More Than Scars (30 page)

“Oh?”

“Yes, and she said my gift for Liam is ready to be looked over for final approval.”

“Oh,” he sighed relief.

“Can you pick it up for me? I would but with the girls…”

“Mary would watch them for a bit.”

I poked him in the chest. “And she asked about my guitar lesson this evening!”

Ian groaned.

“Ian, you dog! Why didn’t you tell me you were taking her out? I knew she was into you but when she told me you had taken her to dinner I….”

“It’s not serious Rissa,” he cut in. “I’m not seeing her again.”

I frowned.

“It was fine…we had a good time, but…”

“I don’t understand. She’s adorable Ian! She’s sweet…talented and she has her own business! She seems to really like you.”

He grimaced. “Yeah, yeah she was fine…it was fine. We had a good time, but that was all that it was it was a good time…” He shook his head at me. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” I tried to keep the disappointment from my voice.

“I told you how I was…what I did…”

“You took her home?”

Ian sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “You don’t understand…”

“No…you are not going to be a pig,” I growled. “I refuse to believe you could be like that!”

“Pig?” His blue eyes narrowed.

“You used her?”

His mouth opened slightly is shock. “Listen, I don’t think you have the right to call me a…a pig.” His voice broke a little and he scowled. “Really Nerissa?”

I bit my lip to keep it from trembling.

“Is that what you think of me?”

“It’s what I don’t want to think of you Ian,” I said softly. “I’m just really disappointed right now, that’s all.”

“And what about the woman who goes out with me knowing that’s who I am? Everyone knows Ian Byrne is a player. I use women for my own pleasure and then toss them aside. It’s who I am.”

“That’s not who you are.”

“Obviously it’s what you are picturing me as right now…I see it in your face.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “You know Nerissa…don’t do me any favors by trying to tell me who I am with your mouth and believing another thing. Just accept the truth like everyone else. It’s a lot easier.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t know you could be so unfeeling.”

The usual happy blue eyes were dark with hurt. “Well, get used to it. Because I can be. I had fun with her and now I’m done. Simple as that! Now I have a meeting to attend Miss Meadows,” he growled. He wouldn’t even look me in the eye as he bid me farewell.

I looked after him in shock. This was not the Ian I knew! I wiped my eyes quickly and hurried back to the kitchen.

“Mary…I…I have to go pick something up. Could you watch the girls for a bit? I won’t be long.”

Mary nodded. “Sure, just let Stewart know you are leaving.”

I kissed the girls and called Stewart. I just had to get out of that place before I burst. I was in complete shock over Ian. I kept running over in my head his words.

As I drove through the gates, I called Wendy and let her know I had found time and would be personally picking up the gift myself. She kept a professional cheer in her voice but I knew it was not the news she had wanted to hear! The poor girl!

When I got there, I decided I would have to make up to Ian once I got over my disgust just to thank him for leading me to Wendy. The work she had done was phenomenal! She had managed to put together an album of the many photos I had taken in the short period of time. The editing of the photos and the layout was flawless. I knew Liam would love…even if some had his scared hands. It was a chance I was willing to take. Each photo choked me up.

“So you like? We can make changes!” Wendy cut into my thoughts.

I shook my head and looked into her expectant pixie face. She was so adorable with her short hair and her bright eyes. Again I felt the stab of Ian’s piggishness. “It’s perfect! I don’t want to change a thing!”

She smiled. “I’m glad! I’ve never worked on a case like this…it is truly a beautiful thing you are doing for Liam,” she said gently.

I smiled and handed her the book back. She would be cleaning it up and sealing the pages.  I would get it back in time for his birthday as promised.

“He deserves such a kindness. He’s a good man.”

“All the Byrne’s are,” she announced, laying the album on her stack of work.

I wanted to cringe.

“So you and Ian…”

“He was wonderful the other night,” she sighed. “I can’t believe he hasn’t been scooped up! He’s beautiful and sweet and so devoted to his family! I just know he’s going to make a wonderful family man one day,” she gushed.

I chewed my lip. “About that…”

She turned to be expectantly.

“I don’t know if I would expect a date number two.”

Her smile dropped and then she tilted her head at me. “Well, no…no, especially not after how the last one ended.” She shook her head at me.

It was my turn to let my face fall. “What do you mean?”

“My ex showed up,” she said with a grimace. “Kind of put a damper on the whole night. Though, I have to admit, I don’t think things were going that way anyway. Ian was super sweet…but he was very distracted.”

I frowned. “He didn’t take you home with him?”

She smiled. “I would have remembered that I am sure!” She shook her head. “No…I sort of made up with
Brinley…I ended going home with him.”

I swallowed hard. Oh shoot!

“That was why I was hoping Ian would drop by. I was wanting to apologize to him about how it all went down. I hope his feelings weren’t hurt!”

I again chewed my lip and shook my head. “No, not by you,” I said softly. Oh, Lord I had put my foot in my mouth!

I had called my friend a pig…and he had been the one who had been hurt! I felt like the lowest kind of person.

“
Nerissa are you okay?” Wendy smiled with concern.

“Fine…fine…I’m just anxious to get home to the girls! Thank you so much for the beautiful work! I will pick this all up on Sunday! His birthday is Tuesday so it’s perfect! Just call me if there is any issue!” I shrugged into my coat and grabbed my keys.

Wendy smiled again. “And if you see Ian, please tell him I’m sorry!”

I nodded and started for the door.

