Wild Irish Christmas (Wild Irish, Book Eight) Read Online Free PDF Page B

never thought I’d see the day.”
    Patrick looked at her, curious at her proclamation. “What day?”
    “The day you gave up. Patrick Collins, there’s never been a day in your life you didn’t scrape and scratch and fight for what you believed in, what you wanted. You’ve worked yourself near to exhaustion to save money for your future. You studied harder than most of the lads in school because you knew you’d need that knowledge to succeed in business. Are you in love with Sunday MacKenna?”
    He nodded. “So much.”
    “Will you make her a good husband? Care for her?”
    He ran his hand through his hair. “I’d give her anything, everything. But Conall can give her more.”
    Kathleen rolled her eyes. “ Och . Damn, you’ve got a thick skull. Did you ever consider that Sunday doesn’t want more? That you’re enough for her?”
    Sunday had said as much last night at the pub. It was that sentiment that had kept him awake, tossing and turning all night. She thought he was enough. It was a heady, wonderful feeling.
    “So what do I do now, Kath? Lead me to the answer.”
    Kathleen pointed toward the exit to the dance hall. Patrick’s stomach sunk when he watched Conall walk outside with Sunday. “You stop the girl and you tell her how you feel.”
    “What if it’s too late?”
    Kathleen shoved him firmly on the back. “You’ll never know unless you try. Even if she rejects you, you’ll be no worse off than you are now. Look at you. You’re a mess. Stay here and you have no chance. Follow her and I figure your odds are better than fifty-fifty.”
    Patrick grinned. Leave it to Kathleen to put her argument in terms he could understand. Betting was his vice.
    He wasn’t ready to concede yet. Patrick wasn’t going down without a fight. He kissed Kathleen on the cheek, murmured a quick word of thanks then rushed toward the exit. God willing, it wasn’t too late to make things right.
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
     
    “Did you catch her?” Riley asked.
    Killian grinned. “What do you think?”
    Riley shook her head. “Crap. I’m getting as caught up in this story as Teagan.”
    “Kathleen was a nice lady,” Ewan said.
    “She’s a lovely lass. Actually, she’s family now. She married my cousin Aidan.”
    Keira perked up “She’s that Kathleen?”
    Patrick nodded. “Yes, Keira Kathleen Collins Wallace. You were named after her. If not for her encouragement that night, I’m not sure any of us would be here.”
    “So maybe it’s Kathleen we should be toasting instead of Conall.” Sean raised the nearly empty bottle of whiskey in silent tribute.
    “That’s a nice thought, son. Perhaps we should.”
    “So what happened when you left the dance, Pop” Tris asked. “Get to the good part.”
    “When I walked outside, I glanced around, thinking perhaps Conall and Sunday had gone home, but I was wrong…”
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
     
    Patrick was relieved when he spotted Conall’s car still in parked in the crowded lot outside the dance hall. Glancing to the left, he saw Sunday and Conall standing together at the far corner of the large building. They were well away from the crowd just arriving at the dance as well as the couples who’d escaped the stuffy hall for a bit of fresh, cool air.
    Patrick pulled his jacket around him more tightly and pondered his next move. Sunday and Conall were deep in conversation. Should he interrupt them? Ask to speak to Sunday privately?
    When Conall reached into his pocket and pulled out what looked like plane tickets, Patrick knew it was now or never. His legs began moving before his brain told them to.
    He pulled up short when the sound of Sunday’s voice drifted to him. He thought he’d heard her say the word no . He paused and strained to hear.
    “Conall, I’m truly flattered by your invitation, but you must know I can’t accept it.”
    Patrick took a step closer to the building, letting the shadows and a large hedge hide him. Sunday was rejecting Conall?
    Conall didn’t appear