Page 99 of Beside Golden Irish Fields
Strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her against his big muscular body. “Don’t do this, Bets. I know I gave my word to you, but if you come with me, I promise you’ll feel better.”
“It’s all destroyed,” she whispered, fighting his warmth.
“No,mo ghrá,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
She gripped his arms at the endearment.My love.“Don’t call me that. Please.”
“To call you anything else would be a lie to my own heart, and I won’t have that on my conscience. Now. Let’s go. Don’t make me haul you out of this bed.”
Turning around, she shoved at his chest. “Liam wouldn’t let you.”
His thick silver brows rose. “Let me? Woman, he was the one who let me inside and then some. You should know I spoke with Liam before I started courting you, and he and your other boys all approved of me.”
That made her sit up straight. “They did not!” How could they not have told her?
“They did indeed.” He set his hands on her arms and rubbed them gently. “I know you have your suspicions, Bets, but I won’t have you cutting me out of your heart without a fair showing, and I certainly won’t lose you over something like this. Come with me now. I don’t want to be tough with you, but this is too important. I saw the way you looked at me when I left with my sheep.”
She pushed off the bed, swayed as much by the emotion in his voice as by his argument. “Fine, I’m fair-minded. Where are we going?”
“First, to my pasture and then to a special place.” He extended his large hand. “If you want a chaperone, I can ask my father to join us.”
A bubble of humor worked its way up inside her. “We’re both over sixty. I doubt we need a chaperone. But where’s this special place?”
“I’m keeping its location secret until the last moment, but it’s my solution to today’s problem.” He shook his hand at her. “Now, are you going to take my hand or continue to stand there looking cross at me? It’s time to trust me, Betsy O’Hanlon.”
She took his hand.
He squeezed it and then ventured closer, until he was towering over her. Such a large man should make her feel smaller, but he didn’t. His size was as comforting as his tender gaze. “Thank you. I’ll drive.”
They ventured down the stairs, holding hands. Liam appeared in the main hall holding a bottle of beer. “Good. You have her up. Mum, I was hoping you wouldn’t be that stubborn. Listen to what Donal has to say.”
“You already know? How is that?”
“Because he and I have an understanding, Mum.” Liam inclined his chin. “Now that the cat’s out of the bag, so to speak, I’ve no problem telling you Wyatt and Rhys are of the same mind.”
She was huffing as Donal drew her toward his Mercedes. “Bets, you raised right fine boys. Now let’s have a pleasant ride, shall we?”
“Your pasture is just around the corner.”
“I plan to drive slow.” He hit the touchscreen for the music, and Bon Jovi’s “Always” came on. “I’ve been listening to the band since you love it. This song seemed a good choice for this moment.”
He couldn’t be serious? This song was about loving someone. Always. She turned her head, studying his tight jaw. “Youareserious.”
“I told I wouldn’t lose you over this, Bets O’Hanlon.”
The music continued, Jon singing about loving someone forever. When Donal said no more, she pressed back into the leather seat in shock. He’d talked to her boys, and they were in favor of him. If that wasn’t monumental enough, he’d called hermo ghrá. He’d been listening to her favorite songs…
He parked in front of the pasture gate when they arrived, and his scowl was fearsome as they got out and faced each other over his car. Why was he so angry?
“Come see.” He strode to the gate. “Someone cut my rope.”
She put her hand on his car to steady herself. “What?”
He thrust a pointer finger in its direction. “When I realized how stupid I was to let my sheep out to get your attention, especially with your roses starting to bloom, I increased my fencing. You might not know it, but I have interlocking fences. Usually that’s good enough, but I wanted to be extra sure—especially after Carrick’s sheep got out on a whim. I thought that was strange.”
He wasn’t wrong. It had been strange. But he clearly didn’t know about Sorcha’s involvement from beyond. Probably not the time to mention it.
“I added this blue polybraid gate rope, which is as sturdy as an ox. I had to climb my own gate to get to my sheep, but I was willing to do it for you. Come take a look at the sabotage.”
