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“I haven’t the answer.”
“You’ve part of it,” he muttered, and straightened again. “You are part of the answer. Tell me now, what’s in your heart for Shawn Gallagher.” Before she could speak, he lifted a hand in warning. He’d seen the temper flash over her face. “Before you speak, mind this. You’re in my world here, and it’s the simplest of matters for me to make you speak truth. Only truth. We both prefer you answer of your own will.”
“I don’t know what’s in my heart. You’ll have to take that as your truth, for I’ve nothing more.”
“Then it’s time you looked, and time you knew, isn’t it?” He sighed again, not troubling to hide his disgust. “But you won’t till you’re ready. Go on to sleep, then.”
With a sweep of his arm, he was alone with his thoughts in the jeweled light. And Brenna slept, dreamlessly now, in her bed.
She got no more than four hours’ sleep, but went through the day fueled with energy. Most often a late night followed by an early morning left her out of sorts and cross most of the day. But in this case, she was so cheerful that her father commented on her bright mood more than once.
She didn’t feel she could tell him what she told herself. It was good, healthy sex that had her whistling through her work. As close as they were, and as much as she loved him, she doubted her father would want to know how she’d spent her evening.
She remembered the dream, remembered it so clearly, so precisely, that she wondered if she was filling in some blanks without meaning to. But it wasn’t anything she was going to muddle over for long.
“That’s about all for the day, wouldn’t you say, Brenna darling?” Mick straightened up, stretched his back, then glanced over to where his daughter was squatted down painting the floor molding. His lips pursed when he noted she was painting the same six inches over and over with lazy swipes of the brush.
“Brenna?”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t you think you might have just about enough paint on that space of wood by this time?”
“What? Oh.” She dipped the brush again, then made sure to hit the fresh wood. “My mind must’ve wandered.”
“It’s time to call it a day.”
Already?”
With a shake of his head, he gathered up brushes, rollers, and pans. “What was it your mother put in your oatmeal this morning to give you such pep? And why didn’t I have any?”
“The day went by fast, that’s all.” She got to her feet, looked around. With some surprise she noted just how much had been done. She’d gone through the day on automatic pilot, she supposed. “We’ve nearly finished in here.”
“By tomorrow, it’ll be on to the next. We deserve big portions of that roast your mother promised for tonight.”
“You’re tired, Dad. I’ll clean this up.” That, at least, would soften some of the guilt she was going to feel. “And you know, I was thinking I’d go on into the pub and see Darcy. Would you tell Ma I’ll be grabbing a sandwich there?”
He looked pained when she took the brushes from him. “You’re after deserting me, when you know sure as you’re born your mother and Patty will be into the wedding plans and buzzing around me ears.”
Brenna shot him a grin. She’d forgotten about that and the more genuine excuse not to go straight home. “Want to come to the pub with me?”
“You know I would, but then your mother’d have my head on her best china platter. At least give me your word that when your time comes ’round you won’t ask me if I like the lace or the silk best, then burst into tears when I pick the wrong one.”
“A solemn promise.” She kissed his cheek to seal it. “
“I’m holding you to it, girl.” He shrugged his jacket on. “And if things get over sticky at home, you may see me down at Gallagher’s after all.”
“I’ll buy you a pint.”
When he was gone, Brenna put more time and effort into the cleaning than she had to. It made her feel a little less guilty, though truth to tell, she would be seeing Darcy when she went to the village. If she saw Shawn as well, how could she help it. He worked there, didn’t he?
Despite the rationalization, Brenna made a point of seeking Darcy out the minute she walked into the pub.Since she was down at the end of the bar letting old Mr. Riley flirt with her, Brenna took the next stool, then leaned over to kiss the man’s papery cheek.
“And here I find you making eyes at another woman, when time and time again, you’ve said you had them for none but me.”
“Oh, now, darling, a man’s got to look in the direction his head’s pointed. But I’ve been waiting for you to come along and sit on my knee.”
The man was so thin, and she suspected, his bones so brittle, that an attempt to sit on his knee would shatter it. “Oh, we O’Toole women are jealous creatures, dear Mr. Riley. Now I’m after taking Darcy here aside and giving her a stern piece of my mind for trying to beat my time with you.”
