Epilogue
Xavier- Three Months later
“Declan!” I yell as I enter his office. “I swear to God, if you change your schedule one more time without telling me, I’ll…” I glare at him, thinking of a good threat. He has been doing this a lot lately, and it’s getting on my nerves.
“You’ll what?”
“I’ll tell your dad that you missed the dinner meeting last Saturday because you were fighting.” I cross my arms over my chest as I watch the frown form on his face. He knows I’m not bluffing.
“I don’t like having lunch meetings. You added two next week.” He rises from his chair and walks over to me. He wraps his arms around me. “I only have lunch with you.”
“But I’ll be there during the meetings, Declan.”
“I don’t want to share.” He nibbles on my ear.
“Fuck.” I moan.
“I won’t change my schedule if you stop adding lunch meetings. Deal?”
“Deal. Unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
It’s been three months, and I could not be happier in my new life. Declan makes me happy.
“Now let’s get going. We have dinner reservations.” He says as he grabs his suit jacket.
“Where are we eating tonight?”
“It’s a surprise, but I promise that you will love it.”
We park in front of Rendezvous en Rose. It’s the same French restaurant that he took me to when we first met. We have been back several times, and I really do love French food. I found out that the place’s name means “to date in soft pink light.” I practically bounce in my seat.
Declan leads me to the hostess stand. “Murphy,” he says.
“Oh, yes, sir, the rest of your party is already seated. If you would follow me.” She turns and starts toward the back of the dining area.
“The rest?” I checked his schedule before we left, and I didn’t see a dinner scheduled for tonight. “Damn it, Declan. Who are we meeting with?”
He doesn’t answer me, only gives me a cocky grin as we enter a side room. I straighten my posture and run my hand down my front to make sure I am presentable.
“About fucking time,” Conor startles me. I look around and see the entire Murphy family here, including Ronan. I swear that man takes his antisocial behavior to a whole new level.
“They’re here.” Jess squeals. She rushes up to me and hugs me tightly.
Jess has become a regular with the Murphy family.
Much to her discomfort, the cousins have sort of adopted her as a little sister.
She works for the foundation now as an on-staff nurse and loves it.
She still doesn’t know all of the family business.
“Wow, a family dinner. This is great.” I move to hug Alessia. I swear she gives the best hugs. “And I swear, Aunt Alessia, if we are late, it’s Declan’s fault because he didn’t tell me.”
“Way to throw your fiancé under the bus.” Finn smirks.
“My what?” I laugh. Although I have thought about it a billion times, somehow I don’t think Declan is the marrying type. Alessia places her hands on my shoulders and slowly turns me. It takes me a second to realize that Declan is down on one knee with a ring box held out in his hand.
“Oh my God.” I gasp as I slap my hand over my mouth.
“A Ghrá. Will you be my lifelong obsession and marry me?” Declan asks.
“Yes!” I yell. I throw myself into his arms before he can even get the ring on my finger. It’s not the ring or the proposal that is making me so giddy. It’s this man. This wonderful, beautiful, very complicated man wants me. Wants to keep me with him. He’s my everything, and he wants me.
“Can we eat now?” Ronan asks. He has his phone in his hand.
But where Alessia and Duncan are taking pictures and vids, he is scrolling.
Kieran slaps the back of his head. “Your mother said no working tonight. Either take pictures or put the phone away.” He slips the phone back into his pocket.
“I still want to eat now. I’m starving.”
“Don’t you want the ring?” he asks, sounding confused.
“Of course I do.” I hold out my hand so he can slip on the ring. It’s the first time I’m getting a good look at it. It’s a platinum band with a row of emeralds across it. The green jewels match his eyes. My favorite color. I love it.
Dinner is wonderful. Although most of the conversation is between Alessia and me, unless you count the short answers from the others. This is what I was missing in my life, a true family. And love that is once in a lifetime with Declan.
Jess and I stand outside the restaurant waiting for Declan to finish settling the bill. I have gotten past the fact that he spends so much money on me. It was a losing battle for me anyway.
“Xavier?” I hear my name called from behind me. I know that voice. I turn to see Mal walking toward me with a smaller man on his arm.
“Hello, Mal,” I say just to be cordial in public. Jess, though not so much.
“Well, look who it is. The cheating shitbag.” She basically snarls at him.
“Grow up, Jesse.” Mal retorts. “Let me introduce my date. Franklin Morris. Franklin, this is my ex, Xavier.”
“Nice to meet you.” He says, but doesn’t release Mal’s arm.
“You too.” The name sounds familiar, and then it clicks. Franklin Morris or Morris and Associates. A large real estate and construction company. Declan met with his father a week or so ago. Mal always wanted to be with someone who had money, and I guess he found it.
“Is this where you are working now?” He points up to the restaurant’s marquee. “I heard that you got fired from Albright.”
“No, actually, we are here for dinner, with Xavier’s fiancé. I’m sure you have heard of Declan Murphy.” Jess says with a sickly sweet smile plastered on her face.
“Of Murphy Enterprises?” Franklin asks. Mal starts laughing.
“They’re lying, Franklin. Xavier is not engaged to a Murphy. He’s a nobody.”
“Who the fuck are you calling a nobody?” Oh no, Declan’s behind me. I feel the heat of his body press against me. “Babe, who is this asshole?”
“Declan, meet Mal. My ex.”
“The fucker that cheated on you multiple times?” I nod. “Why the fuck are you even talking to my fiancé?” Declan moves to stand in front of me.
“Are you seriously saying that you are engaged to… to him?” Mal looks incredulously between the two of us. I can’t lie, the question stings a little. Maybe I’m a petty little shit with what I am thinking, but so be it.
“Declan, this is Franklin Morris. You met with his dad last week about the contract on the new building on Hoover Ave. He’s Mal’s date.” I watch as all of the color drains from his face.
“I’m not sure you should be doing business with someone with such bad taste.” Jess twists the knife just a little bit more. Franklin drops Mal’s arm like it’s made of acid.
“Um… It’s actually our first date. We’ve only known each other a week.” Franklin looks from me to Declan to Mal, and then, without saying a word, he runs in the opposite direction.
“You fucking bitch!” He lunges at Jess. He doesn’t make it. Conor’s hand around his throat stops him.
“Who the fuck is this guy?” Conor growls in Mal’s face.
“Xavier’s piece of shit ex. He was going to hit me.” Jess feigns outrage. “Can you believe that?” “You were going to put your hands on her?”
“No, no, this is all a misunderstanding.” Mal tries to reason with Conor. It won’t do him any good.
“Conor, dear.”
“Yes, Mom?”
“Do you have the business cards on you?” She asks.
“Yes, I do.” He grins.
“Good, make sure you leave him one after. Xavier, I will see you on Sunday.” She kisses my cheek and leaves.
“You’re fucked now.” Jess giggles.
“What? Let me go, you psycho!” Mal yells.
“Do you want to watch or go home, A Ghrá?”
“I’m sure Jess will tell me all about it. Right now, I want to go home with my fiancé and show him just how much I am obsessed with him.”