Page 135 of Where We Bloom

“Are you enjoying retirement?” I ask him as I set my napkin in my lap.

“Goodness, no,” Maeve says, shaking her head with a laugh. “He’s bored out of his bleedin’ mind.”

Connor’s eyes sharpen on his father. “Why didn’t you say something?”

Patrick shakes his head. “I’ll find things to fill my time. Golf isn’t it for me.”

“Da, you can come back?—”

“No, lad.” Patrick shakes his head again. “That’s for you now. The truth is, I don’t want to go back to the office. We enjoy being in Galway, and now that both you and Skyla are in Montana, we’ll come out there more often.”

“Perhaps, if someone would give us wee babies to hold and smother with love, we wouldn’t be so bored.” Maeve stares at her son, and I hide my smile behind my glass of wine.

“You’re not as subtle as you once were,” Connor says to his mother.

“I’m running out of time to be subtle,” she insists. “I want babies to hold and love before I leave this earth, Connor Declan Gallagher.”

I can’t hold back the bubble of laughter that escapes, and Maeve turns her attention to me.

“Do you want children, Billie?”

Connor mutters, “Christ,” under his breath, earning a glare from his mother.

“Sure, one day. For now, I spoil my niece, Birdie. Did you hear that Dani and Bridger are going to have another baby?”

“No, we hadn’t heard,” Patrick says, eyeing his wife with tender love in his green eyes. “That’s lovely then.”

“I’m sure your parents are filled with joy,” Maeve says, her eyes welling with tears.

“You know what I think is really great?” I ask her, and she turns her attention to me, sniffling against her napkin. “That you don’t have to be related to someone by blood to show them affection and love. I know, without a doubt in my mind, that my brother’s new baby will need all the attention they can get. So please feel welcome to come to Bitterroot Valley anytime to get all the baby snuggles you need. Dani doesn’t have parents of her own, but that baby will have a lot of people around to shower him or her with affection. And Birdie is the sweetest little thing, as you know. If I remember correctly, she loved hearing the Irish stories you told her, Patrick, when we were in London.”

“We’ll have to go soon. And then spend the holidaysthere as well,” Maeve says to Patrick, who nods while watching me.

Connor takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles as dinner is served.

Chapter Twenty-Five

CONNOR

“Christ, you’re a vision.” Taking Billie’s hand in mine, I lift it to my lips and pepper the back of her hand with kisses. She’s in another off-the-shoulder black dress, but this one is shorter, hitting just above her knees and hugging her delicious curves.

“You simply take my breath away.”

“Thank you. You always look divine in a suit. Is that Armani?”

With a grin, I gesture for her to get into the car, then follow her inside and pull her next to me. “Of course, it is.”

She smirks and leans into me as we drive away from the house. “Where are we going? Do I get to know yet?”

It’s been four days since we had dinner with my parents, and she made them fall almost as in love with her as I am. She made them feel like they were part of her family, and that’s something about her that’s so fucking special.

We’ve spent our time mostly at home, but I have taken her out to some of my favorite restaurants and gone on drives to show her the scenery. I’ve shown her my home, and she’s soaked it all in, not just for my sake but because she’s truly enjoying herself.

I’ve always loved travel, but exploring with my angel is a whole new experience that I’m quickly becoming addicted to.

However, tonight is special.

“We’re going to an art gallery exhibit,” I inform her.

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