Chapter 29
POV: Liam?
Since we took the leap and decided to actually give this ‘relationship’ thing a real shot—I’ve been the happiest I’ve been in years. The happiest I’ve let myself be in years. And all because of her.
The cute, sassy, blonde American author—who drove me wild but also helped me find something I hadn’t had in years. Happiness. True happiness.
Maeve was in my apartment typing away on her laptop but now I would call it more ‘our apartment’ then just mine now. She inhabited every inch of it with something of hers, and I didn’t mind. Not one bit.
I didn’t mind that she left her yellow rainboots at the doorstep—or left her frayed books on the dining room table—or that when she cooked, she made a huge mess—with flour, oils, seasoning, and rice.
If anything, the mess she left brought me joy.
“It’s like you’re writing a novel or something,” I called out as I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
She turned around in her office chair, the swivels working overtime as she shot me a glare. “You’re so funny!” she teased.
I walked up to her and gently ran my hand along the back of her head.. “And you’re so clever.”
“That I am,” she stuck out her tongue, teasing me.
“Is there an end in sight?” I groaned, laughing.
She bit her lip, glancing over the words on the page, checking them for grammar and spelling errors. “I don’t know, probably not for a few weeks,” she joked.
I ran my hands down her side and tickled her playfully.
“I give up!” she finally laughed, giggling and throwing her hands in the air in truce.
“Finally,” I replied, shrugging and pressing a kiss onto her cheek. “Let’s go then!”
“Go where?” she asked, crossing her arms and getting to her feet.
She hated surprises.
“It’s a surprise,” I shrugged, trying to hide the smirk that was building on my lips.
She sighed, “Liam! I am so impatient! I can’t do surprises, just tell me!”
“I guess someone has to be patient for once,” I teased, dragging her body into my grasp and hugging her.
She rolled her eyes, as she leaned further into me, looking up at me with those big blue eyes of hers.
I was a sucker for puppy dog eyes and she knew it.
I quickly looked away, “Not going to happen. Not working this time.”
“Ugh,” she groaned, squirming out of my grasp and crossing her arms against her chest in defiance. “Fine but I’m not closing my eyes or anything like that.”
“But that’s half the fun—and it’s romantic.”
She countered, “It’s torture!”
“Romantic,” I corrected.
“Liam—”
I held my hands up in truce. “Fine, but it’ll still be a surprise until we get there.”
Within 20 minutes of driving, we arrived at the destination.
The beautiful Cliffs of Moher.
Maeve’s eyes went wide when we arrived, and she practically ran out of the car before I even put it in park.
I stepped beside her, “Such a beauty.”
The cliffs on a perfect sunny day was one of the best sights that Ireland had, but Maeve—standing there, overlooking the cliffs, as the sun hit her golden hair and illuminated her pale skin, was a true sight to behold.
She turned to look at me, her blue eyes shining in the afternoon light, and I thought about asking her to marry me right then and there.
I’m getting ahead of myself—I hadn’t bought a ring—-I hadn’t even thought about proposing, but at that moment, it was the only thought that crossed my mind.
“You’re staring.” Her cheeks blushed a bright pink color.
“I know and what a beautiful sight it is,” I ran my thumb along her cheekbone.
She rolled her eyes and gazed back at the cliffs. “Enjoy the scenery.”
“I am,” I reminded her, and she nudged me in play.
After another 10 minutes of walking along the cliff’s paths, I tugged her hand. “Now for the second part of the surprise.”
“There’s more?” she asked, nervously.
I nodded.
We walked down a long path, almost 0.3 mile long until we arrived at the next part of the surprise. A small pub that sat overlooking the cliffs with the perfect view.
We had the best table at the place, outlooking a large bay window and the cliff’s in the distance.
“I’m surprised that this table is even open,” Maeve retorted, looking down at the menu.
“Me too,” I said modestly.
She glanced up at me suspiciously, “this is part of the date, too, isn’t it?”
“No,” I shrugged, smiling.
“Liam!” she smiled. “Did you really reserve this table?”
I shrugged, as if it was nothing. “It’s the best view in the house and the only way to dine at the cliff’s.”
“You shouldn’t have—really—” she protested.
I glanced down at the menu, feeling my nerves rack inside of me. “It’s only right for our first official date.”
“Our first official date?” she asked, surprised.
I looked up at her with a silly grin plastered on my face.
“You’re a romantic. You know that, right? Beneath all that grumpy Irishman exterior, you’ve got a soft side to you!”
I shrugged, blushing. “Caught me.”
She leaned in and whispered softly, “But I think I’ll sort of miss the whole brooding and rough Irishman thing—especially when you push me up against the wall.”
“Oh don’t worry, I’ll still be doing that,” I sent her a wink.
After we finished our Guinnesses and our lamb stews, I sat and looked at her—really looked at her.
Her gaze was fixated on the window—as she stared out at the blue water and the green grasses sprouting from the top of the cliffs. It was the perfect contrast.
“I forgot about the beauty of this land….” I sighed.
Her gaze drew back to mine.
I continued, “Until you came along and opened my eyes to it again.”
Her gaze changed to surprise in a matter of seconds.
“And I want to thank you for that, Maeve. Because this stubborn arse wouldn’t have seen it again if it wasn’t for you.”
Her gaze softened as she spoke, “Your eyes were always open, Liam. I think you just wanted to be blind.”
That resonated with me, deep within my soul. “Pain does that, but it shouldn’t cripple you, and I allowed it to cripple me for too long.”
She reached across the table and took my hand in hers. “I know and now it’s time for you to heal.”
I squeezed her hand tighter. “Thank you,” my voice broke as I said the words.
She squeezed back. “Don’t thank me yet. You’re in for one hell of a ride.”
And I knew she was right about that.
But I knew that it would be worth it.