Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Atlanta—Present Day
“Are you sure this is okay?”
“No, but we’re doing it, anyway.” Declan smiled, and squeezed her hand on the center console where their fingers were laced together.
Last night, when his brother called, Olivia could clearly hear the man shouting through the phone. Another voice soon joined in.
“Why is Chris Keller still in Atlanta?”
“Why didn’t you tell us Courtney is in some sort of rehab? And don’t even try to fucking pretend you didn’t know.”
Two similar voices fired rapid-fire questions.
Declan pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know the two of you share a brain, but could you try not to speak at the same time?”
“Twin jokes. Hilarious.”
“This is serious. Luke and I had dinner at the Magnolia Club, and Chris Keller was sitting at the bar like he belongs there.”
Olivia widened her eyes, and Declan sighed, realizing she could hear the conversation. He pressed the button for speakerphone so that she could hear more clearly. Warmth spread through her at the obvious sign of trust.
“We really need to talk about your taste in women. Your girlfriend was there with him, chatting away like they were best friends. Though Dahlia says you are actually in love with?—”
“Shut up, Luke,” Declan snapped.
Olivia grinned as she jerked a thumb at herself and said, “He’s talking about me, right?”
Declan rolled his eyes at her, but the stunned silence over the line had Declan glancing at the phone and then back up to grin at Olivia. “Never made them speechless before,” he mouthed at her, and she bit her lip to keep from laughing.
“Are you still there?” Declan asked.
“I don’t think so. I think I must be dead. Are you—Ow! James! I’m driving, jackass.”
“Shut up, you moron,” James muttered. “You must be Olivia. Thank you for the muffins.”
Declan raised his brows at her. “I may have run into your sister and your brothers’ wives this morning.”
“Just one wife,” James piped up cheerfully. “Dahlia won’t let Luke propose yet.”
“Don’t be such a dick. That was just mean.” Luke huffed.
“Again?” Declan’s question was for Olivia.
“They were at the cafe again this morning when I was getting the Friday…” She trailed off. “They planned it.” Olivia shook her head. “I’m an idiot. I told them I usually go on Friday.” Her nose scrunched. “Why did they want to talk to me?”
“Um, I’m trying to think of a way to phrase this that won’t send you running screami—” Luke began.
“Because we’ve never seen Dec so obsess—” James interrupted his twin.
Declan pressed the button on the phone, cutting off their simultaneous voices.
The phone immediately buzzed again, but he powered it down.
“Obsessed, hmm?”
Declan covered her lips, and she forgot all about teasing him.
Now, on their way to have dinner with his family, her anxiety ratcheted up. Last time she got attached to a family, she’d been doubly hurt. Olivia already liked the women in his family that she’d met, but she would be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous about meeting his mother.
“You’ll love Anne, and she’ll love you.” Declan assured her.
“And your mom?”
Declan’s tense jaw hadn’t filled her with confidence. When he switched off the ignition in the underground parking garage of Luke’s high rise, Declan didn’t make a move to leave the car.
“My family…” He hesitated, and Olivia felt her throat tighten. “More than likely they’ll…”
Declan’s uncharacteristic discomfort had her own nerves stretched tight. He cleared his throat. “They have certain expectations of me… And you…”
Olivia swallowed, refusing to let her emotions color her words. “I’m not what they are expecting,” she finished for him.
A muscle in his cheek ticked. “No. You’re not.”
She hid the hurt behind an impassive expression. It wasn’t as if she wasn’t used to being a disappointment to people’s families. “They are expecting a Fiona?”
“My mother is,” he answered through gritted teeth.
She inhaled slowly as a sharp ache grabbed her chest, her face hot. “I won’t pretend to be someone I’m not,” she managed quietly, when Declan turned to look at her. “I’m never doing that again. Not even for you.” Olivia blamed the winter air, rapidly cooling the car without the engine running, for the ice seeping through her veins.
Declan’s face was inscrutable for a minute, then his brows furrowed. “It’s not you.”
“I’m here. Let’s make the best of it.” Olivia reached for the door handle, but Declan’s hand shot out to stop her. He cupped her jaw, forcing her to look at him.
