The Dating Plan(11)

Ed cleared his throat and read out the list of bequests. Liam, Brendan, and their cousin, Ethan, received generous financial gifts, as did most of the other relatives and the distillery manager, Joe. The rest of the estate was divided between Seamus and Fiona. Roisin inherited the house.

“What about the distillery?” Brendan asked impatiently. “The land is worth a small fortune.”

“I was just coming to that,” Ed said. “He set up a conditional trust for the distillery. It says: ‘I leave the Murphy & Sons Distillery to my grandson, Liam Patrick Murphy, provided that he is married by his next birthday, following the date of my passing, and stays married for at least one full year in the hope that he will finally find the love of a family, and have a child to pass on the legacy. If Liam is not married by his next birthday, or if his marriage does not last one year, then I leave the distillery to my grandson, Brendan Colin Murphy.’”

Silence.

“He named our law firm as the trustee,” Ed explained. “It will be our responsibility to manage the distillery until the gift vests, and to determine whether or not the marriage meets the terms of the trust so we can honor Mr. Murphy’s intent.”

A smile spread across Brendan’s face. “So I get it after all.”

“Well . . . uh . . . only if Liam doesn’t get married before his birthday,” Ed offered. “Or doesn’t stay married for a year after that.”

“His birthday is in two months.” Brendan barked a laugh. “He doesn’t even have a girlfriend.”

“Don’t write him off yet,” Seamus interjected. “He’s a good-looking young man. Who knows what can happen.”

“Marriage fraud can happen,” Lauren pointed out. “A fake marriage to defeat the will-maker’s intent can be challenged by the trustee or even in court.”

Liam took one deep breath and then another. How could his grandfather do this to him? Although he’d never expected to inherit the distillery, he was certain his grandfather knew how much it meant to him.

“I just wish Da were alive to see how I saved Murphy Motors,” Brendan said quietly. “It would make him smile.”

Liam couldn’t understand why Brendan was still seeking the approval of a man who had physically abused their mother and had been nothing but cruel and unkind to his youngest son. But then, Brendan had stayed with their dad even after Liam had finally gotten their mother out of a marriage that had almost destroyed her.

“What’s it worth?” Brendan asked Ed. “Ballpark?”

Ed closed his file. “We’ll be sending someone out to value the land and buildings for the estate in the coming weeks.”

“Send me the details and I’ll be there.” Brendan shot Liam a smug look. “I’ll bring my construction guys to get an estimate for the demolition.”

Every muscle in Liam’s body tightened. Brendan was going to destroy the Murphy legacy and put twenty good people out of work. And there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. He couldn’t even remember the name of the last woman he’d slept with, much less find someone who would agree to marry him and stay married for a year.

“I need another drink.” Liam crossed the room to the bar where Joe was refilling his own glass. Behind him, his relatives chattered, asking Ed details about the bequests.

“I’m glad your grandfather isn’t here,” Joe said quietly. “He would have been sick at heart to know this was the end of a three-hundred-year legacy.”

Still reeling, Liam shrugged. “I’m not sure about that. He knew how I feel about relationships, and he must have suspected what Brendan would do with the distillery.”

“You sure you can’t find someone to marry?” Joe poured Liam a glass of whiskey. “How about an ex? You’ve got more than a few of those kicking around. You could mend fences and give it a go . . .”

“They are exes for a reason. I couldn’t live with any of them for a few weeks, much less a year.”

“What about paying someone? Maybe an actress. I’m sure there are lots of girls who need money. Or what about one of those mail-order brides?”

“I couldn’t lie to someone like that.” Liam shook his head stiffly. “And I wouldn’t want to lead someone on. It would have to be someone who has no interest in a relationship with me.”

“Someone who hates you, then?” Joe seemed almost desperate. “You piss off any girls in your day?”

Something niggled at the back of Liam’s mind. The scent of wildflowers. Warm curves. Soft lips. A face almost as familiar as his own . . .

His fake fiancée. And the making of a plan. “Joe, you’re a genius.” He tossed back his drink. “You’ve just given me an idea.”

“Well, thank God for that.” Joe finished off his glass. “Even with your grandfather’s generous gift, I need the work. Keeps the mind and body active. And besides, who’s going to hire a man my age?”

“Sorry to tell you this, Bren,” Liam called out, “but I’m engaged.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. He had been engaged for the duration of his encounter with Daisy.

Brendan snorted. “What a load of bullshit.”

“Fecking bullshit, right Dad?” Jaxon looked up at his father, his face aglow with innocent adoration.