Page 37 of Tempting Irish

She shrugs. “They all were, and still are. But music only soothes the soul for so long. If ye want him, then ye should go afterhim.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I watched my mom love a man who never loved her, and it destroyed her. I won’t make the samemistake.”

“Then Owen will just have to get over himself, because now ye’re definitely coming to dinner.” She chuckles. “And I can’t wait to see himsquirm.”

“You’re not going to tell him you know, areyou?”

“I’ll keep yer secret. But I can still have myfun.”

“Emer,” Iwarn.

She laughs again. “Ye’re coming to dinner tonight. And that’s not arequest.”

“Even if I wanted to, I don’t have anything to wear. Owen has myluggage.”

“I’ll take care of that.” Her gaze roams down my body, and a smile plays on her lips. “What size of shoes do yewear?”

“Six and ahalf.”

She nods, grinning from ear to ear. “You and Delaney are about the same size. I’ll have some clothes sent to yerroom.”

“What? No.” My protest is to her back as she walks away. “Emer.”

“Be ready at seven,” she says over her shoulder as she presses the elevator button. “I’ll have Shane come and pick yeup.”

She waves a hand before disappearing, and I groan as I enter my hotel room. But, despite the anxiety of having to see Owen, there’s a lightness inside of me that wasn’t there before. That maybe I was right to comehere.

Hope.I haven’t felt it in years, and it takes me a moment to realize what it is. And despite the warning bells that ring inside my head, I let it stay there. I may have messed things up with Owen, but maybe there’s still a chance to be part of the family I leftbehind.

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