Her heart thumped wildly against her ribs. An idea hit her and she reached for her phone. “You know, you’re right,” she said, subtly pressing the voice recorder button. “I should take your number at least, so I can reach you if I need to. After all, you seem to have all of my information. You know where I live; now you’ve followed me to Chloe’s school—”
“Which I wouldn’t have had to do if you’d let me see her,” Niall said.
“She doesn’t know you,” Maura said, “or anything about you. I’m not going to scare her with a stranger.”
“Well, now she’s met me,” Niall said with a slight sneer. “So I’m not a stranger anymore.”
“Because you ambushed me on the street.” Maura pointed out.
“It wasn’t an ambush,” he said. “Stop being so dramatic.”
“You obviously followed me to her school, and knew what time we’d be leaving for the day,” she said. “You introduced yourself in a way that left me no choice without scaring her. What would you call that?”
“What was necessary,” he said.
She harrumphed a sigh of frustration, seeing there was no reasoning with him. “Give me your number so I can text you if I need to.”
“You mean you’d actually talk to me without your pit bull behind you?” Niall said. “I was starting to think you and McKinnon were attached at the hip.”
“If Aidan knew you’d cornered Chloe and me this way,” she said, “he’d likely beat you within an inch of your life.”
Niall laughed dismissively. “I read up on what happens if he adopts Chloe when you get married. If he adopts her, I never have any rights again, no matter what.” His gaze turned lethal, almost sinister. “I’m not going to let that happen, you know.”
A chill ran over her skin, but she kept up her outward appearance of defiance. “There’s nothing you can do about it, actually.”
He edged closer, just a bit. The menace was palpable. “Don’t be so sure about that, Maura.”
“Are you threatening us?” she stammered. Something about the look in his dark eyes shook her to the bone.
“I’m just saying,” Niall rumbled, “that if you’ll let Chloe spend part of her time with Frannie and me, everything will be fine. If you don’t…” He shrugged again, but held her gaze for a long beat before stepping back. “Why don’t we try for a brunch on Sunday, maybe? Frannie’s dying to meet her already. I could pick Chloe up around eleven, and bring her back to you after a few hours.”
Maura blinked. His threat, coupled with his disregard for anything she said and an apparent disconnect from reality, had her reeling. “No. No way! You just all but threatened me! Do you really think I’ll let her anywhere near you now?”
“She’s my blood.” Niall spat.
“And that’s it.” Maura hissed in return. “Being a sperm donor doesn’t make you a father, damn you.”
His fingers twitched at his sides. “Why do you have to make this so difficult?”
“Because I think you’re dangerous,” she said. “I don’t trust you one bit. And it’s my job to protect my daughter.”
He shoved his hands into his pocket, then took it out holding a business card, which he handed to her. “My cell phone and email are on there. You wanted my contact info, now you have it. When can I see her, take her to meet Frannie?”
Maura narrowed her eyes, ignoring the wild beating of her heart. “When I decide you can. In the meantime, stop following us. Stay away from her, and me. And Aidan, too. For all I know, you’re stalking all of us. Not exactly the way to work yourself into my good graces.”
He tore his gaze from hers to glance at Chloe, sitting in the car. She was singing along with the book in her lap, pressing little buttons that made the book make noises. “She’s so beautiful. Prettier than you.” He glanced back at Maura. “None of those bloody freckles that cover you from head to toe. She got lucky.”
Maura rolled her eyes. “You hate my freckles? Ouch. You hurt my feelings,” she drawled sarcastically.
“This doesn’t have to be this way,” he said, “if you’d just be more agreeable.”
“You’re daft, I swear! After everything you did, why on earth would I be agreeable with anything you want or say?”
He edged close and murmured harshly, “Because it’ll go much easier if you do.”
“You don’t scare me.” She lied, using the strongest tone she could muster.
He held her gaze. “See you around.” His eyebrows shot up once, then he tapped on the car window. Chloe jumped, startled, but he smiled and waved. “Goodbye, you wee beauty. See you soon!”
She smiled and waved back. “Bye!”
