Page 7 of Wine & Warlocks

With a dark scowl, he grabbed his injured appendage. “I’ve learned you got the devil of a temper!”

“You’re not the man I want, Ronan O’Connor. The man I thought I met in New York. You can never behim, because he doesn’t exist.” Embarrassed by the thick emotion in her throat and the tears burning her eyes, she turned away. “All I want is a man to be honest with me. And I don’t believe you know how.”

As Ronan watchedDubheasa sail out the door Trevor Blane had exited through a minute before, he rubbed his aching chest. In his need to muck up his father’s life, he’d thoroughly fucked his own. Who knew the prettycailínhe’d flirted with to con his way into Lamda Unlimited and whom he’d eventually hooked up with would end up being the one woman he desired above all others? The true love of his life?

A small part of him wondered if his feelings were only an obsession, similar to how he’d been with Rebecca Walsh-Thorne. Aye, he’d loved her once, and sure, he still held affection for her. Bec wasthemajor regret that wouldn’t go away, but mainly for the way he’d handled the situation. He’d been young and stupid but not entirely to blame, though Bec and her family would claim differently. The coined phrase “it takes two to tango” was an overused cliché for a reason, and she’d been the more experienced adult of the two of them.

Stubborn to a fault, Ronan had pursued Bec with a single-minded purpose, but had she been happy at home, she’d have never fallen for his seduction. Yes, he had the ability to influence her mind had he so desired, but he’d not done it. Never would he claim to be a saint, but he’d not sinkthatlow.

“Fucking hell, Ronan,” he muttered to himself, rubbing the painful spot in the middle of his forehead, where a tension headache had begun to form. As he observed Dubheasa laugh at something Trevor said, he realized he was in for the fight of his life to earn her trust. “Get your bleeding head out of your arse and smarten up. Make better choices, ya fool.”

His desire for her was overwhelming him and scrambling his brains. After one night, Dubheasa had awakened something in him he’d long thought dead. Emotions that trumped his feelings for Bec and everyone else combined. From here on out, he needed to be completely transparent with her if he wanted a snowball’s chance in hell of winning her.

“She’s hurt, but if you can prove you’ve changed, she’ll forgive ya, Ronan.”

He jumped and cursed himself for a lovesick eejit for not hearing Bridget approach. Years of punishment and Loman O’Connor’s life lessons had taught him to never let his guard down.

“I thought I had,” he replied. “Would Damian let me protect his daughter if he believed I hadn’t changed?”

“Your question is valid, but I’m not the one after answerin’ it, am I?” Bridget brushed back a lock of her coppery-red hair and sighed as she shook her head. “Sure, and give her a little time. And I’d be laying off the charm if I were you. The more pressure, the more she’ll resist. That’s her way.”

“Are you telling me this to actually help me, then, Bridget O’Malley?” He grinned at the thought of an O’Malley offering to assist an O’Connor in any way. “I’d have thought you’d consign me to the devil and be done with it.”

Stretching to the tips of her toes, she patted his cheek. “And there was a time I’d have done just that. But that time has passed. I’m grateful for the help you offered Ruairí and me. And for what you’ve done for my family when they needed it. Trust is harder won for you, Ronan O’Connor, because of your past, but we’re all trying to be fair.”

He glanced up and noticed his cousin standing behind her. With a leer and a wink, Ronan said, “I’m certain I heard you say you’re in love with me, Bridg. Poor Ruairí will be heartbroken to learn it.”

With a gasp, she stomped on his instep—the same fucking place her hellion sister had gotten him not five minutes before. When he bent over to grab his foot, she lightly hit him in the forehead with the heel of her hand. “You’re not to be causin’ trouble with your flirty ways, ya eejit. Don’t think I don’t know your cousin’s behind me.”

“Fecking hell, woman! I was only codding ya both!”

“Well don’t. Get your arse in the Black Cat’s kitchen before the spell wears off and you short-circuit the wards, why don’t ya!”

“You’re a shrew.” He danced back out of striking distance with a laugh. “But a beautiful one, to be sure.” Nodding to Ruairí, he said, “Best of luck to you, man. You’re bound to be black and blue for life.”

“Go on with ya, you tool.” Bridget smiled widely to take the sting from her words.

The two of them had found a common ground of sorts. They both intended to see to Ruairí’s happiness.

Ronan looked between the two of them, and thanks to his nifty Guardian abilities, he was able to absorb the sensation of their contentment and love, feeling the rightness in his soul. It only made his self-pity that much stronger, though he’d never let it show.

“It’s happy I am that you two found each other again,” he said quietly and in all seriousness. “I’m only sorry there were so many years wasted.”

Ruairí’s smile was understanding as he wrapped his arm around Bridget’s shoulders. “Likely we needed those wasted years to appreciate what we have.” The love in his cousin’s brilliant blue eyes as he looked down at his mate caused Ronan’s heart to spasm. Theirs was a love to last many lifetimes. As happy as he was for them, he was jealous and wanted the same for himself.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and entered the alley. Dubheasa looked up, and for the second when her expression was unguarded, she didn’t appear to hate him all that much. Ronan’s optimism shot up.

CHAPTER4

“How’s Vivian?” Ronan asked Damian after they’d dialed him in for a conference call.

“Well. As is baby Nate.” The pride in his friend’s voice told Ronan everything he needed to know; Damian Dethridge was as smitten with his newborn son as he was with his wife and young daughter, Sabrina. “I apologize for not attending this meeting in person, but I’m not leaving Vivian when she needs me.”

“And if I’m remembering correctly, it’s Sabrina’s birthday today, too,” Ronan said.

“As if Beastie was ever going to let you forget.” Damian’s dry response was followed by a chuckle. “I’m to take her to pick out two puppies tomorrow, if you can believe it.”

“Ah, yeah, she had me escorting her to Baz’s place a time or ten to see them. But two? Are ya mad, man? No one in their right mind should be adopting two pups at the same time.”

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