Rowan (The Irish Wolves Book 3)

Chapter 19

Rowan had practically been dancing in her seat during the last hour and a half of their trip. Angela had teased her about it. “I wonder if I ever was as excited to see Steve as you are to see Hugh.” She groaned, covering her eyes, “I still can’t believe I called Hugh O’Faolain, Will! I’ll blame you forever for that embarrassment.”

Rowan belly laughed. She couldn’t help it. Remembering Angela’s face when she’d explained the situation had been priceless. “I’m still pissed I didn’t video your reaction to send to my sisters and Jo. Speaking of Jo, Josephine O’Connor, she can’t wait to check out your store when she and her mom get back from Zürich. They plan on coming in.”

Angela started fanning her face. “Lord, Rowan, do you have any idea how many important people you’re connected to in this town?”

“Well, if Jo makes you fan your face, I wonder if I should tell you who else will be stopping by.”

“Seriously, how did I get so lucky to meet you? Honestly. Stantons, O’Connors, O’Faolains…Okay, I’m chill, tell me.”

“Did I ever tell you who Matilda’s best friend is and who I eat dinner with once or twice a week?”

“You have not.”

“Diana Gaines.”

Angela fell sideways on the plush couch in the Sprinter. “Shockwaves just blew me down. I…I can’t even…I’m?—”

Rowan cut off her stumbling. “My suggestion. If you see Diana walk through your doors, take her coffee order, and let her drink on the floor. She may or may not acknowledge you. Don’t be offended. I redecorated her condo a few years ago, and it was an excruciating lesson in humility. She is honest but fair.

“I believe in your taste, your store, and your business acumen. You will be successful, Angela. I truly believe that.”

Angela gave Rowan a hug. “You have made me believe in myself and that’s worth more than any future success,” she confessed, sniffing back tears.

Their mad ten hours of shopping had been a success, and Rowan felt she’d helped create a boutique that would have Tulsa, and hopefully much further afield, talking.

After a quick goodbye at the hotel, Rowan flew through the lobby and up the elevator to Matilda’s. Dropped her bag and changed into a gorgeous butter-yellow wrap dress. It hugged her breasts perfectly, no bra needed. She brushed her hair until it fell in a thick wave down her back, dotted her nude rose perfume behind her ears and, at the last minute, slipped her panties off.

If this was going to be her and Hugh’s first day of forever, she felt like paying homage to the first day she’d met him. She slipped nude flats with delicate muted gold straps on her feet and sprinted back down to the lobby to catch her Uber.

One minute from her destination, Wolves Irish Pub Eatery, she received a text from Matilda.

Do not come to Wolves, sweetheart. That devil Helen is here and sitting with us now. Saying mean things to Hugh. He wouldn’t want you to be anywhere near her. I’m sorry. I’ll text when we finish here.

Oh, hell to the no, was that evil woman spewing anymore of her trashy venom. Not toward Hugh. She entered Wolves and ordered a shot of Slane and tall water to be delivered to Mr. O’Faolain’s table before zeroing in on where they were sitting. The memorial area, of course.

It was a three-chair table. Better and better. “Hugh! I’m so happy you haven’t eaten yet. I got back earlier than expected. I can join you and Tilly for lunch.” Hugh looked miserable, and Matilda looked close to tears.

Purposefully, Rowan positioned herself between that…that…no, Rowan wouldn’t even utter the ‘c’ word in her head, but she wanted to, and Hugh. Smiling at a stunned Matilda before bending to kiss Hugh, she finally turned to the unwelcome interloper for introductions.

“Oh my,” Rowan’s slight Irish accent was much more pronounced, thickening along with her anger, “you must be Helen. Your lovely hair gives you away.” Before the woman could preen at the compliment, Rowan added, “I imagine you have to pay your colorist a mint to keep it that shade these days, right?” Smiling as if she’d just delivered a compliment, Rowan continued with, “I had no idea you would be able to join us today. I’m so thankful my business trip ended early.”

A waitress brought over Rowan’s drinks, and she thanked her as they were set on the table next to Hugh’s. “Oh no, Helen, don’t get up on my account,” Rowan waved her back as if the woman were standing to give up her chair, which she absolutely hadn’t been, and sat in Hugh’s lap instead. “Hugh’s lap is my favorite seat in the world.” Hugh automatically adjusted her, his long fingers wrapping around her waist. Helen was turning a very unbecoming shade of beet.

