Finding Ronan’s Heart by Melanie Moreland

Chapter Twenty-Two

Beth

Iwasn’t sure I had ever laughed as much as I did that night. Ronan and his brothers were a force unto themselves. When Liam arrived, he joined them building Lego creations, all of them arguing over pieces and ideas. Evan stayed close to Ronan, soaking it up like a sponge, the smile never leaving his face. I sat beside Paige on the sofa, sipping a glass of wine Ronan handed me after I had gone downstairs and changed. She and I exchanged glances, and I noticed how often Liam lifted his gaze to her, and I felt something pass between them. She never stopped smiling, and I couldn’t resist teasing her when the men, including Evan, went into the kitchen to “finish our feast.”

“I provided the single brother,” I murmured. “Does that get me out of dishes now?”

She laughed under her breath. “Holy shit, their DNA needs to be bottled.” She shook her head. “He is one hell of a man.”

Liam walked in, Lucy on his wide shoulder, his arm anchoring her in place. He held the bottle of wine and filled our glasses. He noticed Paige’s flushed cheeks and glanced up at Lucy with a wink, his voice teasing. “I think your momma was talking about me again.”

Paige tossed her hair, the light shimmering on the dark strands. “I don’t think so.”

He laughed, not at all worried. “So Sunday, I’ll be here about nine. We can have coffee before we head out.”

“I don’t recall inviting you,” she retorted, a smile playing on her lips.

He turned and walked away. “You were planning on it. I was just saving you the trouble.” He disappeared into the kitchen, and she huffed.

“Incorrigible.”

“They all are,” I assured her. “But so amazing.”

“I already figured that out,” she replied.

The mounds of tacos were delicious. The chips and salsa disappeared fast. Lucy didn’t leave Liam’s side, insisting on crawling up on his lap and eating there. He was entertaining, pulling her plate next to his and helping her make a taco she could handle. She watched him eat with huge eyes. In fact, we all watched the Callaghan boys eat with fascination. Evan tried to keep up again but stopped after four this time. There were forty tacos on the platter, plus the chips, guacamole, and all the fixings, and by the time we were finished, every plate and bowl was empty. The table was tight, but nobody cared. It was too much fun. The triplets exchanged stories, Liam added his own views and a few funny memories, and we laughed constantly. After dinner, they cleaned up while Paige got Lucy ready for bed and I made Evan do his homework. I wandered into the kitchen, picking up clean platters and bowls, putting them away, simply listening. They talked about work, the new office, the upcoming brunch.

“Our girls will be there Sunday, Ronan,” Paul said. “You okay with that?” He glanced my way. “We don’t want to steal your thunder or anything.”

I answered before Ronan could. “I’m not thunder. I want to meet your girlfriends as well. Ronan has spoken highly of them.”

That pleased them. “Oh yeah?” Paul grinned. “Cool.”

Jeremy nudged Ronan. “Awesome.”

Ronan looked at me and winked. “Yeah, she is.”

I turned, lifting the last pile of plates into the cupboard, refusing to let him see my blush.

* * *

Once again, I sat between Ronan’s legs on the front steps. The air was cooler now the sun had gone down, but I was warm and safe with him surrounding me. His brothers had departed after bear hugs and promises to see us on Sunday. The house seemed very quiet once they left.

“Thanks for making my brothers so welcome, little bird.”

“I liked them. All of them.”

He cleared his throat. “Paige is having quite the effect on Liam. I’ve never seen him so taken with someone.”

“She thinks he is rather spectacular.”

“Lucy likes him better than me,” he groused.

I chuckled. “I think Lucy is rather intuitive. She knows he likes her mom.” I patted his arm. “She still loves you.”

“I’m Evan’s favorite.”

“That will never change.”

“Good.” He cleared his throat. “And thanks for saying what you did about Paul’s and Jeremy’s girls. It made them feel good.”

I turned and looked at him. “I only spoke the truth, Ronan. Do you have any idea how much you’ve talked to me about your brothers since Sunday?”

He scratched his head. “Too much, I think?”

“No. You’ve told me so much about your family. Your life. It’s exactly what I needed to help understand you.”

“You think you understand me, Beth?” he asked, a hopeful note to his voice.

“I know one thing for certain. You don’t see what everyone else sees about you.”

He furrowed his forehead. “Which is?”

I tried to figure out how to say it. I turned even more, so his leg was over mine and I rested against his other thigh. I picked up his hand, marveling at the sheer size of it.

“You know I love historical romance.”

He chuckled. “So I found out. The women in my family are crazy for it. They’re looking forward to you joining in their book club.”

“Your mom sent me the name of the book they’re reading right now. I had already read it, but I started reading it again.”

“It’s by the Scarlett letter woman?”

I laughed. “Scarlett Scott. It’s called Her Virtuous Viscount. It’s part of her Wicked Husband series.”

He grinned. “I am hardly virtuous, although wicked might be a good word.”

I slapped his arm. “Shut up for a moment.”

He pretended to lock his lips shut and looked so adorable doing so, I had to kiss him. He was all too happy to return the favor, so for a few minutes, I forgot what I was trying to say. I pushed at his shoulder, shaking my head. “Wicked is right.”

