“Poor billionaire Violet,” Harper said with a smile that undercut her sarcasm. “So what kind of business does he own?”
“A bar. An Irish pub to be exact.”
“That’s why you haven’t told your parents, and took your time telling us,” Harper said with an accusing tone. “You had an affair with some sexy bartender!”
Four
It had been a couple days since girls’ night, but their words still echoed in Violet’s head. That she was keeping secrets about Aidan. That she hadn’t told her parents or her friends because she was embarrassed about slumming with a bartender. That maybe, deep down, it was true.
No. It wasn’t true, and yet their words haunted her. She knew Aidan was more than just a bartender. Along with her hotter memories had come some of their pillow talk. She knew he was a smart, capable, caring man. One who would be a good father for Knox.
But that still didn’t mean she was going to tell her parents about him.
It wasn’t about Aidan, not really. It was her parents who were the problem. They jet-setted around the world, ignoring her most of the year. When she did see them, they were filled with criticisms and loaded down with gifts. The gifts soothed their conscience and also doubled as bribes. While she was still lying in the recovery room, her father had offered her a luxury yacht if she’d agree to marry Beau and tell the world he was Knox’s father.
She’d turned that offer down.
It was probably one of the first times in her life she’d put her foot down with her parents. They hadn’t quite known how to take her answer. So they’d given her a diamond watch as a push present, opened a trust fund for Knox and got back on a plane to somewhere else.
Her parents loved her. Violet knew that on a practical level. But they weren’t the hands-on, demonstrative parents she’d always wante
d. She wanted that for Knox and she felt like Aidan would provide the warm father figure he needed.
She just knew her parents wouldn’t see the good in Aidan. Only his “flaws,” the way they focused on hers. She’d already done enough to Aidan, albeit not deliberately. If she’d had her memories she would’ve told him about Knox the moment she realized she was pregnant. He didn’t deserve the kind of casual abuse her parents would heap on him—comparing him to Beau at every chance, criticizing his work, his family, his upbringing... No good would come from that. For now, it was easier to let them think her memories were still lost in some dark corner of her mind.
She had spoken with her attorney, however, and wanted to talk to Aidan about his recommendations going forward. Violet decided to stop into Murphy’s before it opened. He texted that he would leave the door unlocked so she could pop in whenever she could.
When she arrived outside the bar, she felt the intense sensation of déjà vu. This was the place where her life had changed forever, even if she hadn’t known it until recently. As she pushed open the heavy door to step inside, the familiar scents and sounds of the bar surrounded her. Behind the bar was Aidan, polishing glasses from the dishwasher and putting them away in their respective homes.
“Welcome to Murphy’s Pub.” He greeted her with a warm smile that made her belly clench.
That smile was probably what had lured her to him the night they met. He had almost a magnetic pull on her. She wanted to be close to him. Even now, although she wrestled with it, she felt the draw. Of course she wanted him as a father for her son. And she still wanted him for herself if her jacked-up pulse and aching breasts were any indication. But did they have long-term potential?
She wasn’t sure about that. They were from disparate worlds. Different cultures, different religions, different neighborhoods. He might never be comfortable rubbing elbows with the ultra-wealthy families the Niarchoses associated with. It had been easy to ignore those differences for a weekend when there was no promise of anything more, but for a lifetime? It would eventually be an issue.
“Where is Knox?” Aidan asked when she came through the door with nothing but her designer handbag.
“He’s with Tara.” Violet couldn’t very well bring her six-month-old son to a bar, even if it was to see his father. She set her purse on the newly cleaned bar top and climbed onto one of the worn stools that lined it.
“Who’s Tara?”
“She’s the nanny.”
Aidan got a funny look on his face. It was a mix of surprise, irritation and a complete loss of vocabulary. She wasn’t sure why he was confused by something that simple. He should’ve expected that she had someone to help her with the baby. Violet was a single, working mother. Someone had to keep Knox during the day. Eventually, he would go to a prestigious preschool, but until then, she had to choose between a nanny and day care. The nanny route won in the end.
“What?” she asked at last. “There’s something on your mind, say it.”
Aidan sighed and slumped onto the bar stool beside her. “What do you really know about this Tara? Did you do a background check on her? Get references from other families?” he asked.
Violet snorted and shook her head. Did he really think she would leave her child with just some random person off the street? “‘Yes’ to all of that. I actually know more about her than I know about you. She checks out on every level and she’s amazing, so you can take the protective dad thing down a notch.”
He shrugged off her concerns. “I can’t help it. I’m new at this, but it’s amazing how quickly the parental panic sets in.”
“I know. When they took him from my arms to do his checkup at the hospital, I started to worry. By the time they gave him back to me, I was on the verge of tears. I had never loved anyone as much as I loved that little boy the moment I laid eyes on him.”
Violet noticed a sad look in Aidan’s eyes before he shook it off and pasted his bright smile back on. She wished she could give him back the six months he’d lost. Or at least kiss him until the sadness faded away.
“So whatcha drinking?” he asked, changing the subject.