Page 24

I hadn’t looked this hungover in decades.

I made my way downstairs, wondering if I had been in a car accident. My legs ached as hard as my head. I found Anna, Una, and Sully with Mum in the bright kitchen, a pot of tea on the table, the scent of fresh bread in the air.

“Morning,” I rasped out.

All four looked at me, then started to laugh. Anna came over, placing her hand on my chest. “Niall, it’s one o’clock. In the afternoon,” she added in case I didn’t understand.

“Holy feck,” I muttered.

“Is Finn alive?” Una asked with a grin.

“Since he’s doing an imitation of a piece of heavy machinery, I assume so,” I said, sitting down. “What the feck happened last night?”

Mum slid a cup of tea in front of me. I wanted coffee, but considering everything, I decided not to ask.

At least the tea was hot and strong. She shook her head.

“You and Finn got into a drinking game. You drank shots of whiskey and challenged each other to, ah, an Irish dance-off.” She bit her lip.

“It was one for the record books, my boy.”

“I haven’t Irish danced since I was a kid and you made me take lessons,” I protested, horrified.

“Apparently you remembered some of them. As did Finn.”

“The rest,” Sully finished with a smirk, “you made up with great gusto. I had no idea you could do the splits, Niall.”

I leaned my head on the table. “Feck. Neither did I.” No wonder my legs ached. Then I lifted my head. “Who won?”

“It was a draw. When the table you insisted on using collapsed under the weight of the two of you stomping on it like you were cast members of Riverdance , we called it,” Anna said, her eyes twinkling.

“I’m sure we were excellent,” I protested.

Mum snorted. “More arm-flinging and kicking like donkeys than dancing, really.”

I sputtered into my tea, choosing to ignore her even as they all laughed.

“And why is Finn on the floor?”

“Anna managed to get you to bed, and Finn came in to tell you something. He just sort of dumped himself there, and we decided to leave him when he started snoring,” Una informed me. “What a racket. I had no idea.”

“Too late,” Finn’s rough voice spoke from the door. “You married me. You’re stuck with me.”

He looked as awful as I felt. He sat next to Una, placing his head on her shoulder. “Oh, you reek,” she laughed. “Whiskey, cigars, and regret.”

“Help me,” he pleaded.

Mum stood. “Right. A good breakfast will sort you out. We have a lot to do today. You leave tomorrow, and I’ll not have you off with a hangover.”

I met Finn’s bloodshot eyes. He narrowed his and mouthed the words “I won.”

I shook my head. “Nope.”

“Rematch,” he muttered, then paused and rubbed his legs. “Never mind.”

We all started to laugh. I glanced at Sully, who nodded, letting me know all was set. Finn and Una were off to London for a week. I was taking Anna to Sully’s cottage. A week of peace, quiet, and privacy. I hadn’t told her, wanting it to be a surprise.

I only hoped I was recovered enough by tomorrow to enjoy it.

Thanks to Mum’s hearty breakfast and an early night—this time sleeping with Anna—I felt fine the next day.

We made our way to Dublin, kissing Mum goodbye with plans for her to meet us in seven days at the airport.

Once we arrived, we dropped Finn and Una off at his favorite hotel for a couple of days, then headed to the airport.

The jet flew Anna and me to Edinburgh. The pilot would return to Dublin and take Finn and Una to London in a couple of days.

We caught a train to the small village, Anna still in the dark about where we were going.

We strolled through the quaint town, taking in the quiet streets and friendly people.

Using the directions Sully had given me, I guided Anna to the shore’s edge, and we stared out at the expanse of water before us.

Then I turned her, pointing to the small stone cottage.

“There, mo mhuirnín. That’s our place for the next while . ”

She clasped her hands in delight and raced up the shore to the path. Laughing, I followed, holding on to the small case we’d brought. I opened the door for her with a flourish. “Ta-da!”

Inside, we looked around. The living area walls were whitewashed, the old floorboards gleaming in the afternoon sun that streamed in from the expansive windows.

Hand-braided rugs felt cozy under our feet.

The fireplace was stone like the outside, the hearth a huge piece of timber.

Two large wingback chairs were by the fireplace, and a small sofa sat in front of it.

Sully had told me he added the wing chairs so he had somewhere to sit.

The sofa was too small for him. I assumed he would change that eventually.

The cottage had a center hall—to one side, a kitchen, and the other, a bathroom and the only bedroom. That room held a queen-sized bed, a small wardrobe, and a nightstand. The quilt on the bed was handmade and faded, but the room was welcoming, done in cream and green.

