Escape With Me

by Kristen Proby

  Getting closer to the O’Callaghan family has been educational, to say the least.

  “Don’t overthink it,” Maggie suggests to me. “It’s just a fun party. A chance to eat too much, laugh a little bit, and look at cute baby things.”

  “I just heard from Maeve,” Keegan says as he joins us. “She and the parents are on their way over.”

  “They must be jet lagged,” I reply. “They just arrived from Ireland last night.”

  “Oh, I’m sure that’s the truth,” Keegan agrees, “but they’re anxious to see everyone. Nothing could keep them away from the pub today.”

  I glance around and sigh in happiness. Maggie, Lexi, and I spent the morning decorating for the occasion. Pink and blue balloons, streamers, and confetti are everywhere. One table has gifts, another cake, and one more is set up for a buffet-style lunch that Lexi and Shawn have been working on for several days.

  “I thought you said it would just be family,” I say to Maeve.

  “That’s right.”

  “Then why so much cake? So much food? This feels excessive.”

  Maeve’s face splits into a wide smile. “Just wait until you see Anastasia’s side of the family, my friend. There’s a lot of them. Also, most of them are famous.”

  “Famous?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “More famous than Kane?” The eldest O’Callaghan sibling is a world-renowned glass sculptor.

  “Somewhat, yes,” she says. “You’ll see.”

  I glance down at what I’m wearing and thank the heavens above that Maggie and I went shopping last week after my drunken debacle and the ruined boxes arriving from Troy. With my shiny new paycheck, I was able to replace the majority of my wardrobe.

  I’m in a pair of black jeans with a white button-down shirt and a thick belt to tie it all together. I finally feel like myself in clothes that fit my style and make me feel more confident.

  I even took the time to put on my usual makeup and teased some loose curls into my long, blond hair.

  I wear my hair up in a ponytail or bun almost every day for work, so this feels extra indulgent today.

  I guess I’ll pass muster for famous people.

  Keegan’s parents arrive first, and it’s a flurry of hugs and laughter and love. I step back out of the way, but Keegan’s father’s gaze catches mine, and he walks right over to me.

  “You must be the lovely Izzy that I’ve heard so much about. I’m Tom O’Callaghan. How are you getting along, then?”

  I smile at the thick accent and the kind face so much like his three sons. “I’m doing very well, thank you. You have incredibly kind children.”

  “And that’s the truth of it, but it’s always nice to hear that they behave when their sainted mother and I are away.”

  I laugh, immediately feeling at ease with this older man. His wife joins us, and I am swept up in a firm hug. Stronger than expected from such a small woman.

  “This gorgeous vision is my wife, Fiona.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Well, you’re even lovelier than I thought you’d be. Isn’t she just a sight, Tom?”

  “That she is, my love.”

  “Thank you. It’s nice of Maggie to say such nice things, but—”

  “Oh, t’wasn’t Mary Margaret,” Fiona says. “Keegan speaks highly of you, lass.”

  Keegan?

  I blink, not sure what to say, but before I can come up with any words, the door opens, and people start filing in.

  All I can do is stand back and watch in awe.

  Anastasia and Kane arrive, looking adorable in color-coordinated outfits. I overheard Stasia telling Maggie a few days ago that she had to talk Kane into their attire, but now I can see why she did. They look fantastic.

  My jaw hits the floor when I see Will Montgomery walk in. I’ve watched Will play for the Seattle football team for as long as I can remember. He’s a megastar, and he’s related to Anastasia?

  More and more people file in. I recognize Amelia Montgomery, the face and name behind the super successful makeup brand. I’ve watched her YouTube makeup tutorials for years.

  But then my heart stops.

  Literally stops beating in my chest.

  I’m pretty sure I just died.

  Still, my ghost watches as Leo Nash, the frontman for the rock group Nash, walks through the door and hugs Will’s wife.

  The man whose posters lined my walls as a teenager, whose concerts I never missed, is standing less than twenty feet away from me.

