Page 64 of Surrender
Gwen choked out a sob and nodded again. “Me too.”
The two of them stood in the middle of the pub, clutching each other’s hands as if afraid to let go, blinking through tears and barely breathing. It was as if the entire room had gone still to honor the moment, like the universe itself knew it was witnessing something sacred.
Keefe reached for Gwen’s back, just a soft, grounding touch. Shamus’s face was wet again, his smile uncontainable. Even Connor, who had come in behind Darcie, had wet eyes.
And then Nan, who had been watching quietly from behind the bar, walked over.
She didn’t smile. But her voice, when she spoke, was soft and reverant. “Gwen,” she said, “this family isn’t sustained through blood but through friendship.”
Gwen looked over at her, lips trembling.
Nan gave her a small, meaningful nod. “You’ve got plenty of both now. So don’t muck it up.”
That was as good a blessing as Gwen could’ve hoped for.
Darcie laughed through her tears, still holding Gwen’s hands. Gwen laughed too—wet and shaky but real.
And just like that, for the first time in her life, Gwen wasn’t alone.
Chapter 19
Okay, he was absolutely skulking.
He stood just inside the doorway to the back hallway of the pub, peeking around the corner like a man on the run. He knew exactly how ridiculous he must have looked—half-hidden behind the broom closet, his hair a mess, and his shirt still wrinkled from Gwen’s hands.
But desperate times and all that.
He knew it was a risk when Gwen drove him to work. Even more so when he saw his sister’s car already parked out back. And then she kissed him goodbye—a kiss that went long, deep, and left no room for pretending it hadn’t happened.
He’d barely had time to recover from that kiss—his back still pressed against the passenger seat, his brain still somewhere around sweet holy hell—when Gwen gave him one last wink and drove off like she hadn’t just turned his life upside down.
Now here he was, hiding like a coward from his sister, praying she didn’t come around the corner and ask why he smelled like Gwen’s perfume and looked like he’d just tumbled out of bed.
Which, to be fair, he had.
Or technically, the couch first—then the bed. But the details hardly mattered if Sophie found out. Ever since he left the christening early, she’d been suspicious, tossing him the occasional side-eye. And if she caught wind of this morning’s goodbye, she’d have her confirmation, no words required.
Keefe ran a hand through his hair in a futile attempt to tame it. No use. The woman had fingers like a hurricane.
He peeked around the corner again.
Clear.
“Keefe,” came Ginny’s voice from behind him, amused and far too loud for his liking, “are you skulking?”
“No,” he said quickly. “Of course not.”
Ginny snorted. “Oh yes, you are. And I know why too!” she lowered her voice to a scolding whisper. “I saw you chewing the face off?—”
“Shhh!” Keefe hissed, spinning around and grabbing her by the arm. “My sister will hear you!”
He yanked her into the office and ever so gently, cautiously, closed the door behind them.
Ginny’s brows shot up as she crossed her arms.
“All right, yes, you’re right.” Keefe ran a hand through his hair. “You saw what you saw. Gwen and I are back together.”
Ginny grinned like Christmas had come early. She loved being in on a secret. “I knew it! I mean, I had my suspicions, but seeing you two behind the pub like that?” she dramatically wiped her brow, “I should have filmed it.”
