Chapter 4
Chapter Four
~CAMERON~
S he wasn’t wrong. At around two in the morning, I had to move us to the bedroom because my legs were, indeed, asleep. But she was resting so peacefully, I didn’t want to wake her. After we settled on the bed, she curled around me, laid her head on my shoulder again, and never even realized that we’d moved.
I hadn’t lied when I told her that I’d had the best night of my life. Nothing beats spending time with Maggie. Making her laugh, having a conversation, and watching her eyes light up as she watched the show was an absolute delight.
When I’m with her, everything in me settles as if she’s my safe place. And after being in a lot of sticky situations all over the globe during my time in the Army and even part of my civilian job, it’s the best feeling in the world to be here with her.
It’s all I’ve wanted for what feels like years, and I’m finally here.
It’s a good thing I’m a patient man.
Maggie sighs and then turns away from me, snuggling down into her pillow.
The girl can sleep. I check the time and just about swallow my tongue.
It’s eight in the damn morning.
I don’t remember the last time I slept this late. But we were up well past midnight, and despite having a gorgeous woman draped over me, I didn’t sleep well. I just wanted to enjoy her. God knows if she’ll have a change of heart later, and I never end up here again.
That would be my damn luck.
I move up behind her and kiss the back of her head. Maggie sighs again and then whispers, “Time is it?”
“Eight.”
“Early.”
I laugh and kiss her again. “That’s pretty late for me.”
Maggie wiggles onto her back, rests her hand on my arm where it lays across her belly, and blinks up at me with sleepy eyes. “I usually work until almost three, so I sleep until around eleven. My internal clock is just set that way.”
“Makes sense.” I kiss her forehead. “Go back to sleep.”
“No, it’s okay.” She sighs and then frowns. “How did we end up on the bed? Didn’t I fall asleep in your lap?”
“I carried you in here.”
“You carried me?” She grins and then laughs. “Like, in a romance novel?”
“I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Hmm. Well, I’m awake now.” Her green eyes flicker down to my lips and then back up to mine. “How did you sleep?”
I don’t answer her. Instead, I lean in and kiss her. I like to tease her lips, brush them softly and elicit light moans from her throat. Her hand drifts up my arm and then dives into my hair as I sink into her, consumed by her sweet sleepiness and soft skin. And when she presses her hips against me and loops a leg over mine, I know there’s no turning back.
“Cam,” she whispers when I push her onto her back and bury my face in her neck. Fuck me, I love the sound of my name on her lips. The way she grips me as if she’s searching for a lifeline.
But just as I slip my hand under her shirt, the doorbell rings.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Maggie growls and pushes her hand through her hair. “If I ignore it, and it’s one of my siblings, they’ll just come inside to look for me.”
I quickly kiss her and then pull away. “You’d better find out who it is, then.”
“I’m going to disown them,” she mutters as she pushes her hair out of her face and stomps across the room. “After I slash all their tires.”
As she leaves the room, my phone pings with a text.
It seems this morning won’t be the first time I make love to Mary Margaret.
Kane : Good morning. I could use some help in my barn. Do you have a few extra minutes?
I’m shocked that he’s using his cell. Kane’s notorious for ignoring all technology for weeks at a time.
Me : I can be there in about thirty.
Kane : Great, thanks.
I hear voices as I put my shoes on, and when I walk into the kitchen, Maeve is stirring a mug of coffee and turns her green gaze to me. She raises an eyebrow.
“Good morning.” I smile at her, then kiss Maggie’s temple as I brush by her to pour some coffee. “How’s it going, Maeve?”
“Uh, good. Fine. Good.” I glance up and see her mouthing , “Did you sleep with him?” to Maggie and grin.
“No, you interrupted that.”
Maeve flushes, and Maggie laughs as I take my first sip of coffee.
“How’s Hunter?” I ask.
“He’s fine. He and Rachel went for a run on the beach, so I thought I’d come over here for a bit. But if you’re busy, I can go.”
“It’s okay.” I reach out and squeeze Maggie’s hand. “Kane texted and asked if I could come help him in his barn for a few, so I’ll head over there.”
“I guess this turned into a busy day,” Maggie replies and takes my mug from my hand, sipping. “I work tonight.”
“I’ll drop in and see you. Have some dinner.”
She passes the mug back to me. I drain it and then set it in the sink.
Before I leave the room, I tug Maggie to me and kiss her sweet lips. “Have a good day.”
“Yeah, you, too.”
I wink at Maeve, who grins like a Cheshire cat, and then show myself out.
I’d say that was a damn successful first date.
“You want me to move that?” I stare at Kane as if he just suggested I make one of the glass pieces he’s renowned for.
“I’ll help,” he says calmly. “It’s not as heavy as it looks. You take that side. I just want it over by the wall there.”
“Why are we moving it at all?”
“Because I got a new one. It’s being delivered tomorrow.”
