Chapter 21
twenty-one
MAGS
Mags’ head was spinning. In fact, it’d been spinning since she watched Jonathan walk into the pub looking like he’d just finished a photoshoot for Forbes Billionaires List, and People’s Sexiest Man Alive—it should be a crime to look that damn good.
Jonathan’s stunning face, which she regularly imagined hitting or kissing, wasn’t the only thing that had put her off kilter.
Gray let her know that Bébhinn had argued with Jonathan and let Mags’ secrets come flying out of her giant mouth. Bébhinn sent her apologies and begged Mags to blame it on her hormones.
Then came Jonathan openly eye stalking her for hours, and if that hadn’t put her over the edge, he and Daniel punched people.
She was sick when she found out that the brothers had decided to not take no for an answer with her that night.
Denny and Josh deserved to have their asses handed to them.
She’d just been so worried that Jonathan and Daniel would be in trouble.
The sleazy brothers’ comments shook her up. She recognized that she had been taking a chance with her safety walking alone all those nights, which was why she allowed Jonathan to possessively keep her by his side. He made her feel safe. Damn him.
Everyone was heading home, so she gave Bran, Patrick, Dagr, and even Ulf a hug. They’d come for their boys, but calls to her family were the first ones they’d made, which meant they’d come to her rescue as well.
Her mom and dad had already texted and told her to call them the moment she was home.
They hadn’t known about the bartending gig until that evening.
Sighing, she rubbed the back of her neck.
She wasn’t built for deception. She would have to tell her mother that her friends knew about the cancer, and that she needed to come clean to everyone too.
The pub was closing, and the patrons who had stayed to watch the drama were trickling out. She swallowed a moan as her boss made his way over to where she, Jonathan, and Daniel were still standing by the bar.
Mags quickly said, “I’ll start cleaning the bar now, Ben. Sorry, I should have already gotten started.”
Ben waved her words away. “Go home, Margaret. You and your friends have had a hell of a night.” He shook the cousins’ hands. “You got the scum out of my pub, mates. You’re welcome back anytime.”
After a few more backslaps and handshakes, Jonathan glanced her way nervously before clearing his throat and facing her boss once more. Mags was instantly on guard.
“About Mags’ job, Ben. I’m afraid her family would like her to put in her notice.”
Her jaw practically unhinged. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Jon? My parents have asked me to do no such thing.” She wanted to say more, but she was so amazed, shocked, and pissed off that she couldn’t articulate further.
Jonathan seemed to be silently pleading with her to understand. “I’m sorry, but your uncle Coll told me to take care of it tonight. Or he would come to town and do it for you. I thought you would prefer this.” He shrugged and had enough grace to look guilty.
She wanted to rage, but she wouldn’t act like that in front of Ben, who didn’t deserve to be in the middle of the family. She also wanted to be mad at Jonathan, but she believed that her uncle Coll would have done exactly what he threatened. She wouldn’t kill the messenger.
“I apologize, Ben. You’ve been a great boss to work for. Regardless of what my family wants, I would gladly give a two-week notice so you can fill my shift.”
“No worries,” Ben put his hands up to stop her from insisting.
“I’ve plenty of help. Listen, Margaret, I heard the boys’ testimony of what those brothers had planned for you tonight.
That had to have shaken you, and I know, as a father myself, that your family will want to keep you extra safe for now. Let them and be happy for it.”
Ten minutes later, Mags had clocked out and grabbed her tote and coat. She already said goodbye to Jonathan and Daniel. It was one-thirty, and the air was cool, damp, and swirling with fog. Shivering, she pulled her collar tighter about her neck, looking for Nasir’s disapproving countenance.
Eze had become just as overbearing as her family. Trip down some stairs once, and they thought she needed constant babysitting.
When she saw two men come out of the swirling mist, an involuntary scream ripped from her throat. In that moment of fight or flight, Jonathan and Nasir’s faces came into focus.
“Oh, God,” she wheezed. She'd been sure that Josh and Denny had stayed behind to harass her after all.
