Chapter 3 – Three Days Later
CHAPTER 3
CALLUM
THREE DAYS LATER
C ursing, I threw the pen on my desk and slumped back in my chair.
By begging, borrowing, and stealing, I could raise fifty grand, which meant I was still way short. Selling the bar was an option, but as a going business, it was worth just under two hundred grand, which would still leave me with a huge debt and no way of paying it back. Plus, I was well aware that if I defaulted, Paddy would dispatch his boys to break my kneecaps, and then I’d be crippled as well as poverty-stricken.
Basically, I was fucked up the ass with a spiky cactus with no goddamned pain relief to speak of. All of a sudden, the prospect of marriage didn’t seem so bad. Granted, it would have been easier to bear if Shannon was the intended bride, but it would be a marriage of convenience, so it wasn’t like I had to fuck Maeve. She’d be free to live her life the same way I would.
Over the days, the idea had grown on me, albeit like an unwanted fungal infection.
It would be an arrangement. I’d sit Maeve down and tell her she was free to carry on with her life. On the surface, we could act like a loving, married couple, but behind closed doors, we’d just be friends. She didn’t love me, and I certainly didn’t love her; I mean, we hardly knew each other, so what would it matter?
As I mulled everything over, my door opened, and a beautiful brunette popped her head around it. “Hey,” Saskia murmured. “You okay?”
My eyes met her heavily lined brown ones, and I smiled. “Come in, shut the door behind you.”
Her lush red mouth curved into a smirk, and she sashayed into my office, swinging her hips from side to side.
My eyes dropped to them, and my mouth began to water.
I hadn’t fucked Saskia—or anybody—since before my da passed. It had felt disrespectful somehow. At first, I’d been mourning and seeing to Dad’s burial, then after, I’d had to arrange valuations on the bar and attempt to raise the cake to pay off Da’s debt. It had taken up all my time and tied me to my office.
Saskia traipsed around my desk, plonked her ass in my lap, and threaded her hands around my neck. “I miss you,” she breathed. “You’ve been neglecting me.”
Her words shouldn’t have irritated me, but they did regardless. “You know I’ve been busy, Sass. And that’s not what this is. We enjoy each other when we want to, no strings.”
She tipped her face up and gently kissed my lips before pulling her head back slightly and whispering, “Well, maybe I want to enjoy you now.”
My cock gave an involuntary kick, but I ignored it. “Not here.”
“What’s wrong with here?” she demanded.
“Have I ever fucked you in my office?” I asked impatiently.
She pouted. “No.”
“This is my place of business. It’s not a place to fuck women. What if my mam walked in?”
She shrugged. “Then she’d see what a sex god her son is.”
A trace of bile rose through my gut, and I muttered, “Jesus.”
Her hands released my neck, and she held them up defensively. “Look, I get that this isn’t a serious thing, Callum, but it has to be something, or else why bother at all? You haven’t fucked me in weeks.”
My hard-on deflated at the petulance in her tone.
How had I never noticed how whiny she was? I hated women who demanded shit. It was the main reason I was single.
I motioned for Saskia to get up. “I haven’t got time for this. I’ll try to catch up with you when you finish work tonight.”
She clambered off me and whirled around, punching her hands to her hips. “It’s been weeks, Callum.”
I shrugged, picking up a piece of paper from my desk and studying the words as if they held the secrets of the universe. “Another day won’t matter then, will it?” My eyes lifted toward the door as it opened again, and Donovan strode in.
My brother looked pointedly at Saskia. “Some privacy, please, sweetheart.”
“Saskia was just leaving,” I informed him.
She huffed angrily before turning on her heel and storming through the door, slamming it loudly behind her.
Donny’s eyes remained on the door. “Jesus, what was that bullshit about?”
“Someone’s not getting enough attention,” I replied dryly.
He walked to my desk and dropped into the seat opposite. “Dunno why you bother with her. Took me months to scrape her off when I went there. I was actually grateful to get fucking deployed to get away from her clingy ass.” He shuddered. “When I came back, and she was all over you, I said ten Hail Marys and sent up a prayer of thanks.”
