Page 45 of Where We Bloom (The Blackwells of Montana #3)

Chapter Twenty-Five

CONNOR

“ C hrist, you’re a vision.” Taking Billie’s hand in mine, I lift it to my lips and pepper the back of her hand with kisses. She’s in another off-the-shoulder black dress, but this one is shorter, hitting just above her knees and hugging her delicious curves.

“You simply take my breath away.”

“Thank you. You always look divine in a suit. Is that Armani?”

With a grin, I gesture for her to get into the car, then follow her inside and pull her next to me. “Of course, it is.”

She smirks and leans into me as we drive away from the house. “Where are we going? Do I get to know yet?”

It’s been four days since we had dinner with my parents, and she made them fall almost as in love with her as I am. She made them feel like they were part of her family, and that’s something about her that’s so fucking special .

We’ve spent our time mostly at home, but I have taken her out to some of my favorite restaurants and gone on drives to show her the scenery. I’ve shown her my home, and she’s soaked it all in, not just for my sake but because she’s truly enjoying herself.

I’ve always loved travel, but exploring with my angel is a whole new experience that I’m quickly becoming addicted to.

However, tonight is special.

“We’re going to an art gallery exhibit,” I inform her.

“What kind of art?” She’s already excited, those whiskey eyes alight with the idea of a new adventure, and my heart catches.

“Have I told you today how fucking beautiful you are, bumble?”

She presses her hand to my cheek and rubs her thumb over my lower lip. “What kind of art, billionaire?”

“Glass. Have you heard of Kane O’Callaghan?”

“Connor. Of course , I’ve heard of Kane O’Callaghan. Holy shit, there’s a gallery here with his work in it?”

“Aye, he owns the gallery. And he has a new exhibit opening tonight, and we’re his guests.”

Her jaw drops. “I’m sorry, what?”

If I’m not mistaken, her hand starts to tremble in mine. “Hey, it’s okay, angel. He’s a good mate of mine from when we were lads, and he knew I’d be in town. You don’t want to go?”

“Holy fucking shit,” she whispers. “I love his work. I was in Seattle a few years ago and spent three days admiring the glass in the museum dedicated to him there. It has to be hard work. It’s so beautiful.

It inspired so much emotion, and it was like it gripped me by the throat and didn’t want to let go. I didn’t want to leave.”

A tear slips out of her eye, and I catch it with my fingertip. My girl feels things so fecking deeply.

“ A ghrá , I don’t want you to cry.”

“I’m overwhelmed, and that doesn’t happen often.” She inhales, clears her throat, and dabs at her eyes, careful not to smudge her makeup. “I’m fine. Wow, this is fun. You know some cool people, billionaire.”

I see how she’s put on the facade of strength, not wanting to show too much vulnerability right before we get to the gallery, and I’ll give it to her.

No one wants to have tears when they meet someone they admire.

But later, I’m going to hold her close and get her to talk to me.

Miller pulls up in front of the gallery, where some members of the press wait to take photos.

Kane is a big fecking deal, and this is an invitation-only event.

“Jesus,” Billie mutters, those nerves back in place.

“You’re gorgeous and have nothing to worry about,” I remind her.

“You do realize that after this, we’re going to be very public, Connor.” She blinks at me, that vulnerability shining through. “Are you okay with that?”

“You’re mine,” I reply and cover her lips with mine. “The sooner the world knows it, the better. Come on, angel, I want to introduce you to my friends. ”

She smiles as Miller opens my door, and I climb out, then extend my hand to my girl.

As we walk toward the doors, Simon and Miller flank us, but someone calls out, “Mr. Gallagher! Can we get some shots of the two of you?”

“You okay with that?” I murmur to Billie.

“Of course,” she says, and we stop on the red carpet. Miller and Simon step back two paces, and I wrap my arm around Billie’s back and pose for the cameras.

After thirty seconds, I wave, then lead her the rest of the way inside.

“Well, that was interesting,” she murmurs. “I might want copies of those pictures.”

“I’m sure they’ll show up on social media within the hour, and you can grab them,” Simon says.

No doubt Billie will hear from her girls about that. Apparently, they’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the pictures she’s been sending of us in Ireland. It’s such a beautiful, rugged country, and having Billie in this part of the world has been incredible.

I snatch two flutes of champagne off a tray and offer one to Billie, and we wander around the room, admiring the magnificent works of art on display.

“He has such an eye for color and movement,” Billie says as we stand before an impressive piece that looks like flames rising into the sky. “It’s amazing to me how a stationary piece can look so much like it’s moving. Like it’s on fire and its own living being.”