“I’m a bastard, but I’m not the same kind of bastard as your ex-husband, or even your family are.” His voice was hard. “You’ve met the women my brothers have chosen to be with. Dahlia is a movie star, and Cami is the voice of one of the most popular podcasts in the country. And Cara… I don’t even know how to describe my sister anymore.
“They all hated the idea of Fiona. Someone who had no larger ambition in life than to wield social power over those she deemed lesser than.” His fingers softened, and his thumb stroked over her cheek, warm against her skin. “They are going to be as impressed with you as I am.” Declan’s gaze burned into her. “I’m proud of you. Of what you’ve accomplished, of what you’ve overcome… while still being kind and…” His hand fell away.
“They won’t expect someone as warm and loving as you to have chosen to be with me. My family loves me, but they don’t know me. Not the way you do.” Olivia stayed silent while he clearly struggled to find the words. “I love them and would do anything for them, but they wouldn’t understand or approve of many of the things I’ve done—choices I’ve made.”
Declan looked so sad, Olivia’s heart ached for him. “I don’t know your family well, but I think you’re wrong. From what you’ve told me about what has happened over the last year, it sounds like they are more like you than you realize.”
Declan’s lips folded in, clearly not believing her. “We should go up.”
Olivia heard the laughter through the door before Declan knocked. Dahlia swung the door open with a wide smile. “You’re late. You’ll have to play catch up,” she said, ushering them into the main room where a large group clustered around a large kitchen island.
Olivia recognized most of the people present, but she could feel the intense scrutiny of the two older women and man sitting on the sofa.
Cami pressed a glass of wine into her hand. “I walked this gauntlet a couple months ago. It’s easier with alcohol, I promise.” She gave Olivia a wink as the others waved hello.
The eyes on her were speculative, but Olivia quickly realized what Declan had meant. The moment they’d crossed the threshold, Declan’s entire demeanor changed. He was cold and remote, his face unsmiling. Olivia wondered if it was more that Declan held himself apart from his family, than that they couldn’t accept him.
“I know most of you have met Olivia before.” Declan’s voice was stiff.
“We haven’t officially met,” the twin with his arm around Dahlia said with a mischievous smile, his eyes flicking to his older brother. “I’ve been dying to meet you. I’m Luke, the more attractive twin.”
Dahlia rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the side. “Try to behave for at least a few minutes.”
An identically handsome man, his gray eyes more cautious than his twin’s, stepped forward, his hand extended. "I'm James, and you know my wife, Cami." His tone was so proud Olivia couldn’t help but smile.
Cara stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Olivia, jostling her wine glass, and whispered in her ear so that no one else could hear. “I’m so glad you are here.” Releasing her, Cara gave Declan a look as he suddenly loomed over Olivia. “Relax, Dec. No one is going to bite her.”
Olivia heard Declan half growl and half sigh. “She’s worse since she met you.” He directed the comment to the man leaning against the wall in the corner, one ankle crossed over the other.
“She’s perfect,” Wes said.
“Aww.” Cami and Dahlia sighed, while Luke and James groaned.
“I hate to keep bringing this up, but… There’s an agreement about the two of you being so nauseating,” Luke said.
“I definitely remember that, but Cara and Wes keep ignoring our rules. Ow!” James pretended to flinch when his wife punched him in the shoulder.
“Are you done yet?” Declan asked.
“Just getting started.” Luke’s eyes gleamed, his attention turning to Olivia. “For example, where did the two of you meet?”
Olivia froze. They hadn’t discussed what they would say. “Declan bought the company I work for, and we’ve spent a lot of time together.”
Declan stepped so close she could feel the heat of his body down the side of hers. To her surprise, he caught her free hand, and lifted it to kiss the back of her hand. She wasn’t the only one shocked. The entire room had gone silent, everyone watching them with varying degrees of wide eyes and open mouths.
“We first met while we were both in Ireland twelve years ago.”
The twins exchanged confused glances, but Olivia’s attention was drawn to the woman with thick dark curls who had risen from the sofa.
“Were the constellations out of alignment twelve years ago or something?” Cami’s brows rose high.
