Chapter 30
It was time to go home, and…Hugh was definitely avoiding her.
That morning when she woke, he was already gone from her bed. A quick glance around the room showed his bags were gone, too. Becky came early to get in one more massage treatment and stretching. Except for several scabs and bruising on her shins and a bandage around her left wrist, she felt back to normal.
She got dressed and Becky helped pack her things. Everyone was gathered in the facilities open living room. She spotted Hugh, whose eyes were trained on her the moment she stepped through her door. She started in his direction but was intercepted by Jo and her sisters who surrounded her.
Raven handed Daniel to Jo. She moved Rowan further away from everyone, obviously wanting a private moment, and hugged her sister tight, whispering, “We’re going home, Row. There was one point that I lost faith I’d ever see you again,” she whispered softly against her neck. “I didn’t even tell Bran or River, but I wondered…I wondered if I might not see you again. In this life,” she sniffed quietly. “I wondered how I’d make it without you. I’m so glad I didn’t have to find out.”
River, who was hugging her baby bump into Rowan’s other side, must have heard what Raven said.
“We would have gone on, Rave, even without Rowan. We’re Byrnes, after all, but I would have missed you every moment of every day had we not found you.” She briefly touched her cheek before smiling at Raven and her. “I would have confiscated all your clothes and put them in my closet. I couldn’t let your lovely wardrobe go to waste. Oh,” she grinned, pinching Rowan’s side, “I also would have told Raven you lost your virginity in college and didn’t tell us.”
Raven gasped, and Rowan choked on an inhalation. She and Raven surely wore identical looks of horror. “What the hell, Riv? You total and complete bitch,” Rowan hissed. Trying to keep any unwanted attention off their conversation.
“You had sex and didn’t tell me?” Raven asked through gritted teeth.
“How in the hell did you find out? I didn’t tell anyone!”
“You told Nan, and I listened in on the conversation,” River admitted, completely remorseless.
“You listened to one of my private conversations? Are you flipping kidding me?” Rowan ground out, using her hip at the same time to bump her sister off her. “That was a dick move, Riv.”
River only shrugged. “You were acting weird, and I thought it was more than Mom and Dad. When I heard you crying on the phone, I listened. Nan straightened your ass up, and you weren’t sulky anymore, so I never said anything.”
“Rowan, I can’t believe you didn’t tell us, and River, that was a total dick move,” Raven finished, shaking her head in exasperation.
“I would have regrets, but now Rowan can regale us on the plane about her first time in all its romantic detail,” she smirked before her face turned serious. “Gross college sex stories are still way better than kidnapping stories,” she finished quietly, blinking back tears.
Rowan realized that River only brought up the embarrassing story to lighten the mood. They were all deeply affected by what had happened to Rowan, and the relief of being together continued to wash over them. Instead of changing the subject like a normal person, River chose the ‘go big or go home’ route.
“It was one time. One gross mistake.” Rowan smirked at her sisters, willing to go along with River’s segue. “Hugh knows the whole story.” She dragged out ‘whole’ just to rub it in their faces that they didn’t know everything about their little sister.
The O’Faolain men had moved closer to the sisters while they chatted, probably concerned when they saw tears. O’Faolains disliked Byrne tears. When her sisters looked at Hugh with angry scowls he froze, then scowled back.
Rowan laughed at her sisters before walking to where Jo stood, cooing at Daniel in her arms and speaking with Katy. “You’re going to Tulsa for a while, Jo?” she asked. Her good friend was continuing to be evasive about what had happened between her and Thomas.
She knew from her family what an integral role Thomas and his team played in figuring out who was behind the abduction. She couldn’t wait to give the giant Scotsman a hug and then punch him in the balls, because there was no way Jo would have walked away from him without a good reason.
“I am,” Jo said, handing Daniel back to his mom. “Dad has some project he wants James and me to work on together. Jane quit her marketing job and started her own small company. This will be the first time James and I will be working with his wife on a project. I’m looking forward to the fireworks. You know how dramatic my brother can be,” she laughed and rolled her eyes.
Jo and her brother James loved and fought each other with equal enthusiasm. Rowan gave Jo a swift hug, not wanting to get emotional before they went their separate ways, but also not wanting to let her off the hook. Jo had been a next-level dodger during Rowan’s ordeal, managing to change the subject with ninja skills when MacGregor’s name was mentioned.
“Your time of subterfuge, Josephine O’Connor, ends sooner rather than later. I don’t care what “special” job your father has in store for you. You’ll tell me what in the hell is going on, or my sisters and I will make a trip to Scotland and find out for ourselves. The choice is yours. I’m giving you three weeks to spill your guts. I won’t play nice or fair after that.” Rowan looked deep into her friend’s eyes. “Your final warning.”
Jo blew out a frustrated breath at being cornered. Yeah, Rowan could understand the pain...hello...Raven and River.
“Fine. I love you.”
“Three weeks or sooner,” Rowan reiterated. Jo huffed in exasperation but hugged her again before giving everyone in the room a wave goodbye and walking out to catch her Uber to the airport.
That only left Ms. Katy Blake—Mrs. Katy Stanton if Will could win her back—the woman who was handcuffed in a basement beside her for days.
Rowan kissed Katy on the cheek and hugged her tight. William was hovering close by, his eyes never leaving his ex-wife. She whispered in Katy’s ear, “Looks like WS might not be as big of a DB as we believed.”
Katy pulled back, her eyes bright with laughter and grinning. “Perhaps,” she admitted mischievously.
