“Tell me you’ve not, Bébhinn.”
Her only answer was a toothy smile.
They chatted easily until she parked her Jeep outside the pub she took him to. No, that wasn’t right. It was easy until they were walking in, and he placed his hand at the base of her back as they walked through the heavy old oak door.
It was a possessive move. A gesture to warn other men she was taken. If he could have kicked his own ass, he would have. She hadn’t pulled away from him, but as soon as he realized that he’d crossed a boundary, he’d let his hand drop. She glanced up and made eye contact but said nothing.
They ordered their drinks and “loaded fries” as conversation returned to normal. If their legs happened to touch on the swiveling barstools, it was not by design.
She was in the middle of telling him an outrageous family story about a stalker that followed her family across the globe when a heavily tattooed man suddenly swooped between them and kissed Bébhinn’s cheek.
“How’s my favorite Bébé?”
He saw her eyes widen in surprise, but no more than the young man’s when he faced Dagr.
“Ciar! What are you doing here?” she gasped. “Let me introduce you to my good friend.” She looked between the two, clearly taken aback.
“Ciar Murphy, this is Dagr Griffiths, a good friend of mine. I’ve told you, Dagr, that Ciar lives with my cousins next door to me.”
Dagr held out his hand to shake. “Or nephews, as the case may be,” he chuckled, trying to put the man at ease.
Ciar shook his hand, a bewildered look on his face. “Fuck me, if I didn’t come over here thinking you were out with one of your brothers, Bé,” he shook Dagr’s hand firmly. “Sorry mate, if I came across as shady, but it was a shock to see you weren’t Bran or Patrick.”
He didn’t want to like the younger man, but it was clear immediately that he was genuine. Chuckling, he replied, “No worries. Bébhinn mistook me for her brother when I ducked into her cave that night. The hair, I guess.” He patted his head and smiled.
“Ahh, so you’re the man the family is talking about.” Ciar clapped Dagr’s back good-naturedly.
Dagr’d wanted to dislike the man who had such easy access to his…friend, but he seemed like the kind of intellectually direct man that he tended to favor. In the meantime, Bébhinn was turning a remarkable shade of red.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked, her voice a higher pitch than usual.
“Come on, Bébhinn. You had to know the family would notice you trying to hide dating someone.” He chuckled and elbowed her side.
Her red cheeks went to the deepest crimson he’d only ever witnessed in nature. Giving mercy, Dagr attempted a casualness he wasn’t feeling. “No secret. We’re friends. Hiking buddies,” he tacked on. He looked at Bébhinn, and she looked at him.
They didn’t feel likejusthiking buddies.
He would never claim more, and he sure as hell wouldn’t embarrass her by admitting that he considered her…more.
Ciar was sharp if the look he was currently giving them was any indication. Clearly, Ciar was trying to force a truth on them that neither he nor Bébhinn was willing or ready to admit to. Dagr looked back steadily, showing the younger man that he had no power over him. Dagr would not be tricked into admitting anything. He was way too good a solicitor for that shit. The young buck holding his gaze would find him harder to push over than the average Joe.
Ciar flicked his gaze to Bébhinn. “I won’t mention seeing you out tonight, Bébhinn, but I suggest you introduce yourfriendto the family sooner than later.”
thirty-three
THE WATCHER
He was thankful that The Ramblers’monthly meeting had been at Bébhinn’s. He’d been able to change out his camera with a new model that had color and sound. Sometimes he would go weeks without video when the battery died before a meeting.
The new camera would notify the app on his phone when there was movement. He could also pull the camera up even when there was no movement, like when she was sleeping or went to the bathroom. He loved listening to the shower start and picturing her clothes coming off.
He’d gotten off to that a lot.
He would have put a second camera in the bathroom, but there was no hiding place. He shrugged. It gave him something to look forward to. Another bonus was that he could print off stills from the video. He was acquiring quite a collection already.
The best part about the last club meeting was that everyone loved his suggestion of an overnight hike. He looked at thekitchen table and grinned. His new two-person tent sat in all its new, packaged glory.
His first plans were derailed by weather, but he was confident that this time would work. Plus, they would be with a few of their hiking friends to witness him and Bébhinn committing to one another.