“What do you mean?” Cara cocked her head.
“It seems like a momentous year for this family.”
If it was possible, Declan stilled even further, but Cami continued, oblivious to his tension.
“Twelve years ago, James was an idiot, letting me slip through his fingers, and joined the Navy.” She smirked at her husband.
Dahlia turned a thoughtful look at Luke. “That’s true. That would be about the time you said that Declan and?—”
Luke silenced her with a hard kiss, a look exchanged between them before he asked, “What happened in Ireland?”
Olivia licked her lips, nerves swirling.
“None of your business.” The woman standing by the sofa finally spoke, her Irish accent strong.
“Declan’s never hesitated to interfere with our lives,” Luke objected. “It’s only fair.”
“Luke,” James warned.
Luke made a face. “Fine. It’s nice to meet you, Olivia.”
She managed a smile. “All of you as well.”
“You never mentioned her before.” Declan’s mother’s voice was unyielding, despite her shutting down a similar line of conversation by Luke. “Does her presence here mean you’ve changed your plans about marrying Fiona Carrol?”
“Yes.”
Olivia’s chest tightened. His mother did not look happy. “What is your plan to sway the other votes?”
Siobhan’s eyes landed on Olivia, but she couldn’t read the woman’s expression. Declan tightened his hand on hers, but when she looked up, his face looked like it was carved from stone.
“If you don’t marry his daughter, you won’t have the votes you need.”
Is that all that mattered to the woman? What about her son’s happiness?
“Nothing personal against you.” Her eyes bored into Olivia in an eerily similar way to her son. “I’m sure you are a lovely young woman, but for Declan to throw?—”
Olivia could feel Declan’s muscles bunch against her side. “Mam!” he snapped out, harsh enough to startle everyone. “Be very care?—”
To everyone’s surprise, Cara suddenly stepped forward, standing in front of Olivia, and cast a bright smile on the older woman. “Siobhan, have you ever seen Declan’s tattoo?”
Siobhan’s face gentled. “ A leanbh , I appreciate?—”
“It’s the most gorgeous, white rose,” Cara spoke quickly. “It’s over his heart. He’s had it for years.”
“Cara.” Declan’s voice rumbled with warning, but his sister continued unfazed, her expression determined.
“I had forgotten all about it, because even though I only saw it one time—and Declan was drunk off his ass—he was practically incoherent, quoting poetry and raving about the lost wild white rose. Have you seen it?” Her gaze took in the rest of the family.
“I thought you said you got it after a pub crawl?” Luke said suspiciously.
“Of course, we’ve seen his tattoo, but you’re babbling Car-bear,” James interjected, angling his head to where Siobhan had her arms crossed over her chest. “If you’ve got a point, you might want to get to it.”
Cara lifted her chin. “Do you remember a few weeks ago, I mentioned Olivia’s perfume…”
Olivia’s cheeks flamed, and Declan stepped slightly in front of her, as though protecting her from his family’s examination. Because they were all staring at her now.
“ Wild White Rose ,” Dahlia murmured, her wide eyes shooting to Declan. “Your tattoo is a white rose.”
“There was no way it was a coincidence. The name of her perfume being the same phrase he said to me that night. You all saw him at the ball in New York. He was practically feral over her.” Cara challenged her brothers before turning back to Siobhan. “I love you and know how protective you are, but you have to see… This whole time… It’s always been her.” Cara’s voice cracked, and Wes strode forward to put his arm around her, pulling her close, glaring at the rest of the family, like they had been the ones to upset her.
Cara pushed away, her eyes glossy. “It took someone new to recognize the pain Declan’s been living with.” She gestured at Dahlia and Cami. “They saw right away what we’ve all missed. We’ve all been complacent because Dec is well…” She waved her hand at him. “Declan. The impenetrable, unfeeling fortress. But the second Olivia came back into his life…”
Siobhan stared at Cara for a moment, and then her eyes returned to Declan, before going past him to Olivia.
Siobhan’s shoulders relaxed. “At least you got there in the end.” She turned to the couple still seated and lifted her eyebrows.
“Don’t gloat, Siobhan, it’s unattractive,” Anne said mildly.
