by Magan Vernon
The man who always stood so tall with a barrel laugh was now a shadow of his former self. And that feeling of guilt was what made me stand there instead of running outside and never coming back.
“When your mother first heard about the inheritance clause, I knew something was brewing. I just didn’t know she actually voiced it to anyone.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I believe you, but that doesn’t excuse her.”
He shook his head. “No, it doesn’t, but I know that what matters now isn’t what your mother says, it’s what you do. If you want to be with him, you will tell him that none of that was your intention. That maybe you thought you’d never be married, but sometimes love can change that.”
Love?
That was something that hadn’t crossed my mind. Yes, I was starting to care about Jack, but anything more and I’d have to think over the butterflies in my stomach just hearing that word with his name.
“He can’t be with me, Granddad. He needs a wife for the company. Grandmum was right that either we’ll have to get married or we’ll stay together just long enough to break up so he’ll lose the company. Nobody wins.”
Granddad put his hand on mine. “You both win if it’s what you want. What do you want?”
I sighed. “I don’t know anymore.”
“If you want him, there’s no sense in letting him go. Maybe things will work out and he’ll fulfill the inheritance clause with you, or not. Sometimes you just have to let fate decide.”
I didn’t tell Granddad that I thought it was fate that the same day I got an email from my old job was the day all of this went down with Jack.
I had to figure out how to fix this. The problem was that I had absolutely no idea how I was going to do that. I was better at breaking things up than putting them together.
Chapter Eighteen
Jack
I wanted to believe that everything Grace’s Grandmum said was a lie. But that combined with her tirade to Lacey, that I didn’t hear the beginning of but definitely heard the end with the job offer, and the look on Grace’s face when I left said otherwise.
Grace never wanted to get married. She told me that much. And instead of pulling away, I kept pushing forward.
All of this was a way to get back to her job in London. For me to lose the company.
Sitting in my car, I stared at the front door. She’d tried to explain. I wanted to believe her, but the whole thing about leading me on? I had trouble getting past that. Maybe if she’d told me about the job offer.
Instead of the door opening with Grace bounding toward me, a blonde siren came swishing through the back gate.
Her red nails rapped on the window.
I should have ignored her and just drove away. But I slowly rolled down the window, peering up at her wide eyes and smirk. Guilt roiled deep within my already soured gut.
“Yes?”
“Jack. You and I have history. I was shocked as hell when my cousin informed me she came here with you today. To say I wasn’t surprised when Grandmum dropped that bombshell…well, I’d be lying.”
I glanced at the house. I half expected to see Grace or her Mam in the window, watching us.
“I don’t know what game your family is playing, but I’m not here for anyone and now I’m leaving.”
She licked her lips. “My hotel isn’t far if you’re looking for a place to escape.”
I shook my head. The last thing I needed to stop the pang in my chest was her.
“Not a chance in hell, Lacey.”
She pulled a small white plastic card out of her pocket, putting it on the seat next to me. “I’m staying in the Merrion suite, Georgian Main House. Plenty of room if you want to sit, have a glass of whiskey and talk, or anything else. No strings. Just me and you reconnecting.”
I grabbed the card, holding it out to her. She put her hand on mine, shaking her head.
With Grace, I always felt a warm pulse run through me from a little touch. With Lacey, it was nothing but an icy chill that sent dread further to my gut.
“This isn’t about what happened to us in the past or anyone else. This is about you and me relieving some tension in my hotel room. If afterward you want to talk business, we can.”
I shook my head, looking toward the window instead of her watchful gaze. “So this is about the wine? I’m sorry, but—”
She squeezed my hand, her long nails digging into my palm and forcing me to look up at her. “Not wine. The other business.”
“We don’t have any other business.” I swallowed hard, knowing there was more she wanted to get at. The only reason I was still sitting there and not telling her to feck off was because I was waiting to see if anyone else left that house. Particularly the brunette beauty who I’d been spending most of my time with.
Lacey smiled, her red lips curling like a cartoon villain. “You need a wife and what would make a better story than reconnecting with your old school sweetheart? The board would accept that and probably throw us a wedding shower tomorrow.”
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose, glancing behind her at the still shut front door of the house. “What’s in all of this for you?”
“What? Can’t a girl just want to connect with her ex and maybe you can help me out with a nice prenuptial agreement in the end? It would be a win-win for both of us,” she said, her lips growing more menacing the longer I looked at her.
Pulling my hand back, I opened the passenger side window and chucked the hotel key card to the street. Lacey gasped as I turned back to her.
“No. On the wine, the marriage, or anything else.”
She gawked as I rolled the window up then drove off.
I needed whiskey.
…
A half a bottle later, I started to pour myself another glass when there was a knock on my door.
I half expected it to be Grace coming to apologize and my pulse raced at the thought.
Stupid heart.
But it was Sean looking at me with a deep scowl.
“Come on in, the whiskey’s on the rocks,” I slurred, shutting the door before plopping back down on the sofa.
