24

 

On the following Monday, Dr. Thorne pronounced the patient much improved and released him to resume light activities by Thanksgiving on the condition he rest until then. Still forbidden to drive, Ian was sorely–and loudly–aggravated at having to be chauffeured around. That afternoon, Lily left to do some light shopping and insisted Ian stay home and rest, leaving Meg in charge and ordering the patient to play nice with his sitter.

“The doctor said I don’t need a nanny anymore,” Ian called out irritably, rummaging through the drawers in the kitchen. He stalked into the great room where Meg and Bella lounged on the couch watching TV and began plundering the drawers below the bookcase.

Meg laughed. “You’re safe from seizures but not from stupidity,” she informed him.

With a derisive snort, Ian strode off down the hall. Meg heard him banging around first in his office then his studio. He returned and stood in front of her, arms folded across his chest. “Where’s my bloody car keys got off to?”

 “Like that,” Meg muttered under her breath. “Doctor says you still can’t drive,” she reminded him.

“Then you drive me. Please, Meggie?” He gave her his most persuasive expression, complete with soulful eyes and a tentative but hopeful smile.

“Jaysus. Stop with the face, already,” she said with a sigh of disgruntlement, and slipped her shoes on. “So where we going, then?”

He grinned at his success. “I’ll tell you on the way there.”

The ride to his secret destination only took a few minutes. “You’re hopeless.” Meg rolled her eyes as they pulled up in front of the jewelry store.

“No, I’m not. Okay, maybe a little. Just help me, please?” Ian pleaded as he held open the front door of the store for her. The melodic chime of the doorbell summoned the same clerk from before, and he remembered Ian well enough to leave him alone until summoned.

Dubious, Meg looked around at the interior of the showroom. “Ian, for pity’s sake. Why don’t you just call Sean and–”

“I don’t have time for that. I want to get her earrings today,” he insisted.

“Our family owns the largest diamond corporation in the world,” she said in a whisper. “What’s the point of this foolishness when all you have to do is pick up the phone and–”

“Today,” he repeated patiently.

Meg cleared her throat to speak again, but thought better of it. Taking her errant brother by the hand, she dragged him to a large display case in the center of the store. “This is what you ought to be looking at,” she said. Ian peered into the case and blanched at the vast array of engagement and wedding rings. “Here’s a new word for you…commitment. You’re going to need to learn the meaning of it if you plan on keeping her.”

“Meg, she knows I love her–”

 “Then why are we here?”

He blinked, taken aback by her question. “I just thought…”

“You’d have your cake and eat it too,” she finished. “A girl needs to see it, Ian, not just be told. Surely you know by now it’s you she loves?” She grabbed his arm as he drifted away and drew him back. “Are you hearing me?”

“I’ll think about it, all right?” he snapped, pulling free.

“Poor thing. You’re like a man drowning in a wading pool. You won’t stand up and get out and you won’t sit down and relax.” She patted his cheek affectionately and moved away to continue browsing.

Ian’s face went from white to beet red in an instant. “Thank you, Madame Obvious,” he muttered.

* * * *

In the late afternoon, Lily approached Ian as he reclined on the couch sketching. “I’ve got something to ask you,” she said, the tiniest waver in her voice betraying her nervousness.

Ian went on high alert and placed his pad and pencil on the coffee table. “What is it, sweetheart?” he managed to get out, keeping his voice even.

Lily wrung her hands. “Okay. Now, you don’t have to if you don’t want to, okay? I promise I’ll understand if you say no. Really, I will.”

His shoulders slumped in relief and he rescued her hands from each other before either was damaged. “Darlin’, you needn’t be afraid to ask. I would love for you to take me to bed and spend the rest of the day making wild, passionate love to me. Tonight and tomorrow too, if that would make you happy,” Ian assured her.

Lily blinked and frowned uncertainly. “Umm…tempting as that sounds, no, that’s not it.”

“Need an organ donated, then? I’ve got one in mind just for you.”

“This is serious.” She giggled, thumping him on the chest.

“Damn right it is. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I’ve seen you naked?” he said, raising an eyebrow in challenge. “How the hell am I supposed to get better under these horrific conditions? I may end up in therapy yet. See, look, my eye’s already starting to twitch.”

She laughed out loud at his silliness. “Fine, then, how would you feel about having Thanksgiving dinner at my Mom and Dad’s?”

