Bran frowned. “Why didn’t you tell Dom your preferences last night?”
Raven looked over her shoulder, giving Bran a slight frown of her own. “It was late, and I’m sure he had plenty of other tasks to complete before he could go to bed— including,” she emphasized, “planning part of our day today.” Raven continued with a shrug, “Aren’t people supposed to ‘when in Rome’ while vacationing?”
“You’re right. I just want you to be happy. I chose all this stuff and... momentarily became... irritated that you didn’t have your choices too.”
“Sounds like your inner Hugh was trying to join us.” She laughed while putting a spoonful of eggs on her plate.
“Never say it’s so!” Bran hung his head in mock shame.
“Seriously though, thank you for caring about me.” Raven walked over, setting her plate down next to Bran’s. “I wonder if we might ring the kitchen for some iced, unsweetened tea.”
“Such a diva,” he joked, pulling out his cell to text Dom. “Done.”
Raven sat up straight in her chair, all business, looking Bran in the eyes. Her smile gone. Oh, shit. Bran attempted not to fiddle with his attire. He was greyed out today. Faded grey tee paired with equally faded grey jeans. Scuffed, but uber comfortable, grey Burberry sneakers. Slowly his body was tightening up. He’d not seen her look this serious.
“You will not. Under any circumstances, bribery or torture, tell my sisters that I fell asleep last night. Before we... that is, before you were off the phone.”
Bran could not, underany circumstances, live without this woman. As he cleared the laugh from his throat and opened his mouth to answer, someone knocked on the front door. Hopping up, Bran placed a kiss on the top of Raven’s head. “Hold that thought, babe.”
“You aren’t funny, you know.”
Bran let Dom in with the tea, and the butler of all butlers took it upon himself to place the tea in front of Raven.
“My apologies that you had nothing to eat or drink this morning, Miss Byrne.” Dom grimaced as if in physical pain. “I should have spoken to you about the menu as well.” Bowing slightly, he vowed, “I shall endeavor to never,everperform at such a lackadaisical level during your stay again.”
Raven briefly scowled at Bran before turning all her attention to Dom. “I don’t know what Mr. O’Faolain inferred in his message, but I can assure you, Dom, that breakfast this morning was a lovely surprise, and thank you for bringing up the tea.”
Getting up from the table and ignoring Bran completely, Raven went into the living room. “Is it a convenient time for you to show me some of what you think Bran and I might like to see today?”
Perking up, Dom practically bounced over to the loveseat as he pulled his tablet from a satchel that perfectly matched his suit. “I think you will be pleased, Miss Byrne.”
“Raven, please, Dom.”
“Of course, then. Raven.” Dom laid out brochures on the coffee table, set his tablet next to everything, and began swiping through, what looked like a PowerPoint presentation.
Raven was oohing and aahing. Asking for distances between here and there, open hours, and even his personal recommendations that may not have made The Top 10 must-see list. Clever that, Bran thought. Who better to know than a local.
Raven sat back and stretched with a happy smile. Today’s outing itinerary must meet her approval.
“Are we all set?”
“We are,” she smiled in satisfaction. “Dom will be waiting for us downstairs as soon as we’re ready to roll.” Turning back to the butler, Raven thanked him again and said she’d see him in a few. Dom practically flew out the front door— lists of lists of more lists no doubt running through his brain.
“Where are we off to first?”
“A pottery shop. Not the one I had originally planned on visiting. Dom says this particular potter hand throws everything.Everything.” Raven clasped her hands at her waist in what could only be described as glee.
“She’s located on Aaron Street,” she continued excitedly. “After that, I thought we could just walk for a bit and see what catches our fancy. I told Dom we’d call him when we’re ready to head to the whiskey barrel artisan outside of town. Does all thatsound okay? Because, seriously, I can adjust the schedule in any which direction.”
“It sounds like a great day ahead. I’m looking forward to it.” And surprisingly, he was. Bran wasn’t a shopper or a meanderer, but Raven’s enthusiasm for finding unique pieces for Wolves excited him too.
Raven ran into her bedroom for a couple last-minute must-haves to throw in her tote, and they were off. Walking out the front door and into the personal elevator beyond, Bran took the opportunity to grab Raven’s hand. She had to bend her arm at the elbow to accommodate his height, but if her smile were any indication, she wasn’t mad about it.
Raven foundseveral pieces at the potter’s shop. Flower vases, pitchers, and trays. She was most pleased with the whiskey barrel boards. They were everything she and her sisters hoped they would be.
Bran loved learning about the artisan’s process. They had a great studio and spent a couple of hours in the back watching Michael Talbot, the head craftsman, cut, shape, sand, and finally work beeswax into the grain of the boards.
Bran asked Raven’s opinion on what the pub could use and quantity. He was the one to sit down with Mike and place the order. This was the main reason she had wanted to come to Dublin. Mike’s pieces were stunning and would be showstoppers at Wolves. Her sisters, Jo, and James would freak out when they saw some of her pictures.
