Chapter 20
It felt like forever for Charlotte after saying those three little words before Braydon took her hand, kissed the back of it, and smiled, his eyes lighting with emotion.
“I love you too, Charlie.”
She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath and let it out, taking another deep one just as he leaned in and kissed her. After only one week, she felt such a connection with this man. As they clung to each other beneath the lovers’ tree, she was happy. As the chilly Irish wind blew across them, they made love beneath the heavy wool blanket, feeling that even though the story had ended tragically, theirs would not.
They held each others' gaze as the dams loosened and their love for each other spilled over their bodies. Charlotte whispered his name and knew, without a doubt, she had found her home in his arms.
Once their bodies had settled and Charlotte thought she might be able to walk, they gathered the blankets and headed back to the house. She rested against his side, holding his arm as he held her hand tightly in his. No matter what happened with her mother or the orphanages, she would not have to face it alone. Doubts about her future still plagued her, but no more fear of the unknown. Not with her leprechaun by her side.
***
Braydon didn’t want the weekend to end. Saturday night was spent watching old, scary movies in the only modernized room in the estate, watching Charlie throw popcorn every time she jumped. He was certain by Sunday afternoon, they’d made love in most of the rooms in the house except the foyer.
And by Sunday evening, as they snuggled in front of the larger hearth in the heart of the house, his arm wrapped around her, sipping wine and watching the flames dance, he realized he did not want to ever let go. Tomorrow morning meant returning home to face not only the board members, but his family as well. In the last few hours, he could tell Charlie’s anxiousness was beginning to return.
A log fell, the fire banked and the room darkened.
“Need to get a few more logs,” he murmured. He got up to build the fire once more before it could go out completely.
She watched him through sleepy, content eyes, a small smirk on her lips. “Who would’ve thought a leprechaun could build fires so well?”
He rolled his eyes. “Are you going to call me that forever?”
“Most likely.”
He paused as an idea crossed his mind. “So, does that imply you wish to stay with me forever?” When he turned around, Charlie was sitting up, staring at him, eyes switching between excitement and nervous as hell. Her hands twitched in her lap as she took a deep breath.
“Maybe. Why—what are you asking me?”
He glanced around for anything that could pass for a ring. His eyes landed on a green silk ribbon tied around fresh flowers on the mantle, a little welcome home gift left by the estate caretakers. He untied it and walked to her. He dropped on one knee at her feet.
“Charlotte… Charlie Finnegan,” he corrected himself as she grinned, the annoyance with the name gone. “Will you be my lady if I swear to be your bandit? Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Her eyes widened as she watched him tie the ribbon into a small circle. “We’ve only known each other a week,” she whispered.
Braydon’s heart dropped. “And?”
“And that’s not conventional. It doesn’t make sense!”
“Nothing about love makes sense,” he said quietly and started to pull away.
She grabbed his wrists and lifted his chin so she could look him in the eyes. Her smile was so broad that her eyes crinkled. “Yes,” she said. “My answer is yes. I have never felt more alive than when I’m with you. A week, a month, a year; it makes no difference to me. When I’m with you, I’m home.”
He slid the ribbon on her finger and pulled her onto his lap, kissing her fiercely. He lost his balance, and they wound up on the floor in a heap as she planted kisses all over his face. He held her close, swearing to never let go. Their love and laughter drifted through every inch of the house and reached the grounds beneath the lovers’ tree as the heavy branches creaked and swayed in the wind.
***
The plane ride home the next morning was too short. Braydon escorted Charlie back to the main terminal of the airport and through the doors to the car that awaited them. Liam stood beside it and waved when he spotted them.
“Hello, my dear Charlie,” he said, pulling her into hug. “How was Ireland?”
“I didn’t want to leave,” she pouted playfully.
When she pulled back, Braydon saw Liam catch a glimpse of her left hand and the green ribbon tied tightly around it. “What is this?”
Charlie grinned while Braydon loaded their bags in the trunk. “What do you think, Liam?”
“How are you at planning weddings, old man?” Braydon asked, clapping the man on the back.
He picked Charlie up in another hug. “I’m very happy for you both, and though Braydon might not know this, I am an excellent party planner.”
“No, I didn’t know this.”
