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A tall, sandy-haired man by the window who I didn’t notice at first approaches, picking up the thread of the question. “From what your friends said, too much cold, not enough food, a bit of dehydration, and to throw out a highly medical term—wicked jet lag happened to you.” He pats me on the shoulder. “I’m Dr. Murphy…David.” He reaches for my wrist. “May I?”
Sion doesn’t make any move to relinquish me as Dr. David checks my vitals.
Charlie raises a mug with a curl of steam rising into the air. “You were bound for a colossal face-plant and classy roll down the slope if Sion hadn’t caught you.”
I swear to you, Eala Duir. You’ll never fall when you’re with me.
Sion deserves credit for sticking to his word. I need to shake the fog from my brain. The aroma of Charlie’s coffee calls to me. I hope Colleen is on her way with mine.
I nudge Sion. “Thanks for the save.”
His eyes twinkle as he gives me a squeeze. “Always.”
“The good news, Ms. Duir, is that nothing looks twisted, sprained, or broken,” says Dr. David. “No signs of concussion either. Any pain?”
“Just the embarrassment of…” I jerk my chin at Charlie. “Almost colossally face-planting in front of an audience.” I feel the rumble of laughter in Sion’s chest.
“Take it easy. Eat, drink, squeeze in a nap, and you should be up and full crackin’ in a few hours.” With a friendly wink, Dr. David leaves the room, squeezing past Jeremy who holds a tray piled with enough food for the entire tour group.
“Breakfast,” Jeremy announces.
Colleen follows with a blessed mug of caffeinated elixir. “Too much cream and not enough sugar, just the way you like it.”
Jeremy sets a heaping plate of bacon, potatoes, tomatoes, and black pudding on the coffee table, then digs my hand out from under the blanket. “You’re looking better, sweetheart. Your splendid rosy glow is back.”
Sion goes rigid at sweetheart and glares at Jeremy’s hand on mine. Before he says anything to escalate the tension between them, I pipe up. “Thanks for the food, Jeremy.” With Sion’s help and minimal maneuvering, I sit up and accept the coffee while he maintains hip-to-hip contact. Grabbing a piece of black pudding, I smile at my visitors. “I’m sorry for worrying you all.” My next thought kills the luxury of a leisurely breakfast. “What time is it? Shit, we’ve got to load the bus if we’re going to make the Dublin activities.”
Sion’s arm clamps more securely around my back, making it clear he isn’t keen on me going anywhere.
Colleen checks her watch. “It’s fine as long as we hop to it soon. Our crew downstairs is finishing breakfast. We’ll leave in a few, make the drive, check into the Dublin hotel to freshen up, and still make our itinerary in plenty of time.”
Sion’s gaze bores into mine with a follow my lead look. “Eala, do you think a bus ride is the best idea? The train is a much smoother go. After you’ve finished breakfast, gotten out of these damp clothes, and had a shower to warm your bones, I’ll see you up to Dublin.” He leans his forehead against mine in a gesture more intimate than a single night together swapping stories warrants. “We’ll stop off first to get you snacks since you’ve lost your bag of bars.”
Message received. We need some alone time for whatever he’s not sharing with the group.
I pat his cheek then face our folks. “Good idea. I guess one of those thieving foxes stole my peanut bars.” I dig my fingers into Sion’s thigh under the blanket. “And I’m still a little wobbly. A shower would help me reset if Robbie doesn’t mind the intrusion.”
“Naw, he says to stay as long as you like.” Sion nods at our audience. “I’m sure you’d all agree it’s easier to sleep on a train than a rattling bus. Lulls you like a babe.” He winks at me. “Train’s faster too. Even if we leave a spell after the bus, we won’t be far behind the meetup at the other end.”
Not one of our three travelling companions looks happy about Sion separating me from the herd. It’s clear he doesn’t have a single fan among them.
I take another bite of black pudding and wave it for emphasis. “I’m not going to allow the tour schedule to go off the rails because I didn’t take care of myself. It took a lot of wrangling to arrange the lecture with the professor at Trinity College, right Jeremy?” I sink against Sion, feigning more fatigue than I feel. “I’d rather stay a smidge longer before heading up to Dublin.” I fake a laugh. “No need for a repeat keel over.”
Colleen switches her focus from Sion to Jeremy, clearly conflicted between leaving me and her duty of keeping the tour on schedule.
I motion her over. When she’s near, I pull her by the scarf down to couch level and kiss the top of her head. “I’ll be brilliant, love.” I throw as much Irish accent as I can muster especially exaggerating the love. It does the trick and my bestie smiles.
“You have my word I’ll deliver Eala to Dublin without a scratch,” says Sion.
Jeremy aims a stormy expression at him. “I’m more than happy to linger and take the train with you, Professor Duir.”
His acid tone makes me flinch. Emphasizing the title we share is a none too subtle claim of superiority over Sion’s resident local expert status. Olk doesn’t even bother to make minimal effort to mask his rude contempt for Sion. I wish he’d back off.
Colleen steps in front of Jeremy. “Oh, no. You can’t stay. I’ve got to have at least one Kennard Park faculty on that bus.”
Professor Olk regains his composure. “Of course. If you’re sure, Eala.” His gaze flashes over Sion but softens when it lands on me, awaiting my response. Next to me, Sion’s body temperature rises as he fights to stay civil. What will it take for the two of them to call a truce?
I summon my breeziest smile. “I am. It gives me time to enjoy Robbie’s authentic Irish breakfast part two.”
