Dangerous Secrets (O'Connor Brothers Book 3)

by Rhonda Brewer

  “This yellow rose with the red tip means two things, falling in love and friendship. I give this to you because I’ve truly fallen in love with my best friend.”

  “Ian,” Sandy whispered.

  “Let me finish, this red and white rose signifies unity. The red and yellow means happy feelings. Again they show how happy I am that we’re together. The color of this rose is coral I’m told, and it signifies desire. I’ve never desired anything more than this.” He held out two red roses wound around each other. She looked at them and then at him. She had no idea what it meant.

  “Ian, this is beautiful, but I don’t understand.” He chuckled and slowly dropped down to one knee.

  “Two roses intertwined means this, Sandy, will you marry me?” In his hand, he held a gold ring with a diamond in the center of a golden rose. It was the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen. “Make me the happiest man in the world and say yes.”

  Sandy couldn’t speak. The only thing she could do was nod and hold out her hand. Ian slipped the ring onto her finger and rose to his feet. He slid his hand around the back of her neck and lowered his head until his lips hovered above hers.

  “I’m assuming that the nod meant yes.” Ian smiled.

  “Yes.” She finally managed to squeak.

  “Did you notice that there were only eleven roses?” He still hadn’t kissed her, but she lost herself in his eyes.

  “Not really but okay.” She smiled.

  “Aren’t you curious why?” He seemed very anxious to tell her.

  “Would it make you feel better if I said I was very curious?” She laughed.

  “Yes.” He gave her a quick kiss on the nose. “Eleven roses means the person that receives them is truly and deeply loved.”

  “You must have done an awful lot of research to find out all this.” Sandy stood up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

  “I did, and Jess helped me get the roses.” He turned her around so she could see the yard of the house next door. Stephanie, Marina, Jess, and Kim were all crying on the other side of the fence.

  “I’m guessing those lovely ladies were causing the light flashing on the ceiling in our room.” She waved to them as they were leaving.

  “Yes, they were very excited about helping.” He took her hand and led her into the house.

  “Remind me to thank them tomorrow.” Sandy smiled.

  “Right now, I want to take my fiancée upstairs and make love to her.” Sandy giggled as Ian scooped her up into his arms and carried her upstairs. Her future husband was going to make love to her, and she couldn’t wait.

  Chapter 29

  “Another one bites the dust.” Aaron laughed.

  “Feeling a little jealous, little brother?” Keith knew his youngest brother was not even thinking about following in the footsteps of the latest of the O’Connor brothers.

  “Not in the fucking least.” He laughed. “You better watch out, though. The way things are going, you could be next.”

  “I don’t see that happening anytime soon.” Keith rolled his eyes not because he never thought about settling down but because he married once and that ended tragically. He didn’t love Tessa the way his brothers loved their wives. It was evident when he glanced around the room at John and Stephanie, James and Marina, and Ian and Sandy. Even his parents looked at each other with nothing but pure love.

  “Doncha worry Keithy, she’s out there. Closer than you think.” This was all he needed. Dear Aunt Cora and her freaky cupid power.

  “Seeing the future now are you, Aunt Cora?” Keith chuckled.

  “I’ve seen her, Keithy.” With that statement, she walked away, and he glanced at Aaron.

  “Don’t laugh, A.J. She’s working on all of us.” Keith chuckled when Aaron started to choke on the beer he was drinking.

  He stood in the back of the hall watching his cousin Kristy try to make Bull jealous. It was working whether his friend wanted to admit it or not. He understood Bull’s reluctance to date anyone. Until the man figured out who was screwing with his family and hurting them, he wasn’t going to let anyone get close. Especially, someone he loved, and there was no doubting Bull in love with Kristy.

  Sandy tossed her bouquet, and Jess caught it. Ian threw the garter and low and behold, Jason snatched it out of the air. Jason was of Nick’s closest friends and one of the guys that played in his brother’s band. Also, the same guy Jess dated and ended it. She avoided the man ever since. Watching as he slid the garter onto her leg was like watching a sinking ship. Especially when he stood up and leaned in to kiss Jess’s cheek, and she pushed him away.

  Once the bride and groom were carried out to the car with his grandmother ordering everyone to be careful with Sandy. At eight months pregnant, she looked about ready to burst, but in all the years he’d known her, Keith had never seen her happier. It was good to see her that way.

  Then there was Ian. He’d started working with their father, and according to him, he was enjoying it. He loved being home in the evening with the kids and Sandy. If he was honest, Keith was a little jealous, but that wasn’t something he was going to admit to anyone. He also still felt a little uneasy around Lily, but he’d come to figure out it was because she reminded him so much of himself. She was intense and didn’t miss anything.

  Once Ian and Sandy were gone, Keith could finally head home. It wouldn’t have looked great for the best man to leave before the bride and groom. He was ready for a glass of wine and some soft mellow music. Nobody would ever believe by the gruff persona he portrayed that he ended his night like that. Especially, when they saw him drive down the road on a Harley with a leather jacket and biker boots.

  Keith was glad his brother and Sandy decided to get married at the Hopedale country club. He could have a few drinks and walk home. It was a beautiful night, for March. A little brisk but nice for a walk. He loved Hopedale and living in the small town he grew up in gave him peace. Even with all the shit that had gone down over the last few years with his brother’s wives.

  He walked up to the security gate of his property or as his brothers called it, the compound. Keith bought the property when he was still living in Yellowknife. When he returned home, he had his construction company build his house. He’d also put up bunk houses for his employees to stay when they were in Newfoundland. Although, most of them seemed to be relocating to the quaint town.

  He unlocked the gate and was headed inside when his phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his jacket and saw a number he didn’t recognize. It was after midnight which meant it was probably a job and an urgent one.

  “Keith O’Connor.” He closed the gate.

  “Mr. O’Connor, I need your help. Someone is threatening my family. I want to hire you to protect my daughter.”

  About the Author

  What does someone say to describe themselves? You could start with giving what others say about you. Scratch that. It doesn't really matter what others think about you. It matters what you think of yourself. So here we go.

  First of all, I'm a wife and mother. I'm also a grandmother. That alone would fulfil any woman's life and to be honest it does. But....

  I'm also a writer. Someone who loves to tell stories of love, suspense, heartache and of course happily ever after. For most of my life, I've written those stories for myself. A type of therapy, I suppose. I love the characters I create. They become part of who I am because there's part of me in them.

  So.... Now that you know this about me. I hope when you read my books, you fall in love with them.

  You should also know that I'm a Newfoundlander. What is that you ask? Well we're a proud people who live on an island, off the east coast of Canada. Some people believe Canada ends with Nova Scotia. It doesn't. If you keep going east, there is a beautiful island full of amazing people and magnificent scenery. That is where my stories are set because let’s face it. The best stories always come from the places you know and love.

  If there is anything else you would
like to know about me, ask me!