They took one another’s hands, holding them between their bodies. “So, one more day here for you?” Katy’s legs had swollen more than Rowan’s, causing her to have more uncomfortable scabbing.
“Yes. We’ll fly to Houston tomorrow morning. The kids and Owen are leaving this morning. Samantha misses her daddy.”
Matilda and Diana had flown home yesterday afternoon. Both women planned on traveling to Dublin for the birth of River and Patrick’s baby in October and staying through Thanksgiving.
“I imagine her daddy misses her more.”
“Definitely. Grandma misses her, too,” she added, speaking of herself.
“You’re still coming to Dublin for Thanksgiving?” Rowan asked.
“I wouldn’t miss it. Everyone is excited. The kids and I can’t wait to see the new O’Faolain distillery. Bran and Patrick showed us all sorts of pictures and plans. I imagine in the three months until Thanksgiving, there will be a bunch of changes.” She hugged her one more time. “You better get going, Row. Call me. Anytime,” she added.
“Same goes for you. We’ll all expect updates,” she teased, raising her eyebrows several times.
Hugh was still avoiding her as the family left the facility.
So now, here they were, loaded in SUVs. No hug. No kiss. Only his trademark scowl to send her on her way. Yes, they were going to the same place, but...well, damn it, she wanted to be chatting with her man about what they would be doing once they were home like her sisters and their husbands were.
Perhaps she was being too sensitive. Just because Hugh was demonstrative when they were alone didn’t mean he would be the same in public, except in this case, the public was her sisters and his sons.
Why are you avoiding me?
Rowan was forced to text Hugh since he wasn’t currently in the same vehicle with her. She was in the SUV packed with her family on the way to the airport. He was in another smaller SUV with everyone’s luggage.
Bobby, the O’Faolain pilot, was waiting for them. They were flying to Dublin today after spending two days at the rehabilitation facility. She’d been given the option of returning to Tulsa, but really, other than a wish to visit Hugh’s Muskogee property, returning to Oklahoma held little appeal.
She’d spoken to Angela, who’d left several lovely messages throughout her ordeal after Jeffreys brought her phone to the hospital. She’d gotten emotional reading the heartfelt messages from her boutique client. She’d responded that she was doing very well but needed some time with all of her family in Dublin. Angela was completely understanding and promised to send her updates. She even remembered to send ‘after’ pictures of the shop so River could put the makeover on their website.
She felt good. Not a hundred percent, but close. She and Hugh had made quite a dent in his condom stash and still managed to talk for hours. They spoke about the new distillery. He couldn’t wait for her to see the place. Raven and River had sent her some of the initial design concepts. She couldn’t wait to start on that project.
They spoke about her painting. He thought she should pursue it as a career. She didn’t. Her favorite color was pale yellow. He knew that. His favorite color was black. She knew that. They told each other about bucket list vacations. Traveling Norway was the united winner.
They spoke of children. She wanted one. He was…vague.
He was attentive and loving at night. He was aloof and distant during the day. She barely saw him between the hours of seven in the morning to eight or nine in the evening. He never left the facility, he just wasn’t…there. He would stand across the room from her, have conversations with his family, her sisters, or William and Owen Stanton. He would stand like a brooding fallen angel for hours, never coming close enough to touch.
Rowan had tried to tell herself all day yesterday that he was giving her time with her sisters, Jo, Katy, and Matilda—that it wasn’t personal…that there was nothing to be concerned about. After all, he came to her room the minute it was time for bed, spending the night giving her multiple orgasms and whispering promises of love.
A week and a half ago, he’d told her that he wanted them to live together. He hadn’t mentioned it since. She told herself that he assumed it was a given and wasn’t bringing it up again because the conversation would be redundant. But now…the distance he was putting between them—suspect.
He was texting her back. She anxiously watched the bubbles wave across the screen.
I’m not.
Ahh…Sherefused to take the bait. He could try to hide his feelings from her. It wouldn’t do him any good.
I love you.
She grinned when she hit send. Take that, Hugh the Resistant.
I love you more.
Exactly. She knew he could never not say it back. Now to make him regret even attempting to give her the cold shoulder.
If we were the only ones on the plane, would you let me jack you off under a blanket if I promised to not be obvious? The point is moot, of course. Just curious.
Rowan.
What if you held me in your lap? And we were naked from the waist down?
Christ. Stop. The driver will think I really like him.
Switching gears while he was warmed up, she went for the throat.
Are you embarrassed for our families to see us together? As a couple?
His reply was immediate.
I could never be embarrassed of you.
Then???
Bubbles waved off and on for several minutes. Starting and stopping again. What was he really struggling with?
Then finally.
I’m not embarrassed. Of you.
Her heart squeezed at that. Was he embarrassed at dating a younger woman? Still? What were all his declarations back in Tulsa about then? She started and erased several replies. Her sisters, at one point, gave her side-eye. She smiled and pretended she wasn’t picturing ways of murdering Hugh.
I see.
She didn’t really, but she would try since she loved him desperately—even if he could drive a sane woman crazy.
Do you?
She could almost feel his irritation through text. That made her smile. He may be quite a few years her senior, and she may be quite na?ve about men, but he had a lot to learn about being in a relationship.
???
Hugh’s impatience was showing. She grinned. He wouldn’t like the truth bomb she was about to send his way, but he would have to get over his hangups for them to truly be happy—and they would be happy. Rowan wanted him to figure his shit out. Now. A swift kick in the butt was called for.
You need space from me. You aren’t ready to be with me. You need time to decide if you’re all in…I guess I need time, too, to decide if dealing with your mantrums is worth my time as well. PS. I’m turning my phone off.