Page 49 of Where We Bloom (The Blackwells of Montana #3)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

CONNOR

I t’s been two weeks since Billie’s birthday, and one week since I’ve seen her.

I’m going out of my bleedin’ fecking mind.

“We’ll be landing in Dublin in fifteen minutes,” the pilot says over the speaker, and I turn to Miller.

“We should be headed home.”

Miller works for me, but he’s also my friend. One of the few people in this world who I trust implicitly.

“And why aren’t we?” he asks with a raised brow.

“Because my bloody board wants a goddamn meeting.” I scrub my hand down my face. I just spent a week in New York without my angel, and the penthouse felt … wrong.

Everything feels so wrong without her.

I was supposed to go home two days ago, yet there have been issues and delays that keep me from going to Montana.

And it’s pissing me the fuck off.

The plane touches down, and once in the waiting SUV, we head straight for the offices.

As I walk through the building to my office, everyone gives me a wide berth. I’m pissed as fuck, moody, and I don’t know why I’ve been summoned here when I could have likely handled whatever they want to talk about from the comfort of my home.

With Billie in my lap.

As soon as I walk into the office, my phone rings, and I scowl when I see Simon’s name on video call.

“Yes.”

“I wanted to touch base, boss,” he says with a sigh that has my eyebrows climbing.

“What’s going on?”

“Miss Blackwell is safe.” He rubs his hand over his eyes. “But she’s been … obstinate.”

“Obstinate?”

“Stubborn,” he adds.

“Just tell me what in the hell is going on.”

“She leaves without telling me,” he says, and I feel every muscle in my body tighten in agitation. “Nothing crazy, but she’ll go to the grocery store, or run over to one of her brothers’ houses, or pick Birdie up from school without letting me know she’s leaving the house.”

“We have cameras,” I remind him.

“Yes, sir, we do. Doesn’t stop her from evading me. I don’t think she’s doing it on purpose. She’s simply independent and thinks having a detail with her every time she leaves the house is excessive. ”

I rub my hand over my mouth. She’s going to be the bloody death of me.

“I’ll talk to her.”

“The sooner, the better. I like this job.”

I hang up and find Ronan standing in my doorway. “Bad time?”

“Come on in.” I gesture to a chair. “Have a seat and tell me why I’m here.”

“The board wants a meeting in person.” He shrugs a shoulder when I glare at him. “That look doesn’t work with me.”

“I was here less than a month ago.”

“I think they want to talk about Sweden.”

“I swear, that property is going to send me out of my fecking mind.”

He grunts in agreement. “How are things with your lass, then?”

“Good. She’s brilliant. I want to go home to her. How are things with Fiona? Ronan?—”

He puts a hand up, stopping me, and then sighs. “We had a long talk. She’s not confused about us, and she’s not pining after you. I think she really thought she was trying to protect you, or Billie, or hell, I don’t know. I think her ego was bruised.”

I scowl at my best friend. “What the hell?”

“You didn’t love her. She didn’t think you were capable of it. Now you love someone else, and it threw her for a loop because she thought she knew you better than that.”

“I’m going to be brutally honest here, and I hope it doesn’t make you punch me in the face because she’s your wife.”

“Go ahead.”

“Fiona only knows what I’ve allowed her to know. She’s my best friend’s wife, and that’s all. I wouldn’t expect you to know all of the ins and outs about Billie, even twenty years from now.” I stare at him, and Ronan nods in agreement.

“That’s pretty much what I told her. She needs to let her shite go. She will probably apologize to you, but I don’t think she meant to try to scare Billie off.” He shrugs and then grins at me. “Not that it would have worked anyway. That lass is in love with you, mate.”

“I know.” And the reminder of it never fails to knock me off balance. “And it’s returned to her in kind. When are we meeting with the others?”

Checking his watch, Ronan says, “Thirty minutes.”

“I’ll see you in there, then.”

He nods and leaves my office, and I make a quick call to my angel.

“Hey,” she says as she accepts the video call. “You’re a sight for sore eyes. I see you made it to Dublin.”

“Aye,” I reply, soaking her in. “Angel, I need you to do me a favor.”

“Okay.”

“I need you to stick with Simon. Let him drive you wherever you need to go.”

“It’s so annoying,” she mutters and closes her eyes, and I can see her fatigue. Christ, she’s not sleeping.

Because I’m not there .

The guilt is swift and all-consuming as I lean back in my chair, wishing I could pull her close and hold her in my arms.

“When was the last time you got a good night’s sleep, bumble?”

She shakes her head. “I’m fine.”

“Answer the question.”

She nibbles on her bottom lip. “How long have you been gone?”

“Baby, come to Ireland. I’ll send the jet for you right now, and you can be here by morning. Come to me.”

“I wish I could.” She sounds defeated, and it makes me ache for her. “I can’t leave again so soon. I have too much work to do. But you’ll be home soon, right?”

“I’m doing my best. Trust me, I don’t like being away from you, either. It should hopefully just be a few more days, and then I’ll be home for a while.”

“Good.” She smiles sweetly. “I have Birdie’s dance recital tonight. Skyla’s disappointed that you won’t be here for it.”

It seems I’m just letting all my girls down this week.

“I’m sorry I won’t be there, but I’ll call her after we hang up. Take Simon with you, Billie.”

“Okay, billionaire, I’ll take my babysitter.”

“Not a babysitter. Your detail because I want you safe. I love you.”

“I am safe. I’m home. Nothing’s going to happen to me here, baby. There’s always someone around.”

I take a deep breath. “Try to get some sleep tonight. ”

“I’ll do my best.” She grins at me. “Don’t worry about me.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Go finish ruling the world so you can come home.”

“Okay. Be good, keep Simon with you, and stay out of trouble.”

“Who, me?” She bats her eyelashes playfully. “I’d never get into trouble.”

“Right. Tell me you love me.”

“More than all the stars in the sky, billionaire.”

She hangs up, and I close my eyes. Christ, I miss her.

I check the time. Seeing that I still have a few minutes to spare, I call Skyla.

“And hello to you,” she says with a smile. “A video call. Fancy.”

“I wanted to tell you to break a leg tonight at the recital.”

“I see you’re not coming. Again.”

I blow out a breath and shake my head at her. “I’m in Dublin, Skyla Maeve. It’s not like I’m just across town and am blowing you off.”

She narrows her eyes, but I see the humor in them. “Billie misses you.”

“I miss her too.”

“Don’t worry, she’s staying busy with work and all of us. She’s coming tonight, along with Ma and Da.”

Our parents decided to stay in Montana for a while, and I know that Skyla has enjoyed spending time with them. “I know, I just got off the phone with Billie a few minutes ago. Anyway, I have to go. I love you. ”

My sister grins at me. “I know. I love you too. Slán abhaile .”

Safe home.

That’s definitely where I want to be heading.

My entire family is in Montana.

I stand and button my suit jacket closed, something I’ve done a million times before. But today? Today, it feels as though my suit just doesn’t … fit.

I hadn’t realized until Billie kept commenting on my body how seldom I didn’t wear a suit.

Until her. Until I had a reason not to don my armor every day.

Until I had a reason to think outside of boardrooms, contractor meetings, and other business-focused affairs.

Until I had someone who utterly and completely fit me.

And I her.

My other half.

My beautiful angel who rescued my soul from loneliness.

I need to wrap this up, so I leave my office, heading toward the boardroom. I need to get out of this suit and go home.