My eyes narrowed. “What do you mean ‘when you went there’?”
Donovan cocked his head. “T’s been there, too.”
A sick feeling gripped my gut. “Tell me you’re fucking joking.”
“Wish I could. Honestly, I’m pissed with myself for tapping her crazy ass.”
I slouched backward and scraped a hand down my face.
Going where my brothers had been was a massive no-no for me. I’d had no clue that Donovan had Saskia. It wasn’t like we usually competed for the same girls; T fucked the racing groupies on the circuit, and Donny fucked everything that moved without a damned care. I was more discerning, and even though I didn’t do relationships, I let my time with women run its course naturally before I moved on.
“When did you get with Saskia?” I demanded.
“A couple of years ago, when I came home on leave. It was only one night, which I made clear at the time, but she wouldn’t leave me alone for months afterward. Somehow, she got hold of my cell phone number, which was fun—not. The final straw was the time I was on fucking maneuvers, and Saskia called my cell for dirty talk. Remember the last time I changed my number? Well...” He deadpanned.
I closed my eyes, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “Why didn’t you tell me this before I started something up with her?”
“Since when have we told each other where and where not to stick our dicks?”
“Still, you could’ve—” I began, but he held up a hand to cut me off.
“I don’t police your fuck buddies, and you don’t police mine,” his lip curled, “it’s weird as hell.”
“It’s weirder that I’ve fucked one of your cast-offs,” I retorted. “If I’d have known you’d been there, I would’ve run a mile. A heads-up would’ve been good. I’ve got enough on my overflowing plate to worry about without Saskia playing the spurned lover when she’s clearly nothing of the damned sort.”
Donovan rested his elbows on the desk. “Still can’t raise the cash, huh?”
I shook my head frustratedly.
“I’m almost nervous to tell you this, but as of this morning, I’m the proud owner of the gym,” he told me quietly.
I grinned proudly. “Why are you nervous? You’ve wanted that gym for two years and worked hard for it. Just because I’m having a hard time with the bar, I can still be happy for you.”
Donny sat back in his chair. “Callum. Marry her.”
My gut sank.
For a moment, I’d forgotten the utter shitshow I had to deal with. “Don’t think I’ve gotta choice, Donny.”
He dipped his chin and asked, “Have you spoken to Mam?”
“No fucking way. She just lost Dad. If I bother her with this, she’ll worry herself into an early grave, too. There’s no way to raise the money I need. I’ll have to call Paddy and discuss terms; it’s either that or I lose everything.”
“I like Maeve,” Donny declared. “She’s a cool chick. She’s no supermodel, but she’s cute and funny without knowing she’s cute and funny. I’d take her over Paddy’s other two bitch girls any day, and at least Maeve’s smart and interesting. Just go into it being honest and make sure so nobody gets hurt. It’ll give us time to raise the money you need. Once you’ve paid Patrick back, you can lose the wife, but you can still keep the bar.”
Slowly, I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Just don’t fuck the girl around, Cal,” Donny ordered. “She doesn’t have it easy living at Paddy’s. At least getting her outta there and bringing her home will get her away from Orla and those bitch girls. I reckon if you treat her right, she’ll agree to anything you ask.”
My eyebrows pulled together. “What the fuck are you going on about?”
Donny frowned. “Orla treats her like a poor relation. Paddy’s good to her, but that just seems to make Orla bitchier. All those years when he boasted about his smart Maeve must’ve struck a chord and made the other girls more jealous. Dad used to tell me how she’d cry to him and Mam for hours about how unhappy she was when they visited New York. Ma told me they asked Patrick if they could bring her home here and officially adopt her years ago, but he said no. He loves her, but his decision to keep her there didn’t help her with those bitches.”
“Why didn’t she fight back?” I asked. “I know what those girls can be like, but Maeve’s her own woman. She could’ve left.”