“Yes, well, you never let me plan parties, so you wouldn’t know. You must tell me everything.” He glanced at Charlie. “I believe you might have an issue to take care of first. Your mother,” he said nodding towards Braydon, “has been hounding me all weekend about your whereabouts. It seems she is afraid you have swept poor Charlotte off her feet and away from Quin’s proposal. There has been nothing but gossip between her and other members of her circle about your simultaneous disappearances.”
Braydon didn’t even feel bad about it, but he wasn’t sure what Charlie was thinking. She’d mentioned on the ride home that she had to go over there that evening and straighten this mess out. Braydon said he’d stand beside her, just in case his mother went a little crazy.
She’d laughed as she reminded him she beat Meredith up in a fistfight. “I think I can handle myself against your mother.”
“So,” Liam asked after they’d all piled into the car. “Where to then, sir?”
Braydon glanced at Charlie and she nodded once. “Let’s get this over with. Hopefully, Quin will still be my friend and find a life of his own.”
“I hope so,” Braydon said, leaving off the part where he would threaten his stepbrother if he didn’t. He’d found his home, found the woman he needed in his life. Hell would freeze over before he gave her up.
***
The drive was filled with more cars than usual for Monday night cocktails. Liam parked the car and let Charlotte and Braydon out. “Are you sure you want to go in there?”
“Why not? My mom’s in there. She texted me already. If anything really bad happens, I have a feeling every harsh word she’s held back over the years will come flying out of her mouth. It’ll be fun,” she added. “Just promise me we’ll get a drink afterwards.”
He promised, and Charlotte took a deep breath to steady her nerves. The green ribbon snugly tied around her finger was a good fit. She could get used to having a ring on that finger. They went to the front door and walked in. No one was in the house except serving staff, which was highly unusual. Everyone was out back in the gardens, and from the disgruntled looks the servants were giving her, waiting for Charlotte to arrive so they could begin the evening. There were a few whispers behind hands when they realized Braydon, Meredith’s other son, was with her. Charlotte tuned them all out and walked to the garden.
All speaking came to an abrupt halt as she stood on the patio and waved. “Martini, anyone?” she asked, trying to lighten the suddenly tense mood.
Meredith was off to the side, and her smile froze when Braydon stepped beside Charlotte. “What the hell are you doing here? What are you doing with her, and where have you been?”
Charlotte ignored her, as did Braydon. She asked for Quin. He hurried forward out of the crowd. The smile fell from his face when he saw Braydon beside her. He shoved his hands deep in his pockets and sighed. Charlotte opened her mouth to speak, but he held up his hand.
“I’ve been thinking a lot,” he said, “and I’ve realized that I might have been out of line in asking you to marry me.”
“Quin! What are you doing?” Meredith snapped.
“Mother, for one minute in your life, keep your mouth shut and let your son speak,” Braydon snapped. Quin nodded appreciatively as Braydon told him to continue.
“I was going to ask you to marry me again today,” he went on. “But I don’t… I don’t love you.”
Charlotte smiled and reached for his hand. “And I don’t love you—not like that.”
“Exactly. You have been my best friend since we were children. I don’t want to lose that because of what my mother wants. I want out friendship to continue.” He glanced at Braydon. “Though we might not always get along, my brother is a good man despite the fact that he has some faults.”
“I have some faults?” Braydon laughed.
“Yes, but Charlotte—she’s helped you. In the short time you’ve been together, you’re different. You’re the man you were always supposed to be.”
“Thank you, Quin,” Charlotte said. She embraced him like the friends they’d always been. “I am very proud of you today.”
“I’m not,” Meredith snapped. Everyone turned to stare at her as she stormed onto the patio. “This is nonsense. You two are supposed to get married. That is how it is. Your family owes me for what your father did,” she yelled. “You will marry my son and help him carry on his legacy—”
Laughter erupted around the garden as Victoria, looking as pissed as ever, dropped her champagne glass on the patio, where it shattered. She had thrown its contents on Meredith.
“Get away from my daughter right now. We are finished with you, Meredith, and everyone knows your husband lost those investments, not mine. Get a divorce like everyone else and get over it, you bloated cow.”
As Meredith sputtered, her face red from embarrassment, Victoria sauntered over to her daughter and hugged her.
“How are you feeling, Mom?” Charlotte asked as she laughed.
