were a kid.”

  He narrowed his eyes again, but a grin tugged at his mouth. “Some.”

  “Mm hmm.” She raised her glass. “To changing. People do it, you know.”

  He snorted out a laugh and took another sip of his whiskey. “You’re a cheeky one. I hope you give Colin a run for his money.”

  “I have from the start,” she admitted. “And I think it’s time to stop.”

  *

  Reardon’s was only half full for a Friday night. Colin was able to grab a booth near the back. Not his usual booth, but that was fine. That one just reminded him of Maggie, and he didn’t want that. He’d only been able to return here recently.

  The holiday season had filled him with melancholy. Watching people be merry and bright when you were aching over the one who left didn’t really mix. The week at work had been long and busy, with deadlines to be met before the dead zone of the month long holiday break between semesters. Colin was tired, lonely, and sick of missing Maggie so much.

  Maybe she’d been right and he needed to stop thinking of her all the time. Just get on with his life.

  That thought lasted all of thirty seconds. Even if he did get on with his life, he’d still love her. That’s just how he was wired. Nothing to be done about that.

  Deirdre brought him a pint and a burger. He demolished his food, then scrolled through his phone. The last presents he’d ordered for his kids were on the way. Trish was letting him have them on Christmas Eve, but they’d be with her on Christmas Day. He was taking them over to his parents’ house so they’d have more family than just him to celebrate with. On Christmas Day, he’d go to Shannon’s. Life in the divorce lane.

  He’d wanted to send Maggie a gift, but there was nowhere to send it to. His girl with wings didn’t have an address. A sigh floated out of him. Christmas was only two weeks away. He wondered where she’d be spending it. Back in Ohio with her family? Staying alone in New York City? Maybe not being alone, but with friends, or… he didn’t even know. He’d been afraid to ask; no matter what her answer was, it would hurt, because she wouldn’t be with him. Really, he didn’t need to know.

  They had separate lives now. He had to accept that.

  He stared at the phone, pulling up his favorite photo of Maggie. The two of them in her bed, after a romp, the pillows haphazard and the sheets barely covering her breasts. His arm around her shoulders, her cheek against his, both of them looking sated and smiling and happy.

  She’d insisted on taking the picture. He’d berated her for it, saying he was still sweating and his hair looked like a dead animal. She’d laughed, kissed him, and snapped the picture anyway. Secretly, it was his favorite, because it was the real them. A little messy, a little sexed up, a lot happy. Open and alive. He didn’t look scowly, and she didn’t look haunted. They’d done that for each other. They’d been good together.

  Christ almighty, he longed for that again. For her.

  Someone slid into the booth across from him and his eyes lifted.

  His mouth dropped open. His heart stuttered in his chest.

  “I was hoping I’d find you here,” Maggie said with a smile.

  She was there. Jesus Christ, she’d come to him. His eyes locked on her beautiful face. Her hair was in
its ponytail, he hadn’t seen that heavier wool coat before… the chocolate brown of it was the same exact shade as her eyes. She was there. He cleared his throat and stammered, “What… how…”

  “I just got back to town,” she said. “Landed about an hour ago. My bags are stowed behind the bar with George for now.” Her eyes were so warm, locked on him. “It’s so good to see you, Colin. My God, I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too,” he whispered. He blinked again in disbelief and cleared his suddenly dry throat. “What are you doing here? I thought you were spending all of December in New York?”

  “I was. But there’s a big problem.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You’re here. And I want to be where you are. I need to be. So I had to come to you.” She smiled, but there was a hint of apprehension in her eyes as she added in a wry whisper, “I finally figured that out.”

  Breath held, he watched as she slid out of her side of the booth and moved around to sit next to him. His heart, already beating wildly, started pounding. He shifted over to make room for her and her light, familiar scent flooded his senses. Unable to help himself, his hand lifted to cup her cheek. So soft. Every nerve in his body lit up with relief and bliss at the feel of her.

  “I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to do,” she said quietly, her gaze still locked on his. “Where I want to go, what’s next for me… and I’m not totally sure. I have some ideas. But the one thing I kept coming back to is you, Colin. I want to be with you. And you’re rooted in Dublin, so I need to set up my home base here. Which is fine with me, because I love this city.” She edged closer and nuzzled his palm. “But a million times more, I love you.” A shaky breath escaped her, and she lifted her hand to cover his, press it closer to her skin. “Realizing that terrified me at first. But now that I’ve wrapped my head around that, and some other important things, what terrifies me most is not being with you.”

  He was speechless. Absolutely gobsmacked. He caressed her face and stared.

  “It’s funny…” Her fingers ran along his jawline, around the back of his neck and into his hair. “When we met, I thought I was saving you. But we ended up saving each other, haven’t we?”

  “I don’t know,” he finally whispered. “Have we?”

  “Yes. Absolutely. You said I brought you back to life. Well, guess what? You did the same for me. I know that now. I’ve been able to face things I hadn’t before. I was strong before, but I’m even stronger now.” She took a deep breath. “I love you, Colin. I love you so much, and I want to be with you. Your life is here, so I’ll rebuild here. I want Dublin to be my home. I want to try, to take the chance. But most of all, I want you to be part of my home. I want us. I want us to be together more than anything.”

  He could barely breathe, much less speak.

  “So…” she said slowly, “the big question is, do you still want me too?”

  He gripped her face with both hands and sealed his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply, passionately, with all the love in his heart. He poured every ounce of him into the kiss. He’d never been so relieved, so overjoyed, in his entire life. She’d come back to him. She was okay, and she loved him too. She wanted to stay with him, to make a home in Dublin, to try… it was more than he’d ever dared to hope for.