“I’m not gloating, Anne,” Siobhan said gleefully, in direct contradiction to her words, “I’m simply saying I told you so.”
What is happening?
Declan’s thoughts must have run along the same lines. “What the fuck are you talking about?” he snapped.
Siobhan picked up the glass of whiskey she’d set on the side table and took a sip before she spoke. “I’m your mother. Did you think you could gallivant around Dublin and stay in my mother’s cottage with a woman you called your wife, and I wouldn’t hear about it? Claire couldn’t wait to ring me up after you left her pub that night.”
A horrified giggle escaped Olivia at the stunned look on Declan’s face.
“Your wife?” Luke stared.
Declan’s jaw worked back and forth.
“Don’t worry,” Dahlia patted Luke’s chest. “I’ll get the story from Olivia and fill you in.”
“You will all leave her alone.” Declan gritted out.
“This is fascinating,” Wes drawled from his position next to Cara.
Cara nodded. “It’s kind of like when Q was outsmarted by that girl whose parents pretended to be human and got killed in a tornado… But they didn’t have tornados on Earth anymore… And then Q got in trouble with the collective.”
“I swear to god, if this is another Star Trek reference,” James groaned.
Luke wrinkled his nose. “Why are the two of you such huge dorks?”
“Star Trek isn’t dorky,” Cara shot back. “It’s full of philosophy and…”
Wes squeezed her tight and lifted her chin to kiss her. “It’s okay, baby. They’ll never get it.”
Cara huffed something angrily under her breath that sounded like “jerks.”
Declan’s muscles slowly relaxed next to her.
“Is that it then?” Olivia whispered as his siblings began to good-naturedly squabble.
“Not quite. Thank you, honey,” Anne said to her husband, as he helped her to her feet and handed her a cane. She walked forward slowly to stand in front of Declan and motioned for him to bend down. She kissed his cheek and stroked his arm with a gentle smile. “I’m so happy for you. You deserve this.”
Declan’s jaw relaxed, and for the first time since they had entered the luxury apartment, he looked like her Declan.
Anne continued. “I worried you’d never find peace.”
“I don’t have peace yet. But I will soon.”
James sent an apologetic look to Olivia before saying. “If you aren’t going to marry Fiona to get the votes, what is your plan?”
Declan squared his shoulders. “The escort who survived the car accident has agreed to talk to the board. She doesn’t want to get involved in a criminal prosecution, but her story, plus the photos and confession Cami got... I’m going to call for a vote of no confidence. I have been working on the rest of the board. No one is interested in all of that being leaked to the press. It would seriously affect the share price if it gets out that Bloom Communications’ CEO is a murderer twice over. I’ll convince them to vote with me.”
James nodded, but Luke frowned. “That doesn’t explain why Chris is still in Atlanta. The deal for XEROS was completed weeks ago.”
“He hasn’t been here the whole time,” Declan’s voice was grim. “I was informed this morning that Chris and Courtney have gotten married. I’m not sure why he’s here, instead of with her, or exactly what his plan is, but I suspect it has something to do with Olivia.” His hand tightened almost painfully on hers.
The faces around them sobered. “You are friendly with Chris Keller?” Cami’s tone was diplomatic.
“No.” Olivia shook her head. “I had dinner with him after New York, but that’s it.”
“Why?” Luke’s eyes were sharp.
A tiny warning growl emanated from the back of Declan’s throat, but Luke glared right back at him.
“He claimed he wanted to help me find a job,” Olivia explained.
This time, it was Wes who frowned. “Is that supposed to be a coincidence?”
“I knew nothing about what had happened with your father, and it was before…” she trailed off, not wanting to share that Declan had been pretending she meant nothing to him. “Originally, it was as an apology for what Courtney did… It seemed harmless.”
Her face heated as she felt the full extent of Declan’s attention.
“What do you mean, what Courtney did? ”
The fury in his eyes made her stumble over her words.
“At the gala… when I thought I was drunk… Courtney admitted to Chris that she’d put her pills in my drink, and he said he felt responsible…”
Declan snarled a vicious curse. But it was the tsunami of energy rolling off him that had Olivia more concerned.