There was nothing warm or inviting about the house I purchased a year ago. The only furniture I had in the living room was the leather sofa that used to be Da’s and a flat screen TV on the wall. Well, that and my bar cart with a few bottles of whiskey and some glasses.
“You look like shite, man. I thought I’d see you in a compromising position with Grace, not knackered and watching the telly,” Sean said. He sat next to me, practically taking up two spots with his tree trunk legs and biceps.
“Well, Grace had other ideas about our relationship, or whatever the hell I thought we had,” I muttered, sipping my drink.
Sean crossed his arms over his chest, turning toward me. “What the feck is that supposed to mean?”
“Hey, she’s one of your best mates, surprised she didn’t tell you that she, her grandmum, and mum planned on me falling for Grace, only for her to take a job in London and leave. No inheritance clause fulfilled.”
Every word dug a knife straight into my gut. I downed the rest of my drink to make the pain go away.
“I don’t believe that bullshite for a second,” he replied, shaking his head.
I stood up, sauntering toward my bar cart. “Believe it, brother, because I just went through the whole ordeal of Granny going on and on about a ruse to get me to fall for Grace, so Seamus gets the company. That was, of course, after Grace so much as bragged about a job offer in London.”
“Nah. You know the old bird has always been out of her mind, hell her crazy hats should say that much,” Sean said. “And a job offer in London? It’s just that. An offer. She hasn’t taken anything.”
My body stilled, thinking of Grace’s eyes when she couldn’t even deny the fact she knew about what her Grandmum was saying. Or that she wasn’t going to take the offer. Was this her plan all along? Whatever she was hiding behind the sadness in t
hose caramel-colored eyes of hers, I couldn’t tell if it was from regret or what. I just knew that I had to get away.
“Grace didn’t deny any of it, either.”
He shook his head. “Yeah like she probably denied she was in love with you and saying she never wanted to get married. We both know that’s a lie. She may have been right pissed when her parents divorced, but that was before she found you.”
“We’re not in love. I wasn’t the one who hurt her, so if you’re thinking about smashing my face, you can save it for the field.”
I grabbed another bottle and Sean immediately took it from me, setting it down.
“What the hell, man? Come into my house to take my whiskey. What’s next? Are you going to tell me how I shouldn’t listen to the ramblings of an old woman? Ignore the girl’s own protests of marriage? How even though Grace may be the best thing that ever happened to me, I’m going to throw it all away in a bottle of whiskey?”
He just stared at me.
“I’m just going to sit here, with or without you and my whiskey, and try and forget this all happened.”
I slumped down against the stiff leather material.
“And what are you going to do when you go into work on Monday to see your lovely assistant?” Sean asked, his arms thrown out to his side.
I frowned, turning the television up to drown out his words and my own thoughts.
I didn’t have an answer. The only thing I could think about was her warm eyes and red lips. And how her smart mouth was one of my favorite things in life.
“I’ll figure it out Monday.”
Sean grabbed the remote out of my hands and turned off the TV before chucking it across the room. Once it hit the wall, it broke into half a dozen pieces.
“What the feck?”
“Don’t give me some bullshite answers.”
I shook my head, my heart beating in my ears. “I’m telling you that I don’t know what the feck I’m supposed to do, okay? For once, I have no idea.”
“Do you love the company?” he asked, point blank.
I scoffed, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. “Of course, you know that.”
“Do you love Grace?”
I swallowed hard, still not knowing the answer to that one.
He blew out a breath. “I don’t know how to take your silence, but I will tell you this: if you love the company and if you even remotely care about Grace and the Walsh family, you’ll do the right thing.”
I laughed, shaking my head, but there was absolutely no humor in my voice or thoughts. “And what exactly is the right thing?”
“I guess you’ll know on Monday, won’t you?”
Chapter Nineteen
Grace
I woke up the next morning with a killer headache from a bottle of wine and a whole lot of crying.
Why the hell was I crying?
I wasn’t the type of girl who sobbed over a man. A man who I said I was never going to marry when he needed a wife.
Blast.
I told him that I was never going to get married, yet that didn’t stop him. He wasn’t pushing me. He spent time with Jane and me, making me forget all about why I was opposed to marriage in the first place.
But when I finally mustered up the courage to go after Jack and tell him that I didn’t want to lose him, that I may have been against marriage but for him… That’s when it all blew up.
Blast.
I saw Lacey at his car window, her hand on his. All resolve left me and I tried not to cry right there.
I guess I didn’t have to worry about Jack moving on and the company being fine without me.
The thought of that panged my already aching chest and head. Would I have to go to every family function and see them so happy together?
Now I was in the present, trying not to worry about the future. But I kept thinking about what could have been. If I didn’t bring up the London job in front of Lacey. Then Grandmum wouldn’t have said anything.
The buzzing of my phone didn’t help my headache, it took everything in my power to move and grab it.
I figured it was probably Sarah or maybe even Carolyn calling about the new position. I didn’t know my fate at Murphy’s Pub, and there was no way in hell I was going to try a small press on my own. There was no other choice but to take Carolyn’s offer and to get the hell out of Dublin.