“Stay away from my daughter.” Maura ground out from between her clenched teeth, even as her blood raced through her veins and her fingers went almost numb.
He didn’t look at her again, but started to whistle as he turned away and walked up the street.
With shaking hands, Maura looked down at her phone. Thank God, it was still recording. She hit stop, tossed it clumsily into her bag, and took long breaths to calm her quaking body. She had to appear fine for her daughter’s sake. She had to drive them home. Cars sped by on the road, a woman walking her dog passed by her, a noisy bus lumbered its way down the street… Maura wrapped her arms around herself and looked up at the cloudy sky until she could take a full breath. Then she drew another, and another. Even though her heart was still racing, she could breathe, and was determined to get herself and her daughter home safely.
Niall was a bit unhinged, that much was clear. How far he was willing to take his threats was what she had to figure out, and how to handle it. Without telling her mum, or Aidan, or upsetting anyone else who might worry as much as she was.
Chapter Ten
‡
Baz flicked a glance at his phone to check the time as his friend eased onto the barstool beside him. Five-thirty, right on time.
“Thanks for meeting me,” Aidan said.
“Thanks for buying the first round,” Baz replied.
Five minutes later, he raised his glass in salute before sipping his beer. One of their regular pubs in the heart of City Centre, The Harp, was full of patrons like them, people glad to have a pint at the end of a workday. Music played, two different rugby games flashed on the flat screens, and the welcome noise of Dubliners filled the space.
But Aidan was quieter than usual. Baz studied his longtime friend. His whole body was coiled, and stress tightened the lines in his face. “What’s the craic?”
“Well…” Aidan took a long swallow of beer. “I need to ask ya somethin’.”
“All right.”
“I’m getting married in September. Will you be my best man?”
Baz’s mouth dropped open. He drew back, almost falling off his stool. “Go on with ye! Ha-ha, very funny. You’re coddin’ me.”
“Not joking.” Aidan finally grinned. “You don’t want to be my best man? Here I was thinkin’ it was the best way to not have to decide between my brothers. Ah, well.”
Baz gaped. “What kind of shite is this?” He looked around wildly. “Are we on one of those stupid reality shows, and we’re on camera? Some tool’s gonna come runnin’ out now?”
“No.” Aidan met his gaze. “I’m dead serious, Sebastian.”
At that, Baz stilled. Like his parents, Aidan only used his full name when shit got real. “Who the hell are ya marryin’, much less so soon?” A thought hit him, and he leaned in to drop his voice. “You knock someone up?”
“No, ya animal.” Aidan laughed dryly. “I’m marrying Maura.”
Baz blinked. “What? Whaaaaat?”
Aidan sipped his drink again. “It’s a bit of a story…”
Baz gripped his friend’s arm. “You tell me what the hell’s going on, right now.”
Aidan poured out the tale, sparing no details. He’d known Baz since they were kids; it was like talking to a brother. And it was a relief. By the time he was done, they’d gone through
another round of drinks, a basket of chips, and he felt himself relax a bit.
Baz sat back on his stool and gazed at his friend with admiration. “You’re a good man, to do that for them. Seriously.”
Aidan just nodded.
“And ya also get the girl of your dreams. So stop looking so bloody miserable. Fate helped you to get what you’ve secretly always wanted—to end up with Maura.”
“And what happens when she thinks on it, and comes to the same conclusion? How convenient it is? That I’m actually getting something I secretly wanted, but never told her? Is she going to feel… I dunno, betrayed?” Aidan’s fingers flexed with trepidation. “Now that I told her the truth about how I feel, what if she thinks I’m not doing this for the right reasons, which I am, but because I just wanted to rope her in for my own selfish wants?”
Baz met his stare. “Are you?”
“No! Fuck no.”
“Then stop worrying about that. You’re overthinking it.”