When he cackled, she wandered to a table, gesturing for Darcy to follow. “I’m dying for a pint and a hot meal. What’s Shawn got for us tonight?”
Darcy narrowed bright-blue eyes, cocked a dark brow, then fisted a hand on her hip. “Well, then, you’ve gone and slept with him, haven’t you?”
“What are you talking about?” Though Darcy’s voice had been quiet, Brenna’s head swiveled in panicked embarrassment until she was assured no one was close enough to hear.
“You think I can’t look at a woman I’ve known since I was born and not see she’s had a tumble the night before? With Shawn, you can’t be sure, as he’s half the time got that dreaming look in his eyes. But you, that’s a different kettle.”
“So what if I did?” Brenna hissed it as she sat down. “I said I was going to. And no,” she said as soon as she caught the glint. “I won’t be telling you about it.”
“Who said I’d want to know?” But of course she did.She sat herself, leaned close. “One thing.”
“No, not even one.”
“One thing—we’ve had one thing no matter who or what our whole lives.”
“Damn it.” It was true, and to break tradition now would be breaking a bond. “Four times last night.?
??
“Four?” Eyes widened, Darcy looked toward the kitchen as if she could peer right through the door and pin her brother to the opposite wall. “Well, I have to give him a raise in my estimation. And it’s hardly a wonder you’re looking relaxed.”
“I feel wonderful. Does it really show?”
“You have to look for it. I’ve customers.” Reluctantly, Darcy rose. “I’ll get you a pint—and I’d try the poached chicken tonight. People have been pleased with it.”
“I will then, but I think I’ll see if I can’t have it back in the kitchen.”
“Fine. Get your own pint on your way. Do you want to stay up with me tonight? I’ll bet I can get a bit more out of you.”
“You probably could, as you’re a sneaky, nagging sort, but I need to go home early. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
“Braggart,” Darcy said with a laugh and flounced off to take an order.
“And how are you, Brenna?” Aidan asked when she came behind the bar.
“Why? How do I look?”
He glanced over, as her response had been so sharp. “Well, you look fine to me.”
“I am fine.” Cursing herself under her breath, she drew a pint of Harp from the tap. “I’m a bit tired, I suppose. I thought I’d have this and a plate back in the kitchen, if it’s all right with you, before I head home.”
“You’re welcome, as always.”
“Ah, will you need an extra hand at all this week, Aidan?”
“I could use yours both Friday and Saturday nights, if you have them free.”
“They are. I’ll come ’round.” Casually, she hoped, she moved past and pushed open the kitchen door. “Can you spare a hungry woman a hot meal?”
He turned from the sink where he had the water running hot and full. His eyes warmed as she lifted her glass to his own lips. “I think I might have something you’ll like. I wondered if you’d wander my way tonight.”
“I wanted to see Darcy.” She laughed and sat down with her beer. “And maybe I don’t mind so much seeing you as well.”
He turned the water off, pulled at the cloth tucked into his waistband, and dried his hands. “And how would your system be?”
“Oh, my system’s doing well, thank you. Though there does seem to be a little bit of a hitch in it still.”
“Would you be wanting some help with that?”
I wouldn’t mind it.”
He walked to her chair, and leaning over the back of it, sent the system under discussion churning with his teeth on her ear. “Come home with me tonight.”
She shivered, couldn’t help it. There was something unspeakably erotic about the voice, the suggestion, when she couldn’t see his face. “I can’t. You know I can’t. It’d be too hard to explain to my family.”
“I don’t know when I can get another night off.”
Her vision wavered, doubled as he did something clever with his tongue behind her ear. “How about mornings?”
“It so happens all my mornings, for the foreseeable future, are free.”
“I’ll come by, the first chance I get.”
He straightened, then plucking off her cap, ran a hand down her hair in a way that made her want to stretch like a cat. And purr. “The door’s always open.”
THIRTEEN
THE MORNING WAS soft. Gentle rain pattered over flowers coming awake for spring. Fog, very thin and nearly white, skimmed along the ground and would be burned away at the first ray of sun to beam through the clouds. Faerie Hill Cottage was quiet when Brenna stepped inside. Even faeries like to sleep, she remembered. Perhaps ghosts did as well, and chose gray and rainy dawns for their
