Page 102 of The Bossy One

I sorted through all of the little things that had upset me today, trying to pick the most important one. “I really don’t like that book.”

Declan nodded, his face as serious as if we were talking about an important deal for Snug. “Then we’ll ask for another book or reach out to alternative sponsors. You’re too talented to give up at the first hurdle.”

“That’s the other problem.” I rolled my shoulders and stepped back out of his grasp. “You keep treating me like one of your business projects. I’m not sure if I even want to become a sponsored blog. Maybe I just want to be a nanny who reviews books for fun.”

“Bullshit.” Declan glared. “If you wanted to be a nanny forever, you wouldn’t have studied creative writing at uni. You wouldn’t havesold a book.You wouldn’t have built a blog read by people all over the world.” He advanced until we stood toe to toe. “You want more, even if you’re scared to admit it.”

The accusation hit my heart like an arrow, piercing past my defenses…because he was right. A part of medidwant more. I wanted a family, and I wanted a home, and I wanted to take a risk on a potentially unstable artistic career.

I’d been trying so hard to live in the moment and cherish what I had instead of mourning what I didn’t, I’d slowly stopped paying attention to that part of me that dared to dream bigger.

I crossed my arms. “Maybe I have trouble admitting what I want. But you do too.”

“I do not—”

“You keep trying to help me on business things that we both know would make it possible for me to stay in Ireland,” I said. I knew I should stop talking, but the words were flowing now, and I couldn’t hold them back. “But you can’t bring yourself to ask me to stay in Ireland. You can’t even bring yourself to say youwanta real, serious relationship.”

Declan looked stunned. “Is that what you want? For me to ask you to stay?”

I threw my hands up in the air. “I don’t know! I just…you…argh. I can’tthinkaround you.”

I turned around and stormed back into the house.

For once, Declan let me.

33

DECLAN

Iwatched Olivia stomp away from me. Her yellow shirt made her look like a shooting star getting away from me as fast as she possibly could.

Did she actually want to stay in Ireland? Or did she just want me to want her to stay?

I knew I wanted more time with her. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that actually asking her to stay implied promises I wasn’t ready to make. I would be asking her to give up the career she’d had since college and the country she’d had since birth, all for a relationship I wasn’t quite willing to name. As much as I wanted to say,Stay,it wasn’t fair for me to ask her for that unless I could offer her something better in return.

I hesitated, unsure whether it was better to go after Olivia or give her some time.

My phone buzzed while I was making up my mind. I frowned, not recognizing the number.

“Hello. You have Declan Byrne.”

“Declan, hello! It’s Colm from theBallybeith Press. I’m sure you know it?”

I rolled my eyes. TheBallybeith Presswas a digital newsletter that got emailed to everyone in town once a week whether they wanted it or not. It didn’t matter how many times you unsubscribed yourself from the list, someone else would helpfully add you back on. Colm had retired from his actual career about five years ago, and since then, all of his free time went into our little local newsletter.

“Sure, Colm. What can I do for you?” I kicked a rock. It was probably another bloody fundraiser. I never resented donating money to support village stuff, but I hated the song and dance and endless small talk that went with it. I wanted to wrap this up, so I could go inside to Olivia.

“As you may know, someone bought the O’Rourke mansion yesterday. And a certain town councilman hinted that someone was you,” Colm said.

I raised my head, focusing on the conversation for the first time.

“I’d love to do a brief piece for tomorrow’s newsletter. Announce you as the new owner, explain your plans for the property, that sort of thing.” He laughed. “I still can’t believe O’Rourke sold it to anyone, let alone you. And the sale was so fast!”

I grinned, wolfish. Ithadbeen a fast sale. O’Rourke had been desperate to sell, and I’d made a cash offer well above asking price. He probably thought he’d gotten the better end of the deal.

Little did he know.

“Declan?” Colm prodded. “Can you confirm you’re the property’s new owner?”

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