  Leo. Fucking. Nash.

  “Izzy?”

  “Huh?” I turn to Maeve. “Yeah?”

  “You just went white.”

  “I’m dead.”

  She follows my gaze and grins. “Yeah. I get it.”

  “I have to leave.”

  “Because Leo’s here? Nah, he’s really nice.”

  “You don’t understand. I’m going to make a complete ass of myself. I’m going to do something stupid like trip, or ask him to take his shirt off, or volunteer to have his babies or something.”

  “Pretty sure he’s used to that.”

  I turn to leave and run right into a brick wall.

  I look up to find Keegan smiling down at me, his hands on my shoulders to steady me. And just like that, my body heats, my heart pounds, and I realize this visceral reaction to Keegan’s nearness is much more intense than the reaction I had to seeing my teenage crush.

  “Are you okay, then, Izzy?”

  “Sure.” I swallow hard. “I mean, yeah.”

  “She has a mild—and by mild I mean huge—crush on Leo.”

  Keegan’s eyes narrow on my face, and I feel my cheeks flush.

  “I used to,” I correct her.

  “Sure, that’s why your face went white, and you just volunteered to have his babies.”

  The muscle in Keegan’s jaw tics. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s mad. Or jealous.

  But that’s just wishful thinking.

  “You guys didn’t warn me until right now that I’d be meeting celebrities. People that I’ve watched and admired for years. On top of that, it’s a family party, and I do not belong here.”

  “Come with me.”

  Keegan takes my hand and leads me out of the main bar area, past the kitchen door, and into his office. He shuts the door behind us and turns to me.

  “Take a deep breath.”

  I do as instructed, and while it does help me feel a little better, my pulse is still off the charts.

  Though it has nothing to do with Leo Nash.

  “Let’s get something straight right now, Izzy. Wait, what is Izzy short for?”

  I blink quickly, surprised by the sudden change in conversation. “I’m sorry, what?”

  “What is your name short for? Elizabeth?”

  “Isabella,” I reply and watch as Keegan clenches his fists and then slides his hands into his pockets. “Why?”

  “Because I’ve wondered since the day I met you.” His voice is calmer now. “You belong here because my family invited you to join us. Because we enjoy your company. It’s that simple, Isabella. If you’re uncomfortable being here, I understand, and I can take you home. But I hope you’ll stay and enjoy the day with us. There’s nothing to fear here, and nothing to be uncomfortable about. The O’Callaghans and the Montgomerys are both welcoming, and I promise that in less than thirty minutes, you’ll be completely at ease. It’s your choice.”

  “No one calls me Isabella,” I mutter, still stuck on the way my name sounded coming from his lips.

  “If you don’t like it, I won’t either.”

  “No, I like it.”

  He waits for my answer. “I’ll stay.”

  I follow Keegan out of the office in time to see Luke Williams, the star from so many movies and shows when I was young, walk into the pub with none other than Starla, an amazing pop star that I’m more than obsessed with. I round on Keegan. “Really?”

  “That’s the last
one,” he says with a laugh.

  The next thing I know, I’m standing next to Anastasia, and she leans in to whisper to me. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. Your family is ridiculously intimidating.”

  She laughs and then nods as she looks around the room. “I can see that. I’ve had a long time to get used to who my family marries and who we bring into the fold. It’s a lot. But, behind the public personas, they’re just regular people. I promise.”

  “There’s no way Leo Nash is regular people,” I reply. “Is there any chance he’ll take his shirt off?”

  “I mean, we could spill something on him, on accident of course, and then he’ll have to take it off.”

  We’re giggling when Maeve, Maggie, and Lexi join us.

  “What are you laughing at?” Lexi asks. Anastasia happily shares the story, much to my horror.

  “I’m just kidding,” I insist.

  “I’m not,” Stasia counters.