She kept up the one-sided commentary, as it seemed Hugh and his mother were still speechless at Rowan’s obnoxious behavior. Snuggling her behind more comfortably against Hugh, which caused his fingers to flex deliciously, she continued to drop the hammer on the White Witch.

“It’s good that you sit whenever the opportunity presents itself. My grandma told me what a nightmare swelling becomes as women get older. Yikes, not looking forward to that. Of course, that’s literally decades away for me, thank God.” Annnnnd…that was all she wrote. Helen stood so quickly that her chair threatened to tip over.

“Glad we got to catch up. I must get back to my table.” Helen was stiff and clearly beaten, but that wasn’t good enough for a woman so rotten.

Rowan stood, adjusting her skirt before stepping toward the older woman. She leaned close so no nearby tables could overhear. “You had Hugh and two amazing sons, and you threw them away. You disgust me. Do not ever approach Hugh again. He is mine, and you won’t like the consequences if you do it again. I will make sure to ruin you so publicly that you will never be able to show your face outside again without being shamed for your behavior.

“You aren’t going to join your friends. You are going to leave and never step foot in this establishment again. Have I made myself perfectly clear?”

Helen was breathing like a freight train. Her shaking hands gripped her Berkin against her diaphragm. “Perfectly.”

Rowan stayed standing a beat longer, making sure Helen made her way to the exit. She did. She turned to Hugh, who still looked shell-shocked. She took one of his hands into her own. “Do you care what Helen thinks of you or what I think?”

Hugh blinked several times, clearly coming out of his stasis. He moved their hands to his lips and kissed her fingers. “Only you.”

“Then let’s enjoy our lunch. Your mom knew I was going to get here early so I could surprise you. Surprise,” Rowan added, grinning as she moved Helen’s abandoned chair next to Hugh’s before she sat down.

Matilda chuckled. “If only someone had gotten that whole…that spectacle on video. Tina and I would have watched it on repeat for months. Too bad you didn’t have Rowan back when you had to deal with recalcitrant business partners.”

“She is a force,” Hugh agreed. He looked at Rowan then with an intensity that she felt from her head to her toes.

Matilda excused herself from the table to use the restroom. “Order some food, Hugh. I’m starving after all that.” As Matilda passed Rowan, she leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Thank you for loving my son.”

Once Rowan swallowed her emotional response, she forced herself to turn and face Hugh. “Are you angry?”

“What?” Hugh truly looked confused.

“I was mean. I’m normally never mean. It’s just…I don’t know, when your mom texted me not to come, that Helen was here and she was saying not nice things—I lost it, I guess.”

“Because I’m yours?”

“You are.”

“The fact that you stood up for me, protected my feelings—Christ, Row, I’ll never forget that moment.” Hugh pulled her chair until it sat flush with his. He grasped her jaw and, uncaring that they were in the middle of his pub, took her mouth in a kiss that left them breathless and wishing they were alone.

Smiling against his mouth, Rowan asked, “Do you know that I’m wearing the same thing under this dress that I wore when we first met?” Hugh’s eyes widened in comprehension.

His hand instantly dropped to her knee, sliding her dress upwards. Rowan placed her hand over his wandering one even though she wanted nothing more than to allow his fingers to finish their journey. “Your mother is on her way back.”

“Tonight,” He grumbled against her mouth.

“Talk first,” Rowan reminded.

“Fine.”

She grinned at his martyred tone.

Hugh walkedMom and Rowan to his mother’s door. After Mom stepped inside, Rowan told Hugh, “I’ll come to your place in just a bit. I need to go over some stuff with your mom and change.

He pulled her close to his chest and fisted his hand in her hair to angle her face toward him. “Don’t change. The first day we met, you left me aching when I found out you were bare under a pretty yellow dress. Not this time,” he whispered in her ear.

Grinning, she agreed. “I won’t change.”

Hugh stuck his head in the door and hollered goodbye to his mother. “Don’t be long,” he said to Rowan as he walked away.

He let himself into his place. His mind felt chaotic. They were so close to a resolution. So close to being…together. It had seemed impossible for so long, but now that it was in front of him, Hugh felt uneasy. He could still screw this all to hell. Say the wrong thing. Push Rowan away with his…personality. He knew he infuriated most people. Even his children.

