The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy

When he came back, he sat, folded his arms on the table, and gave Aidan a level look. “I’m taking ten minutes here to tell you what I think. But first I have a question. In all this telling her what you wanted and how it would be and what should be done, did you happen to mention that you love her?”
    “Of course I did.” Hadn’t he? Aidan shifted in his chair, moved his shoulder. “She knows I love her. A man doesn’t ask a woman to be his wife unless he loves her.”
    “First off, Aidan, you didn’t ask her at all, but told her, and that’s a different matter entirely. Plus it seems to me the one who asked her before didn’t love her, else he wouldn’t have broken his vows to her before a year was up. Certainly she’d have no reason to think he loved her, would she?”
    “No, but—”
    “Did you tell her or not?”
    “Maybe I didn’t. It’s not so easy just to blurt such a thing out.”
    “Why?”
    “It just isn’t,” Aidan muttered. “And I’m not some bloody Yank who’d leave her that way. I’m an Irishman who keeps his word, a Catholic who thinks of marriage as a sacrament.”
    “Oh, well, then, that’ll convince her. If she marries you it’ll be a matter of your honor and your religion that keeps you with her.”
    “That’s not what I meant.” His head was starting to spin. “I’m just saying she should trust me not to hurt her the way she’s been hurt.”
    “Better, Aidan, she trusts you to love her as she’s never been loved.”
    Aidan opened his mouth, shut it again. “When did you get so smart?”
    “Nearly thirty years of watching people, and avoiding the situation you find yourself in. I don’t think she’s a woman who’s been given love and respect in equal measure. And she needs them.”
    “I have both for her.”
    “I know you do.” Sympathy stirred and Shawn gave Aidan’s arm a squeeze. “But she doesn’t. It’s time to humble yourself. That’s the hardest thing for you, I know. She’ll know it, too.”
    “You’re saying I have to grovel.”
    Now Shawn flashed a grin. “Your knees’ll take it.”
    “I suppose they will. Can’t be more painful than a broken nose.”
    “Do you want her?”
    “More than anything.”
    “If you don’t tell her just that, if you don’t give her your heart, Aidan, if you don’t bare it for her and give her the time to trust what she sees there, you’ll never have her.”
    “She might turn me away again.”
    “She might.” Shawn rose, laid a hand on Aidan’sshoulder. “It’s a risk. I don’t recall you ever being afraid of taking a chance.”
    “Then here’s another first for you.” Aidan reached up, laid his hand on his brother’s. “I’m terrified.” A little shaky in the gut, he rose. “I’ll take a walk if you can hold things here. Get my mind clear before I go see her.” Then he touched his fingers gingerly to his nose. “How bad is it?”
    “Oh,” Shawn said cheerfully. “It’s bad. And it’ll get worse.”
     
    Her hand hurt like six devils. If she hadn’t been so busy cursing, she would have worried she’d broken something in it. But as she could still make a fist, she assumed it was only jarred from ramming into the concrete block that disguised itself as Aidan Gallagher’s head.
    The first thing she did was grab the phone and change her airline reservations. She was leaving the very next day. Not that Aidan was running her off—oh, no indeed. She just wanted to get to Chicago, handle what needed to be handled quickly, efficiently, and personally before she came back.
    Then she would plant herself in Faerie Hill Cottage and live a long and happy life doing as she chose, when she chose, and with whom she chose. And the single person who was not on that list of choices was Aidan Gallagher.
    She called Mollie and arranged for her to dog-sit Finn.
    Already missing him and riddled with guilt for leaving him behind, she picked him up and hugged him.
    “You’ll have a wonderful time at the O’Tooles’. You’ll see. And I’ll be back before you know I’m gone. I’ll bring you a present.” She kissed his nose.
    Since she was in no mood to work, she went upstairs to pack. She wouldn’t need much. Even if the business ofrelocating took a week or two, she had clothes in Chicago. She’d make do with no more than her carry-on and her laptop and feel very cosmopolitan.
    Once she was on the plane, she’d settle back with a glass of celebratory champagne and make a list of all