Beth glanced over her shoulder. Paige’s face was flushed, her eyes locked on me. Once again, her breathing was deeper. Mine matched. It was all I could do not to throw Beth my keys, tell her to drive herself, then grab Paige and drag her down the hall to her bedroom.
The struggle was real.
“Okay, then,” Paige responded. “I’ll, ah, I’ll be leaving now.”
She turned and hurried away, and my eyes locked on that rounded, perfect ass. I could imagine the way it would feel, filling my hands.
I looked at Beth, who was watching me with amusement. I lifted one eyebrow in a silent question. “Single, right?” I said quietly.
“Yes.” She paused. “With a daughter.”
“Lucy,” I confirmed. “Ronan thinks she’s adorable.”
“She is.”
“I’ll give you my number in the car.”
“Okay, then.”
“Now—” I grinned “—let’s get you to my idiot brother. He has no idea his miserable little existence is about to take an upswing.”
“I only agreed to talk to him.”
I leaned close, smiling. “I’ve got a good feeling. And, Beth? I am never wrong.”
Chapter Two
Liam
I chatted with Beth in the car. She was intelligent, funny, and, as Paige had said, nervous. Her hands twisted in her lap so much, finally, I reached over and covered them with mine.
“It’s all going to be okay, Beth.”
She let out a shaky breath. “You seem so positive.”
I glanced at her. “I’ve never seen my brother so devastated. He knows he fucked up, and he regrets it. Seeing you today will help him.” I paused. “You forgiving him would mean the world.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” she said, but the words lacked conviction. I had a feeling she was in as much turmoil as Ronan had been.
“So, Paige…” I trailed off.
“What would you like to know?”
“Single, has a daughter—divorced, I assume?”
“Yes. That rat bastard,” Beth muttered.
“He hurt her?” I asked.
“He was, is, a narcissistic, arrogant, closed-minded, nasty, worthless piece of trash.”
“Tell me how you really feel.”
“He didn’t treat Paige well anyway, but once he found out about Lucy’s partially developed limb? The bastard deserted her. Both of them,” she spat. “He deserves nothing but contempt.”
“Ronan said she was born with one arm partially formed?”
“Yes.” Beth turned in her seat, no longer nervous. “She is the sweetest little girl, Liam. Her smile could light up a room. She’s good-natured, never complains, and has adapted so well. There is hardly anything she can’t do—and nothing she won’t try. She’s a pure delight.”
“Ronan said as much.”
“I can’t imagine walking away from my child for any reason. Especially over a missing piece of bone. Still,” she sighed. “Paige is better off without him. From what she has said, he wasn’t very nice.”
“Was it physical?” I asked, tightening my hands on the wheel.
“No. Mental abuse. He belittled her a lot. She hides it, but he did a number on her.” She drew in a deep breath. “She’s wonderful. A great mom, a fabulous friend, and she is so important to me.”
I pulled up to the gate, waiting as it opened.
“I can feel that,” I said to her.
“I don’t want to see her hurt.”
We arrived at Ronan’s place, and I turned in my seat, meeting Beth’s gaze. “I don’t plan on hurting her, Beth. But something hit me when she opened the door. If she’s willing, I want to explore it.”
“Even with a child involved?”
“That doesn’t frighten me. I love kids. It doesn’t faze me that Lucy has one arm. I don’t care about that. I care about the fact that Paige was hurt. I only hope she’d be willing to give me a chance.”
“I think she could be persuaded,” she said dryly. “Did you see the way she was eyeing you up?”
I grinned. “Checking out the tree trunk. I caught that.” I winked. “Now, enough. Take my number so you have it, and give it to Paige if she asks. I’ll take it slow if that’s what she needs.”
I waited as she typed my number into her phone.
“Come on, I’ll take you inside. He’s going to be happy to see you.”
“I hope so.”
I winked. “I know so.”
A few hours later, a different Ronan was sitting across from me at the table in the Hub. He still looked tired, but he was happy. At ease. He couldn’t take his eyes off Beth, and his hand remained wrapped around hers whenever she was close. I winked at him across the table.
“Good day, little bro?”
“The best.” He leaned closer. “Beth says you brought her.”
“Yep.”
“Thank you.”
I squeezed his shoulder. “You owe me.”
He grinned, the mischievous look in his eyes back in full force.
“Beth also says you have the hots for Paige.”
I met his eyes. “She’s right.”
“I like her a lot. And Lucy. Don’t be messing with them.”
I lowered my voice. “Have you ever known me to mess with anyone, Ronan? I felt something for Paige the second she opened the door. She felt it too. I plan on seeing her. Seeing where it goes. Whatever speed she sets is fine with me. And I look forward to meeting Lucy.” I waved my finger between us. “So, we good?”
He pursed his lips. “I’ll be watching.”
I sat back, picking up my mug. “Watch away, little bro. You may learn a thing or two.”
He chuckled. “Okay, then.”
I swallowed the last of my coffee. “Just so we’re clear.”
Tuesday afternoon, my phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket and answered.
“Hey, Ronan.”
“Bro, I am about to repay your kindness from Sunday.”
“Is that a fact?” I asked dryly. “How so?”
“Tacos. At the house with Beth, Paige, and the kids, as well as Paul and Jeremy. Tonight. I’m picking up all the stuff. We’re making them a feast.”
I was down with that. I loved tacos—my whole family did. My brothers and I made awesome tacos and often whipped them up for the family.
“Are you sure?”
“Paige asked if you were coming when I called to make sure it was okay.”
That information made me smile.
“What can I bring?”
“Stop by Paso’s and get some fresh tortillas.”
“Salsa, guac, and chips too?”
“Of course.”
“How about some wine for the girls?”
“They’d like that.”
“What about the kids?”
“They love chocolate milk. I know it’s always a treat for them.”
“Done. What time?”