“Why can’t they haul the old one away when they deliver the new one?”
Kane scowls at me. “Are you going to whine like a baby or help me?”
“Fine.” We squat by what looks like a big black bowl, and with some grunting and pure stubborn will, we manage to get it moved over to the place Kane specified. “You’re a fucking liar. That thing is heavy as fuck.”
“If I’d told you that, you wouldn’t have helped me.” He wipes some sweat off his brow and throws me a bottle of water. “Let’s go into town and get lunch. You look like shit.”
“I didn’t get much sleep,” I admit.
“Didn’t you take Maggie out last night?”
“I did.”
Kane’s eyes narrow menacingly. “I don’t want to know about your sexcapades with my wee sister, mate.”
I laugh and follow Kane out of the barn. “Trust me, it’s not because of that. Come on, you can buy me a BLT at the diner in exchange for moving that heavy bastard.”
“Done.”
We walk straight to the car and, a few minutes later, pull up in front of the diner. It’s too early for the lunch crowd, so we’re escorted to a table right away.
“How did the date go?” Kane asks after we order our food.
“It was great. We had fun.”
I sit back and don’t elaborate, and Kane doesn’t ask more.
“Good.”
“How’s work been going?” I ask him. “Do you have any big shows coming up? Besides at the museum.”
Kane has an entire museum in Seattle dedicated to him and his glass art, and his work is on display all over the world. Royalty and presidents proudly display his pieces.
I’m damn proud of him.
“I’ve been asked to do a show in New York and London early next year,” he says and rubs his hand over his mouth. “But with a new baby and everything else going on with the family, I haven’t decided if I’ll do it.”
“You have literally an army of people here to help,” I remind him. “Stasia won’t be alone with the baby. In fact, I’m quite sure that your mother—or hers—would come and stay with her if need be. Or you can take them with you.”
“It’s a lot of work,” he admits softly. “They want fifty-six new pieces for the show, all done by March. I’m not a glass factory, and I have a new exhibit that we’re putting together at the museum. That’s almost a hundred pieces in the next six months. It’s not possible if I want to keep my sanity and enjoy my family.”
“That sounds like a shit ton,” I agree with a nod. “Tell them that it’ll be a small exhibit for New York and London. Fifteen pieces, and that’s it. Jesus, you’re the artist here, Kane. You should have creative control of this stuff.”
“You’re right,” he replies. “Anastasia said the same thing. I don’t know why I suddenly feel like I need to please everyone. I’ve never been like that before.”
“You always said that when the glassblowing wasn’t fun anymore, you’d stop doing it.”
“I’ll never stop,” he says, his voice hard. “It’s in my blood. Part of my DNA. I’ll die while making glass.”
“Just like I’ll likely die at a computer.” We pause while the server delivers our food, and I break off a piece of bacon, popping it into my mouth. “But you don’t always have to do it for a living. Christ, you have more money than you can possibly spend.”
“I don’t do it for the money, you know that.”
“I know it. That’s why I’m saying that. Don’t let anyone bully you into a certain number of pieces. The museum is your baby, and it’s important to you and your family. Your legacy. Fulfill that obligation first and then work on other exhibits if you want.”
“That is exactly what I need to do,” he agrees. “Stasia’s been craving a trip to the coast. We haven’t been down there since before the baby was born, so maybe we just need a few days away.”
“You live on the water, and you’re planning to vacation at the coast?”
“We like it,” he says with a shrug. “If I thought we could get away for longer, we’d escape to Ireland.”
“Now that I understand.”
I’ve only been to Galway, Ireland a few times with the O’Callaghan family, but it’s safe to say it’s as close to heaven as I’ve ever been, with the greenest hills I’ve ever seen, and that coastline alive with temper. I could spend weeks there and not see everything.
“You should spend more time there,” Kane suggests. “It’s a lovely place to recharge, and that’s the truth of it.”
“I have work, and everyone is here. But the next time we all go over as a family, I might take extra time to explore a bit.”
“Good idea. I heard from the private investigator.”
My gaze whips up and finds Kane watching me. “And?”
“He didn’t have much more information than before,” my friend replies. “It was a quarterly check-in.”
After Maggie’s husband died, and the family discovered all of Joey’s secrets, Kane hired an investigator. He’s turned up very little information that Maggie and the others didn’t already know.
Because there’s nothing to find unless you’re a government operative.
I know everything. Every detail.
And I’m not allowed to say a word to the people I love the most.
It’s been the worst torture of my life.
“Here’s your stew, some bread, and save some room for dessert.” Maggie winks as she sets my food in front of me. “I made some cobbler. No, it’s not Irish, but it sounded good today.”
“You can go ahead and save me some.”
She smiles brightly and then loads her tray with the drinks Keegan set out for her before setting off to deliver orders to her tables.