Aidan was so relieved to be talking about this with someone; it was like a physical weight was slowly being lifted off him. Baz was the only person he’d ever confided his secret in, a few years ago. One night, when they’d gotten so drunk they were half blind with it, a girl was all over him and Baz questioned why Aidan wasn’t going for her. In his plastered state, Aidan had confessed his long-repressed love for Maura. Baz had been a true friend and kept his secret. It had helped in a way, too—after that, Baz stopped busting on him about not dating any women for the long-term. He finally understood what had been holding Aidan back and what truly ate at him all the time, holding feelings like that inside.
Now, Aidan could vent. “She’s all over the place,” he muttered, raking a hand through his already mussed hair. “And since I blurted out the truth like that, like a raving eejit, I am, too.”
“That’s for sure.” Baz snorted. “You’re as jumpy as a fish thrown on land.”
“I know. It’s been hell on me, knowing it’s out there. I was fine before she knew the truth,” Aidan insisted. “I was more than fine with the plan, with being married, all of it. But now that she knows I’m actually in love with her… it, ehm… changes things.”
“Maybe for the better,” Baz said. “Ya said she kept questioning why you’d do this, feeling guilty about tying you to her… maybe when she realizes it’s what you’ve always wanted, she’ll stop feeling guilty and realize it’s going to make you happy, which will make her happier about it, too.”
“Aye, it should be that easy. But it isn’t.” Aidan’s gaze flickered up to one of the flat screens to take in the rugby action. “Now I’m the one who’s thrown. She wants to talk about it—what I confessed—but I put her off.”
“What? Why?”
Aidan shrugged.
“How long is this, now?”
“She called me yesterday, wanting to talk. I told her I’d call her back… I haven’t.” His mouth twisted in shame. “She hasn’t even texted me. She’s probably pissed now.”
“You wuss.” Baz spat. “Man up and fix it.”
“I will.”
“Don’t do that to her. She’s a good woman, that one.”
“I know!” Aidan ran a hand over his stubbled jaw and huffed out a breath. “I know. Back off.”
“I won’t. What the hell are you so afraid of?”
Aidan paused, his lips thinning as they pressed together. Then he finally admitted quietly, “Her rejecting me.”
“Well, she can’t now even if she wants to.” Baz pointed out. “You’re getting married. Done deal.”
“That doesn’t make it better,” Aidan murmured. He turned his glass in restless circles on the bar. “It was different when she didn’t know how I felt. She was all in because the plan made logical sense. But now she knows how I feel, and we’ll still be married, and… I’ll know she’ll be with me only because she needs to be, not because she wants to be, which is ironic, since that’s kind of what she was afraid of, in reverse.” He sighed. “I’ll always want her to love me back.” His voice was barely audible above the noise in the pub. “That might kill me.”
“Easy, Romeo.”
“Shut up. I’m feeling damned vulnerable here, and I hate it.”
“Jaysus, what I’m hearin’…” Baz shook his head, slammed down his glass, and pointed a finger. “There’s a lot of things you’re not, McKinnon. And at the top of the list is a coward. Don’t start now.”
“Shut up.”
“No. Come on, mate. Ya hearin’ yourself?”
A muscle jumped in Aidan’s jaw as he clenched it. “Hate it when you’re right.”
“Which is always, mind.” Baz winked and they both sipped their pints. “You know what you two need? A night out. Just for fun, no pressure, no drama. Take her on a date, a real one. Have some drinks, go dancing. Something, anything.” He leaned in. “Do I really have to tell you, the second biggest heartbreaker in Dublin, that you need to go romance your woman?”
Aidan laughed and shook his head.
“I’m happy for you,” Baz said quietly now. “Let yourself be happy for yourself.”
“Can’t. It’s not real,” Aidan murmured. “She doesn’t love me back.”
“That’s the thing,” Baz said. His dark eyes held Aidan’s blues. “Because I’d swear she does. She just doesn’t realize it. Yet.” He clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder, squeezed it for support. “You two… there’s a connection there I’ve rarely seen. You’re soul mates.”
“Soul mates, eh?” Aidan’s brows lifted in surprise. “Didn’t think you believed in that stuff.”
