Page 73 of After Indigo Irish Nights
His father patted his back. “Yes, there’s time. I’ll stay and take care of Paul Keane and his manager when they arrive. Someone should be here to welcome them and show them their locker room.”
“I’ll stay with you,” Seamus said after they all nodded as one. “Declan, you run along and check on Kathleen. Then you hustle back here. Your head will need to be emptied out after this, but you should see for yourself that she’s all right.”
He nodded. “I’m off then.”
“That she-devil, Mary, and her devil son, Owen.” Eoghan put his hand on his forehead. “They’re up to no good, threatening dear Kathleen. And on the day of your fight.”
“They’re a pack of cowards,” Seamus said.
“I want to punch them,” Eoghan ground out in a tone Declan had never heard him use.
“Me too, but it won’t solve anything,” Declan’s father said harshly.
Everyone around these parts knew Gavin McGrath was the most affable of men—and most of the time it was true. But he could be roused to a righteous anger when a wrong was committed, especially against someone he cared about or a woman.
He looked around at the lot of them, then asked, “Is anyone wondering if I plan to stop by the hole Owen’s living in and beat him to a pulp?”
“Wouldn’t blame you,” his father said, “knowing you’re after the Yank. You love her. You haven’t said as such, but I know my son.”
He paused for a moment. So everyone had known his heart. He wondered if Kathleen did too. “I do, at that. Dad, I don’t want Mary and her poison to touch her. Or Owen. He’s a bad man.”
“If there’s one thing as sure as rain in Ireland it’s that Mary and her minions will continue to do their evil,” his father said. “But we stand ready to respond to it.”
“She won’t go down without a fight,” Donal said. “She must have heard about our politicking with council members and our hopes for the fight. Hard to contain such talk in this town. She and her like are worthy adversaries, but those are the most enjoyable to defeat. I’m off. Dad, are you coming?”
Eoghan nodded, and they all started for the front door. Seamus busied himself with aggressively rearranging chairs already straight.
“I’ll be right behind you,” Declan called.
His father put a hand on his arm, his eyes gleaming with emotion. “I’m glad you love the Yank. She’s good for you.”
His throat filled. His emotions were running high, way too high before a fight. “I’m good for her as well. Only, we’re taking our time.”
“Good to take your time, but take the advice of a man who’s been married forty some years… Don’t take too much time for things after things are understood. It only pisses a woman off. You understand me?”
“I understand. Thanks for taking care of things over here, Dad.”
He took the roads a little faster than he should, but he’d known them since he was a boy. When he arrived at Bets’ house, Kathleen was waiting outside, her arms crossed. She immediately charged toward him past the other cars in the driveway.
“I tried to call you to tell you I was fine, but your phone was off,” she said the moment he’d left the car. “Donal got here a few minutes ago and told us you were coming. Go back and focus on your fight.”
When she stopped in front of him, he gripped her arms and then pulled her against his body. “How can you think I wouldn’t come to you after what happened? I have half a mind to visit Owen and give him a beating for what he did today.”
“That’s a great idea.” She pushed back and stared at him with a small smile. “Let me visualize it for a moment. A right hook to his creepy mouth and a hard kick to the nuts…” Her eyes brightened with humor. “Okay, I’m done. Declan, he isn’t worth it. Plus, you need to save it for Paul tonight. Owen was majorly icky, but I took care of it. And Sorcha appeared to Ellie to send her out to the shed—”
“I’ll have to thank her for that,” Declan said, sniffing the air for oranges and finding none. “She knows his true nature. We all do. Kathleen, I don’t want you alone in the shed anymore.”
She rolled her eyes, pissing him off. “That’s ridiculous. Owen was just trying to cause trouble—and right before the fight. His mother must be some piece of work. Please go focus on the fight. It’s less than two hours away. I don’t want you to worry about this—”
“Not worry?” He took her face in his hands. “Dammit, woman, how could I not?I love you.For fuck’s sake, Kathleen, don’t tell me my business.”
She poked him in the chest. “Excuse me?” she said with wide eyes. “Did you just say, ‘I love you’?”
“Yes!” He kissed her once, twice. “I thought it was about time you heard it.”
Grabbing his neck, she pulled him down for another kiss. This one had urgency and longing. Then she pushed away and stepped back, her hands on her hips. “I love you too. Now go and get ready for your fight, dammit.”
She strode off, but he’d seen the glow in her eyes. He rubbed his chest as he watched her stalk inside. She loved him. She might as well have hit him with a board. He’d known it, but hearing it… His head went light.
