Authors: Harriet Schultz
CHAPTER 25
“She doesn’t want to talk to me until this is settled,” Drew said. He carefully folded a slice of pizza in half so that the runny mozzarella wouldn’t slide off and took a big bite. “Hot!” he exclaimed when molten sauce hit his tongue. He quickly chugged half of his beer to soothe the burn. “Damn, I can never wait until it cools before taking a bite.” He put the slice on his plate and leaned back.
“You’ve been burned by more than pizza, my man,” said Charles.
“Very funny,” Drew replied, without even the hint of a smile on his face.
“You should at least let her know that you’ve met with your legal team here, lined up a top attorney in Ireland, and are leaving tonight.”
“She wants nothing to do with me until I’m free. She doesn’t want to be with a married man and I respect that, despite how unmarried I feel. It’s a good rule,” he mumbled, then nodded almost as if he were trying to convince himself.
“I guess it was easy for you to forget that you
are
married. You and Erin only lived together for a couple of weeks and that was ages ago. When was the last time you contacted her about a divorce?”
“After I split, she said she never wanted to see me again and I went along with that for two years. Considering the life I was leading, no one guessed that I was married. Newspapers had begun to run pictures of me with this model or that actress and I was sure she’d want to be rid of me. After a World Cup event in Switzerland, I stopped in Ireland to ask her for a divorce in person. She refused, and I never went to see her again. I’ve called a few times and the answer never changed. Divorce isn’t part of her vocabulary. Nullifying the marriage is my best bet according to the lawyer and the priest I met with here. Evidently, Irish divorce law changed and the Church recently eased the way for quicker annulments so that will help. Plus, she was only seventeen when we married and that’s underage. The lawyer may be able to argue that the marriage wasn’t legal to start with. If she wants to accuse me of adultery or demand a big settlement, I don’t give a shit. I just want my freedom.”
Charles leaned closer to Drew. “It sounds like Erin may have no choice but to go along with it this time.”
Drew’s jaw tensed as he gritted his teeth. “This whole situation is screwing with my head. I’m in love with Kate and fuck if I know what to do with these feelings if we can’t be together.” He drained his beer and slammed the bottle onto the table. “What if she decides I’m not worth the garbage that comes with being with me? I can’t go back to the way I was living before I met her.”
Each man became lost in his own thoughts as they finished the last slices of pizza until Drew shook his head to bring himself back to the present. “I’m a selfish prick,” he said looking at Charles. “Here I am whining about my problems and I haven’t even asked about you and Liz. Are you guys good?”
“Better than good.” Charles couldn’t hide his happiness. “Although it’ll be nice when she can stop worrying about your girlfriend. Those ladies are as close as sisters and have each other’s backs, so when the shit hits the fan with you two, I lose Liz for a while.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, well, that loyalty, that caring, is one of the things I love about her.”
“And since you can’t keep your hands off each other, I guess there are other things you love about her too. I get that,” Drew said, grinning. “I’m so damn happy for you. After all these years, who would have guessed that we would end up with women who are best friends? It would suck if our wives hated each other.”
Charles paled. “Wait a minute, O’Connor. Who said anything about marriage? You’re making my stomach churn and that’s not the best thing when it’s full of pizza.”
“The thought of losing her is what should make your insides ache, not the word marriage. If that makes you nauseous then maybe she’s not the one.”
“I didn’t say that. Why does it always come down to putting a ring on it? Why can’t we just be together?”
“If that’s what both of you want and it makes you happy, fine. Me? I want the whole enchilada. Wife, babies, house, forever. Maybe it’s to compensate for my messed up childhood, but I want — no, I need — what I never had. It surprises the shit out of me, but with Kate…I can’t imagine my life with anyone else.”
“Then do what you need to do to make it happen and do it quickly. When there’s a wedding, I expect to be your best man.” Charles pounded Drew on the back, then pulled him in for a hug. “I love you, man. You’re my brother.”
“Back at you,” Drew said, his voice cracking with emotion he quickly shook off. “Even if we don’t have a big wedding and elope to Vegas, I expect you to stand up with me.”
“Of course, but first get the divorce, then buy a ring, and then find out if the woman will even have you.” Charles was grinning like a loon. “You’re not the easiest man to be with.”
“Tell me about it. I can always count on you to bring me back to earth,” Drew said, shaking his head as he patted his pocket to be sure he had his passport and boarding pass. “If this is gong to happen, I need to get my ass to the airport.”
CHAPTER 26
Drew missed Kate as he began the drive north from Shannon’s airport, the seat beside him empty. She’d been so excited about every small village and sheep-dotted hillside they’d passed when they’d traveled this same road together.
He yawned, exhausted from the emotion of the past few days and the overnight flight that landed before dawn. Despite the comfort of his first class seat, he hadn’t slept for even a minute. His mind refused to shut down, keenly aware that the next few days would determine the course of the rest of his life. It wasn’t like him to worry and, as a competitive athlete, he’d learned to banish negative thoughts, but every technique he tried now failed. This was bigger and meant more to him than any race ever had.
He reached Galway quickly and checked into the hotel where he and Kate had stayed. He hoped the flirtatious redhead who’d caused him so much grief on his last visit wasn’t a local and had gone back to wherever she came from. The last thing he needed was to have his picture splashed all over the tabloids again and then have to deal with the resultant fallout.
Once in his suite, he lowered the blackout shades, set the alarm on his phone, stripped to his underwear, and crawled under the bed’s fluffy duvet. He had a late morning appointment with his Irish lawyer, so he needed to sleep for a few hours if he expected his mind to focus. This was too important to screw up.
