Page 51 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
“We’llget to work.” He squeezed her hand.
“Deal.”
“Deal.”
And then, just because it was only customary to celebrate good news with a kiss, she reached for him.
What a kiss.
The diner was busy when they arrived, even though it was late for lunch and not quite dinnertime. But the charming eatery was never truly quiet, and at busy times the wait could exceed an hour. There weren’t many options in Waterstone besides the diner and The Bread Bowl, and both offered delicious food and warm service.
Rowan inhaled a breath of Irish home cooking. Sunlight beamed through large picture windows, illuminating wildflower centerpieces and smiling faces above delicious delicacies. In the corner, a small trio played a lively Celtic tune, a captivating harmony of fiddle, flute and sweet soprano voice.
Of course, nothing was as captivating as the woman next to him.
Yet the past cast its shadow like an approaching storm, the memories a reminder of his mistakes, a warning for the future. The reasons they couldn’t be together loomed, as true now as back then. He was still his father’s son. He could never be the man she desired, give her the family she deserved. He couldn’t risk being a cold and heartless father. Even if she somehow accepted that, how could he let her give up the family she envisioned? How could he find a way to traverse the miles that would soon separate them?
Yet how could he let the extraordinary woman escape?
He shook his head, cleared the cobwebs of the past to focus on the present. Today was a day to celebrate, to rejoice in what they accomplished. Ciara deserved his undivided presence.
He saw Chelsea first. Wearing blue jeans and a polo with the diner’s logo, the waitress greeted them with a friendly smile. “It’s great to see you again. Come on in.” Grabbing two menus, she led them to a corner booth.
“It’s fantastic to see you, too,” Ciara gushed, with the smile of someone about to burst with a wonderful secret. “I need to speak with you, but first we need to talk to Grandma Leigh. Is she available?”
“Sure.” Grinning wider, Chelsea placed the menus on the table. “I’ll tell her you want to see her.”
Ciara squeezed Rowan’s arm, and he winked in return. Her joy was simply too infectious to resist. He handed her one of the menus. “Don’t forget to order.”
“Who cares about food at a time like this?” She tossed the menu aside. “I’ll just grab a side salad.”
Ciara cared for everyone and everything, but neglected herself.Not anymore.“That’s not enough.” He handed the menu back to her. When she didn’t take it, he donned a sternexpression. “Fine, I’ll order for you. Ahhh, I see they have boiled stink bugs.”
“You’re kidding.” She grabbed the menu. “You made that up.”
“They may not be served here, but they’re a real delicacy.” He took the menu back. “They taste like apples. Maybe they can make a special order for y–”
“Fine.” She grasped the menu again, flipped through the pages. “Would Irish stew and colcannon make you happy?”
“Exceedingly.”
She huffed out, but her smile never left. Chelsea came back with two ice waters with lemon and took their orders. They both ordered the stew, colcannon and a salad – as an appetizer. Shortly after Chelsea left, Grandma Leigh arrived, carrying two platters of crisp romaine covered with beefsteak tomatoes, sweet onions and colorful peppers. “Hi folks. Chelsea said you wanted to see me.”
“That’s right.” Ciara clapped. “We have amazing news.”
Rowan listened silently as she recounted the story, sharing every single detail of the contest and the meeting with Mrs. Murphy. Grandma Leigh was nearly as excited as Ciara, and promised complimentary Irish chocolate pots de crème in celebration. Finally, Ciara reached the part that involved her. “If it’s still okay with you, I’d like to talk to Chelsea about a position.”
Grandma Leigh smiled warmly. “Absolutely. Her shift will be over by the time you finish your meal. I’ll let her know.”
Ciara thanked the older woman. With one more hearty congratulations, Grandma Leigh left. Before he could speak, a voice sounded from behind them. “Rowan Byrne – I thought I recognized you.”
Rowan turned as a smiling woman sauntered to the table. With long blond hair, sultry lips and flawless skin, she wasstrikingly attractive, yet it was something he objectively noticed rather than a source of desire. The woman would have appeared more in place in a Dublin skyscraper than rural Ireland, dressed in a sophisticated pink suit and 4-inch pumps. She looked vaguely familiar.
She cameextremelyclose to him. “I’m Andrea Crane,” she said in a syrupy voice. “We went to school together when we were teenagers. I was sooo excited when I heard you were back.”
In his peripheral vision, Ciara narrowed her eyes. For once, he had to fight to keep his neutral expression. Did she realize no woman but her inspired his unbridled attraction? He turned his attention back to Andrea. “I remember you. You were in student government, right?”
Andrea smiled widely. “That’s right. Now I work in the local government, running Waterstone’s events and activities.”