“Never felt better. Ah, I see it was a good trip after all,” she commented, noticing the green ribbon around her daughter’s finger. “I think your father would be very, very proud of you right now.” She patted her cheek and said she would be at home and wanted to hear all the details of their trip. She paused and turned around with a wink. “Maybe not all the details.”
They left the house as quickly as they had come, Quin promising he would be around to help with whatever preparations were needed for the upcoming wedding. As she hugged him goodbye, she felt her friend’s arms around her. Her friend she thought she’d lost in the muck of all this who-should-marry-who game of the rich. At least now she knew they would both find the happiness they deserved, not what was being forced on them.
“Well,” she said, leaning into Braydon as Liam drove them home. “One crisis averted. Your mother is probably having a coronary right now.”
“And, sadly, I’m not there to see it. Pity.”
Her heart sank slowly as she thought about what tomorrow might bring. She needed a yes from the board, needed to assure the safety of the children. Braydon kissed the top of her head and told her not to worry, but she could hear the concern in his voice, too. All the good things from the weekend started to slip slowly from her grasp.
Her eyes found the green ribbon. She closed her fist tightly around it and prayed for a miracle.
***
Braydon left Charlie at her house that morning. They were still talking about their trip to Ireland when her mother brought up wedding plans. She was full of excitement—something, Charlie had told him last night, she had not seen in her mother since her father was alive. Dr. Shannon had told them Victoria had a wonderful weekend with no episodes and was sticking to her medicine. Things were hopefully looking up for her. And Braydon hoped, for Charlie’s sake, the board members found their consciences today and voted yes.
When he arrived at the office, a new person sat behind Natalie’s old desk. “Ah, good morning, Mr. Keagan,” the young man said. He held out his hand and Braydon shook it. “I’m Benjamin, your new assistant.”
“Nice to meet you, Benjamin. Are settled in all right?”
“Yes, but I’m trying to figure out the old system left by your last assistant.”
Braydon waved his worry away. “This is your job now, Benjamin. You do it however you have to. As long as I get my messages and scheduling taken care of, I don’t care.” He smiled as the young man thanked him and sat back down.
Natalie abrupt departure still bothered him, but to each his own. He took a deep breath to steady himself and headed to the conference room. All six members, plus Ronan, were already seated, talking heatedly about the issue at hand. Braydon wanted nothing more than to disappear into his office, but he’d come here for Charlie, the children, and for Terrance and the work his friend had been able to do. He was here for all of them, and he couldn’t let them down.
“Good morning,” he said, taking his seat. “I trust everyone has had a chance to make a decision about this investment.” All seven heads nodded, and he continued. “Then I would like to cast the first vote to follow through with this investment.”
He turned to his left. Todd nodded his head in agreement and seconded without question. Margaret was next. She glanced around the table and glared at Dean. She promised to back the CEO’s decision. Francis said no, and Braydon felt the first stirring of doubt slither into his mind.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Keagan, but the numbers just worry me too much,” she said. “I have to say no for the betterment of the company, its employees, and its profits.”
“I accept your vote, Francis, and thank you for your explanation. Darrell?”
“Absolutely not,” he said and sat back in his seat with a satisfied sneer.
“Don and Dean?” Braydon asked, trying to hold on to his temper.
They glanced at each other, then at Darrell. As one, they said no. It was over. Ronan would vote against Braydon. A tie would’ve gone to the CEO’s final decision, but all Ronan had to do was vote no, and the investment would die before it even had a chance to get started.
Ronan cleared his throat and stood. “Yes. I vote yes.”
Braydon almost fell out of his chair. Todd grinned and said, “Well, that settles it. Tie vote goes to the CEO. We will invest in the orphanages.”
“Wait,” Dean snapped. “We can’t allow this to happen.”
“Actually, you don’t have a choice,” Ronan informed him. He reached into his jacket and Braydon tensed, thinking he’d lost it and brought a gun to the meeting. But he pulled out his contract and laid it in front of Dean. “I have a significant share in this company, as does your CEO. It matters not if you say no. Your CEO and I have the final vote. You do not have a choice.”
Braydon frowned. “How much stock do you own?”
“Almost half,” he replied. “I thought it might come in handy.”
As the others began discussing plans for the investment, Braydon asked Ronan if he could have a word in private. They walked to his office, and Braydon closed the door. “What are you up to?”
Ronan stared at him long and hard and sighed, looking like nothing more than an old man in a suit. “I have a confession to make,” he said, sitting down heavily. “I have come to your company for personal motives.”