Restless, he flipped from his back to his stomach, wrapped his arms around the pillow, closed his eyes, and focused on breathing slowly. In and out. In and out. In and out, he repeated like a mantra, but instead of relaxing him, the words conjured up images of his cock sliding in and out of Kate’s moist heat. Shit. He’d never desired a woman the way he constantly craved her, even when she wasn’t there. He finally drifted off and when his alarm sounded, he wished that he could stay in bed. Instead, he took a quick shower and, somewhat revived, dressed and set out on foot for the lawyer’s office. An extra large coffee he bought at a café along the way helped to further sharpen his mind.
He easily found the lawyer’s office in the city’s lively historic district, but when he opened the door his eyes widened and the words he was about to say became stuck between his brain and his mouth.
Instinct told him to run. He was about to reverse direction when the receptionist spoke. “Please come in, Mr. O’Connor, or perhaps I should call you Drew since we’re already acquainted,” she said sweetly, seeming to enjoy his obvious discomfort.
Holy shit, Drew thought. Although she was dressed in a conservative skirt and sweater with her hair pulled into a neat pony tail, there was no mistaking the redhead who’d flirted with him, the one whose actions almost made him lose Kate.
She turned to face him and crossed her long legs, then used one hand to slowly slide her skirt up her thigh. A self-satisfied smile flickered briefly when Drew’s eyes followed her movement. “I didn’t think we’d see each other again,” she said breathlessly.
“We haven’t,” he said curtly. “I’m here to see Mr. Morgan. I’m expected.”
“Margaret, is that Mr. O’Connor I hear out there? What are you waiting for, girl? Show the man in,” a deep voice blustered.
Drew rushed toward the open door as if to escape attack by a serpent since that’s what being in that woman’s presence was like. It sucked that now he’d have to find another lawyer since this one had a reputation as the best to handle his problem. Regardless, he wasn’t willing to put himself within a mile of that bitch again and risk losing Kate.
Brian Morgan’s cluttered office, rumpled suit, and day old beard might give the impression of an unsophisticated country lawyer, but the diploma on his wall was from Harvard. Drew’s American lawyer had said that the Irishman was a character, but a brilliant one, who maintained the image because it was great fun to have his opponents underestimate him.
The lawyer stood to greet Drew. He grasped the athlete’s hand in his meaty one. “Although I shouldn’t have to, I’ll apologize for my niece. She’s just out of university and lends a hand from time to time. Brilliant girl, but boy crazy, and not the best receptionist. She should have sent you in immediately instead of goggling at you.”
“Not a problem,” Drew said. He’d need a guarantee that niece or not, she would have nothing to do with him or the paperwork for his case. He wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to fuck it up somehow.
“I’m fond of your American lawyer. Matthew and I have been friends since law school and he speaks very highly of you,” Brian said, patting his new client on the back. His smile was genuine and Drew felt himself relax. Maybe it would be okay.
“Matt’s been my lawyer for almost ten years. After I won the Olympics I needed someone trustworthy to watch out for me. He’s proven himself many times over.”
“Ah, yes. I’ve followed your career young man, although I don’t ski anymore,” he said patting his paunchy stomach. “I was actually there when you won that gold medal. You were representing Ireland, after all, and it was something to see. Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For bringing glory to our small country.”
“I will be forever grateful for the chance Ireland gave me. I’d never have been selected for the U.S. team. There was too much competition, so it’s you that I should thank.”
“You’re too modest, Mr. O’Connor.”
“Drew, please.”
“All right. Drew it is and so to business.”
Before Morgan said another word, his new client closed the door between the inner office and reception. “You understand my need for confidentiality.”
“Of course. I should have done that myself.”
Drew took a breath and sat again. “You need to know that your niece and I once met. She…” he hesitated.
“Go on, lad, out with it. There can be no secrets between us if I’m to do my job.”
Drew rubbed the back of his neck and studied the lawyer. Could he trust this man? His instincts told him he could. “I came to Galway a few weeks ago with the woman I intend to marry. Your niece flirted with me in the hotel bar and our picture ended up in one of those tabloids. It was totally innocent on my part, but it hurt my girlfriend and caused a big problem for me. She’s your family, but I have good reason not to trust her. I’m uncomfortable knowing she might have any part in what I need your help with.”
The lawyer nodded and folded his hands together before leaning toward Drew. “Thank you for your honesty. I assure you she won’t have any involvement with you or your case. I can put her on leave if that puts your mind at ease. I pride myself on protecting my clients’ interests above all else — even family — but if you decide to find another lawyer, I can recommend a few. It’s up to you.” He leaned back in his squeaking chair, steepled his hands, and waited.
“I don’t have the time to interview other lawyers. Matt said you’re the best. If he trusts you, then I do too, but I don’t want your niece even to know why I came to see you. It would be too extreme to ban her from the office; just keep her away from me and my business. All right?”
“Done. You have my word. And now, I understand that you have a wife you’d like to be rid of.” The lawyer’s chair squeaked again when he tipped it back.
“That’s a little harsh, but yes. I married Erin when we were teenagers because we thought she was pregnant. She wasn’t. We haven’t lived together for more than ten years. Despite asking for a divorce or annulment several times, she’s refused. I never forced the issue, but now I have reason to.”
“Ah, spoken like a man in love,” Brian said. He smiled warmly and his blue eyes twinkled.
Drew grinned. “Very much so. I want to marry her, but I can’t do that until I’m free.”
“Do you know why your wife won’t agree to a divorce after all this time?”
“She’s a devout Catholic and insists that we’re married for life. I think she might accept an annulment from the Church. Those haven’t been easy to come by, although I’m told that the process has eased recently.”
“A devout Catholic who engaged in pre-marital sex. Hmmm,” Brian said, rubbing his chin. “Sounds like the young lady picks what tenets she follows from an a la carte menu. How old did you say she was when you married?”
“She was seventeen and I was a year older.”