He grinned. “You started it. Now, you were saying?”

“The hero in the story—Tom—has his heart broken by the woman he thinks he loves. In his mind, he is unworthy of real love. He is useful to people, but not loved. He feels invisible. He is a good man with a big heart, but in his mind, he wonders why he bothers. Good guys finish last sort of thing.”

“Is this where he becomes wicked?”

“No, he meets a woman and decides to have an affair with her. No strings attached.”

He frowned. “Was that allowed back then?”

I laughed. “That is why these books are so delicious. A hidden passionate affair? So scandalous and dangerous. Actually falling in love with your wife? Hard to believe and rare. Men who love so intensely that it changes them, changes their life? Trust me, the books are addictive.”

“I see.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “And this viscount of yours, he falls in love for real this time?”

“Yes. He falls for her hard. He realizes what he had in the past wasn’t what he thought love was. She shows him how to love. How to believe in himself again. To move away from the past and begin to really live again. He lets people in, shocked to realize how many truly care. She lets him know he isn’t invisible. She sees him, and he realizes if he has that, he has everything. He’s finally able to accept his importance to people. It was hard for him to tell her, but he did.”

He was quiet for a moment, then spoke. “Then I know how he feels, because knowing you see me has made all the difference in my life. I don’t want to be without it, or you, again.”

His words touched my heart. I cupped his cheek, unable to tear my gaze from his beautiful green eyes. His emotions were on full display, and I felt his adoration deep within my soul.

“What does he say to her?” he asked. “Do you remember?”

I could barely whisper the words. “‘You make my heart full, Hyacinth. Only, ever you. I was lost until I kissed you in the moonlight. Lost until I found you. I have been waiting for you. For this. For us. I just didn’t know it until you were here, in my life, in my arms.’” I cleared my throat. “Or something along those lines.”

“Would you accept a kiss on the steps under the streetlight instead of the moonlight?” he asked. “I can’t speak like that, but I can say this. I agree one hundred percent with everything he said or, at least, the sentiment. You healed me, Beth. You brought me back to my family. I hadn’t realized how far I was drifting away. I want you in my life.” He swallowed. “I love you.”

“Ronan—” I breathed out, shocked.

“You don’t have to say it back. I know you’re not ready and we have a lot to work through. I thought maybe if you knew, then it would make you understand how important you are to me. I’m not going anywhere, unless you’re with me.”

“Evan—” I began, but he silenced me.

“He is part of you, so he will be part of me. Part of us. I don’t expect you to abandon your brother. Or leave Paige and Lucy behind. We can figure it all out. Port Albany. My job, your school. All of it. If we do it together. If you want to move forward with me.”

“Yes, I do,” I responded without hesitation because I knew it was the truth. I wanted to be with him.

“Then let me kiss you, Beth, and know going forward that I do love you and I’ll wait until you can tell me you feel the same way.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because you’ll be worth the wait. And I’ll enjoy the journey because you’re with me.”

He bent and captured my mouth.

I decided right then streetlights were just as romantic as moonlight. Especially if the man kissing me was Ronan.

* * *

Ronan immersed himself in my life completely. He picked me up on Wednesday. Showed up on Thursday with his laptop and ordered enough food to feed three people and sat in his booth, eating as he worked. He did the same on Friday, and on Saturday, he appeared with Paige, Lucy, and Evan, ordering lunch and entertaining the three of them. Given our limited budget, going out to eat was a treat for us, and we were always careful about where we went. I heard Ronan telling the kids to order anything they wanted, and before I could protest, Liam walked in, joining them in the booth and seconding Ronan’s words.

“After, we’ll go to the park,” he announced. “There’s a little fair at the one not far from your place.”

I had seen that but not mentioned it to the kids. It was expensive, and Evan found it hard to maneuver around the crowds. He must have said something to Liam because Liam shook his head and assured him he and Ronan had a plan. With the excited look on Evan’s face, I didn’t have the heart to say no.

They were a lively table, laughing and teasing. The restaurant was busy so I couldn’t spend much time with them, but when I went over for refills and to check on them, Ronan watched me, his eyes seeing everything. When I left the diner at four, he was waiting outside, leaning against his car patiently.

I shook my head as I approached him. “You can’t do this every day, Ronan.”

“Why not?”

“You are a busy man and not my chauffeur. You don’t have time to drive me home every day.”

“It’s not every day. And since I can only see you at the diner in the evenings, it works out great for both of us.”

He held open the door, and I slid in, worrying my bottom lip.

“Why do you look so worried?” he asked as he joined the traffic heading down the street.

“I can’t let myself get used to it,” I confessed. “If something happens—” I swallowed. “If you get tired…” I couldn’t even finish the sentence.

“Not going to happen. Get used to it. Get used to me being around. If I can make your life easier, it’s going to happen, Beth.” He lifted my hand, kissing the knuckles and resting our entwined fingers on his thigh. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I wanted to believe those words more than anything. I smiled at him, squeezing his fingers.

“I hope not.”