Page 23 of An Irish Hope

“I’ll be here.”

He hurried down the steps, glancing at the reception desk, but no, he didn’t recognise the receptionist. So he took a left at the parking lot and followed the blue signs that marked the Sea Trail. This first section went through the forest, lined with pink and purple fuchsias, before eventually coming out near a bridge. This led to an island, so he took that path, pausing every so often to take a photo of the Atlantic. After completing the loop he crossed back over the bridge, knowing he’d be pushing for time to make his rendezvous with Grady for golf. The trail now took him down near a picnic area near a beach, and—oh. Back to the front of the hotel, where the clean-up was still continuing.

He sped past, praying that if Ash was still there that she wouldn’t notice him. He knew his face would be bright red, and would stay that way for half an hour. He hurried back to the front, gripping the edge of the stone wall as he rounded the corner, hurrying up the three shallow steps as he entered the front doors and the foyer.

“Andy?” a feminine voice called.

His feet slowed, and he turned to the reception desk. Swiped the sweat from his brow. Forced his breathing to calm.

Ash smiled at him from behind the reception desk. “You look like you’re running from a ghost.”

“Just staying fit.”

Her mouth curved higher on the left, her glance up and down leaving him tingling.

He coughed. “Sorry, I need to go find Grady. We’ve booked a game of golf.” He hurried to the stairs. Why’d she have to see him looking so unkempt?

“Um, Andy?” she called, when he was halfway up the stairs.

“What?”

“He’s down here.” She pointed to the lounge area adjacent to the foyer where several sofas were. And sure enough, Grady was there talking to a pretty woman. Of course he was.

“Okay, thanks. I’ll be a few minutes.”

“Sure.” He caught a glimpse of her crestfallen face and felt bad. But the more time he spent with her, the more likely he was to get embroiled in something he really didn’t want. So that meant he needed to be careful and stay away. It was best for all their sakes.

“Careful!” Grady called, as the ball arced past a flock of seagulls on the practice range. “I don’t think people will be very happy if we leave them with dead birds.”

“Hey, I’m not a golfer.”

“A truer word was never spoken.”

Andy smiled and mock-swung at Grady with his club.

“Now, now. Just remember who once earned a visit to the hospital when someone pretending to swing actually clobbered me in the mouth.”

“You’ll never let me live that down, will you?”

“No. Although I did earn a beautiful smile out of it, so I guess I can’t be too ungrateful.”

“You should learn to forgive then,” Andy goaded. But it wasn’t all tease. Grady might pretend to live carefree but he had his own issues to work through.

“Ah, don’t be starting on that again. Not when it’s been such a pleasant afternoon.”

Andy sipped his water, glancing around the greens. The course might be only nine holes, but that was plenty enough for him. Besides, he wasn’t here for the golf as much as he was the company, and the views.

It was a perfect day, with only a few clouds scudding across the sky. There was some breeze, but here they were mostly protected by the ancient woodlands. The course itself was more challenging than expected, with some of the holes requiring a little more skill than Andy owned. He’d been relieved to discover a practice putting green, with nine holes, and a practice range with the markers delineating one hundred, two hundred and three hundred metres.

They started next to the walls of the ruined castle, and slowly made their way around the fairways. Several of them adjoined the seaside rocks, with views across the Atlantic.

“This is beautiful,” he said, glancing around.

Grady swung and hit. “Now that’s beautiful. Come on, let me hear the praise.”

Andy shook his head, and they walked to where their balls sat, mere metres from the yellow flag. He putted, missed, which drew Grady’s mockery.

But when Grady couldn’t sink it either, he complained. “This is a tough hole.”