Donny looked at me as if he didn’t know me. “You haven’t walked in her shoes, asshole. She lost her parents when she was young. Maybe she’s holding onto whatever family she can, even if it is dysfunctional.” His eyes crinkled at the edges as he squinted at me. “It’s not like you to be so down on somebody without even knowing them. Maeve’s got a good heart; she’s just a bit lost and in her own head.”
“Got a good heart?” I repeated. “Really? So tell me something. Why the fuck is she agreeing to this? She can’t be that good of a person if she’s happy to marry a guy who’s being coerced.”
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Donny warned me.
I shook my head disbelievingly. “There’s no conclusions to jump to. I’m being forced to marry her. There’s no nice or easy way of putting it. I apologize if it offends your delicate sensibilities, but it’s true.”
Donny glared at me. “You sound like a dick, Callum. Get off your high horse for once in your life. If you don’t wanna marry Maeve, tell Paddy no. I’ll fucking marry her if he lets me. I’ll save your fucking bar without blaming every person in the universe except the one man you should blame... our Dad.”
“Show Da some respect,” I spat.
“I will when you show some fuckin’ human kindness,” he bandied back. “Da fucked you over, Callum, and instead of laying the blame where it belongs, at his feet, you’re blaming a woman who’s probably being manipulated too. You’re a goddamned clown sometimes.”
I shot up from my chair so fast that it went flying back over the wooden floor. “Don’t talk about Da like that.”
“Why not?” Donny threw back, shooting to his feet. “He dogged your ass, didn’t he?”
“Get the fuck out, Donny,” I snarled. “Before I do something I’ll regret.”
“Whatcha gonna do, brother? Punch me? I’ll punch ya back. I’m not some drunken snot you can push around.”
“You’re a fuckin’ eejit, is what you are,” I bellowed, leaning toward him.
“Call Paddy,” he ordered. “Tell him you’re too pussy assed to marry Maeve, then tell him I’ll do it. At least with me, she’ll get a man who’ll be respectful to her.”
“Fuck off, Donny,” I growled, my hands clenching into fists.
“I will, after you call Paddy,” he taunted. “I’ll bail your whiny ass out.”
“You’d need to stop fucking women long enough to walk down the aisle,” I retorted.
“Say’s Mr. ‘Pure as the Driven Snow.’” He laughed. “You’re no better than me; you just disguise your wayward dick under your nice guy act. Call Patrick. Like I said, I’ll marry Maeve.”
My jaw clenched. Through my rage, I didn’t notice the door opening. Instead, I got in Donovan’s face and roared, “You’re not marrying Maeve Monroe. I am!”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” a soft voice exclaimed wondrously.
My neck twisted to see Mam standing in the doorway with my sister Aislynn, an expression of pure joy on her face.
“Mam,” I said with a groan.
“Oh, Callum. You don’t know how happy you’ve made me. Your athair’s last wish was to see you marry Maeve Monroe. She’s such a sweet, lovely girl.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “You better not tell me you’re having one of those long engagements.” She clapped excitedly. “Mary, mother of Jesus. I could be a grandmother soon. It’s a dream come true.”
My jaw dropped, and I blinked. “Ma?—”
Donny clapped me on the shoulder. “I was going to throw my hat in the ring for her, Mam, but Callum here wouldn’t have a hair of it.”
Ma tried to hide her wince at Donovan’s words. “You were going to ask Maeve to marry you ?”
He grinned. “Don’t worry, Mam. She’s safe from my evil clutches. Like I said, Callum wouldn’t have a bead of it.”
I shot him a glare.
Sauntering for the door, my brother called back, “Looks like my work here is done,” before disappearing into the bar.
Ash’s eyes, just like mine, widened, full of shock. “You’re gonna marry Maeve Monroe?”
My shoulders slumped. “Looks like it.”
She tipped her head back and looked up at the ceiling. “Thank you, God, for small mercies.”
“What the feck are you talking about?” I demanded.
“I thought you’d end up with a skank like Saskia. It’s not like you’re fussy where you,” she glanced at Mam before muttering, “stick it.”
“Aislynn!” Mam scolded.
