Page 60 of Bargain with the Irish Devil

“You’ve been going a thousand miles a minute since you were a teenager. Lay on the couch and read some books. Aoife told me you liked helping her make bread. If you’re interested in it, fine. But you aren’t going to serve me or anyone. Take up knitting, there’s a rose bush in the back that needs attention, find something to do for fun. I want to see you smiling more.”

“You make it so hard not to love you.” She sighs.

“Good.”

Miranda

The next day, I call my boss and let him know I’m resigning. He’s not happy but doesn’t try to argue. His one request is for me to work for a week to close out clients and help those taking over know what’s going on.

With Declan staring me down, I agree to a week. And repeat what Declan says, I’ll be in no earlier than nine and out by five—no more late nights.

Ending the call, it takes a moment for it to sink in. I have no idea why I start crying. I’m instantly in Declan’s arms.

A large hand runs up and down my back. “I know, my love. It’s scary. Your work was a safe place. Somewhere you could go and be in control. As comfortable to you as your home. Leaving is overwhelming. I swear, if I thought you would do it the right way andnot let it consume you and take away from us—I wouldn’t have asked you to leave.”

How does he get me more than I do? I had no idea why I was crying until he said it. It’s overwhelming, as though I’m floating in the middle of the big, wide ocean all alone.

Except I’m not alone. Declan has me in his arms. It wasn’t about his need to control me. He asked me to quit because he wanted to see me happy. For me to find a life outside of work. A life with him in it. I’ll take that any day.

Miranda

It’s Sunday, and tomorrow, I’m going to go back to work for the week.

“What sounds good for dinner?” Declan asks as he pulls me up off my knees from the rose bush I’ve been tending in the backyard.

“Hmm…” I wrap my arms around his waist. “I’ve been thinking of that tiramisu since we had it.”

“I like that idea. And I need to talk to Dominic.”

Taking off the apron and gloves, I store them in the carriage house Declan opened for me. “Should I change?”

His eyes run over the purple and pink sundress I’m wearing. “No, you look beautiful. I need to call Lydia so you two can go shopping together next week. You need more dresses like this. It’s perfect for the club.”

“A club? Are you sure I’m dressed okay?” I don’t have a choice as he’s guiding me to the Navigator and opening the door for me.

“I told you, you’re beautiful. It’s a private club with the best Italian kitchen in the city and gambling in the basement. Dominic likes to refer to it as a bar because he mainly just drinks there.” He chuckles as he starts the car.

Since he doesn’t appear bothered by the questions, I ask. “If he has gambling. Why is he okay with you having gambling in your pubs?”

“Because it’s not as though I’m taking his customers. Maybe ten percent of the people who gamble in his club would ever gamble in mine. His place is called a club as those who gamble there have to pay thirty thousand a year to be able to walk through the door. It gives them access to the kitchen and the gambling room. The Irish would never pay to gamble in his place. It’s a community thing. They wouldn’t trust the Italians not to cheat them either on a game or of the money they were owed.”

“That first day, I thought it was like you were a small-town mayor...”

He nods. “Pretty much. It doesn’t matter if they’re third-generation Irish or came over three months ago. They prefer to stay within their own countrymen as they feel it’s safer that way. It’s easier to pick up the phone and call me for advice and assistance than anyone else. I have their best interests at heart as a community.”

Tension eases within me. This is the good to the bad.

A very large man opens the door for us. Seeing Declan, he nods then his eyes go to me. “Hey, Declan. You here to meet with Dom?”

Declan shakes his head. “No, I’m here for dinner.” His hand on my waist squeezes me to him. “She loved the tiramisu. Although if he’shere, I wanted to check with him on how things shook out on his meeting with the Serbians.”

“He’s here. Tony too. They’re in Dom’s office. Just talking. Get you squared with dinner first?”

“I’m starving, so yeah.”

The man waves his hand, and a man comes from behind the bar. “Glad to see you join us for dinner rather than takeaway. And with a beautiful woman, lucky you.”

“Richie, this is Miranda. I’ve managed to sweet-talk her into believing I’m not all bad. So don’t go telling her the truth about me.”

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