Irish Dreams (10 page)

“You cried over me?”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she said. “I was obviously still under the effects of my self-delusion.” The statement was daring but she didn’t care.

Rick bent his head, averting his gaze. “I cried over Shelley. I guess I understand now how you felt.”

Stunned, Maggie said nothing and hugged her knees. Branches rustled above. She shivered as a strong gust hit her back and swept her hair off her bare shoulders.

“I’m sorry, Maggie. For everything. I didn’t mean for it to get this far.”

“Doesn’t feel good, does it?”

“No.” Rick set his gun on the ground and wiped both eyes with the heels of his hands. “You’re different now. Strong. I don’t feel like I’ll ever get over her.”

“I guess that was a positive about our break up. It gave me time to think what I wanted and who I was. You’ll do the same.” And she’d met a man who made her feel strong and wonderful.
Oh Ethan, where are you?
Wind picked up again and a fat drop landed on her nose. Maggie flinched. “Oh, no. Rain again. At least it waited until after the reception.”

Leaning forward, Rick reached for the knot around her ankles and undid it.

“What are you doing?”

He tilted his head up. The night’s shadows hid his eyes. “What does it look like? Letting you go. Unless you want to sleep on a wet forest floor?”

She didn’t understand his change of heart but she wasn’t going to question him on it. She rubbed where the rope scraped her skin, then pushed herself into a standing position. The gun still sat beside him on the forest floor. “Are you coming?”

Opening the cylinder of the revolver, he emptied the chambers of their cartridges and stood. “Just for your peace of mind. I don’t need this thing anyway.” He heaved his arm back and pitched the empty gun into the darkness of the forest. “I think I’m going to hang back this time around. Your friends will probably crucify me and I’m sure Elsie’s worried sick.”

Maggie didn’t doubt it, but she wasn’t going to rub it in. Despite the surreal feel to the situation, something had changed between her and Rick tonight. They’d reached some kind of common ground or understanding. “She’ll be okay. Are you sure you don’t want to head back?”

“I’m sure. I think I need to stay out here a while. I want to think things through for a change.” He pointed ahead. “Just head straight. You’ll see lights after a couple hundred feet. Follow them and you’ll find a way out.”

“Thanks.”

“And Maggie?”

She turned back to face him. “Yeah?”

“Thanks for hearing me out and, uh, not calling the police. I’m really sorry about your head.”

She nodded and turn around, heading in the direction he showed her. Tonight had by far been the most frightening and strangest night of her life. It seemed fitting, considering the past week. She could hardly believe it had come to an end so soon. Ethan. She’d miss him, but she wasn’t going to force another man to make her part of his life. Love didn’t work that way. “Love?” She laughed as cold, fat raindrops pelted her face and hair. She’d be soaked before reaching the house.

“Hello? Maggie?”

“Ethan?” Beyond rain and trees, he stood in his tux. The rain plastered his dark waves of hair against his forehead. Water dripped down his face and rolled off his jacket. Maggie’s chest grew light and she ran toward him even with heels which sank into the muddy earth. “I knew you’d find me.” And she’d never been happier to see anyone.

Ethan closed the distance and lifted her into his arms. “Are you hurt, love?”

His grip tightened as if he’d never let her go and admittedly, she didn’t want him to. “No, I’m fine. But don’t let me go.”

Chapter 11

Ethan’s chest squeezed as he carried Maggie’s bags to his Mercedes coupe and placed them in the trunk.

“I can’t thank you enough for agreeing to take me to the airport. I know Elsie and Bryan needed rest before leaving for their honeymoon.” She sat in the passenger seat, and he closed the door, then rounded the car to the driver’s side and got in.

“No worries, when is your flight time?” Ethan asked.

“Four thirty-five.”

“Wait.” He paused as he started the car. “This afternoon? Why are we leaving at seven AM if it’s an afternoon flight? I’m assuming Elsie knows nothing about this, otherwise, she’d never have let you go.”

“No, she doesn’t. I told her I changed my flight time to earlier. Honestly, I just wanted to give the honeymooners some peace and quiet. And after last night, I couldn’t sleep.”

He hadn’t been able to either. Throughout the night, he’d pictured her torn and tattered dress and grown angry all over again. “I still can’t believe you didn’t press charges. If I ever see him–”

“Ethan.” Her hand rested on his thigh a moment before she pulled it back. “It’s okay. I know he’ll never forget what he did and I know the next woman around, he’ll be a better man for it. I only wish for his happiness.”

She was a better person than he. Gripping the steering wheel, he blew out a long breath. “Okay. Let me take you to Powerscourt.”

“The estate?”

“Sure. You have time.”

“Is it even open at this hour?”

“I have a contact. We’ll grab some scones, a couple coffees and sit out in the gardens. I swear you’ll make your flight on time.”

“Okay.” Maggie smiled. “That would be nice.”

* * * *

The chill morning’s golden mist covered the gardens at Powerscourt. Sun’s rays beat down, drying dew off leaves and flower petals. The carefully mowed lawns surrounding the house bordered several stone terraces and wove around trimmed trees. Like enormous stone steps, the terraces linked the house to a lake. The backdrop view of the mountains took Maggie’s breath away.

“It’s even more beautiful than I imagined.” Maggie turned in a full circle as she scanned the garden. “With rain from last night and fog–it looks like some kind of dreamscape.”

“They built the castle by thirteen hundred but it underwent a huge remodeling in the eighteenth century. The gardens have expanded over time. The home is used for weddings and events. I’m close friends with the coordinator and I’ve held several events here. The house is beautiful, but the gardens are my favorite.” Ethan set a blanket on the ground, then sat with their coffees and a bag of scones. “Have a seat. We’ve plenty of time.”

