Page 98 of The Irish Redemption

“No, we’ll be late for lunch.”

“Race you to the shower?” He smirks at me, and I laugh.

“Fine. But no cheating this time—Cormac!” The words are barely out of my mouth when Cormac scoops me up onto his shoulder and sprints with me to the showers.

After an intimate shower to wash away the sweat, Cormac decides against the car and instead we walk arm in arm through the streets toward the restaurant with the warm sun beating down from above. Our guards do an excellent job of blending with the crowd so it almost feels like we’re a normal couple heading to lunch.

“Rocky called earlier, when you were drying off,” Cormac says. “He wanted to know how many spaces you have at the shelter near the docks. He’s got some people he wants you to take care of.”

“The docks?”

The past six months have been a whirlwind. Cormac wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted me in charge of the motels he was building, and Sunrise was demolished and rebuilt with impressive speed. That was only the beginning. Within two months, I found myself in charge of multiple shelters around the city and several motels that I turned into safe havens. They became beacons for people like Holly, who settled easily into the manager role at Sunrise, or for people like me, growing up in a cold home and needing love that didn’t come from credit cards. With Rocky becoming a firm friend after he saved Cormac’s life and helped rescue me, helping him is a guarantee.

“I can check the rosters, but I’m pretty sure we have some rooms freedown there. If not, I can put them up at Sunrise because I know we have three rooms there.”

“I’ll let him know.” Cormac tightens his grip briefly around my shoulders. “He was concerned you would say no.”

“In what life would I say no?” I gaze up at him, squinting slightly in the sun. “Is this because I had dinner with Anastasia?”

Thankfully, the Russians were finding internal peace, which meant Anastasia finally had time to focus on issues outside of her internal dealings. She’d voiced an interest in the shelters I offered around the city. So far, all she wanted was to provide a monetary contribution, but I still hadn’t settled on whether to accept her offer.

“Perhaps. The Italians and Russians have a lot of bad blood. Old bad blood thanks to her father, but it’s the kind of pain that isn’t forgotten,” Cormac explains. “Maybe he thought you were favoring them more.”

“I think we can be amicable with both,” I say, glancing into the windows of shops we stroll past. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t accept from Rocky after what he did. His father, on the other hand…” I trail off. That man had been salty ever since Rocky had stepped in to smooth things over with Cormac. There are rumors that he still holds some resentment to the accusations and refuses to accept Noah’s guilt. It's an odd hill to die on.

“His father is a whole other deal,” Cormac agrees. “But don’t think about him. Think about the good you are doing. Rocky will be pleased that you can help.”

“Of course. Oh, is Cian back from Ireland yet?”

“Next week,” Cormac replies. “He’s really intent on renovating that farm.”

“I think it’s sweet.” His passion for all things heritage really exploded after he experienced two days fearing his family was about to crumbleunderneath him. He’s putting us to shame with the amount of time he spends back at the ranch.

“It’s certainly a choice.” Cormac chuckles. “But he’s happy and that’s all I can ask for.”

“Speaking of happy.” I glance back up at Cormac. “Don’t you think we’re due a holiday?”

“A holiday?”

“Yeah. Somewhere nice and hot where we can just be me and you and not worry about anything else.”

Cormac tilts his head and hums softly. “Sometimes, I feel like you read my mind.”

“Really? Why?”

As we reach the restaurant, Cormac winks at me but he doesn’t reply. Instead, he holds the door open and ushers me inside with a sweep of his arm. I’m hit with the scents of spices and cream, along with a few floral notes that put my soul at ease while reminding me how hungry I am.

However, instead of being faced with a bustling restaurant, the place is empty.

A thousand twinkling droplet lights dangle from the ceiling, sparkling away like the night sky has made an appearance just for me. The floor is covered in deep red rose petals, and every single table has a single candle burning away, creating a warm, cozy aura under the sparkling lights. If I squint, I’d swear there was glitter shimmering in the air, but I can’t pinpoint the source. Soft flute music fills the air, and my stomach twists into knots as confusion warms in my mind.

“Cormac, I think we’ve walked in on—” I turn to him, and my heart stops dead in my chest.

Cormac is down on one knee, smiling softly while holding a sparkling ring. The emerald cut stone at the center gleams at me, surrounded by an array of colorful smaller gemstones that all wink in the light.

I can’t breathe. Heat pours over my skin as if I’ve just walked into a sauna and the maxi dress I’m wearing suddenly doesn’t feel good enough.

“Evelyn.”

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