“Ah well, is that all?” Ian smiled and pulled her close. “I would love to meet your parents, sweetheart.”

Meg’s words from earlier came flooding back and he swallowed hard, trying to clear the huge lump in his throat certain to become visible any second.

****

That evening after dinner, Lily rose to clear away the dishes. “Oh, I almost forgot,” she said. “You got a call today while you were napping. A Mr…” she dug around in her jeans pocket and pulled out a hastily scribbled note, “Perez from the Tampa Museum of Art. He wants you to–”

Bloody fucking hell, the prospectus changes from last month. See, there you go, Ian berated himself, this is the kind of shit that happens because you don’t return calls. His face was a study in blankness. “Wrong number,” he said.

“But he asked for Ian Kelly, the artist,” Lily protested, dropping the note on the table in front of him. “From Ireland.”

He shook his head again. “Amazing coincidence, don’t you…”

“He seemed to think I was your assistant,” Lily continued, arching an eyebrow. “Nice man. He said to call him at your convenience to discuss the prospectus changes and please give his regards to the Wildes. Doesn’t sound like–”

Ian ran through his choices for fast diversions, ruled out faking a seizure and took her by the hand. “How about dessert?” he said, pressing her fingers to his lips. “Close your eyes, beauty.” He surreptitiously stuffed the note in his pocket then opened the velvet box with a soft pop to reveal the sparkling earrings. “Open.”

The message forgotten, Lily shrieked with delight. “Sweetheart, they’re beautiful!” she exclaimed and ran to the bedroom mirror to try them on.

Ian followed close on her heels, placed his hands on her waist and dropped a kiss on top of her head. “Thank you for taking such good care of me. It has meant a lot. I know I haven’t been the best patient,” he said with a wry grin.

“It was my pleasure, mo stor.” She beamed back at him then a look of uncertainty passed over her face. “Wait, did I say it right? Mo stor, my darling?”

Ian winced, and his balls tightened pleasurably at her words. With a nod, he promised himself in that moment that he would never, ever tell her how strongly it affected him, hearing the Irish endearments come from her beautiful…full…kissable…

He shook off the wave of lust and took a deep breath. “Now I’ve got something to ask you and I’d rather not have a whole lot of discussion about this. I want you to bring me the balls…uh, bills…you have due. Your rent’s already been taken care of.” When she just blinked owlishly instead of moving, he continued. “You quit your job and I am the direct cause of it. If I hadn’t fallen so in love with you, you’d still be there.”

 “How in the world can you afford all this? With this apartment…” She waved her hand around. “…your car, not to mention groceries and utilities.” She narrowed her eyes. “Who’s paying your bills, Ian?”

 “Meggie,” he lied smoothly. “Paying all my bills. Has for years. The very soul of tolerance, she is. Those earrings are lovely on you, I must say,” he said, desperate to regain control of the conversation.

“Meg, huh?” Lily said. “You know, Ian, there’s a whole lot of things that aren’t adding up here. I’m starting to think–”

“Not to worry, darlin’. I make out okay for a guy who draws on walls for a living.” He pulled her close. “No long discussions,” he reminded her.

“I can’t let you pay my bills,” she said.

“Then think of it as a loan if it makes you feel better about it. Either way, bring them to me, please.”

She stared hard at him as if trying to decide then retrieved a small bundle of envelopes from her bag and handed them over. “I know how much is owed there,” she said firmly, “and this is a loan, not a gift.”

“As you wish, my sweetheart,” he said. Taking the packet, he braced himself for the inevitable. One hippopotamus, two hippopotamus, three hippo–

“You paid my rent?”

He sighed. “We’re still having this discussion, then,” he said, then turned and headed for the kitchen. “Yes, for the next three months. Would you like something to drink?” he asked hopefully, reaching for the refrigerator door.

When that initial shock wore off, she scampered after him. “The next three months?

Another sigh. “Yes. Drink?”

“When was that done? Ian, seriously, you’ve missed so much work, and there’s no way you can affor–”

He grabbed her by the waist and yanked her against him, molding his hard body to every inch of her soft curves. She went limp in his arms as he left a fiery path with his mouth from her ear down to her throat and back then stroked her hair, down her back and kneaded her bottom, pressing her against him. After several titillating moments, he released her and she staggered back on unsteady legs, smiling and looking dazed.

He grinned down at her. “Drink?” 

“Yeah,” she said dreamily. “What were we talking about again?”