Ash rolled her eyes. “Maeve’s way too good for you. She’s super sweet and really smart. She’s been all over the world on archeological digs. Did you know a lot of the stuff she’s unearthed is in some of the most prestigious museums in the world? She’s written papers they use to teach in universities. Why the hell would she want to marry you? It’s not like you’re Einstein.”
“Hey,” I protested.
Mam’s face whipped toward my sister. “Really? She’s that smart?”
Ash nodded, her lips twitching. “Yeah, Mammy. Didn’t you know?”
“She never talks about it,” Ma breathed.
Aislynn nodded sagely. “Because she’s not boastful.”
Mam’s eyes shone. “Oh, Callum, she’s perfect. Can you imagine all your beautiful, intelligent, ginger-headed babies we’ll have running around?”
Aislynn burst out laughing.
I tipped my head back and cursed at the ceiling, then dropped my eyes back to Mam. “I don’t know for sure if it’s even going ahead yet. Paddy mentioned it at Da’s funeral, and I said I’d think about it.”
“Are you mad?” she cried. “Pick up the phone and call the man.” Her fingers flew from forehead to chest, then from right to left in the shape of the Holy Cross. “Sweet baby Jesus, I hope Patrick hasn’t had second thoughts. It’s not like you’re the catch of the century.”
“There’s a couple of details I need to iron out first?—”
“You’ll call the man now.” Mam stomped toward me and pointed at the phone on my desk. “Don’t you let my Maeve get away. Patrick could be looking for a new husband for her as we speak. If you miss out on that girl because you didn’t listen to me, I’ll make you wish you’d never been born, Callum Fergal O’Shea.”
“You know Mammy means business when she pulls out the middle names,” Aislynn said with a laugh. “You better call Patrick.”
“When are you going back to Colorado?” I snapped.
“In a few days.” She laughed again, waggling her eyebrows suggestively. “Though, if there’s going to be a wedding, I’ll have to extend my stay.”
Mam’s eyes gleamed with happiness, and despite myself, I smiled.
It had been a long time since I’d seen her so happy. Dad’s illness had taken a toll on her. She’d nursed him for two years, never leaving his side, even when he went for chemo treatment over at Baines Memorial. She’d wiped his brow, cleaned him when he was weak, and even took him to the bathroom and helped him in there.
Over time, she’d lost her spark, and her smile became almost nonexistent. Then Da passed, and for a while there, she lost her spirit completely.
That was until now.
Seeing her this way brought home to me how much she needed something good, and suddenly, it became less about the bar and more about her. Mam loved Maeve the same way Da always had, and I knew marrying the girl would give her a new lease of life.
My folks, and even Aislynn, saw something in Maeve that I didn’t, but maybe I needed to look deeper. The thought of getting married still left a bad taste in my mouth, but Donny was right; it wasn’t a love match, so I didn’t need to treat it as such.
As long as I was clear with Maeve, maybe we could reach an agreement, and nothing would have to change. If her life with Paddy’s family was as bad as Donny said, wouldn’t she be grateful to come here and be left alone?
Mam would be happy, and I’d have a year to save the bar. Maeve’s dowry would help, and all I’d need to do was get the bar jumping again, the way it used to. I had so many ideas to get people through the doors. I just needed time to put everything into action.
My stare met Mam’s. “Could you two give me some privacy, please? I gotta call Patrick.”
She beamed.
Aislynn threw me a smirk and threaded her hand through the crook of Mam’s arm. “Come on. Let’s leave him to it.”
They turned for the door, but just before they walked through, my mam craned her neck, her eyes meeting mine. “I’m proud of you, Callum, and I know your Da would be too. Good luck, and I hope you get the girl.”
An ache pulsed through my chest. My dad should have been here for this, even if it wasn’t real.
“I hope so, too, Mam,” I croaked.
Her eyes glittered with moisture, and she gave me the sweetest smile before disappearing through the door with my sister.
“You’ve really done it this time, eh, Da?” I muttered to myself. Then, with a heavy heart, I sat back at my desk and took my cell phone in my hand, scrolling to Paddy’s number.
There was no other choice.
I had to save my bar.