Page 35 of An Irish Hope

“Sore, and a bit achy. But otherwise okay. Actually, aren’t I supposed to be on the registration desk today?”

“Yes, but Rory is on it now.”

“But I thought she and Aidan were making the most of things before he goes away.”

“I’m fairly sure he’s down there with her.”

“Distracting her, no doubt.” She mock-rolled her eyes. “Imagine engaged people wanting to hang out with each other all the time. What are you going to do?”

“Well, I know what you’re going to do. You need to take it easy for the rest of the day, Ash, love. No more exercise for you.”

“But I’m not tired. That little sleep I had seems to have done the trick.”

“Well, I still want you to take it easy, okay?”

She nodded. Acquiescence meant putting on the TV, then watching some DVDs of her favourite season of McLeod’s Daughters, a TV show filmed in the Australian outback. But for once she didn’t find the rugged outdoorsmen appealing. They could keep their muscles and broad shoulders. She much preferred the lean, wiry strength of a runner, one whose jacket lay within easy reach.

She picked it up and inhaled it. Was she weird to enjoy this scent? She wished she could remember what had happened, and just why exactly it was here.

The action on the small screen continued, a drought leading to a bushfire, neither of which she could even imagine, let alone relate to. A week without rain seemed impossible.

She closed her eyes. But while she couldn’t relate with the events on TV, there was a lot she could relate to with Andy. God. Family. A talent for wry, dry jokes, as well as dumb ones. Even the fact that they were both teachers. Well, she would be one day. Not that she wanted to admit that, in case he thought she’d done it for him. Which was ridiculous, considering she’d applied before she’d known him. But she’d hate for him to think she was the kind of woman who needed to do something because she wanted to impress a guy.

“Ash?”

At Rory’s voice she glanced over. “Oh, hi. What are you doing here and not downstairs?”

“Mam wanted me to check in on you. She said you’re not supposed to be left alone for more than thirty minutes in case you have a concussion, or something like that.”

“Really? I don’t need babysitting. I honestly don’t know what all the fuss is about. And I hate that this means you and Aidan aren’t together. When does he go back to Australia?”

Rory sighed. “Saturday.”

“Then go, be with him. I’ll be fine.”

“But Mam said you should be looked after.”

“She knows I’m tough.”

Rory’s smile appeared. “But apparently someone else doesn’t.”

“What do you mean?”

Rory waggled her eyebrows. “Apparently a cute Irishman told her you needed checking on.”

Her chest thudded. “You mean Andy?”

“It’s so interesting that the first person you think of as a cute Irishman is him.” Rory laughed.

She studied the pink fluffy throw, rubbing it between her fingers as she savoured the softness. “I like him,” she admitted.

“I know.”

Aisling glanced up sharply. “Have I been that obvious?”

“Yes. You told me about him, remember?”

Clearly she did not.