Free Shamrocks and Secrets by Cayce Poponea Page B

Ignoring the black sedan that was still parked across the street, I jumped into my car and then drove to the club. I had what I would say to him all planned out. I would be polite, yet firm. As I turned the corner and parked my car in the parking lot, I made certain my pepper spray was still in my purse.
    Once inside, I noticed the same two men standing behind the bar. They noticed me instantly, and the taller of the two came around to stand in front of me.
    "Ms. O ’ Rourke, why are you here?"
    "I need to see Patrick , " I went to walk by, but he quickly stepped in my way.
    "Boss isn't here, Ms. O ’ Rourke, he said you knew."
    "Knew what?"
    "He works out of his condo now. He moved his whole office over there."
    The gold card...the note...shit, shit, shit!
    "Thank you." I turned and began to walk out.
    "Oh no, Ms. O ’ Rourke, let me walk you out. This neighborhood isn't safe for a lady such as yourself."
    I made it back home to find Shannon and Abigail having a tea party. I loved how simple things were in our house.
    "Auntie Christi!" Abigail called out.
    I smiled as I crossed the room and joined them. Shannon had a mischievous smile on her face.
    "Abby, honey, why don't you go get a cup for Auntie Christi"
    "Yeah!" she shouted as she hurried off to her bedroom.
    "Can I see what he gave you?"
    I rolled my eyes and handed her my purse. Shannon found the two boxes and took them out.
    "Christi, you haven't even opened them yet! ”
    I then turned to look at her and reached for my purse.
    "I'm giving them back so what's the point?"
    "Quit being a stuck-up bitch, Christi."
    One thing about my sister was she always spoke her mind. Not always at the most opportune time, mind you.
    "Just open the fucking boxes."
    She placed the two boxes in my lap and waited. I would have waited all night except that I knew my sister would wait right along with me. She was more stubborn than I could ever be. I took the long black box first and slowly removed the green ribbon. Resting inside was the most beautiful tennis bracelet I had ever seen.
    "It's just like mine," Shannon spoke as she showed me the same bracelet that wrapped around her right wrist. “ It's a tradition in the Malloy family to give one to the woman you're dating. Dillion gave me mine after our second date. I'm surprised you haven't noticed the Malloy ladies wearing theirs. Although I'm jealous, as yours has a little bigger diamonds than mine."
    Shannon was right; the diamonds were slightly bigger. Finally, I opened the Tiffany's box.
    "Do you know what this is?" I questioned holding the box up.
    “I have my suspicions, but no, I'm not certain."
    Resting inside the box was a shamrock pendant. The leaves were emeralds and the stem was made of platinum, the chain was also made of platinum. I gasped as I touched the green stones.
    "Oh, my God. Christi, that's breathtaking.”
    “Do you know why he gave me this?”
    “No clue, you should ask him."
    Shannon was right; I did want to know why he felt the need to give me these particular pieces of jewelry. The bracelet was so beautiful and a huge part of me wanted to keep it, but that wouldn't be right. It was still early and I decided that if I was going to give them back, I should just do it.
    The drive to his condo went quicker than I had hoped. All the courage I'd had when I ’ d gone to the club was long since gone. I shouldn't have opened the damn boxes.
    I slid my card into the slot as I had seen Patrick do and the elevator sprang to life. I remembered that there wasn't an additional door once the elevator opened and I hoped I wasn't interrupting anything.
    The door opened to reveal a very handsome Patrick Malloy standing there waiting. I couldn't help but smile at him as he greeted me.
    "Hello, beautiful," he smiled and then quickly kissed my cheek. "Have you had dinner yet?"
    "No, not yet. Um, I actually just came to return these." I said as I held the two boxes out to him.
    "Come, sit with me, Christi, have dinner and