  “You have to meet him.” Maggie takes my hand and leads me to the other side of the room where Leo is chatting with four other men, all of whom could rival the O’Callaghans in the looks department.

  And that’s saying a lot.

  “Hey, guys, I want to introduce you to Izzy. She’s new here. Izzy, this is Caleb, Matt, Isaac, Nate, and Leo.”

  All of the guys smile at me. Three of them are definitely brothers. The one named Nate is sexy in a way I’ve only ever read about in romance novels.

  And then there’s Leo.

  Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, he’s even hotter up close.

  “Nice to meet you,” Leo says and offers me his hand.

  He wants to touch me.

  “I’m going to be brutally honest here,” I say, rather than accept his hand. “I’m about to embarrass myself really bad.”

  “How so?” Leo asks, his head cocked with interest.

  “I’m a big fan.” I swallow hard, shocked that any sound came out at all. “I’ve seen every tour. I love your music. In fact, it’s what got me through some really rough patches in my life. Including the day I walked out on my wedding and drove all the way here from central Oregon. But now I’m just babbling.”

  “Not mad about this babble,” he says.

  “Big fan,” I repeat.

  “She wants you to take your shirt off.”

  My eyes feel like they’re going to pop out of my sockets as I elbow Maggie in the stomach.

  “Ignore her.”

  “No, she really does.”

  Leo laughs, and then, with a slight shrug, he just reaches over his shoulder and peels his black t-shirt over his head like it’s no big thing at all.

  “Sweet baby Jesus,” I breathe. “Sorry. That was completely inappropriate. It’s the tattoos. Those stars on your hips—”

  “Are delicious,” a petite blonde says as she joins us with a smile. She wraps her arm around Leo’s waist. “Trust me, I agree.”

  “This is Samantha, Leo’s wife.” Maggie introduces us.

  “Well, now I’ve gone and done it. I am so embarrassed. Please know I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

  “It’s okay. The tattoos are something to write home about,” Samantha replies. “Did I hear that you walked out on your own wedding?”

  “Yeah.” I sigh as Leo slips his shirt back over his head. Which is good. Because if he kept it off, I wouldn’t be able to think. “It’s a long story.”

  “I have a feeling this is going to be a long party.”

  The past month has felt like something out of a rom-com movie. Between how it all began, finding this pub, meeting these people, and the party a few days ago, more has transpired in the past four weeks than in the past four years of my life.

  There’s never a dull moment.

  Samantha Nash ended up giving me her number so we could have lunch together sometime. Leo ended up teasing me the rest of the day about taking his shirt off. The whole atmosphere was easy and laid-back as everyone laughed and ate, and then we watched as Stasia unwrapped gifts and cried from gratitude and hormones.

  It was a day I won’t soon forget.

  “How are you feeling, Izzy?” Fiona asks when I come into the kitchen to place an order for one of my tables.

  “Oh, I’m doing very well, thank you. And you?”

  “I’m fit as a fiddle,” Fiona replies. Since they’ve been in town, she and Tom have worked at the pub almost every day, Tom pulling taps and Fiona in the kitchen. They said it’s like old times. “What can I get you?”

  I read her the order, then clip the paper to the little metal stand so she can reference it if she needs to before turning to leave.

  But then I turn back to her. “Fiona?”

  “Yes, dear.”

  I want to ask some questions about Keegan. I want to ask what he was like as a child and so much more.

  But at the end of the day, it’s none of my business.

  So, I shake my head. “It’s nothing. I’ll be back in a few.”

  Fiona waves me off, and I return to the bar. I’ve just approached a table to take their order, when I hear my name being called from across the room.

  The hair on the back of my neck stands on end.

  No.

  My fears are realized when I turn around and see my mother standing by the bar. And next to her is Troy’s mother.

  Both glare daggers at me.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask as I approach them.

  “We’re here to collect you,” Mom replies. “Get your things. Let’s go.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  I see Keegan approach out of the corner of my eye, but I hold my hand up to stop him. He has no idea the wrath these women would rain down on him if he dared to interrupt.