“Well, if that’s not one hell of a compliment, I don’t know what is. ”

We turn, and my old friend sweeps me up in a quick hug. He’s grinning from ear to ear.

“It’s good to see you,” I tell him, but he’s already turned his attention to my girl.

“Aye, it is, but I want to meet this lovely woman with an eye for genius.”

Anastasia, Kane’s wife, smirks beside him.

“This is Billie,” I tell him. “Billie, this is Kane and his wife, Anastasia.”

“Please, call me Bee,” she says as she shakes their hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m a big fan.”

“And now, I’m a fan of yours,” Kane replies after shaking her hand. “Connor tells me you’re from Montana?”

Billie’s eyebrow climbs in surprise. “That’s right. Do you two live here in Galway?”

“Only part of the year,” Anastasia replies.

I like Kane’s wife very much. She’s a beautiful blonde with the bluest eyes and a curvy figure, and she keeps Kane in line the way no one else has ever been able to.

“The rest of the time, we’re on a little island just across the Sound from Seattle. That’s where I’m from.”

“That makes sense,” Billie says. “The museum there is amazing.”

“Right?” Anastasia grins, takes Billie’s hand, and pulls her away. “Kane’s working on a new exhibit for the museum now. You really have to come see it. Now, come with me to the bar. I want to introduce you to Kane’s siblings and their families. ”

They walk away, and I turn to my friend with a grin. “I like your wife.”

“Aye, and so do I, mate. She’s the best part of me.”

“How are the kids?”

“Hopefully asleep.” He laughs and claps me on the shoulder. “Come on, there’s some whiskey around here somewhere.”

“Don’t you have to see to your other guests?”

“I’ve said hello, and that’s all they need from me.”

“And there you are, the grumpy bastard I’ve always known. I was worried there for a minute.”

He smirks, and we each take two fingers of whiskey from the bartender.

“Your package was delivered this morning,” he tells me. “Safe and sound.”

“Excellent, thank you. She’ll love it.”

“It was supposed to be a part of that new exhibit my wife mentioned.”

“I’m quite sure the two million I paid you will make up for that.”

Kane laughs, then swallows his whiskey. “It took the edge off. And how are you and your pretty lass doing?”

“She’s the best part of me,” I reply, echoing his own words.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Billie says as she sidles up beside me, slipping her hand into mine and linking our fingers. “I’d like to ask a question about a piece if you’re open to discussing it. Some artists don’t like to talk about their art. ”

“For you, fair Bee, I will talk about it. Which one do you fancy, then?”

“The one you’ve titled Luminary. ” She leads us both to the piece set on a pedestal that has to be about a square meter in size to accommodate the massive chunk of glass. It’s wavy, resembles a shell with a pearl inside, and is colored the same as a pearl.

The discreet price plaque says it’s fifty thousand euros.

And now, it’s my bumble bee’s.

“You have good taste,” Kane says with a nod as the two settle in to talk about his process, and I step back, giving her time with a man she admires.

“She’s wonderful,” Anastasia says beside me as we both look on.

“She’s everything,” I reply.

“When you get married, I’d love to do the cake.”

“I thought you retired from the cake business.”

She shrugs. “I did, but I still work magic for the people I love. I’ll come out of retirement for you.”

“You’d deliver to Montana?”

“I’ll deliver it wherever it needs to be, friend. You think you’d do it in Montana?” she counters.

“That’s her home. Our home, now,” I reply. “Her family and friends are there. I can’t imagine her wanting it anywhere else.”

“You know what I find intriguing? You’re already talking about a wedding as if it’s a foregone conclusion, but there’s no ring on that girl’s finger.”

“Yet.” I wink at my friend and watch as Billie makes Kane laugh. “Holy shit, was that a laugh out of him?”

“It happens once in a while,” Anastasia replies. “Always shocks the hell out of his family, too. But the tortured artist has mellowed.”

“Thanks to you and the wee ones.”

She smiles brightly at that. “I like to think so. Bring Bee to Seattle sometime so we can spend more time together.”

“We’d like that.”

And then it hits me how distinctly different Anastasia’s response to Billie is from Fiona’s. Granted, Anastasia and I don’t have a romantic history, but Billie’s words flash through my mind, nonetheless.

“Sure, my good friends might ask questions and even warn him that hurting me means they hurt him in turn. But they wouldn’t deliberately try to destroy something important to me.”

