Page 70 of Illusive
Elizabeth studied her with a now-dreaded searching look. “You should stick to one major change at a time.”
“What does that mean?”
Her mother gave an exasperated sigh. “Are we just not going to talk about the man living with you?”
“What?” Alina’s eyes widened. “Since when? Ronan?”
Ireland bristled. “I know you don’t like him, Ali. And I know I’m not supposed to have anything to do with him, let alonewanthim. Neither of you has to say it.”
“Good, because I wasn’t going to.” Elizabeth looked at Alina. “Why don’t you like him?”
Her best friend waved her hand carelessly, making the bangles on her wrists chime. Alina was a bohemian soul who rarely wore makeup, preferring a colorful wardrobe of vintage pieces worn with contemporary flair.
“He misled her about who he was,” Alina answered. “He got under Ireland’s skin before she found out his business withVidal. And while he was taking the label apart, he was still Johnny-on-the-spot if Ireland wanted someone to, ah, keep her company.”
Elizabeth slid Alina a wry look.
“But my opinion’s changed.” Alina gave a slight shrug. “He about lost his mind when he found out you’d been taken, Ireland. He pickpocketed Gideon’s phone to track you down.”
Ireland stared, unblinking, at her best friend. “No way.”
“Way. I didn’t know about him moving in, though. When did that happen?”
“It hasn’t. At least, not that I know of,” Ireland admitted, still trying to decipher how she felt about Ronan’s noncommittal response to her proposal that he continue staying at her place—with her. “I made the suggestion, but he’s got this idea that I’m afraid of commitment or too independent or whatever, so he’s always slowing things down.”
Alina rolled her eyes. “You’ve known the guy a little over a week, Ireland. You guys are moving at lightspeed.”
“It’s always been that way for me.” Elizabeth’s smile was somehow both impish and chagrined. “It took little more than a handshake with Geoffrey, Chris, and Daniel for me to know I’d be spending my future with each of them. And Gideon married Eva within months of meeting her. It’s really not that hard to know if you’d rather be with someone than without them.”
Ireland shifted in her seat to face her mother. “Doyoulike Ronan, Mom?”
“I think so. I certainly see potential,” Elizabeth mused. “You’re a little younger than your years. That’s not meant as an insult, by the way. It’s just the reality of your generation, and you’ve been sheltered by overprotective brothers. Ronan’s not only older, he’s also an old soul. That could be a good balance for both of you.”
“I like how he makes me feel when I’m with him,” Ireland said. “It’s just so…easy…being with someone who’s self-aware, has what he needs, and knows what he wants.”
“Because the guys you usually date,” Alina noted, “need you to get them what they want.”
“Yeah…” Ireland was treading on unfamiliar ground. Her liaisons were always casual, not that she wasn’t open to something deeper, but red flags, diminishing desire, or getting the ick usually made her dip out quickly. She didn’t think she was overly fussy. It was just that after years of watching Gideon with Eva and Christopher with Natalie—and even remembering how her parents had once been together—Ireland knew what it looked like to have a true partner and saw no reason to settle.
Elizabeth yawned. “God, I’m sorry. I know yawns are contagious.”
“Don’t apologize, Mom. We both need our beds and a long nap.” Ireland didn’t mind hospitals, but she wondered how anyone was supposed to heal when they weren’t allowed to sleep. The nurses came by at regular intervals to check her temperature, oxygen levels, and blood pressure, waking her if necessary. And since her mother had elected to stay the night with her, Elizabeth had gotten precious little shut-eye, too.
“But Ronan has some choices to make,” her mom continued, “that I’m not sure he’s given enough weight to. He seems to have alaissez-faireattitude about the obstacles you face from your family, and I assume, his.”
Ireland’s shoulders slumped. “I can’t picture Dad or Christopher ever being happy seeing Ronan walk into a room or vice versa—especially if that room is in Vidal Records and Ronan is the one calling the shots.”
“There’s that,” Alina agreed. “I saw them all together—your family and Ronan—the night of the masquerade, and yeah…it wasn’t good.”
“McCaffrey Holdings was able to gain control of Vidal because your father allowed it,” Elizabeth said tersely.
“You’re mad at Dad,” Ireland noted. And that unsettled her. Yes, they were divorced and her mother had Daniel now, but her parents were always cordial to each other, and that’s how Ireland needed them to be.
“Yes, I’m angry.” Her mother stood suddenly, her hands going to her hips. “That business was supposed to be yours and your brother’s. I spent years doing my part to build it for both of you. And your father gambled with it as if he had a right to and lost it.”
“He was trying,” she defended weakly.
Elizabeth shot her an arch glance. “In any case, your father opened the door, and Ronan simply walked through it. You also have choices to make, Ireland, and a lot to consider, but your father and brothers’ anger at the situation should be taken with a grain of salt.”
