Page 34 of An Irish Hope

He helped Aisling stand, and sure enough, her legs looked like they were still wobbling. It took some time before she felt strong enough to return. Together he and Maeve escorted her back to the hotel, to the private part where the family lived, and what he figured must be her room.

“Do you think she needs a doctor?” Maeve asked worriedly.

“I think she’ll be okay, but it won’t hurt to check on her every half hour or so. I suspect it was just a little too much exercise too soon.”

“Thank you for your help.” Maeve eyed him. “I do hope this hasn’t made things awkward between you two.”

“I’m fine. And she will be too. Especially if she doesn’t know about some of the things she’s said today.”

“You’re a kind man.”

His lips curved. “I try.”

“I’ll let you know how she goes.”

He nodded. “I’ll be praying.”

He wandered back to the hotel part and found his room, took off his damp shirt. Wrinkled his nose. How could she say he smelled good? That just smelled like stink to him. He had a shower then collapsed on the bed.

And stretched out, hands underneath his head, and prayed for the redhead whose tongue had been loosened by a fall.

CHAPTER NINE

“Ugh, I feel terrible.” Aisling groaned and sat upright on the bed. A glimpse in the mirror opposite showed a small plaster near her hairline. When did that get there?

“Ash? Oh, you’re awake.”

“Mam, what happened?”

She glanced around. Whose jacket was that? She swung her legs from the bed, grasped it. She didn’t recognise it. She lifted it and sniffed it. Closed her eyes. At once an image of tenderness rolled across her heart. Wait—was this Andy’s? Why would it be here? She glanced around her bedroom, embarrassment at the state of it making her stomach queasy. She really hoped nobody had been here. She so should have cleaned up before now.

She rubbed at her head. Realised she still was wearing her workout clothes from before. “Um, why am I in bed?”

“You don’t remember?”

“No. I know I was at the gym before, but I can’t remember what happened since.” She frowned. “Was Andy here?” Oh, she hoped not.

Her mother nodded. “You had a little accident in the gym—”

“What?” She hoped Mam meant the physical kind and not the kind that happened to children. “You mean I fell?”

“That’s right. And he found you and we brought you here.”

“So he’s seen the mess in here?”

“You know there’s something you can do if you don’t want to be embarrassed by your mess.”

“Pay Rebecca to clean it up?” she suggested.

“Or you could do it yourself.”

“Something you’ve tried to get me to do for years but alas, it rarely happens.”

“Which is not to say it can’t.”

True. She sighed. Maybe it was time to adult up and actually take responsibility for the state of her room, and her belongings.

Her mother studied her. “How are you feeling?”