Anastasia isn’t in any way threatened by Billie. In fact, she embraced her simply because she’s my friend. Because that’s what a good friend does.

Well, that and because Billie Blackwell is irresistible. She and Kane see how important Billie is to me, and that’s enough.

Fuck.

“But she and Kane might not make it out of the firing barn,” I add.

“Kane doesn’t let anyone in that barn.”

We watch the two for a moment, how they have their heads together, deep in conversation .

“I bet my angel could talk him into it.”

Anastasia laughs. “You could be right.”

“I just got a text from Cassie.” Billie frowns over at me from her seat on the jet as we’re headed toward home. “She’s asking me about our meal requests for next week.”

“Good.” I take my glasses off and rub my eyes. I’ve been staring at my bleeding computer for too long. “Choose whatever you like, bumble.”

“Why is she asking me ?”

“Because that’s what will make you comfortable.

” I’ll never forget that morning when Cassie and Billie met, and Billie was jealous as she walked into the bedroom carrying that tray.

I hated the look on her face. “I won’t have you uncomfortable in your own home, angel.

From now on, you’ll be Cassie’s primary contact. ”

She blinks at me and then shivers. “I’m always so cold on planes.”

“I got you something.” I stand to walk to the back of the plane. Retrieving her gift, I take it to her. I open the soft wool blanket and drape it over her. “This is for when we fly. I know you get cold.”

“Connor?”

“Yes, mo chroi. ”

“You bought me a Hermes blanket. Just for when we fly? ”

“Aye, I did.”

She snorts and snuggles under it. “Thank you. Okay, I’ll add it to my calendar to chat with Cassie each week.”

“Thank you.” I move from my seat to the one next to hers, and she shares her blanket with me.

“Were you cold, too?”

“No. I missed you, angel.”

She flutters her eyelashes at me. “You’re just trying to get into my pants.”

I huff out a laugh and lean over to kiss her head.

“I had the best week with you,” she says softly, leaning against me as I pull her to me. “Every minute of it was fun. Kane and Anastasia are so nice . I loved having dinner with your parents. And the view of the ocean from your house is just amazing. I even loved it when we fought.”

“We didn’t fight.”

“In New York, we did, but then we had the makeup sex, and that was pretty fabulous. Also, I still can’t believe you bought that glass piece from Kane. I wasn’t trying to?—”

“I know. But it was obvious that it was meant to be yours. Where will you put it?”

“In our bedroom.” In our bedroom. “It’ll go well in there. I’ll see if someone will build a pretty stand for it. Chase Wild is an excellent woodworker. I bet I could talk him into it.”

“Chase is a man of many talents,” I reply.

“He’s a good guy. The whole family is great.

” She snuggles up closer, and I tighten my arm around her.

“When you hold me like this, it makes me sleepy. Not tired, but relaxed. And just like when I stood by the cliffs, it drowns out all the noise, and my mind quiets. It’s like a drug that I can’t get enough of. You’re good for my nervous system.”

“Good, because I have no intention of ever letting you go, mo rúnsearc . I want to be your peaceful place.”

“You are. Since the night I met you.” She looks up at me and brushes her fingers through my hair.

“I wasn’t lying or exaggerating the other day when I told you that I’d like to go to the Galway house often.

It’s serene. So freaking gorgeous. And it’s where you’re the most relaxed.

Now that I’ve found my peaceful place, I need you to have yours, too. ”

“I do, baby. It’s when I’m with you.”

“You have relaxed considerably since I first met you.” She kisses my shoulder. “But I saw the way your whole body relaxed when we were there, and I want you to have it as often as possible.”

“We’ll see what we can do.”

Her phone buzzes next to her, and she grabs it. “Beck just canceled family dinner tomorrow.”

“Oh?” My lips twitch, and I kiss her head.

Of course, he canceled.

I asked him to.

“Well, that sucks.”

She sounds so sad, but little does she know that I’ll more than make up for it.

“It’ll be okay, mo chroi . ”

“But it’s my birthday tomorrow, and I was excited to see them.”

I tip her chin up and kiss her lips softly before deepening the embrace, and when she comes up for air, her eyes are shining.

“Don’t worry. It’ll all be okay. Trust me.”

She presses her lips together and nods. “Okay. How long until we land?”

“About an hour. Take a quick nap.”

“Do you want to go back to the bed and lie down?” she asks but snuggles closer, burrowing in.

“No. We’re fine right here.” I kiss her head again. I can’t keep my hands or my lips off this woman. My cock would like in on that action too, but Miller and Simon are nearby. “Sleep for a while.”