Wild Embrace (Wilder Irish #11) - Mari Carr Page 0,72

hand through his hair, the anger and frustration of last night returning to him in a rush. “Fuck, man. I saw red. She’s mine. Darcy’s mine. I just… Shit. I can’t hurt her. I can’t let her down. I can’t do that.”

“Then you won’t.” Padraig gave him a comforting grin. “It sounds to me like Ryder 2.0 is the kind of guy who does write symphonies and fight wars. And we know he punches out the other guy.”

Ryder smiled…and the light went on. “Yeah. He does.”

Darcy walked into the pub shortly before the dinner rush, ready to end this day the way she’d started it. Curled up in a ball in her bed, crying her heart out. She would actually still be there if Sunnie hadn’t shown up just after lunch and dragged her miserable ass out to a salon for mani/pedis and haircuts. Darcy had been perfectly happy in her oversized flannel pajamas and messy bun, and she’d figured there wasn’t enough makeup in the world to cover her puffy eyes.

But no amount of resistance would sway her sister, who said they were going to let the women at the salon work on the outside while the two of them worked on the inside.

She’d appreciated Sunnie’s efforts, grateful to her sister for letting her pour her heart out, allowing her to talk it all through. Dad had told her she had to be patient last night, something she sucked at, and she’d honestly expected Sunnie to countermand Dad’s suggestion, to tell her to forge on. Actually, Darcy had been counting on that.

Instead, Sunnie agreed with Dad. Insisted that Darcy wait for Ryder to come to her. Something that was easier said than done, though Sunnie was convinced Darcy wouldn’t have to wait long. She wished she had her sister’s confidence, but Sunnie hadn’t been there last night.

Hadn’t seen Ryder’s face.

Yvonne had shown up at the salon just as she and Sunnie were finished and dragged Darcy shopping. Darcy had been less resistant to her invitation, hoping for some kernel of information about Ryder’s state of mind. Unfortunately, Yvonne hadn’t seen Ryder since the incident at the pub. She’d fallen asleep early with the baby, and she and Leo and the boys had gone to brunch before Ryder had come out of his bedroom that morning.

They’d gone to a couple high-end boutiques, and Yvonne had even convinced her to buy a new dress, one that she’d actually worn out of the shop because Yvonne insisted that her outfit needed to match her hair and makeup.

Darcy had felt like an idiot, but she’d gone along with it because it seemed like the quickest and easiest way to get back home to her bed.

Darcy pulled out her cell and glanced at the screen for the four-millionth time today. No text. No missed calls.

Figures.

“All dressed up and nowhere to go,” she muttered under her breath.

She glanced over and caught sight of Mom and Dad standing in the doorway between the pub and Sunday’s Side. She was hoping they’d let her pass by without wanting to chat. Her bed was calling. Mercifully, they just waved and continued talking to each other.

That was when she spotted her brother, Finn, with Layla, Miguel, and Oliver, sharing a couple pitchers in a corner booth, all looking in her direction and smiling.

Dammit. Ryder was right. She had too much family. And the thirty-five steps from the front door of the pub to her apartment were going to be too many for her to make a clean escape.

“There’s my pretty lass. Come keep an old man company.”

Darcy glanced over to the bar and attempted a smile, one that went wobbly really quickly when she saw her Pop Pop pat the stool next to his.

She wiped away an errant tear as she approached and sat down, fighting hard to swallow down her sadness. Of course her grandfather didn’t miss it, so he had his handkerchief out, ready for her.

“Dry those eyes, lovely girl. It would be a shame to mess up that fancy makeup.”

Darcy took it and blotted her face carefully, though it didn’t matter if she did mess it up. The only place she was going was to bed.

“Wine, Darc?” Padraig asked, walking over to them.

She shook her head. “Not tonight. I’ll make some tea when I get upstairs.”

Padraig reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

She appreciated the comforting words, but she wasn’t feeling as certain as he and Sunnie.

“I heard about last