Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
~MAGGIE~
“ W hat song?” Kane asks, and I turn to find everyone quiet and staring at me. Even Maeve and Stasia, who just walked back into the room.
“Oh, uh. Well, it’s a long story.”
“And we have all evening,” Da says with a small smile. “What’s going on, then?”
Cameron squeezes my shoulders, and I pull myself out of his lap, clearing my throat.
“So, I’ve been recording short songs and posting them on social media. It started as a little hobby because I like to sing, and the acoustics in my bathroom are pretty great. Anyway, in less than a year, I’ve grown to just over three million followers.”
“What?” Maeve demands, reaching for her phone. “Mary Margaret, why didn’t you tell us?”
“It’s just a little?—”
“Hobby,” Shawn finishes and crosses his arms over his chest.
“Right. Anyway, Cam accidentally found out about it, and then he called Leo and surprised me with a recording day in the studio with Nash.”
“This is incredible ,” Stasia says and dances a little jig. “Leo’s the best. And you’re the best. Let’s listen to the song.”
“Wait, you guys know Leo Nash?” Brian asks Rachel. “That’s, like, really cool.”
I swallow hard and look over at Cameron.
“Share it with them. It’s beautiful.”
“You’ve heard it?” Lexi asks.
“Just the rough cut,” I explain. “But it’s been remastered now. This is the final version. For the album—and the radio.”
“The freaking radio ?” Izzy demands. “They’re releasing the single?”
“Yes. I think it’s going to be the first single off the album.”
“This is the coolest thing ever ,” Rachel says, bouncing in her seat. “Play it.”
“We have to hear it,” Maeve agrees. “Now. I’m dying here.”
“Okay.” Butterflies invade my stomach as I open my email.
“Wait,” Hunter says, holding up a hand. “Not there. We need to listen to this the right way. We can tether your phone to my sound system.”
“Excellent idea,” Cam says and reaches for my cell. Within seconds, the two men have it connected through Bluetooth to the speakers that are all over the house. “Ready?”
“Oh, God, I’m going to hyperventilate,” I mutter and wipe my hand down my face. “Okay. Hit play.”
Cam kisses my forehead and leans over to whisper in my ear. “Don’t worry, it’s fantastic. They’re already so proud of you.”
With the tap of Cam’s thumb on my phone screen, the room fills with music. Piano, followed by the addition of guitar, and then Leo’s voice.
I join him at the chorus, and everyone around me smiles widely. The song builds through the second chorus, just me, and then the bridge.
It’s such a beautiful song, and Leo was right. It’s fantastic.
“Again,” Da says when it ends, and Cam presses play once more. Halfway through, Maeve and Shawn are singing along, and by the end of it, I’m swept up in hugs and love, and we’re back to celebrating again.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” Maeve says.
“I’ve been a little busy,” I remind her. “It’s good, isn’t it?”
“I’m going to give you a very honest opinion,” Hunter says, his face completely sober. Oh, no. My stomach falls to my feet. But then, he grins. “It’s freaking amazing . It’s going to be a hit. I guarantee it.”
“Tell them the rest,” Cam urges.
“There’s more?” Kane asks.
“Well, nothing set in stone. Leo just mentioned that maybe, if I’m interested, I could work as a backup singer for them on their next tour.”
Again, silence fills the room.
“You’re kidding,” Shawn says at last.
“No, but again, it’s just an idea. And only if I want to. It’s a long way off, anyway.”
Da wraps his arms around me and holds me close. “I’m so proud of you, baby girl.”
“I need a Guinness, two whiskeys—neat—and a cola,” I say to Keegan the following night. The pub is busy, and things are finally back to normal around here. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed working at the pub until I was away for several days.
“You’re a bossy one,” Keegan says with a wink.
“You missed me. Oh, and there’s a table in the back I’m keeping my eye on. College kids here for the weekend. They haven’t been too bad, but the one on the end looks like he’s gonna get handsy.”
“I’ll keep an eye out, too,” Cam says from his seat next to me at the bar.
“If you’re going to keep acting as security, you should get a polo shirt and a salary,” I inform him. “I’m fine.”
“I’m just making sure,” he replies and sips his beer.
I like having him here. I especially love it when I glance his way and find him looking at me with those blue eyes that make me all gooey inside.
And then I remember the way he fucked me bent over the kitchen counter just this afternoon, and I have to fan myself with my notepad.
“Earth to Mary Margaret,” Maeve says, waving a hand in front of my face. “You awake?”
“Sorry, yeah. What’s up?”
“Your college kids are waving you down. I’m still not convinced that one in the corner is of age.”
“He has an ID that says he’s twenty-one,” I reply with a shrug. “Doesn’t look fake.”
“If he’s old enough to shave, I’m Julia Roberts.”
“Okay, Julia, I’m off to make my rounds.” I wink at her, but before I can turn away, the phone behind the bar rings, and Keegan grabs it. Since it never rings, we all pause to hear who it is.
“And a happy day it is to hear from you, Cousin Sinead,” Keegan says with a smile. “It’s early there, isn’t it? Oh, aye.”
My brother’s accent kicks up a notch whenever he’s in Ireland or around anyone else with the same accent.
Maeve and I share a look.
“I’ll ask the family, of course. It’s two weeks, then? We’ll help you figure it out. I’ll call you in the morning. Take care now.”
Keegan hangs up and we all wait expectantly.
“What’s up in Ireland?” I ask.
“Sinead needs help. One of her employees just quit because she got married and moved to the village over, and another broke her ankle, so she can’t be on her feet. Sinead is wondering if we know of anyone over there to call. She’s exhausted all of the contacts she has and just wanted some fresh ideas. It’s a small village, you know.”