“He really holds you in high esteem Nerissa…as his friend! I have known Ian for a long time. He doesn’t talk about many people the way he talks about you. You have a sure friend there!”

I stopped short and drew in a breath. “Thank you,’ I whispered quickly, and then slipped out the door and practically ran for my car. I was dialing his number before I even had my door open. He didn’t answer.

I started the car and headed for home.

“Ian, please call me!” I hung up after leaving this message and called back…went right to voice mail. He was ignoring my calls now!

I called the house and got Stewart.

“I need to speak to Ian,” I insisted.

“He and Liam are in a meeting Miss Nerissa,” he said gently.

“Please interrupt!”

“I can’t”

“Tell them it’s an emergency!”

“I can’t lie!”

“Fine!”
I hung up with him and called Ian two more times, getting the same treatment. I knew I wouldn’t see him tonight. He would not be making it to our guitar lesson. I had really hurt him and I deserved to be ignored! But I did not want him continuing on with this day thinking I felt that way about him!

I drew in a breath, pulled over the car and bit the bullet. I dialed Liam’s number. I held my breath. And then
sighed relief when an answer came. It wasn’t Liam who answered. It was Ian.

“I don’t want to speak to you.”

“Well, I called Liam’s phone,” I teased. “I don’t want to talk to you either!”

“
Nerissa…”

“I’m sorry Ian! I’m so sorry! I was wrong! But you are the one that put all those ideas in my head that that was how things were with you!  I never would have imagined such! I…I just…I’m sorry! You are not a pig! I wish I could take it all back and I can’t! I feel…wretched!”

“You would have been right so many other times though,” he whispered in agony. “I never wanted you to see me that way! You of all people! I want to play it straight…I swear. I never want to hear you refer to me as a…”

“Don’t say it,” I sighed, “Please.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Am I restored in your sight?”

“Completely!”

I heard his smile on the other end.

“Why did you answer Liam’s phone?”

He chuckled. “Liam saw me hit ignore a few times and when Stewart came in and asked me if I would accept a call if you were to call again…he put two and two together. He made me answer.”

I groaned. “I was so distraught that I hung up on Stewart,” I cried. “Oh
my gosh, I have more apologies to give when I get home!”

Ian chuckled.

“Thank you for forgiving me,” I sighed.

“Well thank you for seeing more in me than a man whore,” he teased.

I smiled into the phone. “We still on for our lesson tonight?”

“Yes Miss Meadows we are.”

“Please tell Liam thank you for handing you the phone. I didn’t want to break his silence mode or anything…but I needed to talk to you!”

“Tell Liam you are madly in love with him? What? And that you want to marry him first chance you get? What? That you want to make sweet passionate love to him when you get home? What?”

My heart dropped into my stomach! “Ian Byrne!”

“Relax
Rissa! He stepped out halfway through our conversation!” He chuckled. “I will tell him you said thank you! And I will see you tonight! Love you my friend!” And he ended the call with another laugh.

I trembled with relief and threw my phone into my purse. Oh that could have been really bad. I could have messed it up royally with my newest, and let’s be honest, my only friend right now.

I drove carefully home now, not in a rush to run Ian down to insist on an apology. When I entered the house through the servant’s entry, I was happy to see Ian waiting for me. I couldn’t help but smile and hurried over to hug him. I didn’t care what appearance it made or what security camera it showed up on. My relief was true and my apology as well.

“You’ve already been forgiven,” he said gently.

“Your meetings are over today?”

He helped me out of my coat. “No, I have to head back to the city but I wanted to see you before I left.” His blue eyes twinkled. He was back to his old happy self. “Something is up between you and my brother…isn’t it?”

I frowned.

“He didn’t tear my head off this morning after your call.”

I glanced into the kitchen, but neither Mary nor the others were about. “No, nothing is up.”

He leaned against the door way, still not allowing me out of the entrance. “I thought you and I were a team?”

I laughed. “Well, Mr. smarty pants…here I stand talking to you! When is the last time I spoke to Liam?”

“You said Liam.”

I blushed.

“You tell me
Rissa.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “You were in the middle of a conference call. Of course he didn’t chew you out!” I shrugged and moved to get passed him. He put his arm out to block me in.

“Even after…he said nothing. And then you were wildly dialing my number…sending Stewart into our meeting…calling Liam’s number which is taboo and he calmly hands me the phone. He says, “You should talk to her.” Just like that! Like he’s a man with nothing to fear!” He tilted his head.

“Maybe he’s not interested in me.”

Ian barked out a laugh and grabbed my shoulders. “I’m not buying it.”

I smiled. “Ian…I haven’t changed Liam’s mind. I haven’t won his heart and we aren’t secretly meeting or anything like that…so get that out of your head. We may have had a moment but that moment is passed.” I worried my lip.

“I don’t think he buys that I’m after you.”

“Really?”

He shook his head. “He asked me how my love life was today. Never even mentioned you.”

“Maybe he is fishing?”

He shrugged. “I must be a horrid actor.”

I pressed passed him and into the kitchen. I needed some coffee before I faced the girls. I pulled the milk from the fridge and poured a cup Mary must have recently brewed.

“And he’s done something no brother would do if he knew another brother would do if he knew he were into another girl. At least…not my brother.”

I stopped mid stir and looked up at Ian. Did he know about that night? Did he know Liam laid there and comforted
me, held me? “Liam’s a gentleman…” I began, ready to defend his honor if that were the case.

“Oh, I know,” Ian cut in. “I should have realized last week what he intended to do when he asked me. I should have jumped on it when I first offered.”