I’ve been doing this for years, coming into the pub to have a beer and some dinner—and watch Maggie as she weaves and shimmies through the tables and stops to sing with the band. There’s nothing like Mary Margaret’s voice filling the room.
I chat with the other regulars and enjoy banter with Maggie’s siblings.
But it’s Maggie that keeps me coming in so often. Always has been.
She lights up a room.
I notice a table of college-aged kids in the corner booth, laughing and joking with Maggie as she takes their orders. She asks for their IDs. Everyone must pass muster because she doesn’t throw anyone out.
When she returns to the bar to place her order, Keegan leans over to talk to her.
“They look a little rowdy over there.”
“Loud but harmless,” Maggie confirms. “I’ll keep them in line. But there’s another table there in the middle.”
She jerks her head in the general direction but doesn’t point so she doesn’t get too much attention from other customers.
“The one with the redhead?” I ask her.
“Yes, that one. She came in here alone and ordered a soda and dinner. That guy sitting with her just plopped himself down. I don’t think she’s comfortable with it.”
“She’s smiling,” Keegan points out.
“It’s forced,” I reply, watching the couple in question. The dude puts his hand on her arm, and she pulls away, then says something and walks up to the bar between Maggie and me.
“Excuse me,” she says to Keegan, and the man from the table walks up right behind her, listening. She frowns. “May I please have an angel shot?”
“You got it, lass.” Keegan smiles and winks at her. “I’ve got you covered.”
“She needs a beer,” the asshole announces. “Not a shot.”
“I’m talking with the lady,” Keegan replies, then looks at the woman. “Do you want extra lime with that, lass?”
“Yes. Yes, please.”
Keegan nods and then meets my eyes. Maggie immediately walks into the kitchen to fetch Shawn, and I glance up as Hunter joins us, as well.
Operation angel shot has begun.
“Sir, I’m going to ask you to leave the lady alone,” Keegan says.
“What the hell are you talking about?” he retorts angrily. “I’m her date.”
She shakes her head slightly, and I pat her shoulder with reassurance.
“Let’s go outside for some fresh air,” Hunter suggests as Shawn joins us. “You’re pretty drunk, man. You need to clear your head.”
“Fuck that. This is a bar, isn’t it? I’m here to drink and take this honey home for some fun, if you know what I’m saying.”
Before she can reply, I grab one arm, and Hunter grabs the other as Shawn walks ahead of us to get the door. The asshole flails about, and when we toss him onto the sidewalk, he jumps up and punches me in the gut.
I see red, then come up with my elbow and clip him in the jaw, pinning him against the wall before getting in his face.
“She said no , asshole,” I growl at him. “Now, you can leave on your own, or we can call the cops.”
“Fuck you. What do you care about that stupid cunt? Give me ten minutes with her, and she won’t be saying no for long.”
“Motherfucker,” Hunter says, pacing behind me. “Call them.”
“Already on it,” I hear Shawn say.
“I bet we’ll find date rape drugs in your pocket, won’t we?”
“Fuck you,” he says again as sirens wail in the distance. “Jesus, what the hell? We were just having some fun.”
“No. You weren’t.”
Within minutes, the cops arrive. After talking with the woman and us and finding the drugs I suspected were there, they arrest the asshole and haul him away.
“How did she know about the angel shot?” I ask as I sit on my stool once more. Not everyone knows that if they ask the bartender for an angel shot , it’s code for a jerk is harassing me, and I don’t feel safe.
“Maggie had the flier printed and hung in the bathroom,” Keegan says. “We’ve had one too many girls getting harassed by drunk pricks who don’t know how to take no for an answer.”
“I hate guys like that,” Maggie says with a scowl and then turns her head when she hears the rowdy college crowd let out some hoots and cheers. “I’ll take those kids over that any day.”
She leaves to check on the table in question, and I turn back to Keegan as Hunter sits next to me. “I don’t like how often we have issues in here.”
“It’s part of running an establishment that serves alcohol,” he says reasonably. “And it doesn’t happen nearly as often as it does in the city. Most people just want a pint or two, some food for their bellies, and then they’re on their way.”
But I remember the night that Maggie got punched in the face, and it makes my stomach harden with ice.
Hunter sips his beer and glances over at me. “We love our girls, and we don’t want them working where they might get hurt.”
“Yeah.” I take a drink of my brew. “That about sums it up.”
“Maeve was attacked in one of the homes she was showing,” he says. “It’s not always just because of the pub or the alcohol. People just suck, Cam. But we’ll do everything we can to make sure they’re safe.”
I turn and watch Maggie and Maeve hop up onto the stage to sing. Their pretty voices fill the air in perfect harmony.
“You’ve got that right.”
My gaze flickers over to the redhead who’d ordered the angel shot. She’s finished eating and is watching the sisters sing.
I know who she is. I know exactly who she is. But I can’t tell Maggie or any of the others about her. All I can do is keep my eye on her.
I’ll be damned if she’ll hurt anyone I love.