  “Oh, yes you are,” Mom says. “You’re coming home. You’ve had your little vacation. Now it’s time for you to get back to your life. You need to ask Troy to take you back and make things right, Izzy.”

  “No.”

  “He’ll forgive you,” Lita insists. “My son isn’t unreasonable. Just explain to him that you got nervous, and that you’re better now. He’ll be fine.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  I turn to walk away, but my mother grabs my arm and spins me back around.

  “That’s exactly what you’ll do. You’re finished embarrassing this family. We will plan a new wedding, and you’ll marry Troy.”

  I shake my head. “I didn’t plan the first wedding. I didn’t even pick out my dress. I hated that thing. In fact, until I walked out of that wedding, I’d never done what I wanted a day in my life.”

  “So, what? You’re just going to leave? Your father will unfreeze your assets and move a million dollars into your account tonight. You’ll have your lifestyle back. You and Troy can move into the beautiful home he’s having built.”

  “I don’t want any money. I’m making my own money. And I don’t care about the lifestyle. I certainly don’t want Troy.”

  “You listen to me.” Mom gets in my face, her breaths coming fast with anger. “You get your pathetic little ass in that car and go home with us, or you’ll never see me again. Troy is the best man you could ever hope to marry.”

  “He hit me!” I yell at her, right in her face. “He fucking hit me, Mother. And now I’ve learned he’s most likely been fucking anything with two legs for a long damn time. I’m not a punching bag—literally or otherwise.”

  “That’s just how men are,” Mom says, pure pity in her expression. “They cheat, and they’ll smack you around if you step out of line. But the lifestyle and the perks are worth it.”

  “No. Not to me. I don’t want to be you, Mom. I won’t be you. Ever.”

  “You ungrateful little bitch.”

  “Whoa, now.” Fiona steps in, all five feet of her, her face red with fury. “We don’t speak to our children that way where I come from. Izzy has said her piece. She’s a grown woman, with the choice to stay or go.”

  Mom doesn’t even spare Fiona a glance befor
e she spins and marches out of the bar.

  Lita’s face is white as she crosses to me.

  “I’m sorry,” she says. “I didn’t raise my boy to be like that. And neither did his father. Your dad might act like that, and your mother is numb to it, and callous about it, but we don’t behave that way in our family. I’m sorry that happened to you. And I’m so glad you’ve moved on. Good luck to you, Izzy.”

  Lita leaves, and I turn around to find the pub perfectly quiet, all eyes on me.

  Without thinking, I turn and run through the bar and up the back staircase to Keegan’s apartment. I can’t believe that just happened, and in front of all those people. People I’ve come to care about and even love.

  Keegan charges in right behind me, and I spin around when the door closes.

  “I’m so sorry. I know I don’t live here anymore, and that this isn’t appropriate, but I had to get out of there. I’m just so embarrassed.”

  He shakes his head. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Isabella. That was the strongest, sexiest thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life.”

  He immediately crosses to me, frames my face in his hands, and lowers his mouth to mine. This isn’t a gentle or comforting kiss.

  It’s lust-filled and possessive and knocks me back on my heels. I have to hold onto his arms so I don’t fall on my ass.

  Keegan’s lips are soft but confident as they roam over mine. His hands glide down my arms and snake around to my ass, holding on tightly.

  I hear myself moan against his mouth as I lean into him and plunge my fingers into his thick, dark hair.

  Finally, after a few long moments of being locked together, Keegan pulls back so we can both catch our breath.

  “I’m not sorry about that.”

  “Good. It would suck if you were.”

  “I’ve wanted to kiss you for weeks.” He swallows hard and tips his forehead to mine. “It’s been hell keeping my hands to myself.”

  “Why did you?”

  “You were a stranger. What if you decided to go back home and get married? What if you were a con artist? What if you sued me for sexual harassment?” His accent is driving me wild.