Chapter Twenty-One

Grace

I’d never quit a job before. There was probably some sort of protocol and HR would have a lot of questions about my email to Jack.

But I didn’t care.

It was what I had to say. The only way I could do that was with the written word.

I’d never been good at expressing my emotions. I could have blamed that on my cold upbringing, but the truth of the matter was, I was good at shutting people out. It was what I did.

Jack was the first person to ever make me want more.

But now I couldn’t face him. Not after what I’d done.

As I was leaving the flat, I saw a small stand that was selling Magic Stars. I had to bite my lip to hold back my emotion.

I made my way to the waiting cab, forcing my stupid feelings down.

Several minutes later we arrived at the airport. After checking in, I found the first bar I could.

The bartender peered at me, cleaning a wineglass. “What’ll be, ma’am?”

I looked at the array of bottles behind him, but one clearly caught my eye. And, like a glutton for punishment, I pointed at the bright green bottle.

“Some of the Murphy’s whiskey, please,” I said, setting Jane Pawsten and her crate at my feet before hopping on the barstool.

“Straight up? Or in a cocktail?” he asked.

I glanced at the laminated menu on the counter. There were millions of different cocktail recipes, and I knew nothing about whiskey, even after my time with Murphy’s.

“Just on the rocks, please,” I said, putting down the menu and trying to focus on anything but my thoughts of Jack.

He nodded. “Coming right up.”

Pulling my phone out of my purse, I refreshed my emails. I’d sent the letter to him this morning, but I still hadn’t heard anything. I guess this was my sign that going back to London was what I was supposed to do.

I’m pretty sure my broken heart sighed a little.

Jane Pawsten stirred in her case before she started barking loudly, causing the other patrons to stare and grimace.

“Janey,” I hissed, looking down at the now moving case. At this rate she would be across the terminal, still in the cage.

I hopped off the stool and opened the little door, with every intention of holding her and calming her down, or at least trying to. But instead of grabbing her, as soon as the zipper was undone, she pounced out of the bag and bolted away from the bar.

“Janey,” I yelled, following her with my eyes as she landed right in the arms of a well-dressed man with a dimpled smile, crouching down in front of her.

My breath caught in my throat as I slowly approached them.

“Hi, Jane Pawsten, girl, I’ve missed you,” he said, petting behind her ears.

My formerly steady beating heart was now going at warp speed.

I never thought I’d hear his beautiful Irish accent again, but here he was. Jack Murphy was in the airport, petting my dog. Making my heart do things I never ever thought it would do.

He kept his eyes on Jane Pawsten. “I was never a dog person. Never thought I’d want to own one and always told people I didn’t like animals. Then I met you and you changed all of that.”

“You can’t have my dog,” I said, my voice cracking.

He finally looked up, his beautiful blue eyes finding mine. All of the warmth that had left my body when he had left now flooded back. “I don’t want just your dog, mo gra. I want everything that comes with her. Especially you. The woman who is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“What are you doing here? I thought you’d be with Lacey.”

He shook his head. “No, not that the bird didn’t try. I left her standing in front of your grandparents’ house. You are the only woman for me. And it took me too damn long to realize it.” He stood up slowly, holding Janey in his arms. “I don’t want you to take that job in London. I need you both here with me. And not just for the company.”

My hand warmed as he took it in his. “What we both said can’t be changed. I know you don’t want to be married, and I can’t fault you for that. Maybe I’m crazy for being here right now, but I also know I’d be an absolute idiot if I let the first girl to capture my heart go. I can’t lose you, mi stolin. I love you too much.”

Love. That wasn’t a word I’d said to anyone, but now with Jack, I knew that was exactly how I felt.

“I love you, too,” I murmured.

A wide grin spread across his face as he pulled me close, Jane Pawsten not even stirring in his arms. “No more secrets. No more assumptions. Okay?”

He pushed a stray strand of my hair behind my ear and my heart beat faster and slower at the same time. “As long as I can have you again, I don’t want to worry about inheritance clauses or anything else. Just us.”

My cheeks burned, and my mind said that maybe I should wait. But my heart knew better, it always had. “Well, it’s too bad that I just quit my job at a big pub franchise and don’t have a place to stay. Maybe you know someone who can help me?”

If it was possible, the grin widened. My body turned into a complete puddle of goo. “I may know a franchise heir with a house, perfect for a dog, and some office space that could be used to set up a small press.”

I smiled, finally, and leaned into him. “Maybe if you have a salmon ladder back at that place of yours, we can talk.”

He put his arms around my waist and pulled me against his hard body. “As long as you don’t spill a drink on me.”

With that, I did the only thing that was left to do and kissed him. I poured all of my love and happiness into his lips, not caring that we were in the middle of an airport or that Jane Pawsten was barking in his arms.

This all started with a spilled drink and a red dress.

But this was my man.

And this time, I wasn’t letting him go.