  With a soft whimper, she kissed him back, pressing close, curling into his embrace. Her mouth met his with matching fervor. He never wanted to stop kissing her and never wanted to let go of her. But after a few minutes, he finally released her, trying to catch his breath. He leaned his forehead to hers, just staring at her beautiful face.

  With tears in her eyes and a tremulous, radiant smile blooming, she whispered, “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Epilogue

  A year later

  Colin fell onto the couch, weary after a long day at work, but excited for his plan for the evening ahead. From the far corner of the living room, the Christmas tree twinkled at him. Maggie had wanted a tree, so he’d gotten a tree. The few sparkly ornaments dangling from the branches looked sparse, but she’d said they’d add a few more each year. He’d liked the sound of that.

  As he started to sink into the cushions and relax, an idea struck him. He got back up, grabbed a beer from the fridge, turned off the overhead lights, and turned on the white lights of the tree. Easing back down on the couch, he sat in the dark and sipped his beer. The sparkling shimmer of the tree’s lights filled the room and the quiet settled over him. It was peaceful, lovely. His life was full. Things had never been so good, and he was just bloody grateful.

  A year before, the night Maggie had returned to Dublin and sought him out, he took her home with him. Within hours, he realized his flat was too small for the two of them. Within weeks, they’d found a larger flat to share—and only three blocks from where he’d been, so Reardon’s Pub was still their local. Before Christmas, he’d introduced her to his kids, who’d welcomed her warmly, thank God. Roisin, in particular, adored Maggie. They got along well, and Colin was more relieved about that than either of them knew. His kids were genuinely happy for his happiness.

  So was his extended family. They all liked Maggie, and the running joke became how yet another McKinnon brother had fallen for an American girl. Colin and Maggie still went to Shannon’s for dinner once a month, as he had before, and even went out with Gavin and his wife, Toni, on occasion. The two strong, friendly American women had bonded quickly, and Colin actually liked getting better acquainted with his brother.

  Maggie fit in well with everyone in his life. Seamlessly. It shouldn’t have surprised him—hell, she’d always been more likeable, outgoing, and charming than he was—but seeing it relieved him, made him happy in a way he hadn’t foreseen.

  Maggie still traveled, but not as often, certainly not on a constant basis. She took one trip a month, taking small jobs for travel and tourism companies occasionally. She did it on her own, as she always had… and then came home to him. They’d made a home together. They’d forged a life together, filled with love that felt even more precious because it was a second chance, for both of them. They never took that gift, or each other, for granted.

  Sometimes, he even went with her on her travels. Thanks to her, he’d now been to France, Germany, and Greece. In June, they’d go to Italy for two weeks. He couldn’t wait. He’d always wanted to go there…

  He hadn’t clipped her wings or dragged her down. He’d given her roots, an anchor, a home base that she wanted as much as he did. They were both so lucky.

  The sound of the front door closing startled him from his thoughts. He looked up to see Maggie walk in. She took off her coat and hung it on the rack, smiling as she said, “Oooh, it’s so romantic in here.”

  “Is it?” He smiled back as she sat beside him and kissed him hello. “I just thought it was peaceful.”

  “It is peaceful,” she said. “I love it. And you.” She kissed him again, then nestled into his side as he made room for her. They lay together, wrapped around each other.

  “How was your day?” she asked.

  “Long and busy,” he said. “I’m glad for the weekend. How was yours?”

  “Good.”

  “That’s it?” He tipped up her face, studying. “How did that meeting go?”

  “Really well. They hired me.” She grinned. “I’ll be doing a trip up the Pacific coast. Start in San Diego, rent a car, and drive all the way up the coast. California, Oregon, Washington, until I stop in Vancouver. It’s going to be amazing.” She leaned into him. “I wish you could go with me. That’s some of the most beautiful scenery…”

  “When is it?” he asked.

  “May,” she said. “But we’re going to Italy in June, so I know you can’t take the West Coast trip with me.”

  “I wish I could,” he said. He kissed her forehead. “You’ll be gone a long time?”

  “Three weeks. Maybe four.”

  “Damn. I’ll miss you terribly.” He held her closer. “But you have
to do your thing.”

  “Thanks. But I really wish you could come with me.”

  “I do too. Ah well. Another time.” He sifted his fingers through her hair. “This trip, you’ll find all the best spots, and when you bring me back, you’ll know the highlights.”

  “Sounds good. That will happen one day.” She sat up so she could grasp his face and kiss him. The kisses were deliciously slow and sumptuous. “You taste like beer,” she said with a smile. “Now I want one too.”

  “Grab me another one while you’re up?” he asked.

  “Sure thing.”

  When she was gone, he reached down in between the cushions of the couch to check the box he’d hidden was still there. She returned with a bottle in each hand and a smile. She was always smiling. So full of light.

  “Tell me the plans again?” she said as she retook her seat beside him. “Christmas Eve tomorrow, kids are here. Christmas Day, Shannon’s and then your parents?”

  “Close,” he said, tapping his bottle to hers before they both sipped. “To my parents in the morning for breakfast, then to Shan’s for dinner in the afternoon.”

  “Got it. Okay then.”

  “Something I want to ask you,” he said casually.

  “I’m listening.” She stole another sip from her bottle.

  He gazed at her. In the dim room, with the white lights from the Christmas tree casting shadows over Maggie’s face, she was ethereal, so beautiful. He reached up to caress her cheek. “I love you so much.”

  She smiled. “Oh good. Because I love you too.”

  He wanted this to be perfect, but suddenly, all the words he’d thought of evaporated from his mind like mist. He gazed at her for a long beat.

  “What did you want to ask me?” she murmured.

  He reached between the cushions and pulled out the small black box. Her eyes flew wide as he flipped it open to reveal the sparkling diamond ring he’d picked out.