Page 2 of Highballs & Hexes

“For myself, not a bleedin’ thing. Anu, on the other hand, wants a progress report.”

“Well, I don’t have one, so you can feck all the way off, yeah?”

Ronan’s silvery stare turned hard as diamonds, and his jaw looked to be made of granite. “Hate me if you must, Patrick O’Malley, but I’m not your enemy. That was Loman, and he’s gone.”

“Aye, and you’re the spitting image of the man. You can’t be telling me the apple falls far fromthatcursed tree! Rotten, the lot of ye!” His anger gave him strength, and he stalked over to Ronan. “And if you hurt my daughter in any way, you’ll be answering to me, ya will.”

“I’d lay down my life for her,” Ronan said somberly.

The sincerity in his tone couldn’t be denied, and a smidgeon of Patrick’s burning rage cooled. How could he remain angry in the face of a revelation like Ronan’s? The young man had begged Loman to save her—right before the bastard killed him to prove a point.

For a split second, Patrick experienced remorse.

No onedeserved a father like Loman.

“He’s as far from the rotten apple as you’ll get, Da,” Dubheasa stated as she entered the room to stand beside her man. “You’ve got to accept we love and trust him, yeah? Ronan has saved us time and again from his father. Are you unable to remember what happened on the island, then?”

“I remember,” Patrick grumbled. But his faith had been broken many years ago by those close to him, so it was doubtful he’d ever trust the son of his lifetime enemy, even if he were so inclined. “You can tell Anu I’m after doing reconnaissance today. But damn me if a goddess shouldn’t already know that.”

Other than a thoughtful narrowing of his direct silvery gaze, Ronan remained silent.

“Don’t you have children to watch?” Patrick waited a beat to rub it in. “A glorified feckin’ nanny, ya are.”

Anger flared to life in the Guardian’s eyes, but still, he said nothing. Dubheasa, however, had plenty to say.

“You’ll not be talking to him like that, Da. If you can’t be civil, you’ll shut your gob.”

Although Patrick had been half serious with his jab, he didn’t appreciate the way his daughter was quick to fight Ronan’s battles. “Don’t be disrespecting me, girl. I’m your da, and you’ll?—”

“I’ll nothing! You weren’t around to raise Eoin or me, so you’ll have no say in what we do now.” With a toss of her glossy black hair, she rested fisted hands on her hips, and with the exception of her emerald eyes, she was the spitting image of Rose.

His heart knew the difference, but he experienced a pang anyway.

“And respect is earned, Da. When you show you’re deserving of it, you’ll be getting it, and not a moment before.” She elbowedher mate without turning her head to look at him. “And you can wipe that feckin’ grin off your face, Ronan O’Connor.”

Clearly, she had eyes in the back of her head.Orshe knew the man better than Patrick suspected.

“Sure, and I can’t help it, Dove,” Ronan replied with a deep chuckle. “You’ve a fierce temper, and it sparks joy in my heart.”

“Pfft. Go on with ya, then.”

But her scowl softened, and her eyes lit with humor as she gazed up at him. In return, he stared down at her as if she were the moon to his stars. The two were mad for each other.

Patrick wanted to howl his anger and grief that she’d let a traitor into their lives, but she was right in the fact he had no voice in the matter. If he were being objective, he’d say the two of them made a beautiful couple. They’d made an even more beautiful baby.

“Where’s Rory? I want to spoil my grandson,” he said.

Ronan’s eyes were marginally warmer when he looked away from Dubheasa and locked on Patrick. “You’ll need to fight his Aunt Ro for the pleasure. She stole him from Dove the instant she arrived this morning.”

“Tell her and Carrick to make their own. I’m to be the boy’s favorite.”

His teasing did what he’d intended, and Dubheasa laughed before kissing his grisly cheek.

“You need a shave and shower. When you’re done, I’ll be sure Roisin surrenders our gremlin to you.”

“You’re a good egg,” Patrick said with a wink. “One with horrible taste in men, but I’ll not be holding it against ya.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head before patting his cheek. “Keep it up, and you’ll be blacklisted from the babysitter roster.”

---