“Sully has applied for planning permission to add to the back of the cottage and make this bigger,” I told Anna. “He needs a king-sized bed. And he wants a closet.”

Off the kitchen was a small conservatory where a table and a couple of chairs were set up. “He’ll add to this as well, he tells me.”

“It’s so perfect,” Anna murmured. “Cozy and warm. I can’t wait to see the sunrises from that porch.”

“I can’t wait to make love to you in front of that fireplace,” I said, wrapping her in my arms. “On that bed. Maybe the counter. By the water.”

“Planning ahead, are we?”

I laughed. “No one around to hear us. No Mum downstairs, no Finn next door trying to figure out the same thing—how to shag our women without making a sound.”

“You were pretty inventive.”

“Not often enough,” I growled, picking her up. “We have lots of time to make up for. And we’re starting now.”

She cupped my face. “Okay, Mr. Black. Do your worst.”

I woke up, already knowing the bed would be empty.

Every day, Anna got up and watched the sunrise, a cup of tea in her hand, a smile on her face.

She loved it here. The peace and quiet. The people.

The privacy. She went for walks by herself often—strolling into the village to pick up something sweet for dessert or to say hello to the group of old women she’d made friends with.

I’d followed her the first time, stealthy and unseen.

Until she called me out on it on the way back.

“Don’t give up your day job, Niall,” she called out. “Leave the stalking to the professionals.”

That was the day I made love to her on the porch after chasing her.

I sat up, feeling the sadness of knowing it was our last full day, but the excitement of knowing we were headed back home. We could get married. Start our life.

I pulled on my sweats and headed outside. Today, she stood on the shore, staring at the water. The last of the dawn was dissipating in the sky, the colors fading into light. I stepped behind her, wrapping my arms around her. “Hello, mo mhuirnín. ”

She patted my arm. “Hello, handsome.”

I pressed a kiss to her head. “What are you thinking?” I asked after a few moments.

“Wishful thoughts.”

“Share them with me.”

“That we could stay forever.”

Her voice was sad, making me frown. She wanted to stay here? Scotland?

I turned her in my arms. “Here, Anna? Is this where you feel safe?” I swallowed. “I can arrange it with Finn. I?—”

She cut me off. “No, no. I meant here—in this moment. When we’re happy. In love.”

“That isn’t going to change. I’m going to love you the rest of my life.”

“I know. But not this way. All-consuming, passionate. Where you can’t wait to see the other person. When romance takes precedence over everything else.”

“Exactly that way,” I insisted.

She smiled. “I hope so.”

I tilted my head and pulled a box from my pocket. I had been debating showing this to her, but right now, romance was going to take the precedence she wanted.

“What is that?” she asked.

I opened the lid. “Your wedding band. Mine to match.”

Her eyes widened.

“Give me your ring.”

Hesitating, she slid it off her finger, offering it to me. I handed her my much larger ring. “Hold that.”

She watched as I slipped her ring into the center of the two connected bands, forming a flowing pattern and making the Celtic knot complete.

I lifted her hand and kissed it, then slid the rings back onto her finger. I met her wide gaze.

“Years ago, people exchanged vows privately. So today, Anna, I take you as my wife. I will love you, protect you, and forever make sure our romance is alive and well. You will never be alone. I will always be there to hold your hand, kiss you, and consume you with passion any time you want. Or when I want.” I winked at her.

“We’ll figure it out.” I took a deep breath. “For as long as I live.”

Her fingers trembled as she slipped the white gold band on my finger. “I take you, Niall, today, to be my husband. I will love you all the days of my life. No matter where we go, I’ll be home because you’ll be with me.” Tears formed in her eyes and flowed down her cheeks. “Always.”

I bent and kissed her. “Always.”

We celebrated on the flight once Una noticed our bands. Finn had the attendant bring champagne, and we toasted over and over. When Mum and her cronies fell asleep, Finn nudged my leg with his foot. “I spoke to Roman yesterday. He had an offer.”

“Another one?”

He laughed. “I think this came from the women. They would like to host the party and were wondering how you felt about getting married overlooking the Falls, then combining the party into a reception for us both.”

I glanced at Anna. She wanted a small wedding, much the same as Una had.

“Can we keep it minimal?”

He nodded. “Us, Roisin and company, plus the trio and wives.” He chuckled. “And his nonna. The guest list for the party is up to us. And if you’re not interested, not an issue.”

I turned to Anna. “Your call, mo mhuirnín. ”