I managed to clear my throat before answering the phone, not even looking at the screen to see who the caller was. “Hello?”
“Gracie, love, I’m sorry did I wake you?” Mum’s almost-too-cheery-voice carried through the speaker.
I shook my head, slowly sitting up. Was she seriously asking that right now? After yesterday? “No, no. I’ve been up, just doing some yoga.”
I stared at Janey’s bed and the yoga mat she’d been using as a pillow for a few months.
“Gracie, I know that sleepy voice and that you’re still in bed. Granddad wanted me to call to invite you and Jack for dinner and a round of golf tonight. He assumes that Jack golfs, at least.”
I sighed, remembering that he did used to golf when we were in school. With Lacey. The girl he was obviously going to go back to.
“We didn’t make up yesterday. He left and I’m pretty sure Lacey left with him,” I said, straightening my shoulders.
I didn’t wait to see if she did.
“Oh,” Mum said, leaving the air thick between us.
“I did really like him,” I said. “This wasn’t just about trying to convince him to fall for me or chase after me. He’ll probably never speak to me again after the fiasco with Grandmum. Why would you ever say something like that? You know how she is.” I sighed.
“I never thought—this isn’t my fault,” Mum said through her teeth.
“I don’t even know if it’s worth it. He obviously doesn’t care about me. And I really was offered a position as an editorial director back in London. A dream job. So, there is that,” I blurted quickly.
“I guess some congratulations are in order,” she replied, but there was nothing happy in her voice.
I groaned. “Out with it, Mum. I know that tone, and I know the disappointment. I know you wanted this grand ordeal so Granddad could get the company or get me to marry Jack so I could have us all set. Well, none of that happened. I want to be upset with you and Grandmum. But this is on me for not being completely honest in the beginning. I should have told him everything. Not just that I wasn’t sure about marriage, but about what you knew.”
Mom’s voice softened. “Gracie, if I would have known Grandmum would have said all of that, Granddad and I would have never said a word to her. Though, we should have known better.”
“Too late now,” I muttered.
She sighed. “You know, Lacey confided in me that she broke it off with Jack in uni because he was always so focused on work. She wanted to go back to London and he always had his sights set on running the company.”
I had a hard time believing that Lacey would confide in anyone. “Really?”
Mum laughed. “Well, this was after a few glasses of wine one night, but yes, she did admit that. But what she would never admit was that Jack never looked at her the way he looks at you. The man never made time to meet her family or stop in for tea or whiskey with Grandfather.”
“Why are you telling me all of this, Mum?” I asked, wanting her to just get to the point.
“I want you to be happy. Maybe going back to London and taking that job will do that for you. Or maybe, you’ll take the job that Grandfather tells me about in purchasing at Murphy’s Pub and see where things go with Jack.”
“I should get ready. I’ll call you later,” I said quickly, the tension rising in my temples.
“Okay, let me know if you need anything.”
“I will. Thank you, bye.”
I sighed and finally got up, walking the few steps to the living room where Jane Pawsten was happily chewing on something near the couch.
“You’re not eating another bl
anket are you girl?” I groaned, crouching down and petting behind her ears.
She happily rolled over for me to scratch her belly, dropping the now half-chewed tie of Jack’s. I held up the blue material and found myself half smiling, half in tears, which caused a head tilt from Jane.
I didn’t know when he left it at my place, but I remembered how I thought it brought out the blue in his eyes. How much I loved staring at them. The ones that were probably now gazing lovingly at my cousin instead of me.
“Do we go back to London or do we stay here and take a chance?” I whispered.
She didn’t say anything and nuzzled into my lap.
I didn’t expect a dog to have the answers. But having her there to comfort me was more than I could have asked for.
Then my phone rang, causing Janey to stir in my lap. Fallon’s number flashed across the screen.
Shite, was this them sending the cavalry after me?
Quickly I cleared my throat and answered, “Hello?”
“Grace, how are you?”
“Um. I’m grand, you?” I asked tentatively.
“Well, my lovely husband likes to inform me of things at the last minute sometimes, and I found out we have a trip to another Murphy’s next week in Boston. I need to do some shopping for the trip and thought maybe you’d want to come with. Connor insisted on a personal shopper, but I’d rather just have another girl go with me. I’m not being too forward, am I?”
Usually, I loved listening to Fallon’s incessant rambling, but today it just made the pain tighter in my chest.
“I’d love to, Fal. But I’m not feeling too well. I think it’s the flu.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry. Do you need me to bring anything? I don’t know if they have Tamiflu at the drugstores here, but I can find something.”
“No. No. Wouldn’t want you getting sick either. I’ll just make some tea and stay in bed.”
She sighed. “Okay, well maybe when you feel better we can do something. Hopefully, you’ll be good for work tomorrow. I think Aileen would cry if I made her sit at your desk.”
“Yeah…hopefully I am…” I muttered.
I had one day to decide if I was going to stay at Murphy’s or go back to London.