“You can feel the history here, the passage of centuries.” Maggie sat and accepted a raisin scone. “Handy you brought a blanket with you.”

“I love the outdoors. It’s not uncommon to find me snoozing in the middle of a field on a beautiful day.”

She shook her head. “Where I come from, big corporate execs don’t seem to make much time to snooze in fields.”

“I’d have to agree with you there. It’s a different mentality where you come from. Not worse, only different.” He handed her a coffee. “Go on, eat up. We’ve forty-seven odd acres to see and you’ll need your energy.”

“Forty-seven acres?”

“That’s near the size of the gardens.”

She bit her lip. “I don’t know. Forty-seven acres is no small tour. I might just have to come back to see the rest later. And the mansion.”

“You’d come back?” he asked, biting into a scone.

“Yes, I want to. Elsie lives here now and it’s beautiful. I know I’m going to miss it.”

Say it. Ask her to stay.
“You could always rent a flat somewhere out here, or in Dublin. You don’t have to go back.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“Because it is.”

Maggie stared down at her lap, picking at the scone in her hands.

“Look, Maggie. I don’t want you leaving here sad. Forgive my being an idiot. Why don’t we begin our tour?” Standing, he held his hand out to her.

“I’d like that,” she said, slipping her hand in his.

The next few hours touring the gardens passed faster than Ethan could have imagined. Maggie’s face lit up as he showed her the rose beds of the Walled Garden and the statues of the Italian Garden. She listened intently as he explained how the Walled Garden and the Dolphin Pond were two of Powerscourt’s oldest features. Her genuine enthusiasm for the estate surprised him even as it endeared her more to him. Miriam had made it clear she didn’t want to have anything to do with his interests and in his naivete, he’d accepted that as normal. With Maggie, he wanted to share everything.

As they stood beside the grotto near the Japanese Garden, she laughed as she stuck her hand into the water which trickled over the moss-covered walls. The sound of her laughter soothed and seduced, and more than anything, he wanted to kiss her. But he didn’t. Just as he didn’t tell her how he truly felt about her leaving. Was he ready to take that step? There was so much he wanted to say to her but the words stuck to his tongue.

Their time together ended far too quickly and the ride back to the airport was an uneventful blur. They drove in silence as the day turned gloomy, as if the clouds and sky could sense their unspoken thoughts. Before long, Ethan stood with Maggie outside the security gate at Dublin Airport.

“Thank you for an amazing time today.”

“Are you sure you want to leave?”

She turned to face him as they reached the end of the line. “It’s not about wanting to leave. I have to leave.” She bit her bottom lip and gave him a half smile. “This week has been the most incredible week of my life and I have you to thank. But I also learned a lot and I need to make some big changes in my life. Make sense?”

“What makes sense is this is important to you.” He caressed her cheek. “You take care,
a thaisce
.”

“You called me that once before. What does it mean?”

“Treasure,” he said. “It means you’re someone special. I hope you realize that.”

“I’m getting there.”

“That’s all I can ask for.” He bent and brushed his lips over hers, savoring the taste of coffee and mints. Then he turned and walked away, doubting his decision to let her go as he exited the airport and drove from Dublin back to County Wicklow.

As Ethan arrived at his cottage, he found Bryan reading a book on the porch. “The staff would have let you enter.”

Bryan stood and came to the porch railing. “Your groom offered. I rather enjoy the chill evening air.”

“I guess I must be growing predictable in my old age. It appears you didn’t bother going over to the main house. Aren’t you supposed to be off ravishing your new bride?”

“My new bride is sleeping like the dead after she woke up to wish Maggie off at the crack of dawn and spent the rest of the day cleaning and packing.” He lifted a white bag. “I was in the mood for takeout and I’m sure my little zombie will be delighted after the delicious scents hit her nose.”

Ethan climbed the stairs and slipped his key in his front door. “Tea?”

“Sure.” Bryan followed him inside. “Did Maggie get off okay?”

“Aye, I believe. Saw her to Security.”

“You didn’t stay to see if she got through.”

Ethan took out two mugs. “I’m not one for goodbyes. Besides, she’s made her choice.”

“A coward’s excuse.”

His gut flexed and he clenched one of the mug’s handles. “I’ll refrain from hurting you only because I don’t want to ruin Elsie’s honeymoon.”

Bryan laughed. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate your consideration. I’m serious though. Why’d you let her go? I know you love her.”

Ethan hesitated. There was no use denying the obvious. “And? I asked her to stay. Practically offered her the world. What more do I do?”

“Did you really do all you could to keep her? You offered her an opportunity to fit in your world, but she has a life and it’s obvious she’s tired of being the sole giver in relationships.”

Put that way, maybe he hadn’t done everything he could have. “You’re right. Still, I know she needed time to herself. I could feel how important it was to her. She flat out admitted it.”

Bryan nodded. “Understandable. With everything that happened this week between you two. Not to mention, Miriam and Rick.”

“If I see that arsewipe– Damn it.” Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost her. She should have locked him up for good.”

“I don’t know. Maggie who came to Ireland might have locked him up because she was scared witless but Maggie who left…I don’t see her being scared of anything.”

“It’s amazing how she transformed in one week.” Or even how he fell in love with her in such a short time.

“I think this week was a tipping point. Change was in the works for some time.”

“Maybe.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Give her time.”

“And?” Bryan pushed.

Ethan turned to meet his friend’s gaze. “And I’ll stop being a coward.”

* * * *

Maggie rubbed her eyes as she stared at a presentation board across her office. Her latest ad campaign for a new cologne consisted of one very handsome, blue-eyed male trudging through the wilderness in next to nothing. Only she could have sworn his blue eyes flashed to a mossy green and his brown hair deepened to ebony. Ethan.