“Aye, I do. Just because I don’t go on about it doesn’t mean I don’t think it exists. And if I’ve ever seen true soul mates with my own eyes, it’s the two of you.” Baz took the last chip from the bottom of the basket and flipped it into his mouth. “Soul mates don’t have to be lovers, ya know. They can be best friends. And you two are that. So, if now ya bring romance into it? Or, at the very least, some new mega-level type of shagging? It can only end up amazing, if you ask me.” He reached for his glass. “Could be epic. If you stop being so scared of it. Both of you. From what you just told me, she sounds terrified. You’re both afraid. Yay for you.”
Aidan pursed his lips and stared into his glass.
“Can’t believe you’re getting married. Jaysus.” Baz laughed. “Think she’ll still let ya come out and play sometimes, yer ball and chain?”
Aidan laughed and lightly punched his friend’s arm. “Shut it, ya wanker.”
Baz tapped his glass to Aidan’s. “In all seriousness, I’m honored to be your best man. Thanks for asking.”
“Thanks for accepting.”
“Already thinking of options for the bachelor party.”
“Knew I picked the right man.”
“Aye.” Baz drained the last of his beer. “You sure don’t do anything the normal way, McKinnon. Getting married to be a hero. God bless ya.”
“I’m no hero, but Chloe needs me,” Aidan said. “She needs us, her mum and me as a team, to keep her safe.”
“She’s damn lucky to have ya. They both are. And believe me, knowing Maura? She knows it.” Baz grinned. “You’ll do all right. You’ll fix it.”
Aidan nodded. “We’ll… we’ll be fine.”
“Better than fine, I bet. That’s a hell of a good woman you’re making your wife. And whatever ya need, you ask me, hear? I’ve got your back.” He waved down a bartender. “Another round! My best friend’s gettin’ hitched, the poor sod.”
Aidan laughed, but the knot that had been in his chest all day unfurled some.
*
Maura was half asleep when her phone rang. She rolled over to clutch it from the night stand and glanced at the caller ID. Finally. “I was starting to wonder when I’d hear from you.”
“I’m sorry,” Aidan said. “I really am. Forgive me for being a bloody fool?”
She laughed softly. “Of course.” She yawned and rolled over in her bed to
stare out the window beyond. Moonlight filtered in, casting shadows and silvery blue light. She had a million thoughts of her own swirling in her head, but one seemed more important just then than any of her concerns. “Are you all right?”
“Fine,” he said, but the faintest false note rang in his tone. “Long day. Then went out to the pub with Baz. Just got home. But I’m fine, just tired now.”
“Me, too. I’m in bed already.”
“Damn, did I wake ya? So sorry.”
“It’s fine, no worries.”
“Okay, good. I just…” His voice trailed off, and she heard him clear his throat. “Just didn’t want another night to go by without calling ya back.”
“Good. Now ya have.”
“You pissed at me?” he asked carefully.
“No. Concerned about you, confused, stunned, and I have a zillion questions. But now that you’ve gotten back to me and apologized, at least no longer pissed.”
“Good to know.”
“We have to talk,” she said. “About the things you said. You know that.”
“Aye, but first, how about this,” he said. “On Saturday, I pick you up. Take you into the city. Go to the pictures. Then out to dinner. Find a pub, have a few drinks. Have a few laughs… and yes, we’ll talk. What do you say?”
Her heart rate went up a notch, even as she grinned. “Aidan McKinnon… did you just ask me out on a date?”
“Yes, Miss Callahan, I did indeed.”
A full smile bloomed across her face and she bit down on her lip. “Interesting.”
“One of the fringe benefits of gettin’ engaged,” he said with mock authority. “If… you still want to get married. I mean…”
“You can’t get out of this now,” she said quietly. “Ya bought me a ring.”
“I don’t want to get out of it,” he said. “But if after what I said… and then I acted like a pure riddy and didn’t call you for two days—”
“Which you’ve apologized for. So drop that.”
“Maura…” His voice was thick with emotion, making her heart skip a beat.
“We’ll talk in person,” she said. “So, what movie?”
Marrying His Best Friend Page 10