Page 2 of An Irish Hope

And while Aisling’s heart kicked at the affection there, part of her also wished she had someone who saw her and anticipated her needs in a similar way.

She shifted over to the patio, snatched another canape, this time concentrating a little more as she swallowed. But still some crumbs managed to escape. “Oh my gosh.”

She dusted herself off, but again some persistent crumbs had burrowed into her sweetheart neckline, and she forced herself not to wriggle as it itched inside.

Oh, who cared? She turned her back to the crowd and faced the building, then wriggled and dug out the offending specks. Then glanced behind to make sure nobody had noticed. Good. They hadn’t.

Then she looked up at the hotel where the guest room windows overlooked the lawn. And noticed behind the one where she’d been wriggling in front of stood a man, whose shocked expression as he realised he was busted must surely rival hers.

And while normally she’d make a face and storm inside to demand how dare he act like a peeping Tom, right now she couldn’t, for the strangest of sensations rolled over her, like a jolt of recognition, even though she’d never met that man before.

And as awareness continued to tingle and shimmer, she wondered: was this the Fairall legacy at work again?

* * *

Andrew Scott chuckled and drew back from the curtains.

Grady Wayne, his best friend, looked up quickly. “Whoa. Did I just hear laughter for the first time in a year? What did I miss?”

“Just this woman outside. She’s trying to clear some crumbs and didn’t realise I was standing there.”

“Crumb clearing, huh?”

Andy shrugged. No way would he admit exactly where she’d been clearing the crumbs from. “It was funny.”

Grady moved to the window, looked out. “Which one?”

“The curvy redhead in the green dress.”

“Uh, I’m counting at least three redheads in green dresses. There are three that look the same, like they might be bridesmaids.”

Andy moved closer. He hoped she wasn’t still staring up at him, in that unsettling moment like before. He peered out, saw she’d gone. Which was probably just as well. He’d probably looked a little creepy, staring out as a woman adjusted herself. Not that he’d been looking at her specifically. He’d been looking at the view, wondering if it was safe to exit and go on one of the walks the Castle Griffin Hotel advertised. He had no desire to insert himself into the wedding. He’d assured the hotel managers of that when he’d pleaded to not lose the deposit he’d put down for the wedding that should’ve taken place at this very site a year ago. Which was why he was here, just over a year after Greta’s betrayal, only to be facing an event that reminded him in every way just what he had missed.

“She’s gone.”

“Hmm. Well, I have to say it’s good to see that you are noticing women again.”

Andy shook his head. “You don’t need to get carried away.”

“I’m not. I’m just pleased for you. I know life has been challenging this past year or so.”

He pressed his lips together.

“And I’m happy to be your wingman if you are wanting to get back into the land of the living again.”

Have Grady, playboy of the year, be his wingman? The man might’ve been supposed to be his best man, but he wasn’t that desperate to live again. “Thanks, but I’ll be right.”

“You sure? I’m happy to find her and see if I can set something up.”

“Thanks, but I’m not interested.”

“Okay, just so we’re really clear, do you mean you’re not interested in me helping you out now, or are you not interested in this woman? Because if it’s the latter, then I take no responsibility for my actions should I come across a hot redhead who needs a date. Just saying.”

“Go for it.”

Grady’s eyes gleamed. “I may just do that.”

Hmm. Now he felt bad. It was one thing to dismiss his friend’s interest in “helping” him, it was quite another to unleash his friend on an unsuspecting woman. Not that Grady would ever do anything bad. But he had a certain charm that made women feel like Grady actually meant all the things that he said, which had led to a trail of broken hearts over the years. But just as some men seemed to have a propensity for getting their hearts broken, so others seemed to do the opposite. The fact that he and Grady had remained friends all these years was proof enough that God was real.