She might come to think he was too much work. But then, he had been better. Rowan made him smile. Hell, she made him laugh. Bran and Patrick wouldn’t even recognize their father. He went to the bar and poured a drink, contemplating the honey amber color.

He pounded a fist on the bar top. “I will get this right,” he promised himself.

He called Bran, taking a chance that Pat would be close by. Normally, he would have something to discuss with one or both of them, but tonight, he realized he just needed the familiarity of their voices. Once he and Rowan talked some things through tonight, he planned on getting some long-term promises out of her.

“Hey, Dad,” Bran answered. “What’s up? You want on speaker? Pat and the girls are here. We just got back from having dinner with Dom.”

He hesitated. Shit. He had wanted a moment with his sons, but that was selfish. He enjoyed listening to the banter between them and their wives too. “I—” He took too long to reply. Bran noticed and cut him off.

In a quieter voice, Bran asked, “Should I step out of the room?”

Hugh sighed. He was really doing a shit job of this conversation so far. “No, put me on speaker. It’s fine. I had a few minutes and thought I’d check in.” Bran was silent for moment like, he didn’t quite believe the excuse for calling but was not willing to push. Hugh appreciated the restraint.

“You’re on speaker now. Hey Pat, come here. Dad’s on the phone. Hopefully, he isn’t going to discuss his recent sexcapades.”

Bran laughed, knowing it would irritate him. It had. The reason he’d been missing the boys currently escaped him. Hugh went to his bedroom and changed into a t-shirt and shorts.

“Hey, Dad. When are you coming home?” Patrick asked. “I’m dying for you to look over the preliminary drawings that the architect and Tim have been working on. Very preliminary, but Bran and I think they have promise.”

“Email what you have. I’ll look over them tomorrow. I’m not sure when I’ll be back in Dublin.

“How’ve you been, Hugh?” Raven asked.

“Fine.” Talk to one, talk to them all, he thought, shaking his head.

“Is Row with you?” River asked.

“No.” River’s voice sounded smug. Hugh did not kid himself into thinking Rowan didn’t share what had been happening between them. She probably shared more than Hugh was comfortable with, but he also knew it was a package deal when involved with a Byrne. He’d heard the boys complain more than once that the girls discussed their sex lives with each other. Surely, they didn’t discuss everything.

Hugh felt his cheeks flush. Damn, that would be awkward since Raven and River were his daughters-in-law.

Christ. This family…“How’s Daniel?”

“Oh my, Hugh. You won’t believe how big he’s getting. He’s already down for the night, or I’d let him talk to Grandpa O. I swear he’s almost ready for his first haircut too,” Raven gushed.

She was an amazing wife, but an even more amazing mother. “Grandpa O?” Since the whole family used O equally for O’Faolain and orgasm, he wasn’t sure he could hear Grandpa O come out of his grandson’s mouth without cringing.

“Bran and I are trying it on for size. What do you think?”

If he’d been having this conversation with River, he would understand she was being ornery. However, this was Raven. “I’d prefer Papa or Pop if you wouldn’t mind. It’s what I called my grandfathers.”

“Oh, Hugh, I love it. River, which do you prefer, because our kids will both need to use the same name.”

“Papa. Definitely.”

“That’s settled.” Raven laughed in delight.

“Fine.” He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but he was thrilled. He loved seeing his children having children, and he loved that he would get to see them grow up. He would really love hearing them call him Papa.

Bran and Patrick were discussing what the kids would call their uncles when someone knocked on his front door. He swore his muscles swelled. He opened the door to see the most craveable woman alive standing in the hall. Still wearing the yellow dress.

He forgot he was on the phone, letting it drop by his side. As Rowan walked beside him, River decided to ask, “So, what does Rowan call you?” Hugh could have done without the sexual innuendo. He looked toward Rowan who was pouring Glenmorangie 18 into a lowball glass. Her shoulders were shaking, amused at her sister’s antics.

Hugh stood opposite her at the bar. She smiled, her dimples so damn sexy he forgot again about the phone in his hand until she reached over and took it.

“I call him Daddy but only when I’ve been naughty.”

As Rowan ended the call, he heard his sons cussing about their wives being disgusting. “Daddy, huh?” Her laughter made him grin.

“Bran and Patrick are so easy to rile up. Seriously, they’re both prudes at heart,” she admitted, grinning.

They stood another moment just watching the other. “My grandpa name is Papa. The motion was put forward and seconded.”