Jonathan grabbed the backs of her arms, keeping her upright when her watery legs wanted nothing more than to collapse on the cold, hard footpath.
“Mags, damn it, I’m sorry I scared you. I didn’t think.” The words poured fast and apologetic from his lips.
He brought her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her back. She stood like that for a few more minutes, catching her breath and her bearings. The pins and needles left her limbs, finally, and she was able to get her feet firmly under her once more.
She patted Jonathan’s chest as she backed up, a kind of “Thank you, I’m fine now” gesture.
“Sorry about that. I thought—”
“I know what you thought,” Jonathan cut her off. “Christ, but I keep fucking things up with you. I’ve got a car waiting across the street for us. Let me get you…home.”
He didn’t like that home was with another man. “I appreciate everything tonight, Jon, really, but Eze always sends Nasir to get me home. She looked at Nasir then, and sure enough, he was scowling at her.
“Nasir can’t stand me, but he works for Eze’s family and will do his job, I’m sure.” Nasir’s flexing jaw was the only emotion her comment received. He would warm to her eventually, she was sure.
“I don’t care who your roommate sends for you. I will be taking you home tonight. I promised your uncle, and besides that, I want to.”
She sighed in exhaustion. It was too late, or early rather, for bickering. “Fine. You can give Nasir and me a ride.”
“Not necessary. I will find my way.”
Mags smiled. Eze’s bodyguard could speak. “I insist.” Jonathan didn’t look thrilled, but he led them across the street to the car.
Jonathan made a point of opening the front passenger door for Nasir before opening the back and helping her in and sliding next to her.
While Nasir gave the driver directions, Jonathan took her hand and placed it on his thigh, covering it with his own. “Jon,” she warned. He didn’t release her hand, and because she was weak where he was concerned, she didn’t force the issue.
For the next ten minutes, they didn’t speak, but she was hyper aware of his strong, hard thigh warm under her palm. She wanted desperately to press her fingertips against his pants to feel his body underneath. She didn’t.
Mags felt disappointed when Eze’s building came into view and cursed herself for the weakness.
As she reached for the door handle, Jonathan said, “Wait.” He linked his fingers through the hand that was already warmed from his body heat and opened the back door on his side, sliding out and bringing her with him.
He asked the driver to wait for him and walked her to the building’s front entrance, where valets were waiting to park the other inhabitants’ vehicles, though it was quiet this time of night.
Nasir stood stiffly several paces away. Pretending not to watch her and Jonathan. Mags felt exhaustion like a heavy, wet blanket across her shoulders.
She was still holding Jonathan’s hand. Not what friends in their group had ever done, unless they were secretly seeing one another, which she and Jonathan were not.
Since he didn’t seem capable of anything but staring at her, Mags pulled her hand from his and said, “Goodnight. Thank you for tonight.” Still nothing. “You and Daniel are great friends.”
“I’m not your friend,” he grumbled and took back both of her hands.
“Okay,” she drew the word out.
“Damn it! I mean, we are friends, but we’re more than that, or I hope we are. I want us to be.”
It was everything she wanted to hear. However, she only had to think of the many women she’d seen him out with to know his feelings were fleeting at best. She remained silent.
“Please, Mags. At least agree to meet me tomorrow.” Before she could say no, he added, “I know I don’t deserve it. I’m asking as someone who’s known you since you were little. Meet me for lunch. Just lunch. I need to tell you some things. Explain them, I mean.”
He groaned, shaking his head in exasperation. “Meet me at that bakery you like. I’ll buy you one of those American muffins you like so much. An hour, Mags. That’s all I’m asking for.”
No matter how he’d made her feel in the past, she couldn’t leave him hanging. “Not tomorrow, but Sunday, the girls and I are meeting for lunch with your mom and aunts. I’ll meet you on my way to the gallery. Eight-thirty at Bácús.”
Jonathan smiled and brought her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to her fingers. “Thank you. I swear, you won’t regret it.”
She already did.