Heated Rush - Leslie Kelly [77]
Because she’d also managed to appreciate this world, too.
The place she’d been so desperate to escape was, she now acknowledged, part of her. Knowing she never wanted to live out her life in it did not mean she couldn’t appreciate the moments she spent here. What could be better than being surrounded by people she loved, who’d do anything to see her happy…even let her go?
Maybe that’s why she’d known what to do when she’d reached the moment of truth with Sean. Let him go. Because her family had shown her that’s what you had to do if you truly loved someone.
It’s also what Sean had tried to do for her. He’d wanted to let her go, to make her go, so she could escape what he’d believed was his sordid past.
As if she could love him any less for being someone else long ago, when he was the man who filled her heart with joy now.
“I love you,” she whispered from the corner of her mouth while they posed for another picture. She tried to keep her smile steady—they were waiting for her Great Aunt Trudy’s flash to charge back up. A common occurrence tonight.
He made no such effort, turning her to face him, not giving a damn about the camera. “I love you, too.” That was when the flash went off.
She’d have to ask for a copy of the picture, wondering if the love she saw shining from every inch of the man’s face—and reflecting from hers—could possibly be captured on film.
Throughout the party, Sean remained close by, as if not wanting to leave her side. Even when he was drawn into conversation by one of her brothers or uncles, she always felt his presence. In the middle of the melee, she’d feel the brush of his hand across the back of her neck, or see that smile from several feet away. And they’d silently exchange words, promises, secrets. Almost like the vows they’d be saying out loud just after Valentine’s Day.
It was when they were exchanging one of those warm, hungry gazes that could probably be read by everyone around them that Annie noticed Sean’s eyes widening in utter surprise. His mouth pulled into a delighted grin. He walked away from her brother Jed, midsentence, and strode across the room toward the foyer, where her mother had just let in another guest.
When Annie saw the black hair and sweet, laughing face, she knew who the late arrival was.
“Moira,” she murmured as she watched her fiancé grab his sister and lift her into a bear hug.
She was so happy for Sean that his sister had made the trip, she wanted to cry. Honestly, she hadn’t expected her to, especially this close to Christmas, but there was no way she’d ever have left Moira’s name off the guest list. She’d gotten to meet the young woman during a trip to London Annie and Sean had taken last fall, and completely understood why he adored her.
Moira’s wasn’t the only name on the invitation list that Sean didn’t know about. Annie, however, hadn’t begun to believe in miracles just because she was now madly in love. So she didn’t expect anything to come of that invite. She and Sean had talked many times about his issues with his father, and she completely understood—and supported—his need to handle that relationship his own way, whenever he was ready.
But one little invitation—and a few jotted lines of welcome—hadn’t seemed too out of line. It had been a tiny hand of peace extended across the ocean, one she had never imagined would be accepted.
Only, she suddenly realized when she saw Sean’s face go pale as an older couple followed Moira in, it apparently had been.
“Oh, my God,” she whispered, watching from several feet away as Sean stared in shock at the extremely well-dressed couple.
The man’s profile was immediately recognizable. Though his hair was more gray than black, his profile hawkish, he had the same bold chin, strong nose, deeply set eyes as his son. This had to be Sean Murphy, Sr.
Forgive me. Part of her was horrified at what she’d done—putting Sean in the position of seeing his father, without warning, for the first time in more than seven years. Another