Rowan smiled sweetly at the news. “It suits you. You’ll be the best Papa ever born.”

Her smile turned pensive before smoothing itself out. This was it then. They were going to talk, and she was going to accept him or not.

“You made it clear to me, on more than one occasion, that we weren’t ever going to date. So, when I started seeing William, I was free to do so. Why did you react the way you did when he called? I had made up my mind to end things. You didn’t trust me.”

This wasa conversation that Hugh had clearly been dreading, but trust was everything in a relationship, and he hadn’t trusted her to be honorable.

Hugh placed his hands flat on the bar and took a deep breath. She knew he hated getting this open with his feelings and she wanted desperately to lay her hands on top of his and tell him he didn’t need to talk about it. However, that wouldn’t serve either of them well.

“I’ve never been jealous. Ever. I have mutually satisfying hookups. Jesus,” he groaned, “I sound like Patrick. Anyway, my point is that I never think of a woman beyond that moment. I haven’t touched another woman since the day we met because I considered you mine. When a man would talk or touch you…a woman that I had claimed in my mind…Jesus, this is embarrassing.”

“It isn’t embarrassing at all. Listen, Hugh. If another woman touched you…if you allowed a woman to touch you when I couldn’t, I would have wanted to destroy her. I get where you’re coming from. I’ve loved you for so long and wanted you longer, but you refused to commit. I wasalwayscommitted. You knew I’d be yours if you had wanted it.

“You know why I agreed to date Will. I’ve explained my reasons already, but when you got to Oklahoma this time and admitted that you loved me—I knew there would never be room in my life for another. Why didn’t you trust me with William?”

Hugh pinched the bridge of his nose as if he had a headache. He certainly ached. “Helen cheated on me. She enjoyed making me watch her flirt and flaunt her body for my friends and peers at the Club. I didn’t love her, but it did make me feel...feel, I don’t know...less of a man. It was what she wanted. She wanted me to feel like an uncouth giant. Not a man with a smooth tongue and manners.

“When she was feeling particularly vicious, she would take one of the men and screw him in a back room at the Club, knowing I knew and the man’s wife as well. She managed to make me feel like I wasn’t good enough, and I hated her, but I hated myself more for allowing her that power over me.

“I pretended indifference. I learned to swallow the humiliation and the hate for my…for Helen.”

“I’m sorry that you had to go through that.” Rowan was frantically blinking. She didn’t want to cry and interrupt Hugh, who was sharing his deepest traumas.

“William was one of them. We were in our twenties and just taking over our family businesses. We were brash and didn’t care fuckall if we hurt someone’s feelings. Everyone knew Helen was lose with her favors. It appeared to our group that I didn’t care what she did. I don’t believe William ever slept with her. I had the feeling it was just for show, on his part, at least. I think he truly loved his wife, Katy.

“When I found out you were seeing each other…Christ, Row, I know my reaction was terrible. I know I was out of line, but it was you, Rowan. You. It took me back, and I’m ashamed that I embarrassed you. I’m drowning here, Row. I need an absolute commitment from you. I need the words to feel secure.”

“What words do you need besides I love you?”

“I want you with me always. I want us to live together. Here in Oklahoma and in Ireland. Wherever we find ourselves, I want it to be you and me.”

“Will you acknowledge our relationship? To any and every one we’re around? Will you call me your girlfriend?”

“No. I’ll call you mine. My everything.”

“What words then, besides I love you, do you need?” she asked again.

“Forever.”

“Forever then.” Rowan could feel tears spring to her eyes again.

She walked around the counter where she could take his hands in her own. “I’m glad that’s settled, babe.” She couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. Giddy didn’t begin to encompass the joy flooding her body. Rowan climbed up on the tall barstools, swiveling the seat so that she could grab Hugh’s hands and pull him between her legs.

“I vow to never give you any reason to doubt my commitment to you. Do you accept?”

“Yes. God yes, Row. I vow the same to you. I will never give you any reason to doubt me, either. Ever.”

“Good, because I wasn’t going to let you run again. I would chase you to the ends of the earth if I needed to. When you look at me like you are now…” Rowan shook her head, unsure how to describe Hugh’s strength, the thrill she felt when he looked at her with his grave, dark eyes.

“What do you see?”

“I see a wolf in wolf’s clothing,” she smiled, hooking one foot around his calf. “What do you see?”

Grinning, he leaned down so his eyes were in line with her own. “Dinner.”