“I figured that much.”
“Not for the mob. Just for me. You have resources I need that the mob won’t trace,” he said. “I need to find someone. When I learned about your friend Terrance and his work, and that Charlotte woman, I knew you could help me.”
Braydon crossed his arms over his chest, noticing for once that he was in a room with the man who shot him and his elbow didn’t ache. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“Many years ago, I had a son. His mother took him away from me when he was very little,” he said quietly, pulling a picture from his wallet. “I have looked for him for so long. Then I read a report a few months ago that his mother was dead. He was nowhere to be found. I have been searching for him for years. I thought maybe, with the orphanages…”
Braydon stared down at the picture. His eyes narrowed. That face… He knew that face. Older now, more filled out, but it was the same kid. “So you infiltrated my company to find your son? Why didn’t you just ask?”
“Oh no, I came here first to see how our spy was doing. See what she could tell us about your and your da.”
The old anger threatened to resurface as Braydon glared at him. “You’re still keeping tabs on us?”
“Natalie is one of mine, of course,” he said. “I had her pulled last week when I cut a deal for you and your father with my boss.”
“I’m listening.”
“You and your father will no longer be monitored by us. The price on your father’s head is gone if—and only if—you find my son.”
Braydon glanced down at the picture and sighed, letting go of years of pent-up hate. He thought of Charlie and how much she had changed him and what she would do in this situation. “Ronan, I know exactly where your son is.”
***
Charlotte stood at the curb with Terrance beside her. She bounced up and down on her heels, thrilled with the news Braydon had told her earlier. The investment had gone through. The orphanages were saved. She still couldn’t believe it.
“What are we waiting for?” the eleven-year-old boy asked. “I’m missing the game of tag!”
“This is really important, Rupert,” Terrance told him. “You just have to be patient a little longer.”
“But why?” Then his eyes lit up. “Did you get ice cream for everyone again? Do I get the first pick?”
“Not exactly,” Charlotte said. She turned when she heard the familiar roar of the Camaro coming down the road. “Right on time.”
“What is? Hey, it’s Braydon! Did he bring me something?”
“Just wait,” Terrance told him patiently, smiling with Charlotte. It wasn’t every day they were able to reunite a child with a lost parent. They could hardly wait for the surprise any more than Rupert could, even if he had no idea what the surprise was. The car parked, and Terrance told Rupert to close his eyes. When the boy frowned, he said, “Trust me.”
Rupert glanced at them both, and with a dramatic sigh, closed his eyes. “Fine, but it better be something fun.”
Braydon and Ronan McKinley got out of the car. He was a tall man with gentle eyes, but his face was filled with trepidation as he glanced from Charlotte down to the boy at her side. She smiled encouragingly and told Rupert to open his eyes.
“What is—Da? Da!”
Rupert sprinted across the sidewalk and tackled his dad so they both fell over. Ronan cried as he held his son tightly, and Rupert couldn’t stop saying da over and over again.
“Oh, my boy, I thought I’d never find you!”
“How did you find me? This is amazing! Braydon found you?” Ronan nodded, and Rupert got up and ran over to Braydon, jumping up to give him a hug. “Thank you for finding my da.”
“He found you, kiddo,” Braydon said, ruffling his hair.
“I can’t thank you enough.” Ronan picked Rupert up and held him tightly.
“You already have. I trust that it will be kept, your promise?” Charlotte raised a brow at him, wondering what she had missed.
“Of course. I’ll make the call now. You have my gratitude for a lifetime, Braydon Keagan. This makes us even now?”
Braydon rubbed his left elbow and shrugged. “Why not?”
“You want to tell me what that was all about?” Charlotte asked as she slid her arm around Braydon’s waist, Terrance beside them, watching the father and son head inside the orphanage to gather Rupert’s few things.
He leaned over and kissed her. “How about we take another trip?”
“Where to this time?”
“Couple of stops,” he said. “First, to Tennessee so you can meet my da, and then”—he grinned as if he was the happiest man in the world—“back home to Ireland.”
Charlotte gasped and wrapped her arms around him as he leaned down and kissed her. “I would love that very much, leprechaun.”
He rolled his eyes as Terrance patted his friend on the back, repeating the word leprechaun and laughing. The three headed inside to the happy chorus of children playing.