Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“We decided to go to Ireland first. See Roisin and let her have her party. Get married there unofficially, then come home and do it here. You’ll have recovered more.”
“I hate that you’re putting it off for me.”
“I realized I don’t have to be married for Finn to be mine. He already is. So, whatever date the piece of paper says is just that. A date.”
Then she smiled and winked. “And soon, we’ll be planning yours.”
I shrugged. “We haven’t discussed that yet.”
“You will.”
NIALL
I glanced across at Anna who slept on the sofa. She was bundled up with blankets, warm and safe. Close. I needed her close at all times. Luckily, she felt the same way.
There was a knock at the door, and I hurried over, smiling when I saw it was Una.
“Come in. She’s napping.”
“Good. Finn needs you in the office. Roman is here with Aldo.”
I looked over to Anna, hesitant.
“She’ll be fine. I’ll stay with her.”
“I just ordered some lunch.”
“Great. I’m starving.”
I chuckled. “Okay, I’ll get something with Finn.”
She pushed her hair over her shoulder, her ring catching the light. She saw me looking at it with a smile.
“Something on your mind?” she asked playfully.
I tugged her into the hall. “I want to marry Anna.”
“Good.”
“I have no clue about a ring.” I lifted her hand. “Would she like one like yours, maybe?”
She rolled her eyes. “Absolutely not. This rock would look wrong on Anna’s hand. She is so small it would be an ice rink. It’s even big for me, but Finn…” She trailed off with a shrug.
“What should I look for?”
She pulled out her phone. “I was hoping you’d ask. Just for fun, I got a bridal magazine the other day, and we went through it. Lots of ads for rings. Anna kept looking at one style in particular. I looked up the site for you.” She handed me her phone.
I scrolled through the pictures. “They’re, ah, small.”
“No, the setting is delicate, but the diamond is still a nice size. The craftsmanship is exquisite.” She tapped one picture. “Look at that pink diamond. And the rose gold setting. The intricate band. So romantic.”
It was pretty. And Anna loved pink. “Um, so I order online?”
She huffed. “No, we’ll go to a jeweler, and you can have it made.”
“Probably a size six?” I guessed.
She sighed. “I wear a six and a half. She is a four.”
“Ah.”
“And she likes refined. Pretty. You get the best diamond you can. The very best.”
I looked at her. “And you’ll help.”
She tapped something on her phone, waiting briefly. Then she squeezed my arm. “We’ll go tomorrow. Finn will have lunch with her.”
“So, he knows now?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Tomorrow it is.”
Downstairs, I found Finn, Roman, and Aldo waiting for me. They had glasses of whiskey, and I helped myself to one.
“Please tell me this is a social visit,” I said. “I can’t take much more.”
Roman chuckled. “In a way, yes. Everything is fine. Done. The official report was arson. No known suspects. The case is closed.” He took a sip of his drink. “And the other is not an issue. It is as if they never existed, so we don’t have to speak of it again.”
“Good.”
He cleared his throat. “Now, on to happy things. First off, I hear congratulations are in order.”
I glared at Finn. “I haven’t asked her yet.”
“She’ll say yes. It’s just a formality,” Finn replied with a wave of his hand.
Roman grinned, exchanging a glance with Aldo.
“I’m here to offer a wedding gift—well, to you both now.”
Finn smiled. “Not necessary, but the thought is appreciated.”
“Hear me out.”
Finn nodded, waiting for Roman to speak.
“I know you’re headed to Ireland and you’re putting your official wedding off a bit.”
“Yes.”
“And you’re going to cover while he is gone,” he said to me.
“That’s correct.”
“I am offering you gentlemen Aldo.”
Finn and I looked at each other.
“As a houseboy or something?” I asked, teasing.
He laughed and Aldo grinned. “No. I am going to run the Niagara hotel. Aldo will come here and run this one, and you both go to Ireland. Vi will come with him, and you’ll provide a suite for them. You go see Roisin and leave the bad memories behind you. I think it would do you all a world of good. Give Anna a chance to heal. Have some alone time away from all this.”
Finn cleared his throat. “That is very generous of you, but—”
Roman interrupted. “I want to do this.” He indicated Aldo. “We want to do this.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “Because we’re family now. Our women are friends. Effie understands what Anna and Una have been through. Her loving heart is breaking for Anna, and she wanted to do something. She reminded me of the gift of time I gave Luca when he got married. And Aldo. That gift was returned by them when Effie and I went away for a while. We needed it. I would say you need it.”