“I’ll go,” I say immediately, the idea taking shape in my head. “I don’t know what kind of help she needs, but I can do it. I’ve been wanting to go to Ireland for a while. It’ll be a nice change of scenery. Can you spare me?”
“We have Ma and Rachel,” Maeve says.
“They only need help for a couple of weeks,” Keegan adds, thinking it over. “I should be able to get by without you for that long.”
“Awesome.” I clap my hands and turn to Cam. “You can go, right? You can work from anywhere.”
“I wondered if I was invited,” he says with a grin. “Yes, I can manage that.”
“Awesome. I’ll call Sinead myself and let her know.” I sashay away, already excited by the thought of spending a couple of weeks across the pond, soaking in the air and listening to the music in the pubs.
The little inn that the family owns has the best views of the sea, and there are castle ruins nearby.
I can’t wait.
“Hey, lady,” the kid with the probable fake ID calls from across the room.
“Back to work for me,” I say as I load my tray with the drink order and make my way to the customers. “Here you go, lads. Do you want to order any food?”
“Nachos,” one says. “And maybe we should share some onion rings.”
“Junk food it is, then.” I wink and turn away just as the band starts playing one of my favorite songs. I swing over and sing with them as I make my way to the kitchen to place the food order.
I’m going to Ireland.
It’s late, half-past three, when I walk into my house. I spent some time on the phone with Sinead after we closed, and I wanted to get ahead on some inventory work because Cam and I will have to leave for Ireland in just two days.
I could have gone to Cam’s house after work, but I’m sure he’s asleep by now. Instead, I came here, to my little house that I don’t love, but which suits me just fine.
At least, the stench from the rotten food is gone.
I swing through the kitchen and set a kettle of water on the stove to boil for tea before walking back to the bedroom. I flip on the light and yelp. “Cam!”
“You’re home.”
“Why are you lurking in the dark?”
“I’m not lurking .” He laughs and stands before crossing to me. He’s in sweatpants and no shirt—muscles on full, glorious display.
“I knew you’d come here rather than my place,” he says and rubs his hands up and down my arms. “I didn’t know when you’d be back, so I came to bed.”
“Did I wake you?”
“No.” He kisses my forehead just as the kettle starts to whistle. “Let’s go make your tea.”
“I’m gonna change really quick,” I inform him. “Right behind you.”
“Take your time,” he replies as he walks toward the kitchen.
Okay, I’m glad he’s here. I don’t like sleeping without him. I end up tossing and turning. And why shouldn’t I be with him, when he’s clearly more than happy to sleep with me?
I change into more comfortable clothes and then join Cam in the kitchen.
He’s already poured the water and dunked my favorite tea in it.
“You’re handy to have around,” I inform him as I sit on a stool. “Thanks.”
“Oh, you want some, too? This is mine.” He grins and slides the hot mug across the island to me. “Just kidding. How was the rest of your night?”
“Pretty uneventful, actually. Steady, but nothing remarkable happened. I’m glad the college kids turned out to be harmless. I talked with Sinead before I came home.”
I blow on the tea and take a sip.
“What’s the plan?” he asks.
“First of all, are you okay with this? I made the decision without even talking with you about it first.”
“You want to go, so we’ll go. It’s fine with me.”
I nod in relief. “Great. I’m excited. We need to leave in two days. I know that’s fast, but Sinead is really in a bind. Both of her housekeeping girls are out, and she needs help with breakfast in the morning. She’s putting us up in the guest house on the property.”
“Great,” he says. “It’ll be nice to be there.”
“I think so, too.” I sip my tea. “I’m excited to spend some quality time near the ocean.”
“Uh, babe? I hate to be the one to break this to you, but we live near the ocean.”
“I know.” I wrinkle my nose. “But the inn has views of the ocean, and we’re going to be staying on the property.”
He leans against the countertop and crosses his arms over his impressive chest. “Okay, I have a question for you. What does your dream home look like?”
“Huh?”
“Humor me.”
I look down into my mug as a series of images move through my mind, and then I shrug. “I don’t know. Small, I guess. Simple.”
“That’s not good enough. Give me specifics.”
“This is silly.”
“No, it’s not silly. I want you to answer the question. I want you to tell me what you want rather than brushing the question away.”
“I guess I want a Craftsman home, near the water, with a garden. I want a gourmet kitchen and enough bedrooms that I can be the cool aunt and have all the kids come to stay with me. And I want to see the ocean from my bedroom.”
He nods. “That sounds amazing. Now, why couldn’t you just say that in the first place? Why do I always have to coax and pull information out of you?”
“You don’t?—”
“I do.” He rubs his hand over his face. “Your music, what kind of car you want, hell, just about anything at all. If I ask for your opinion, for what you want, you brush me aside and say anything is fine. But it’s not fine, damn it. I want you to tell me what you want because it’s my mission in life to give it to you.”
My mouth drops open.
“I suspect that this is something left over from before,” he continues, “and you don’t have to confirm or deny that, but I’m not your former husband. I won’t shut you down, make you feel stupid, or disregard your feelings. I want you to have whatever you want.”
“I’m not used to asking for it,” I admit. “Of course, I want a beautiful beach house. But the one I have is?—”
“If you say fine , I’ll spank your gorgeous ass.”
I bite my lip.
“Let’s work on this, okay? Be honest with me. We established a while ago that we don’t lie, and we don’t keep secrets, right?”
“Yeah.” I sigh and take another sip of tea. “I’ll work on it.”
“Good.” He pushes away from the counter and walks around to me. “Now, let’s go to bed so I can lose myself in you for a while.”
“That sounds nice.”
“I’m going for better than nice , sweetheart.”