Page 25 of One Chance to Stay (Bears of Firefly Valley #4)

Seamus had come to the bachelor party, and yet, he didn’t quite belong with the crowd. I considered minding my business, but I hoped the occasional smile meant I could invade his personal space. Funny how sex came easily, but sharing a moment building an abdominal snowman felt more intimate.

“How do you know him?”

Seamus shifted, hands shoved in his pockets as he let out a long sigh. He transformed into a statue, that stoic gaze a permanent fixture on his face. I could almost hear the bricks clacking as the wall around him rebuilt itself.

“You can tell me now, or I can hound you for the rest of the night.”

Harrumph.

“He has a daughter Grace’s age.”

The thought of Seamus as a young dad wrangling a fiery daughter warmed my heart.

From changing diapers to learning how to braid hair, I bet he had gone above and beyond to be a wonderful dad.

I’d love to see the two of them together.

If the photos in his house were any indication, he worshipped Grace.

“Girl dads. That’s sweet.”

“Try raising one. I should have enlisted. It’d have been less dangerous.”

I snorted. “Grace’s boyfriends must have been terrified of you.”

His eyes dropped and shoulders slumped. “I wouldn’t know.” Trying to be funny, I had misstepped and hit a landmine. “She went to live with her mum.”

The statement gave me a clearer picture of the timeline. Grace’s mom must have left when she was younger. If that were the case, and he claimed to only have ever been with one man…

“You’ve been alone this whole time?”

“I prefer it.”

“Bullshit.” My eyes widened. I didn’t mean to call him out, but bartender magic wouldn’t let me hold back.

Seamus could claim he preferred solitude, but that first night in his room said otherwise.

His touch hadn’t been eager and rushed. Every brush of his fingertips held a yearning, and I wouldn’t let him lie.

“Sorry, that was a bit much.” I could have withdrawn and let Seamus off the hook, but if we were going to be friends, I wouldn’t let the little lies slide. “If we’re going to keep this fun banter going, no lies.”

“Yes.”

“Did you get to see Grace grow up?”

He gave a slight shrug. The ice skaters had dispersed, and the cocoa shack would close soon. I went for broke and rested a hand on his back, guiding him toward the rink. When he didn’t move, I gave him a slight shove—I mean, encouragement .

We walked in silence for a bit before he cleared his throat. “I saw her on the weekends.”

“That’s not too bad. Still got to see her grow up.”

“Spoken like a man without kids,” he said. “Five days is a lifetime for a kid and her dad.”

“Do you still talk to her mom?”

“Not really. Haven’t spoken since the wedding.”

“Grace is married?”

“Yup.”

“You’re a father-in-law?” I tried to imagine Seamus walking Grace down the aisle or giving her away. If I were that man, I’d have been terrified. Did Seamus have the rifle sitting in the truck, waiting in case things didn’t go according to plan?

“Did you get dressed up?”

“Of course.” He poked at me with an elbow. “I’m not a neanderthal.”

“Seamus, did you just crack a joke? Should I get my phone out and snap a photo to record this moment? Maybe put it on my calendar? Smiling and joking? Lord help us.”

“I already regret it.”

“You never wanted to remarry?”

Seamus didn’t answer. I wanted to fill the silence between us, but I held my tongue. I didn’t care about the answer so much as wanting him to open up about his life. Somewhere deep down, I think he wanted to connect with another person. Whatever stopped him, that’s what I wanted to get at.

“I’m good as I am.”

The statement could have been a boot to the gut. I contemplated my sexuality, all because of this man. Yet, he dropped a barrier between us. I opted for grace. I didn’t believe a word of it.

“Hopefully not just as you are.” He didn’t reply. I steered the conversation back to friendly water. “So, Walter and you bonded over your kids. What then?”

“Does there need to be more?” Yes, Seamus, there did. I refused to believe he detached that completely from society. “He’d come over in the summers and help me plant crops.”

I stopped walking, my arm shooting out. “Is Walter the guy?”

The disapproving glance from Seamus put that theory to rest. Though the more I thought about it, Walter already had Harvey. Another man would make it a confusing love triangle. Firefly wouldn’t be able to handle the over-the-top grand gestures as they fought for Walter’s heart.

We had reached the shack. I kicked at snow like a school child, unsure how to end the date. I didn’t want to go, even if my shoe had turned into a block of ice. Would it be awkward to invite him back to Valhalla for a cup of tea? In my room.

“I had fun.” Not my best line. When I finally looked at him, I wanted to believe he debated the same thing. I could run my mouth all day and throw out words of wisdom without prompting. Yet, saying I didn’t want the night to end remained trapped in the back of my throat.

“I should go.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow night?”

“For?”

“Walter’s wedding?”

Seamus shook his head. His eyes dropped again, and it was as if I watched him retreat inside a cave. “It’s not my thing.” I saw the smile vanish, like it had never been there. Just a man turning back into stone before my eyes. He shrugged before turning away. “I hope you have fun.”

I stood, flabbergasted, as he walked away.

Seamus would never be loud and outgoing, but tonight I saw a man having fun.

With a simple statement, he reverted to the man who had first invited me in.

Civil, but preferring to be a loner at all costs.

But I knew better now. He wasn't made of granite. He was just afraid to melt.

It had been Harvey who encouraged me forward. I muttered his words. “Don’t give up on him.” It wasn’t about time invested or wanting to harass him until he cracked another smile. Seamus, in his quiet way, had wiggled his way into my life, and I wasn’t going to leave a friend hurting.

It was time to enlist backup.